History of the pentecostal church
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Bethel Bible College has been attributed as the founder of the Pentecostal Movement. The founders fasted for a few days to gain clarity and finished on January 1st. The fast was broken with speaking in tongues. After Bethel Bible college closed the Pentecostal movement continued to grow. In 1904 there was a Christian revival movement in Wales. The movement spread their beliefs outside of North America. The Pentecostal beliefs spread to parts of Europe, mission trips in India, Africa and Latin America. The Wales Revival Movement lasted for only one year but spread word to other countries of the world and expanded the number of followers.
On the 9th of April in 1906 there was a famous revival meeting on Azusa Street in Los Angeles(see image above). The meetings were popular and continued for 9 years, lead by William J Seymour. The meetings were interracial discussing important topics and beliefs such as speaking in tongues, some said they witnessed miracles. At the time meetings were given flack from other Christian movements, but today it is recognized that the meetings were vital for the Pentecostal Movement. As more and more people caught wind of this new movement the more followers it gained making it one of the fastest growing branches of Christianity today.
On the 9th of April in 1906 there was a famous revival meeting on Azusa Street in Los Angeles(see image above). The meetings were popular and continued for 9 years, lead by William J Seymour. The meetings were interracial discussing important topics and beliefs such as speaking in tongues, some said they witnessed miracles. At the time meetings were given flack from other Christian movements, but today it is recognized that the meetings were vital for the Pentecostal Movement. As more and more people caught wind of this new movement the more followers it gained making it one of the fastest growing branches of Christianity today.
Who and what pentecostals follow
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Pentecostalism follows mainly the New Testament (see pages of the New Testament on right). This was because it was about love and getting to know God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and not having to access God through the church.
The most important people of Pentecostalism are Jesus and God. If anyone else were important it would be idolizing someone other than Jesus and God and that is forbidden. Followers view Jesus and God as their personal savior.
The most important people of Pentecostalism are Jesus and God. If anyone else were important it would be idolizing someone other than Jesus and God and that is forbidden. Followers view Jesus and God as their personal savior.
The Creation Story
The origin story of Pentecostalism is the same as Christianity. The world began in darkness and then God said "Let there be light", then at the end of the first day God separated night and day. On the second day God separated heaven and earth. On the third day God made land rise up from the water and commanded plants to grow. God made greater light and lesser light on the fourth day. On the fifth day God commanded the water to fill with living things, and the air to fill with birds. On the sixth day God created animals and man to walk on Earth. And on the seventh day God rested. The first man was called Adam and he was lonely. So God put Adam to sleep and took one of his ribs to make Eve.
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The Charismatic Movement
The Charismatic movement is a movement from the 20th century straying from the traditional Pentecostal beliefs. It is less strict and more committed to speaking in tongues. It became popular in the 1960's. Many people were raised in traditional branches of Christianity but joined the movement because it appealed to them to eliminate the traditional church structure. Followers were known as "Jesus People".