BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD
The General Council of the Assemblies of God (USA), one of the largest Pentecostal
denominations in the United States, was organized in 1914 by a broad coalition of ministers
who desired to work together to fulfill common objectives, such as sending missionaries and
providing fellowship and accountability. Formed in the midst of the emerging worldwide
Pentecostal revival, the Assemblies of God quickly took root in other countries and formed
indigenous national organizations. The Assemblies of God (USA) is a constituent member
of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship – one of the largest Pentecostal fellowships in
the world.
Historical Roots Throughout the latter half of the 19th century in the United States,
Protestants from various backgrounds began to ask themselves why their churches did not
seem to exhibit the same vibrant, faith-filled life as those in the New Testament. Many of
these believers joined evangelical or Holiness churches, engaged in ardent prayer and
personal sacrifice, and earnestly sought God. It was in this context that people began
experiencing biblical spiritual gifts.
Pentecostals pioneers were hungry for authentic Christianity, and they looked to previous
spiritual outpourings, such as the First Great Awakening (1730s-40s) and Second Great
Awakening (1800s-30s), for inspiration and instruction. They identified themselves in the
tradition of reformers and revivalists such as Martin Luther, John Wesley, and Dwight L.
Moody.
The Pentecostal Revival One of the focal points of the emerging Pentecostal movement
was known as the Azusa Street revival (1906- 09). It was an unlikely location for an event
that would change the face of Christianity. In the summer of 1906, revival erupted in the
newly-formed congregation meeting at the small, run-down Apostolic Faith Mission at 312
Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California. Critics attacked the congregation because its mild-
mannered African-American Holiness preacher, William J. Seymour, preached racial
reconciliation and the restoration of biblical spiritual gifts. The revival soon became a local
sensation, then attracted thousands of curiosity seekers and pilgrims from around the world.
Seymour had been a student of Charles Parham, who provided the doctrinal framework for
the young Pentecostal movement. Parham’s identification in scripture of speaking in
tongues as the “Bible evidence” (later called the “initial evidence”) of Spirit baptism became
a defining mark of the emerging Pentecostal movement. After students at his Bethel Bible
School in Topeka, Kansas, began speaking in tongues at a prayer meeting on January 1,
1901, Parham, through his Apostolic Faith Movement, had some success in promoting the
restoration of the gift of tongues. While the Apostolic Faith Movement was largely confined
to the south central United States, the revival at Azusa Street catapulted Pentecostalism
before a worldwide audience.
Formation of the Assemblies Of God As the revival rapidly spread, many Pentecostals
recognized the need for greater organization and accountability. The founding fathers and
mothers of the Assemblies of God met in Hot Springs, Arkansas on April 2-12, 1914 to
promote unity and doctrinal stability, establish legal standing, coordinate the mission
enterprise, and establish a ministerial training school. These founders constituted the first
General Council and elected two officers: Eudorus N. Bell as chairman (title later changed
to general superintendent) and J. Roswell Flower as secretary, as well as the first executive
presbytery.
The approximately 300 delegates to the first General Council represented a variety of
independent churches and networks of churches, including the “Association of Christian
Assemblies” in Indiana and the “Church of God in Christ and in Unity with the Apostolic
Faith Movement” from Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas.
From the beginning, evangelism and missions have been central to the identity of the
Assemblies of God have resulted in a continuing growth at home and abroad. In 2007,
the Assemblies of God claimed a constituency in the United States of 2,836,174 adherents;
12,311 churches; and 33,622 ministers. The General Council supported 2,691 foreign
missionaries and associates working with the broader World Assemblies of God Fellowship,
whose adherents numbered more than 64 million.
The aggressive missions programs of the church are designed to establish self-supporting
and self-propagating national church bodies in every country. Ministers and leaders are
trained in 1,891 foreign Bible schools. The Assemblies of God has 19 endorsed Bible
colleges, universities, and a seminary in the United States.
The National Office of the Assemblies of God is located in Springfield, Missouri. The
National Office includes an administration building, the Gospel Publishing House, and the
International Distribution Center. The Gospel Publishing House, the printing arm of the
church, turns out more than 12 tons of gospel literature each day.
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Reference The National Office of the Assemblies of God