Our founder, Florence Crawford, was among those who received the experience of sanctification
and the power of the Holy Spirit in the Los Angeles revival of 1906. A dynamic woman, she
entered wholeheartedly into evangelistic work, assisting mission leader William J. Seymour. Many
inquiries had begun coming in from people who wanted to know more about the Pentecostal
outpouring, so Florence Crawford began recording what was being said in the meetings and
putting it into a newspaper format, with the help of Clara Lum and others. The publication was
called The Apostolic Faith.
In addition to her efforts in the publishing work, Florence Crawford felt God's call to travel beyond
the boundaries of Los Angeles with the Pentecostal message. Her first ministries were along the
West Coast where she worked as an itinerant home missionary. In December of 1906, she made
her initial visit to Portland, Oregon, where she had been invited to preach in an independent
church on Second and Main Street. Subsequently, the pastor of that church offered her his pulpit
permanently, and in 1908, Crawford moved to Portland. At that point, the Azusa Street ministry
turned over the responsibility of publishing The Apostolic Faith paper to her.
Evidence of the fact that she brought the publishing work to Portland with the blessing of the
Azusa Street ministry is the fact that the first edition of the 13th issue of the Apostolic Faith paper
which was published in Los Angeles in May 1908, (after Florence Crawford moved to Portland)
contained this note: "For the next issue of this paper address The Apostolic Faith Campmeeting,
Portland, Oregon." It also refers to Florence Crawford as "Sister Crawford" and mentions her
activities in Portland. At that juncture, publishing of the paper was transferred to Florence
Crawford's headquarters in Portland. It is our understanding that only two of the twenty-two
complete mailing lists were brought to Portland. She continued the publishing of The Apostolic
Faith paper without interruption, the first edition from Portland coming out in July-August, 1908.
A further evidence that Florence Crawford left with the initial blessing of the Azusa Street ministry
is the fact that Jennie Seymour, wife of William Seymour, was a signer on the "Articles of
Incorporation" for the "Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, Oregon," which was signed by her and
two other co-signers, and registered with the State of Oregon on October 12, 1909. We have
copies of those papers in our possession. This indicates that there was mutual respect between the
Seymours and Florence Crawford at that time-more than a year after the alleged "theft" of the
mailing list.
In 1981, the publication name was changed to The Light of Hope and in 1995, the publication became Higher Way.
The Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, Oregon continues to print and uphold the same doctrines as taught by the
original Azusa ministry and has maintained its headquarters in Portland.
Their website is at http://www.apostolicfaith.org/.
Notes and References
Douglas J. Nelson For Such A Time As This, ( Ph.D. diss. University of Birmingham, England, 1981). Tinney,
James S. and Short, Stephen, eds. In The Tradition of William C Seymour, Washington, D.C., Spirit Press,
1978, p. 13. Miriam Matthews, Archivist for the AME Church, Los Angeles, CA. S letter dated October 31,
1989. The paragraph revision under editor's note was submitted by the Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland,
Oregon, USA.
With Racial prejudice in that day
being so prevalent, Charles
Harrison Mason, founder of the
Church of God in Christ, who
certainly experienced the power of
God transcend racial barriers,
nonetheless discouraged William
being so prevalent, Charles
Harrison Mason, founder of the
Church of God in Christ, who
certainly experienced the power of
God transcend racial barriers,
nonetheless discouraged William
| Note: The Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland Oregon, the successor of the Azusa Street Newspaper has issued the following statement, disputing the prevailing belief that Clara Lum stole the mailing lists. |
Clara Lum
| Failed Inter-racial Love interests could have led to demise of the Azusa Street Revival |
Seymour from marrying Clara Lum, the white woman
in charge of the Apostolic Faith publication, the
primary communication tool of the mission and revival.
On May 13, 1908, Seymour married Jennie Evans Moore, a black woman. Soon after, Lum left not only with the paper,
but also with its list of subscribers. She then joined Florence Crawford in Portland Oregon and commenced publishing the
paper as though it were still Seymour doing the writing and editing. Only later did she admit in print that she had taken over
as editor. The Seymours went to Portland and tried, without success, to get Clara Lum to return the mailing lists. With only
the Los Angeles area addresses, the influence of Seymour’s paper quickly declined.
in charge of the Apostolic Faith publication, the
primary communication tool of the mission and revival.
On May 13, 1908, Seymour married Jennie Evans Moore, a black woman. Soon after, Lum left not only with the paper,
but also with its list of subscribers. She then joined Florence Crawford in Portland Oregon and commenced publishing the
paper as though it were still Seymour doing the writing and editing. Only later did she admit in print that she had taken over
as editor. The Seymours went to Portland and tried, without success, to get Clara Lum to return the mailing lists. With only
the Los Angeles area addresses, the influence of Seymour’s paper quickly declined.
W.J. Seymour Clara Lum
W.J. Seymour Clara Lum
| Jennie Evans Moore |
| Jennie Evans Moore |