Pentecostalism

Additional Pentecostal theologians are listed in the article entitled, "Renewal Theologians". The Nuggets will pick 20th in the 2005 NBA Draft; the pick was acquired from Washington via Orlando. Source: Operation World by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk, 2000, unless otherwise indicated. After winning an incredible game one at San Antonio, the Nuggets proceeded to lose the next four games and lost the series 4-1. The Apostolic Church is the fastest growing church in the world. In the playoffs, however, the Nuggets could not survive the powerhouse defense of Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs. Founded and led by David Yonggi Cho since 1958, it had 780,000 members in 2003. Karl lived up to his reputation by leading the team to an astounding record of 32-8 in the 2nd half of the regular season which vaulted the team into the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive year.

The great majority of Pentecostals are to be found in Third World countries (see the Statistics subsection below), although much of their international leadership is still North American. Pentecostalism is sometimes referred to as the "third force of Christianity." The largest Christian church in the world is the Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea, a Pentecostal church. On December 28, 2004, head coach Jeff Bzdelik was fired from the organization and replaced by interim Nuggets coach, former Los Angeles Laker player and Los Angeles Sparks head coach Michael Cooper, before finally hiring veteran coach George Karl. Pentecostalism was conservatively estimated to number around 115 million followers worldwide in 2000; other estimates place the figure closer to 400 million. They were eliminated in the first round four games to one by the Minnesota Timberwolves. is estimated to be more than 20 million and also including approx 918,000 (4%) of the Hispanic-American population, counting all unaffiliated congregations, although exact numbers are hard to come by, in part because some tenets of Pentecostalism are held by members of non-Pentecostal denominations in what has been called the charismatic movement. In April, the turnaround was complete as they became the first franchise in NBA history to qualify for the postseason following a sub 20 win campaign the previous year. The size of Pentecostalism in the U.S. Much of of the reason for this incredible turnaround were the front-office moves of General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe a former Nuggets player who assumed General Manager duties August,9 2001 adding crucial personnel including: point guard Andre Miller, power forward Nčnč, point guard Earl Boykins, Center Marcus Camby and shooting gaurd Jon Barry.

According to a Spring 1998 article in Christian History, there are about 11,000 different pentecostal or charismatic denominations worldwide. In just two months of the season, they recorded more wins than they had in 5 1/2 months of play in 2002-03. The largest Pentecostal denominations in the United States today are the United Pentecostal Church, the Church of God in Christ, Church of God (Cleveland) and the Assemblies of God. The team has shown signs of another renaissance for the 2003-04, with the drafting of Carmelo Anthony and yet another uniform change (light blue and yellow). The history of pentecostalism in Australia has been documented by Dr Barry Chant in Heart of Fire (1984, Adelaide: Tabor, 382 pages). Ironically, Cleveland (LeBron James) and Denver (Carmelo Anthony) would eventually have a twin pair of rookie dynamos enter their ranks the very next year. In Brazil, for example, churches founded by the Swedish Pentecostal mission claim several million members. They tied for the worst record in the NBA in 2002-03 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Swedish Pentecostals have been very missionary-minded and have established churches in many countries. Denver was an also-ran for nearly a decade, and flirted with having the worst record in a season in 1997-98, winning only 11 games in an 82 game season. These congregations are all independent but cooperate on a large scale. The team had a brief resurgence in 1993-94 (a year they ditched their rainbow colors for a dark blue and gold scheme) finishing 42-40 and stunning the top-seeded Supersonics in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, falling to the Utah Jazz in game six of the second round, but it was a rare highlight following Moe's departure. As of 2005, the Swedish pentecostal movement has approximately 90,000 members in nearly 500 congregations. Moe left the team in 1990, and his departure ended their run as a competitive franchise. Today this congregation has about 7000 members and is the biggest Pentecostal congregation in northern Europe. Only once, in 1984-85, did they even make it to the conference finals, and that year they lost in 5 games to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Pastored by Lewi Pethrus, this congregation, originally Baptist, was expelled from the Baptist Union of Sweden in 1913 for doctrinal differences. It was a novel strategy, but it rarely led to playoff success. In Sweden, the first Pentecostal church was Filadelfiaförsamlingen in Stockholm. 1980s Denver Nuggets basketball teams would often score in excess of 115 points a game, and during one full season, 1981-82, they did not fail to score 100 points in any game. This was later followed by the Elim Church. Moe brought with him a "run and gun" philosophy, a style of play focusing on attempting to score rapidly with little interest in defense, and it helped the team become highly competitive. In the United Kingdom, the first Pentecostal church to be formed was the Apostolic Church. It ended in 1981, when they hired Doug Moe as a head coach.

