The Assemblies of God denomination traces its
roots back to a religious revival that started during the late 1800's and
continued through the early 1900's. The revival was characterized by a
widespread experience of spiritual manifestations such as
speaking in
tongues and supernatural healing, giving birth to the
Pentecostal
movement.
Charles Parham is a prominent figure in the
history of the Assemblies of God and the
Pentecostal
movement. His teachings greatly influenced the doctrines of the Assemblies of
God. He is the founder of the first Pentecostal church - the Apostolic Faith
Church. He started a Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, where students came to
learn about the Word of God. The
Baptism in
the Holy Spirit was emphasized here as a key factor in one's walk of
faith.
During the Christmas holiday of 1900, Parham
asked his students to study the Bible to discover the biblical evidence for the
Baptism in the Holy Spirit. At a prayer meeting on January 1, 1901, they
concluded that the Holy Spirit Baptism is expressed and evidenced by speaking
in tongues. From this experience the Assemblies of God denomination can trace
its belief that
speaking in
tongues is the biblical evidence for the
Baptism in
the Holy Spirit.
The revival quickly spread to Missouri and Texas,
and eventually to California and beyond. Pentecostal believers from around the
world gathered at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles for a three year
(1906–1909) revival meeting.
Another important meeting in the denomination's
history was a gathering in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1914, called by a preacher
named Eudorus N. Bell. As a result of the spreading revival and the formation
of many Pentecostal congregations, Bell recognized the need for an organized
assembly. Three hundred Pentecostal ministers and laymen gathered to discuss
the growing need for doctrinal unity and other common goals. As a result the
General Council of the Assemblies of God was formed, uniting the assemblies in
ministry and legal identity, yet preserving each congregation as a
self-governing and self-supporting entity. This structural model remains intact
today.
In 1916 a
Statement of Fundamental Truths was approved
and adopted by the General Council. This position on the essential doctrines of
the Assemblies of God denomination remains virtually unchanged to this day.
The Assemblies of God ministries have focused and
continue to concentrate on evangelism, missions and church planting. From its
founding attendance of 300, the denomination has grown to more than 2.6 million
members in the United States and over 48 million overseas. The national
headquarters for the Assemblies of God is located in Springfield, Missouri.
In Nigeria
Between the years 1931 and 1935 a group of
young men and women soundly converted and living at Old Umuahia, Abia State,
Nigeria, were reading various religious periodicals that told of many people in
many lands who were receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in
tongues, according to Acts 2:4. They became convinced that the Pentecostal
experience was for them, too. Within a short while many of them were blessed
with the Baptism in the Holy in 1934.
They established a number of churches. At that
time they were not affiliated with any overseas Mission. After much prayer they
requested the American Assemblies of God to send them a resident missionary.
In June, 1939, Rev. & Mrs. Williams Lloyd
Shirer, a Missionary in what was then called Gold Coast (Ghana) was sent to
meet the few Pastors and young men of "The Church of Jesus Christ."
They worked out an agreement of affiliation with the Assemblies of God in
Springfield, Missouri, U.S.A. and the "Church of Jesus Christ" was
officially renamed "Assemblies of God". Early in July 1939, the
Shirers returned to Tamele, Gold Coast (Ghana).
Late in
August, 1939, the affiliation agreement was officially sanctioned. Rev.
Shirer's recommendation to the American Assemblies of God resulted in Rev. and
Mrs. Everrest L. Philips coming to Nigeria in February, 1940. Other
Missionaries soon followed.From that beginning both the Nigerian Pastors and
the overseas Missionaries found a great response to their preaching of the
Gospel and church planting efforts. One of the first projects they embarked on
was to establish a Bible School at Old Umuahia, Abia State, where the young
pastors could receive training for the Ministry. Later, a Printing Press was
established at Aba, Abia State, to provide printed materials for the young,
growing and multiplying churches. That Printing Press is still operating and is
producing huge amounts of literature not only for the Nigerian Assemblies of
God but for other churches, too. And that one Bible School has grow to ten
schools strategically located in the country.
for more info on this ministry visit - www.aognigeria.org, www.ag.org
