UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH HISTORY

 In the late Spring of the year 30 A.D., fifty days after the resurrection of our Lord, on the Day of Pentecost, while the disciples were in the upper room praying and worshipping God, “... suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them, And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

 The people, upon hearing of this phenomenon, assembled and were amazed.  Peter in explaining said, “... this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel,” stating further that, “... the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

 Approximately 36 years later, Jude noticed a falling away. and urged the people to “... earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  Through the centuries which followed there were only, a few who received this wonderful experience of the infilling of the Holy Ghost.  Truly it was a day that was neither clear nor dark. (Read Zech. 14: 6).

 At various intervals throughout the past centuries, the followers of the Apostolic faith and doctrines have become prominent through great revivals that have appeared in Great Britain, United States and Canada.

 In the days of Tertullian (A.D. 207) Chrysostom (fourth century), Christians of the thirteenth century, the early Quakers, Wesley, Whitefield and Irving, the gifts and manifestations of the Apostolic church were much in evidence as tile revival spirit swept over the country.

 During the last 21 days of the 19th century, a hand of earnest, hungry-hearted ministers and Christian workers in Bethel Bible College, Topeka, Kansas, called a fast, praying earnestly for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which, to their joyful surprise, came upon them in the early hours of the morning, on January 1, 1901.  The people were heard speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance, just as it had happened on the day of Pentecost in the year 30 A. D.  A great revival immediately broke forth, which soon reached to the State of Texas, and thence west to Los Angeles, where in the year 1906 it centered in an old building on Azusa Street.  Ministers and evangelists gathered in Los Angeles from every section of the United States and Canada, and missionaries returned from the foreign fields to learn more about this new experience.  Many who came were soon filled with the Holy Ghost.  From here it spread throughout the whole earth, penetrating even into the heathen darkness of India, Africa, China and the isles of the sea, thus fulfilling the great commission of our Lord:  “… go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

 With the coming of the Holy Spirit, the word of the Lord became a new book.  Truths which had been hidden for many years were made clear. In the year 1914 came the revelation on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The pivotal doctrines of the absolute deity of Jesus Christ and the baptism in His name became tenets of faith.  God marvelously confirmed our message as the Gospel was preached in its fullness.  The power which was hidden in the name of Jesus began to be revealed.  Literally thousands were rebaptized into the name of Jesus Christ, and multitudes received the baptism of the Holy Spirit while in the water.  Great numbers were healed of incurable diseases; demons were cast out as in the days of the Apostles.  In many cities where this message had gone, the report of the Samaritan revival was duplicated.

 “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).

 The number of those who believed the full Pentecostal message grew rapidly, and soon it was realized that in order to properly reach the world with this great Gospel message, “... how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  and that He was buried, and that He arose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (I Corinthians 15:3-4) and that God “… now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:” (Acts 17:30) “… and be baptized ... in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ... receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38), it was necessary to have a proper basis of cooperation and fellowship.

 During the early half of this century various groups were organized.  Among them two of the major bodies known as The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, Inc., and The Pentecostal Church, Inc., became so closely associated in doctrine and fellowship that in 1944 steps were taken to unite the two bodies into one organization known as the United Pentecostal Church.  The purpose of this united body was to preach the gospel of Christ Jesus; to publish and distribute religious literature; to establish new churches; to send forth missionaries; to perform any other duties connected with religious work, and to help in any way possible to meet the needs of local churches.  To this end we now pledge our prayers, our faith, our life and love, our earthly means of support, and our time, in the fear of God and for His glory alone.

 

This information appears as the Foreword in the United
Pentecostal Church International’s Manual for ministers
Headquarters Hazelwood, Missouri, U.S.A.