Unlike "Classical Pentecostals," who formed strictly Pentecostal congregations or denominations, Charismatics adopted as their motto, "Bloom where God planted you.". Brown left the team in 1979, helping usher in a brief decline in their team's performance. From the late 1950s onwards, the Charismatic Movement, which was to a large extent inspired and influenced by Pentecostalism, began to flourish in the mainline Protestant denominations, as well as the Roman Catholic church. However, neither of these teams were ultimately successful in the postseason. This influence included evangelistic emphasis, C&MA doctrine, Simpson's hymns and books, and the use of the term 'Gospel Tabernacle,' which evolved into Pentecostal churches being known as 'Full Gospel Tabernacles.'. Led by Dan Issel (http://www.nba.com/history/players/issel_summary.html), Bobby Jones (http://www.remembertheaba.com/TributeMaterial/BobbyJones.html), and David Thompson (http://www.nba.com/history/thompson_bio.html), Denver (and their memorable rainbow-striped jerseys) were quite strong early on in the NBA, as they won division titles in their first two seasons in the league, and missed a third by a single game. Because of this, Simpson and the C&MA (an evangelistic movement that Simpson founded) had a great influence on Pentecostalism, in particular the Assemblies of God and the FourSquare Church. They would get no second chance to win a league championship, as the ABA merger occurred during the off-season.

It was common for Pentecostal pastors and missionaries to receive their training at the Missionary Training Institute that Simpson founded. With Larry Brown coaching, they had their best seasons in team history in their first two seasons as the Nuggets, with the team making the ABA finals in 1975-76. During the beginning of the twentieth century, Albert Benjamin Simpson became closely involved with the growing Pentecostal movement. In 1974, the team was renamed the Nuggets, a nickname first used by a 1949-50 NBA franchise. The unification of white and black movements led to the restructing of the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America to become the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America. Haywood averaged 30 points in his only ABA season, then was allowed to sign with the Seattle SuperSonics to start a productive NBA career. This unification occurred in 1998, again in Memphis, Tennessee. Haywood was one of the first players to turn pro before graduating college, and the NBA initially refused to let him play in the league.

In 1994, Pentecostals returned to their roots of racial reconciliation and proposed formal unification of the major white and black branches of the Pentecostal Church, in a meeting subsequently known as the Memphis Miracle. During the 1969-1970 season, the team also had a controversial rookie named Spencer Haywood. When the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America was formed in 1948, it was made up entirely of Anglo-American Pentecostal denominations. They had a solid lineup led by Byron Beck (http://www.nba.com/nuggets/history/byron_beck_retire.html) and Larry Jones, then later by Beck and Ralph Simpson (http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SAMPSRA01). This lasted until 1924, when the church split along racial lines (see Apostolic Faith Mission). However, they tended to struggle in the postseason and failed to make a championship game during this span. The first decade of Pentecostalism was marked by interracial assemblies, "...Whites and blacks mix in a religious frenzy,..." according to a local newspaper account. One of 4 ABA teams that joined the NBA through a league merger in 1976, they were known as the Rockets for their first 7 years of existence, and were very strong in their early years.

