“Holiness Pentecostal Christian body.” That’s how the Church of God Mountain Assembly is classified. It formed in 1907. The Antioch Church of God Mountain Assembly is part of this group. The Church of God Mountain Assembly has roots in the late 19th-century American holiness movement. It also connects to the early 20th-century Pentecostal revival.
The story of the Church of God Mountain Assembly began before 1907. It started with the Wesleyan Holiness Movement in Southeastern Kentucky in the 19th century. The Holiness revival spread across Appalachia. It drew the attention of several United Baptist ministers.
One pastor, John Hansford Parks, claimed entire sanctification. This happened at a revival in Whitley County, Kentucky in January 1899. He preached the need to live a holy life. He preached to congregations at Jellico Creek and Ryan’s Creek. Most members rejected his teaching. He found more receptive audiences at Zion Hill and Little Wolf Creek. These two congregations were expelled from the Baptist association in 1904. They became independent holiness churches.
Around the same time, Parks’ home church at Wolf Creek experienced a schism. This was over sanctification and the danger of apostasy. Parks and his brother-in-law, Andrew J. Silcox, preached about these topics. The holiness faction left and started a new church at Sheep Creek. Stephen N. Bryant was also a member at Wolf Creek. He experienced entire sanctification. He preached holiness at the church he pastored at Patterson Creek. Bryant organized a holiness church from expelled members. In September 1905, Parks, Silcox, Bryant, and four other ministers were blacklisted by the Baptist association.
Parks established another holiness church in the spring of 1907. This was from the remnant of his followers at Jellico Creek and Ryan’s Creek. That summer, he and others organized a holiness church at Saxton. They also started two more in Campbell County, Tennessee. His brother, Newton Parks, helped organize a holiness church at Hayes Creek, Kentucky that summer.
Representatives from some congregations met on August 24, 1907. They met at Ryan’s Creek. They prepared proceedings for an association of holiness churches. They called it “The Church of God.” The First Assembly met at Little Wolf Creek on October 11-12, 1907. Andrew Silcox was chosen as the first moderator.
Over the next few years, Parks and others learned of Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson’s Church of God. They added “Mountain Assembly” to their associational meeting’s name in 1911. This distinguished it from the group in Cleveland, Tennessee. The Mountain Assembly began incorporating aspects of Tomlinson’s denomination. This included doctrinal statements and a more episcopal form of government.
The Church of God Mountain Assembly continues to impact the world. It spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The CGMA serves local communities. It has established churches throughout the United States and in over 28 countries. The International Headquarters is in Jellico Tennessee. It is a Christ-centered organization. It promotes the gospel message to all nations. Remember this history as you reflect on the Antioch Church of God Mountain Assembly.