Consider the year 1914. The Assemblies of God was organized. It was a coalition of ministers. They desired to work together. They wanted to send missionaries. They sought fellowship. They desired accountability.
Christian Life Assembly of God Church stands as a testament to this movement. Its roots trace back to the Pentecostal Revival. This revival swept across the United States in the early 20th century.
The Assemblies of God formed in Hot Springs Arkansas. The founders wanted unity. They desired doctrinal stability. They aimed to establish legal standing. They sought to coordinate missions. They wished to establish ministerial training.
Early Pentecostals yearned for authentic Christianity. They found inspiration in previous spiritual awakenings. They looked to reformers like Martin Luther. They studied John Wesley. They admired Dwight L. Moody.
One focal point was the Azusa Street Revival. It occurred from 1906 to 1909. This unlikely event changed Christianity. Revival erupted at the Apostolic Faith Mission. The mission was at 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles. William J. Seymour preached there. He advocated racial reconciliation. He promoted spiritual gifts.
Seymour studied under Charles Parham. Parham provided the Pentecostal movement’s doctrine. He identified speaking in tongues. He called it the Bible evidence of Spirit baptism. This became a defining mark of Pentecostalism.
First Assembly of God in Dallas has deep roots. They extend to the early Pentecostal movement. In 1906, Fred F. Bosworth received the Holy Spirit baptism. It was in Zion City Illinois. Charles F. Parham ministered there. Rev. F.F. Bosworth became a leader in the Azusa Street Revival.
In 1910, F. F. Bosworth and Rev. Elias G. Birdsall arrived in Dallas. They held meetings. Bosworth called it the Pentecostal Tabernacle. In 1912, Rev. Bosworth invited Maria B. Woodworth-Etter. She led nightly tent meetings for months. This revival led to salvations. It brought healings and miracles. It became the foundation of First Assembly of God. It ignited a spiritual fire.
In 1914, the Assemblies of God convened in Hot Springs. F.F. Bosworth and the Dallas church were founding members. Today, it is the largest Pentecostal fellowship. Over the next 100 years, First Assembly of God grew and changed.
For years, First Assembly of God hosted Pentecostal revivals. Evangelists like Aimee Semple McPherson visited. Others included Dr. Charles S. Price and Smith Wigglesworth.
The church moved in 1925. It relocated to 805 S Peak Street. In 1930, the Christ Ambassadors Full Gospel Hour began on KRLD radio. The church became known as the Full Gospel Church. In 1937, it took the name First Assembly of God. Rev. Loren B. Staats led at that time. In 1939, Rev. Staats started publishing The Full Gospel Herald. Its circulation grew to over 5000.
Christian Life Assembly of God continues this legacy. It upholds the beliefs of the Assemblies of God. They believe in the Trinity. They believe in Jesus Christ’s deity. They believe in salvation through faith. They practice water baptism. They observe communion. They seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit. They believe in divine healing. They anticipate Jesus’ return.
As you stand here, remember the journey of faith. Christian Life Assembly of God represents a vibrant chapter in Dallas’s spiritual history. It is a beacon of hope. It reflects the enduring power of the Pentecostal movement.