Assemblies of God was established in 1914 during a Pentecostal revival and is one of the largest Pentecostal fellowships in the world. In the latter half of the 19th century in the United States, many Protestants from various backgrounds while earnestly searching for God began to experience personal spiritual gifts that were represented in the New Testament of the Bible. Hungry for authentic Christianity, they looked to previous spiritual outpourings, such as the First Great Awakening (1730s-40s) and Second Great Awakening (1800s-30s), for inspiration and instruction as to how to share these gifts with the world. Under the leadership of Eudorus N. Bell who had previously been a Southern Baptist pastor, they identified themselves in the tradition of reformers and revivalists such as Martin Luther, John Wesley, and Dwight L. Moody. (www.ag.org)
One of the defining events of the Pentecostal movement which created world-wide visibility for the denomination is referred to as the Azusa Street revival. In the summer of 1906, a newly-formed congregation was meeting at the small Apostolic Faith Mission at 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California. Many critics had attacked the church because its preacher, William J. Seymour, was often found preaching racial reconciliation and the restoration of biblical spiritual gifts.
As student of Charles Parham, who provided the doctrinal framework for the young Pentecostal movement, Seymour identified speaking in tongues as the “Bible evidence” of Spirit baptism. It became a defining mark of the emerging Pentecostal movement. The first widespread speaking in tongues happened when one of Parham's students, Agnes Ozman who was actually a Methodist, spoke in a unique language during prayer and then other people followed suit. The phenomenon was contained in south central U.S. However, because of the negative attention given to the Azusa church, it catapulted Pentecostalism before a worldwide audience. Parham and Seymour eventually parted ways, because Parham believed many of the manifestations shown at Azusa Street were of the flesh. (A complete Guide to Christian Denominations; Rhodes)
As more people sought to be active in the Pentecostal movement, the founding members met in Arkansas to promote unity and doctrinal stability, establish legal standing, coordinate the mission enterprise, and establish a ministerial training school. Today, the Assemblies of God church defines it's primary reason for being as a four-fold commitment to do the following:
- Evangelize the lost.
- Worship God.
- Disciple believers.
- Demonstrate God's love through Compassion.
Their nonnegotiable tenets of faith as derived from their official Statement of Fundamental Truths are:
1. WE BELIEVE...The Scriptures are Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind.
2. WE BELIEVE...There is only One True God–revealed in three persons...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).
3. WE BELIEVE...In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God's son Jesus was both human and divine.
4. WE BELIEVE...though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.
5. WE BELIEVE...Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through 'Salvation' (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
6. WE BELIEVE...and practice two ordinances—(1) Water Baptism by Immersion after repenting of one's sins and receiving Christ's gift of salvation, and (2) Holy Communion (the Lord's Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death for our salvation.
7. WE BELIEVE...the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Special Experience Following Salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
8. WE BELIEVE... The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.
9. WE BELIEVE...Sanctification Initially Occurs at Salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike.
10. WE BELIEVE...The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe 'the Church' is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God's offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.
11. WE BELIEVE...A Divinely Called and Scripturally Ordained Leadership Ministry Serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, to build up or edify the body of believers–the Church and to Meet human need with ministries of love and compassion.
12. WE BELIEVE...Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in Christ's atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
13. WE BELIEVE...in The Blessed Hope—When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
14. WE BELIEVE...in The Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.
15. WE BELIEVE...A Final Judgment Will Take Place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.
16. WE BELIEVE...and look forward to the perfect New Heavens and a New Earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. 'And so shall we forever be with the Lord!'
In 2007, the Assemblies of God claimed a constituency in the United States of 2,836,174 adherents; 12,311 churches; and 33,622 ministers. The General Council supported 2,691 foreign missionaries and associates working with the broader World Assemblies of God Fellowship, whose adherents numbered more than 57 million. (www.ag.com)