By the third week in April, 1906, the small but growing congregation had rented an abandoned African Methodist Episcopal Church at 312 Azusa Street and organized as the Apostolic Faith Mission. The Denver Nuggets are a National Basketball Association team based in Denver, Colorado. On April 18, 1906, the Los Angeles Times ran a front page story on the movement. Bryon Russell (Long Beach State). The attending pastor, William J. Seymour, also claimed that he was overcome with the Holy Spirit on April 12, 1906. Wesley Person (Auburn). The expansion of the movement started with the Azusa Street Revival, beginning April 9, 1906 at the Los Angeles home of Edward Lee, who experienced what he felt to be an infilling of the Holy Spirit during a prayer session. Dermarr Johnson (University of Cincinnati).

Parham left Topeka and began a revival ministry which led to a link to the Azusa Street Revival through William J. Seymour whom he taught in his school in Houston, although because Seymour was African American, he was only allowed to sit outside the room to listen. Nenę (Brazil). Parham, a minister of Methodist background, formulated the doctrine that tongues was the "Bible evidence" of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Eduardo Najera (Oklahoma). Although the 1896 Shearer Schoolhouse Revival in Cherokee County, North Carolina might be regarded as a precursor to the modern Pentecostal movement, the commonly accepted origin dates from when Agnes Ozman received the gift of tongues (glossolalia) at Charles Fox Parham's Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas in 1901. Andre Miller (Utah). Modern Pentecostalism began around 1901. Kenyon Martin (University of Cincinnati).

This same holds true for the Oneness Pentecostal towards trinitarian churches. Francisco Elson (California). The major trinitarian Pentecostal organizations, however, including the Pentecostal World Conference and the Fellowship of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of North America, have condemned Oneness Theology as a heresy and refuse membership to churches holding this belief. Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse). They also believe that God has revealed Himself in different roles rather than three distinct persons. Greg Buckner (Clemson). This is for their belief that the original Apostles baptized converts in the name of Jesus. Marcus Camby (Massachusettes).

Oneness Pentecostals, are sometimes known as Jesus-Name, "Apostolics", or by their detractors as "Jesus only" Pentecostals. Earl Boykins (Eastern Michigan). The largest Pentecostal Oneness denomination in the United States is the United Pentecostal Church. 44 Dan Issel. Some Pentecostal churches hold to "Oneness theology", which decries the traditional doctrine of the Trinity as unbiblical. 40 Byron Beck. The idea that one is not saved unless one speaks in tongues is rejected by most major Pentecostal denominations. 33 David Thompson.

Advocates say that the Pentecostal position aligns closely with Luke's emphasis in the book of Acts and reflects a more sophisticated use of hermeneutics. 2 Alex English. Critics charge that this doctrine does not mesh well with what they believe to be Paul's criticism of the early Corinthian church for their obsession with speaking in tongues (see 1 Corinthians, chapters 12-14 in the New Testament). Lafayette "Fat" Lever. This, however, would be a minority perspective. Dikembe Mutombo. This would be the only case where a believer would be filled with the Holy Spirit, but not exhibit the so-called "initial physical evidence" of speaking in tongues. David Thompson.

Some ministers and members admit that a believer might be able to speak in tongues, but for various personal reasons (such as a lack of understanding) might not. Dan Issel. Most major Pentecostal churches also accept the corollary that those who don't speak in tongues have not received the blessing that they call "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit" (this claim is uniquely Pentecostal and is one of the few consistent differences from Charismatic theology). Alex English. Speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia, is the normative proof of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. One of the most prominent distinguishing characteristics of Pentecostalism that separates it from Evangelicalism is its emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit.

For the Pentecostal, the Scriptures are a primary reference point for communion with God and a template for reading the world. Jackie David Johns, in his work on Pentecostal formational leadership, states that the Scriptures hold a special place in the Pentecostal worldview in that the Bible is held as a book in which the Holy Spirit is always active; to encounter the Scriptures is to encounter God. Dr. Reason is esteemed as a valid conduit of truth, but Pentecostals do not limit truth to the realm of reason.

