| A newspaper article from the LA Times was printed with this headline: |
Weird Babel of Tongues. New Sect of Fanatics Is Breaking Loose. Wild Scene Last
Night on Azusa Street. Gurgle of Wordless Talk by a Sister.
Night on Azusa Street. Gurgle of Wordless Talk by a Sister.
Breathing strange utterances and mouthing a creed which it would seem no sane mortal could
understand, the newest religious sect has started in Los Angeles. Meetings are held in a
tumble-down shack on Azusa street, near San Pedro street, and the devotees of the weird doctrine
practice the most fanatical rites, preach the wildest theories and work themselves into a state of mad
excitement in their peculiar zeal.
understand, the newest religious sect has started in Los Angeles. Meetings are held in a
tumble-down shack on Azusa street, near San Pedro street, and the devotees of the weird doctrine
practice the most fanatical rites, preach the wildest theories and work themselves into a state of mad
excitement in their peculiar zeal.
Colored people and a sprinkling of whites composed the congregation, and night is made hideous
in the neighborhood by the howlings of the worshipers, who spend hours swaying forth and back in a
nerve-racking attitude of prayer and supplication. They claim to have “the gift of tongues,” and to be
able to comprehend the babel.
in the neighborhood by the howlings of the worshipers, who spend hours swaying forth and back in a
nerve-racking attitude of prayer and supplication. They claim to have “the gift of tongues,” and to be
able to comprehend the babel.
Such a startling claim has never yet been made by any company of fanatics, even in Los Angeles,
the home of almost numberless creeds. Sacred tenets, reverently mentioned by the orthodox
believer, are (spoken) with in a familiar, if not irreverent manner by these latest religionists.
the home of almost numberless creeds. Sacred tenets, reverently mentioned by the orthodox
believer, are (spoken) with in a familiar, if not irreverent manner by these latest religionists.
Evangelical Christian history loves to highlight the “First Great Awakening” under the leadership of Jonathan
Edwards and George Whitefield. They love to talk about the “Second Great Awakening” under the preaching
of Charles Finney. And while these two revivals were great and significant – they really only touched the
United States in the East and Midwest and parts of England. They are called “great,” but they pale in
comparison to the mighty influence of the Azusa Street Revival.
Edwards and George Whitefield. They love to talk about the “Second Great Awakening” under the preaching
of Charles Finney. And while these two revivals were great and significant – they really only touched the
United States in the East and Midwest and parts of England. They are called “great,” but they pale in
comparison to the mighty influence of the Azusa Street Revival.
This revival is the beginning of what has been called the Pentecostal/charismatic movement. Any church or
denomination that places an emphasis on an experience of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, healing, prophecy,
miracles and especially speaking in tongues – is a part of this movement. Today if you include all of the
Pentecostal denominations, independent charismatics and denominational charismatics (like charismatic
Catholics, charismatics Presbyterians, etc.), there are nearly 600 million Pentecostal/charismatics in the
world. We are the second largest body of believers, second only to the Catholic tradition. There are more
Pentecostal/charismatics in the world than the rest of all Protestant denominations put together. ¼ of full
time Christian workers (pastors, evangelists, missionaries) in the world are Pentecostal/charismatics. We are
in the minority here in the United States, but in the worldwide picture - we are the second largest. Currently,
we are the fasting growing segment of the body of Christ. Church growth expert C. Peter Wagner says, “In
all of human history, no other non-political, non-militaristic, voluntary human movement has grown as rapidly
as the Pentecostal-charismatic movement in the last twenty-five years” (Synan, Holiness-Pentecostal
Tradition, xi). This is not a point at which we should brag or boast. It only serves as evidence to awesome
work of the Spirit that occurred over 90 years ago at the Azusa Street Revival. Anyone who speaks in
tongues, and lives with an expectation of miracles, who believes in the supernatural gifts of the Spirit can
trace their roots back to the Azusa Street Revival. As Pentecostal/charismatics, we have a rich spiritual
heritage.
denomination that places an emphasis on an experience of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, healing, prophecy,
miracles and especially speaking in tongues – is a part of this movement. Today if you include all of the
Pentecostal denominations, independent charismatics and denominational charismatics (like charismatic
Catholics, charismatics Presbyterians, etc.), there are nearly 600 million Pentecostal/charismatics in the
world. We are the second largest body of believers, second only to the Catholic tradition. There are more
Pentecostal/charismatics in the world than the rest of all Protestant denominations put together. ¼ of full
time Christian workers (pastors, evangelists, missionaries) in the world are Pentecostal/charismatics. We are
in the minority here in the United States, but in the worldwide picture - we are the second largest. Currently,
we are the fasting growing segment of the body of Christ. Church growth expert C. Peter Wagner says, “In
all of human history, no other non-political, non-militaristic, voluntary human movement has grown as rapidly
as the Pentecostal-charismatic movement in the last twenty-five years” (Synan, Holiness-Pentecostal
Tradition, xi). This is not a point at which we should brag or boast. It only serves as evidence to awesome
work of the Spirit that occurred over 90 years ago at the Azusa Street Revival. Anyone who speaks in
tongues, and lives with an expectation of miracles, who believes in the supernatural gifts of the Spirit can
trace their roots back to the Azusa Street Revival. As Pentecostal/charismatics, we have a rich spiritual
heritage.
The Azusa Street Revival
