Azusa Street Revival
Learn about or revisit the effects of the Azusa Street Revival on the worldwide body of Christ.
The Azusa Street Revival was one of world’s largest modern-day global Christian movements. On April 9, 1906, William J. Seymour, a black preacher, discipled by Charles Parham, started a Pentecostal explosion in the city of Los Angeles, California. The news about the Holy Ghost meeting or “Azusa Street Revival ” traveled like wildfire! Firemen were actually called because distant neighbors thought they saw fire around the building.
Supernatural Event
The Azusa Street Revival services were almost a replay of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 verses 1 through 21. Unexpected and unexplained supernatural events happened during this anointed Pentecostal revival meeting. Miraculous healing and deliverance were experienced. The sound of speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues were heard. There were sounds of thunderous clapping, spontaneous singing and “dancing in the spirit.” Testimonies were given. Teaching and preaching on the love and the blood of Jesus was heard. Altar calls were subject to happen at any time during the service. Services were held many hours, days and nights.
Strong Faith
The blessings from the Azusa Street Revival was contributed to many things. Seymour believed in fasting, prayer and living a lifestyle of holiness. He followed, preached and taught principles from the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. He was a man of strong faith. He believed in making demands on God’s Word. In the meetings, he did whatever Jesus Christ said we could do. Miracles were worked through the power of the Holy Ghost. Jesus left us with the power to cast out devils. People were delivered. Jesus also gave us power over sickness and disease. People were healed. The love of Jesus Christ was shared. In spite of Jim Crow and hate groups, people of all colors and economic backgrounds began to worship and praise God, together.
New Creatures in Christ
Some referred to their practices as “strange behavior.”
On the other hand, not everyone was happy about the Azusa Street Revival. Critics were everywhere. Nonbelievers thought they were acting “out of character.” Some referred to their practices as “strange behavior.” In the spiritual sense, they were acting “out of character.” They were “new creatures” or new characters “in Christ.”
The Azusa Street Revival Mission begin to experience conflict from within. Changing the name to “Apostolic Faith Mission” caused dissatisfaction. Also, Seymour’s marriage to Jennie Evans Moore, a faithful member, was not accepted by all. The mission secretary, supposedly, secretly in love with Seymour stole his national and international lists which crippled his global outreach.
Doctrinal disagreements begin to occur during the Azusa Street Revival movement. There were misunderstandings about “tarrying” and “tongues.” Seymour’s doctrine of “after sin, no salvation” was questioned. While trying to fund the mission through preaching tours, William H. Durham preached the opposite of Seymour’s sin and salvation doctrine. They never came into agreement.
William J. Seymour’s Azusa Street Revival is still evident, today. Several denominations, such as the Assembly of God, the Church of God in Christ, the Pentecostal Holiness Church, the United Holiness Church, the Church of God, the Pentecostal Church of God, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, and more were influenced by the Pentecostal beliefs of William Seymour. There are millions of Pentecostal and charismatics Christians all over the world.
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