Edge Church
Edge Church (formerly Southside Christian Church) is a Pentecostal Christian church affiliated with Australian Christian Churches, the Assemblies of God in Australia. The church is pastored by Danny Guglielmucci and his wife.
Establishment
Edge Church International was originally called Southside Christian Church when it was established in 1994. Danny Guglielmucci established Edge Church South in May of that year, with just 80 people in a small building at O'Halloran Hill.
During the next 18 months the church prospered and grew at an incredible rate.[citation needed] Filled to capacity, new premises were desperately needed.[citation needed] The church relocated to what had previously been the Old Reynella Markets in Old Reynella. The owners, who had originally built the markets to become a community centre agreed to a lease arrangement with the option to purchase at a later date. In 2001, over AUS$640,000 was given by the congregation in one offering enabling the purchase of the property.[citation needed]
Church growth
Also in 2001 a second congregation, Edge Church City, was established. Initially meeting at the Wonderland Ballroom in Hawthorn, the City congregation was forced to move seven times in two years as it too experienced rapid growth. Finally, in 2003 the church took up residence in the former Investigator Science & Technology Centre building at the Adelaide Showgrounds and the City congregation found a permanent home.
After enjoying a strong friendship with Edge Church for many years, Westside Assembly of God at Findon became Edge Church West in 2006. Edge Church has some association with Tabor College Adelaide, as Gugliemucci was involved in its foundation. [citation needed]The Church also established a congregation in the United Kingdom in January 2008, which is led by Jason Gowland. Edge Church Bristol UK has already seen huge growth.
Community involvement
Danny Guglielmucci has grown a strong large Pentecostal church that operates through partnership on several projects with many other churches across Adelaide.[citation needed] For example, the church has worked with over 30 other churches to renovate Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital and the Adelaide Women's Prison.[citation needed]
Finances
In its 2007 annual report the church recorded a 12 per cent rise in revenue to $5.53 million. In addition, the 2007 annual report showed a net asset base of $11.56 million, up from $4.01 million the previous year, in part helped by the $4.5 million donation of the land and property of Findon-based Westside Christian Church.[1]
Attendees to the church contribute a Tithe of one tenth of their income to support the church.[1] Church members contributed $3.12 million in tithes in the 2007 financial year, up from $2.64 million the previous year.[1]
Membership
The Reynella church has a database of 3400 people, while the Goodwood campus is expanding into the city at the Greater Union site in Hindley St. and the Findon, South Australia location has a congregation of more than 250.[1]
Controversy
It was reported in 2008 that Michael Guglielmucci, son of Edge Church founder Danny Guglielmucci, had fraudulently claimed he was dying of cancer.[2][3] During this time Guglielmucci received money from supporters who believed his illness was real. [4] Guglielmucci also released the hit song Healer, an anthem of faith for believers who were suffering from cancer.[5] Guglielmucci explained his actions as being a result of a long term addiction to pornography.[6][7]
See also
- Youth Alive
- Australian Christian Churches
- List of the largest churches in Australia
- Churches affiliated with Australian Christian Churches
References
- ^ a b c d McGuire, Michael (29 August 2008). "Fame, fortune and the business of religion". The Advertiser.
- ^ Smith, Sharon (29 August 2008). "Chart-topping pastor's cancer lie". Adelaide. p. 1.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|current affairs show=ignored (help) - ^ Wheatley, Kim (22 August 2008). "Go to police, church tells lying pastor; praise to the fraud". The Advertiser. Adelaide. pp. 1–2.
- ^ http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/porn-pastor-unlikely-to-face-charges/story-e6frea83-1111117460461
- ^ Russell, Mark (16 November 2008). "That's Sir Conman to you, copper: 2008's bizarre rap sheet". The Age. Melbourne.
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/24/2344811.htm
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/25/2345377.htm