UPCI Ministers Choose New Global Missions Director, Youth President

Dr. David K. Bernard has been reelected as general superintendent of the UPCI, a post he has held since 2010.

The election took place during the annual business meeting of United Pentecostal Church International, which is part of the organization’s annual General Conference. This year’s General Conference is currently underway in Indianapolis, Indiana. All credentialed UPCI ministers are eligible to vote in the business meeting.

The ministers present at the meeting also elected missionary Adam Hunley as the next general director of UPCI Global Missions, replacing outgoing General Director Bruce Howell. Howell previously had announced he would not let his name stand for reelection to another term.

Hunley, 42, has been regional director of Eurasia/North Africa since 2022. He served as a missionary to access-challenged nations prior to becoming a regional director. He and his wife, Maya, have been full-time missionaries with the UPCI since 2008.

Howell has served as general director of Global Missions since 2001. He and his late wife, Diane, have served in missions with the UPCI since 1979.

D. J. Hill was elected as the next general youth president. Hill, the current director of promotion for UPCI Youth Ministries, succeeds outgoing General Youth President Michael Thomas, who was not eligible for another term due to age. A new director of promotion will be appointed later this year.

Additionally, Darrell Johns was reelected as assistant general superintendent for the UPCI’s Eastern Zone, and Stan Gleason was reelected as assistant general superintendent for the Western Zone.

North American Missions General Director Scott Sistrunk, Children’s Ministries General Director Steve Cannon, and General Ladies Ministries President Linda Gleason were all reelected.

Arkansas District Superintendent Tim Gaddy was elected as general executive presbyter for the UPCI’s Western Zone. Ted Graves was elected as regional executive presbyter for the Northwest Region, David Trammel was elected as regional executive presbyter for the North Central Region, and Gene Holley was elected as regional executive presbyter for the South Central Region.

Marvin Walker, Garry Tracy, and Robert Henson were elected to serve on the Ministers Appeal Council. Steve Willeford and Terry Pugh were elected to serve on the new district formation committee for the North Central Region and Southwest Region, respectively.

The UPCI now has 11,694 credentialed ministers and 4,961 churches, daughter works, and preaching points in the United States and Canada. Globally, the UPCI has 5.5 million constituents worshiping in 43,000 churches, daughter works, and preaching point in 199 countries and 39 territories. Additional statistics are available at UPCI.org/stats.