Yong noted that from a handful of churches in 2000 the AMiA had grown to more than 100 churches in 2006 with more than 60 in the pipeline. The real significance of this figure, he said, is that more than 50 percent of these are newly planted churches. He attributed this growth to a ministry based on prayer and intercession.

The controversial consecrations of AMiA's founding bishops, Chuck Murphy and Dr. John Rodgers, in 2000 shocked the Anglican world, said Yong. Some doubted the ministry would survive; even some conservatives condemned or distanced themselves from it.

He said the newly named Anglican Mission in the Americas has now grown to include AMiA, the Anglican Coalition in Canada and the Anglican Coalition in America.

"Many have paid a price for their faith and come out of adverse and painful situations, just to focus on Him, and to give him authority and dominion that are rightfully His," Yong said.

The gathering gave an ebullient welcome to Rwandan Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini and former South East Asian Archbishop Moses Tay, the two primates who consecrated Murphy and Rodgers in Singapore in 2000. They were among eight Primates who brought greetings and encouragement to the largely American and Canadian audience.

Dr. Tay urged the AMiA to "seek after the heart of God and for his kingdom purposes."

"I have seen the hand of God in the Anglican Mission," said Archbishop Kolini.

Archbishop Fidele Diropka of the Congo said he believes AMiA has a "prophetic role" to save the Christian Faith in the USA. "When we have Jesus Christ by our side anything is possible," he said.

"When we see you, we see the church of God," Central African Archbishop Bernard Malango told the gathering.

Kenyan Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi said, "Be strong and of good courage. The One who has called us will see us to the end."

THE REALIGNMENT in the Anglican Communion, of which the AMiA is a part, also figured in comments by some of the other prelates in attendance.

Tanzanian Archbishop, Donald Mtetemela urged prayers for the February's Primates Meeting in his province, the first time that the Communion's leaders will meet in Africa.

"Pray that the voice from Africa will be heard at that meeting and that the Holy Spirit will speak to us so that we may be courageous to speak the truth."

Two leading prelates, one Bolivian, the other North American, also briefly spoke to the large congregation.

Bolivian Bishop Frank Lyons of the Province of the Southern Cone said simply that "Shortly there will be one [faithful] church in the United States."

Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan, Moderator of the Anglican Communion Network, said that there were now 900 North American congregations from coast to coast and north to south, with more than 100 under protection of the primates here.

Faithful American Anglicans are divided for the moment but will in God's time be "one biblical, missionary movement in this land."

A key issue going into the Primates' Meeting was the Archbishop of Canterbury's decision to invite revisionist Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to the confab, despite indications from some Primates that they could not receive her as a colleague, due to her stand on faith and morals.

One U.S. conservative leader present at the Winter Conference suggested that conservative global South Primates believe they have been "played" on this issue and that a head of steam is building which he believes will boil over at the Dar es Salaam, Tanzanian meeting.

END