Ever wonder how a small seed of faith can blossom into a global movement? Here at the Pentecostal Evangelistic Church on Nostrand Avenue let me tell you about a phenomenon that has reshaped Christianity. We are standing before a testament to the power and the continuing growth of Pentecostalism.
Pentecostalism is a Protestant Evangelical movement. It emphasizes direct personal experience with God. This comes through baptism with the Holy Spirit. The term Pentecostal comes from Pentecost. That event commemorates the Holy Spirit’s descent upon Jesus Christ’s followers in Jerusalem. They were celebrating the Feast of Weeks. It is described in the Acts of the Apostles.
Like other evangelicals Pentecostalism adheres to the Bible’s inerrancy. It also holds the necessity of the New Birth. This involves repenting sin and accepting Jesus Christ. Pentecostals distinguish themselves with belief in baptism in the Holy Spirit. They also believe in baptism by water. This enables a Christian to live a Spirit-filled empowered life. Empowerment includes using spiritual gifts. These include speaking in tongues and divine healing.
Because of their commitment to biblical authority Pentecostals see their movement reflecting the spiritual power and teachings of the Early Church. Some Pentecostals use the term Apostolic or Full Gospel to describe their movement.
Holiness Pentecostalism emerged in the early 20th century. It came from adherents of the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. They were energized by Christian revivalism. They also expected Christ’s imminent Second Coming. Believing they lived in the end times they expected God to spiritually renew the Christian Church. They sought the restoration of spiritual gifts and world evangelization.
In 1900 Charles Parham taught that speaking in tongues was the Biblical evidence of Spirit baptism. Along with William J Seymour he taught this was the third work of grace. Seymour led the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles. That resulted in Pentecostalism’s growth. Visitors carried the Pentecostal experience to their home churches.
The Pentecostal movement is divided. Early disputes challenged entire sanctification. Later disputes concerned the Holy Trinity. The Pentecostal movement includes Holiness Pentecostals. They affirm three works of grace. It also includes Finished Work Pentecostals. They are partitioned into trinitarian and nontrinitarian branches. The latter gave rise to Oneness Pentecostalism.
Comprising over 700 denominations Pentecostalism is highly decentralized. No central authority exists. Many denominations affiliate with the Pentecostal World Fellowship. There are over 279 million classical Pentecostals worldwide. The movement grows especially in the Global South and Third World countries. Since the 1960s Pentecostalism gained acceptance. Other Christian traditions embraced Pentecostal beliefs concerning Spirit baptism. They also embraced spiritual gifts. This occurred in Protestant and Catholic churches through the Charismatic movement. Worldwide Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity numbers over 644 million adherents. The movement originally attracted mostly lower classes. Now it appeals to middle classes too. Middle-class congregations tend to have fewer members. Pentecostalism is believed to be the fastest-growing religious movement in the world.
Looking at the Pentecostal Evangelistic Church today it is clear that this global phenomenon has local roots. This church stands as a beacon. It demonstrates the enduring appeal of a faith. It emphasizes personal experience and spiritual gifts. Its foundations are built on community. It fosters a vibrant and ever-evolving expression of Christianity.