At an elevation of 82 feet above sea level stands the Pentecostal Holiness Church. The Pentecostal Holiness Church. is more than just a building. It is a beacon of faith in Harris County. Its story is deeply intertwined with the history of Pentecostalism.
The International Pentecostal Holiness Church formed in 1911. It was the result of a merger between two older denominations. These were the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church and the Pentecostal Holiness Church. A third church, the Tabernacle Pentecostal Church, merged with them in 1915.
The Pentecostal Holiness Church’s roots trace back to the late 19th-century holiness movement. It also connects to the early 20th-century Pentecostal revival. John Wesley’s teachings on sanctification heavily influenced the church’s theology.
In 1895, the Fire-Baptized Holiness Association originated in Olmitz Iowa. Benjamin H. Irwin led the group. By 1898, it had become the national Fire-Baptized Holiness Church. It had churches in eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.
The first congregation named Pentecostal Holiness Church formed in Goldsboro North Carolina in 1898. Abner Blackmon Crumpler founded the church. He was a Methodist evangelist.
In 1906, Gaston B. Cashwell visited the Azusa Street mission. He experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He began preaching the Pentecostal experience upon his return to North Carolina. The annual conference in 1908 recognized speaking in tongues. It became the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The two groups, Fire-Baptized Holiness and Pentecostal Holiness, merged in 1911. They chose the name Pentecostal Holiness Church. S.D. Page became the first General Superintendent.
Several members withdrew in 1918. They desired stricter standards. Another schism occurred in 1920. It concerned divine healing and medicine.
The Pentecostal Holiness Church joined the National Association of Evangelicals in 1943. It became part of the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America in 1948. An attempted merger with the United Holy Church failed in 1949.
The church began expanding internationally in the 1960s. It affiliated with Pentecostal bodies worldwide. The word “International” was added to the church’s name in 1975.
Doctrine includes justification by faith and entire sanctification. It also includes baptism in the Holy Spirit. Divine healing and the Second Coming are key tenets. The church believes in the Trinity and the inerrancy of the Bible.
The International Pentecostal Holiness Church is governed by connectionalism. Authority is shared among local churches and conferences. The General Conference is the highest administrative body.
Today the Pentecostal Holiness Church continues to spread its message. It impacts lives locally and globally. As you stand here remember its long history. The Pentecostal Holiness Church is a testament to faith unity and devotion.