INTRODUCTION

    A. “Neo,” (or new), a term generally used to describe a resurgence of
         glossolalia.

    B. Within a decade the movement had spread to 150 major Protestant 
         denominations—reaching millions by 1990—by 1997 millions of 
         Catholics had claimed the “experience.”

        1. Fostered in decade of the sixties (twentieth century) among many 
            mainline denominations.

        2. Most recognize its inception (April 3, 1960) when Rector of St.
            Mark’s Episcopal Church in Van Nuys, California, announced he
            had received the “gift of tongues.”

    C. For our study we go behind these events to the origin of the “Holiness,”
         “Pentecostal” Movements.

DISCUSSION

  I. BACKGROUND.

    A. Pentecostalism is the largest religious movement to originate in the
         United States.  Beginning in 1901 with a handful of students of C. F. 
         Parham in Topeka, Kansas, by the end of the twentieth century, this
         movement had grown to become the largest Protestant body in the 
         world.

    B. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, provided the background theology
        for the movement.

        1. From Wesley came the “experience” subsequent to salvation 
            —variously called—“entire sanctification,” “Christian perfection,”
            “heart purity,” or the “second blessing.”

        2. John Fletcher, colleague of Wesley, was the first to call the 
            “experience” a “baptism in the Holy Spirit.”

    C. From 1867 to 1880 the holiness movement had gained increasingly 
         among the Methodists.  Pioneers from non-Methodist background 
         during the latter part of the nineteenth century included C. H. Mason 
         (Baptist), B. H. Irwin (Baptist), A. J. Tomlinson (Quaker), N. H. 
         Holmes (Presbyterian).

    D. By the close of the twentieth century, Pentecostal bodies included The
         Assemblies of God, Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), Church of 
         God and Church of God of Prophecy (Cleveland, Tennessee), Seventh
         Day Church of God, Church of God and Saints of Christ, Church of 
         the Nazarene, Church of God by Faith, Church of God in Christ, 
         Calvary Pentecostal Church, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, 
         Pentecostal Fire-Baptized Holiness, Pentecostal Holiness Church
         (Franklin Springs, Georgia), Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church,
         International Church of the Four Square Gospel, Full Gospel Churches,
         a number of Community, Inter-Denominational, and Independent
         Churches.

  II. ORIGINS.

    A. Around the turn of the twentieth century, Holiness Churches came to be
         known as “Pentecostals.”

    B. We will examine some of the larger and better-known groups as to
         origin and peculiarities.

    C. The first group appeared in 1901 under the leadership of Charles
         Parham, a former Methodist.

        1. First “baptized in the Spirit” (?) accompanied by “tongues,” was
            Agnes Ozman, a student at Parham’s Bible School (January 1, 1901).

        2. According to Roswell Flowers, Secretary of the Assemblies of God,
            Ozman’s “experience” was the event that “made the Pentecostal 
            Movement of the twentieth century.”

        3. From this event (Ozman’s experience) Parham formulated the idea
            that “tongues” was evidence of the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.” 

    D. Forerunners (or embryo) of Pentecostal Churches began in the
         nineteenth century.

        1. The first included the African-American Church of God in Christ 
             (1887), and the Pentecostal Holiness Church (1898).

        2. Originally formed as “second blessing” holiness denominations, these
             added baptism in the Holy Spirit, with tongues as initial evidence of a
             “third blessing,” and were thereafter known as “Pentecostals.”

    E. In 1906 the Movement began to gain worldwide attention.

        1. In 1906 W. J. Seymour (black) moved from Houston, Texas, to Los
            Angles to open a Church, using an A.M.E. building at 312 Azusa
            Street and founded “The Apostolic Faith Mission.”

        2. For three years Seymour conducted three services daily at the Azusa
            Street location, thus providing the impetus for widespread mission
            efforts.

        3. With all ethnic groups represented, Seymour’s efforts were sometimes
             described as “The American Jerusalem.”

        4. Seymour and Charles Parham are often identified as co-founders of
            world Pentecostalism.

        5. Sidney Ahlstrom, Yale religious historian, stated that “Seymour was
            the most influential black leader in American religious history” (1972).

