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Azusa Street Centennial 1906 - 2006
Charles Whitehead, the only non-Pentecostal on the organising committee for the Azusa Street Centennial Celebrations, which took place in Los Angeles 23rd-29th April 2006, tells us all about it.
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“Beginning of Pentecostalism at Azusa Street Revival” One hundred years ago at the Azusa Street Mission Church in Los Angeles, California, Pastor William J. Seymour began preaching the message of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit accompanied by the Biblical signs of speaking in tongues and miracles, and revival broke out in his church, spreading out into the community.Thousands of people attended the revival from its beginnings in April 1906, and it drew together one of the most racially inclusive and culturally diverse groups ever to meet. There were people from every class, the most highly educated alongside the illiterate, newcomers as well as committed Christian leaders. This Azusa Street revival is seen by church historians as the beginning of Pentecostalism, which today encompasses about 600 million people worldwide, and is the reason why 50,000 Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians gathered in celebration and thanksgiving in Los Angeles. “Bringing together every part of the Pentecostal family” The Azusa Street Centennial was organised by the Centennial Cabinet, and was the realisation of the 15 year vision of the late Dr. Robert Fisher, a prominent American Pentecostal leader. A key part of his vision was to bring together every part of the Pentecostal family in a week of celebration, coupled with prayer for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of this new century. This meant that the Centennial events were open not just to those who describe themselves as Pentecostals, but also all who look back to the Azusa Street revival for their spiritual roots - the Charismatics and Neo-Charismatics in the mainline denominations and the new independent churches. “Every opportunity for prayer and ministry” Another important part of Dr. Fisher’s vision was that all the glory would be given to God and not to human personalities, so although there were many great speakers contributing to the programme, the emphasis remained on the life-changing work of the Spirit and every opportunity was given for prayer and ministry to the thousands attending. On the Saturday afternoon I was privileged to lay hands on over 300 people, as we prayed for a new healing touch of the Holy Spirit in their lives. So what are my impressions of this historic week? It was great a privilege to be invited to be a member of the Centennial Cabinet, an integral part of the Pentecostal team which planned and presented this amazing event. For a Catholic to be invited to join the Cabinet to represent Europe and all the charismatics world-wide shows how far we have come in building relationships with our Pentecostal brothers and sisters. On the opening evening of the Centennial, I was asked to introduce “European” night, to share my personal testimony, and to say a few brief words about the Charismatic Renewal. Of course there are still many difficulties to be faced, but we met some wonderful men and women of God, and whilst we differ on many matters of doctrine, practice, and expression, we recognise that we are brothers and sisters in Christ as the Second Vatican Council reminded us. “Inspiration from William J Seymour” I learned a lot about Rev. William J. Seymour, a man chosen by God and humble enough to usher in this most amazing move of the Holy Spirit, which has spread to every country in the world, and is recognised today as the fastest growing part of the Christian church. My own Baptism in the Holy Spirit was such a powerful and life-changing moment that I was delighted to give thanks and celebrate it with so many brothers and sisters in Christ, as we looked back to a key moment in our shared history - the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Azusa Street, Los Angeles, in April 1906. But we are not to live in the past. While there is much for which we are thankful, there are enormous challenges ahead, and we need the power of the Spirit if we are to reverse the tide of materialism and secularism which today threatens to engulf us in Europe. Once again our prayer must be “Come, Holy Spirit!”
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In
April this year, 50,000 members of the Pentecostal and Charismatic family
gathered together from all over the world to celebrate 100 years of
history in a week-long programme of morning and evening meetings, workshops
and seminars, at a variety of venues all over Los Angeles. All the big
Pentecostal speakers were present - Reinhard Bonnke, Benny Hinn, Jack
Hayford, Yongi Cho, Kenneth Copeland, T.D. Jakes, Vinson Synan, Bishop
James Leggett, Charles Blake and many more - ministering and serving
in different ways, but the focus throughout remained on the life-changing
work of the Holy Spirit. Worship was led by Robert Stearn, Ben Kenoly,
Darlene Zschech and others, and the Centennial Ministry Team numbered
more than 300. The evening meetings focussed on different continents
- Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa - and reflected the cultural diversity
of those who had travelled to be part of the week. Meetings were held
simultaneously at 4 big city locations, and there were historic tours
of Azusa Street and associated sites, with 24 hour prayer meetings for
a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The big meetings were transmitted
through TV channels all over the world, and articles about the Centennial
appeared in the Christian and secular press. Among the high points of
the week were the Saturday morning outreach with food and provisions
to the 18,000 who live on the streets of Los Angeles, followed by the
afternoon and evening celebrations at the Sports Arena with an overflow
in the Coliseum. The evening was led by young people, and concluded
with the Centennial Ministry Team laying hands on over 10,000 young
leaders, symbolising the passing of the mantle to the next generation.
So what was it that attracted so many people from all over the world
to gather in Los Angeles? What was so significant about the events in
Azusa Street in April 1906? 