Although Pentecostals are concerned with orthodoxy ("correct belief"), they are also concerned with orthopathy ("right affections") and orthopraxy ("right reflection or action"). Pentecostals embrace a transrational worldview. While there is cross pollination with other movements, Pentecostals differ from Fundamentalists by placing more emphasis on personal spiritual experience and, in most cases, by allowing women in ministry. Theologically, most Pentecostal denominations are aligned with Evangelicalism in that they emphasize the reliability of the Bible and the need for conversion to faith in Jesus.

Charismatic Christians, at least in the early days of the movement, tended to remain in their respective denominations. Pentecostalism is similar to the Charismatic movement, but developed earlier and separated from the mainstream church. The Pentecostal movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Al Sharpton - American politician, civil rights activist, and Pentecostal minister.

Andrea Mason - leader of the Family First Party of Australia in the Federal Election of 2004. Steve Fielding - Family First Party Leader and Senator from Victoria. Andrew Evans - Founder and most influential member of the Family First Party and Member of the South Australian Legislative Council. Stockwell Day - prominent Canadian politician.

Frederick Chiluba - former President of Zambia. John Ashcroft - former Attorney-General of the United States. Luis & Aileen Torres - Pastors of Centro De Adoracion Nuevos Comienzos, Passaic, New Jersey, US. Rev Mohan - Pastor New Life Assemblies Of God Church, chennai, India.

Vincent Leoh [1957- ]- General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God of Malaysia; Senior Pastor of Glad Tidings Assembly of God, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Sophia Tan Luang Keng - Founding and Senior Pastor of Living Spring Fellowship, based in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Larry Schoonover is also Senior editor of the Apostolic Herald (http://apostolicherald.com). Larry Schoonover - Senior Pastor of New Life Pentecostal Church (http://newlife-apostolic.com) in Puyallup, Washington.

Ouriel de Jesus - Senior Pastor of World Revival Church (http://www.godsrevival.com), the center of the revival in Boston, MA, and the president of the 70 some odd congregations planted by his ministry around the world. Brian Houston - Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Wayne Hughes - Senior Pastor of the Takapuna Assembly of God, New Zealand. In 2002, he conducted the largest known evangelistic crusade in history, in Lagos, Nigeria, attended by six million people.

Reinhard Bonnke (1941-) - German evangelist known for his huge crusades, mostly in Africa but also elsewhere. Luis Cabral (1965-) - Portuguese evangelist, now based in New Zealand. Jack Hayford - Founding Pastor of Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. David Yonggi Cho (1936-) - Senior Pastor of the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea.

Currently Associate Pastor of Times Square Church, New York. David Wilkerson (1931-) - author of The Cross and the Switchblade and numerous other books. Ward. M.

C. Jimmy Swaggart. Pat Robertson. Oral Roberts.

Kathryn Kuhlman. Kenneth Hagin Sr. Kenneth Copeland. Morris Cerullo.

Dan Betzer. Jim Bakker. Gordon Fee - New Testament Scholar. Rufus Hollis Gause (born 1925).

Derek Prince (1915-2003) - probably the world's best-known Pentecostal theologian. Donald Gee (1891-1966). Rex Humbard (b.1919) The first successful TV evangelist of the mid 1950s, 1960s, and the 1970s and at one time had the largest television audience of any televangelist in the U.S. Oral Roberts (b.1918) Healing Tent Evangelist who made the transition to televangelism.

Allen (1911-1970) Healing Tent Evangelist of the 1950s and 1960s. A. A. Jack Coe (1918-1956) Healing Tent Evangelist of the 1950s.

Branham (1909-1965) Healing Evangelists of the mid 20th century. William M. Kathryn Kuhlman (1907-1976) American female evangelist who brought Pentecostalism into the mainstream denominations. Aimee Semple McPherson(1890-1944) American Female Evangelist and organizer of the Four Square Gospel Church.

Seymour (1870-1922) Azusa Street Mission Founder. William J. Charles Fox Parham (1873-1929) Father of Modern Pentecostalism. David du Plessis.

Smith Wigglesworth. John Alexander Dowie (1848-1907). Australia: 0.4 million. Papua New Guinea: 0.4 million.

Oceania: 3.3 million