  III. CHURCH OF GOD (ORIGIN AND FOUNDER).

    A. The first Pentecostal Church in the southeast sprang from a holiness 
         movement in Cherokee County, North Carolina, around 1903.

        1. On May 27, 1903, A. J. Tomlinson (Quaker) moved from Indiana to
            North Carolina where he was introduced to W. F. Bryant, a holiness
            preacher.

        2. Tomlinson conducted services in Bryant’s home where his “vision” of 
            a “restoration” began to take shape.

        3. Along with Bryant, Tomlinson attended a revival at Camp Creek 
            Holiness Church where he suggested the church be known hereafter
            as “The Church of God.”

        4. Tomlinson became their preacher, and by 1904 the twenty-member
            church had grown to four large congregations.

        5. At the end  of 1904 Tomlinson moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, 
            where, under his leadership, the movement enjoyed tremendous 
            growth.

        6. Within four years the small Camp Creek Church in North Carolina
             had grown to several churches in North Carolina, Georgia, and
            Tennessee.

        7. It was not until 1907 that Tomlinson sought “baptism in the Spirit.”
            After this experience his ministry took on additional energy and
            growth.

    B. By 1922 membership in the Church of God had reached about 22,000.

        1. From the outset the church was “ruled” by a General Assembly with
            Tomlinson as Overseer. 

        2. In 1922 disruption arose in the General Assembly over the divorce
            question and allegations of misappropriation of funds by the 
            “Overseer.”

        3. These, along with other matters (some involving Lee College,
            Cleveland, Tennessee), resulted in the formation of a denomination
            within a denomination known as The Church of God of Prophecy.

        4. Following his death, A. J. Tomlinson’s son, M. A. Tomlinson, was
            elected General Overseer.

    C. Organizational Structure (called by Tomlinson, a theocracy).

        1. Resembling the Methodist Episcopal form of government, the General
            Assembly became the body to which all State and Regional 
            Overseers, as well as their numerous auxiliaries, must submit by which
            they have their origin, and by which they are maintained.

        2. The Church of God of Prophecy – History & Polity (James Stone,
            1997) – “The General Assembly is the apex of the organizational 
            structure within the Church of God.  The assembly sits as a court of
            justice over the total structure of the church.  The General Assembly
            being the final authority in interpreting the word of God through the
            Spirit stands at its rightful place as the voice of authority in not only
            ‘matters of doctrine,’ and ‘Church discipline,’ but also in all ‘general 
            practices’” (p. 187).

  IV. ASSEMBLIES OF GOD (LARGEST PENTECOSTAL
        DENOMINATION WITH SOME 38 MILLION MEMBERS
        WORLDWIDE).

    A. U.S. alone has more than 2.5 million who worship in 12,000 Assembly
         of God Churches.

    B. Began in 1914 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

    C. Phenomenal growth via radio and TV evangelism.  TBN, world’s largest
         religious network, is carried over 3171 TV stations – with 21 satellites.
         Founded and owned by Paul and Jan Crouch.

    D. Structure and doctrine similar to Church of God – although some among
         them do not insist that “tongue speaking” is the initial or only 
         manifestation of baptism in the Spirit.

    E. They assert:  “Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel.
        Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the
        privilege of all believers.”

    F. Affiliates:  National Association of Evangelism, The Pentecostal and 
        Charismatics of North America, The Pentecostal World Fellowship, and
         The Assemblies of God Fellowship.
 

  V. SOME MODERN PENTECOSTAL LEADERS.

    A. One of the first Pentecostal preachers to use TV effectively from the
         middle of the twentieth century was Oral Roberts of Oklahoma.
         Roberts stunned the Pentecostals by returning to the Methodist Church.

    B. Others included (In Assemblies of God) Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggard,
         and Pat Robertson.

    C. Benny Hinn, Betty Jo Robinson, Kenneth Copeland.

CONCLUSION

    A. It is evident that the phenomenal growth of Pentecostalism within one
         century marks it as a force with which to be reckoned.

    B. The “exuberance” with which they deliver their message (although far
         too frequently reaching a level of exhibitionism) could be properly 
         cultivated by those dedicated to the restoration of pure New Testament
         Christianity.

    C. Following lectures will deal more directly with Pentecostal teachings and
         practices.