Azusa Street Revival Birth of Pentecostalism

The Azusa Street Revival was a historic revival meeting place that took place in Los Angeles, California. The Holy Spirit came in waves in April 9th, 1906.

William J. Seymour, the one eyed 34 year old son of a free slave led the meeting at 216 North Bonnie Brae Street.
On April 9th, 1906, after 5 weeks of William’s preaching and praying, and 3 days into an intended 10 day fast, Edward S. Lee spoke in tongues for the first time. At the next meeting William shared Edward’s testimony and preached a sermon on Acts ch 2 v 4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
and soon 6 others began to speak in tongues, including Jennie Moor- William’s future wife. After praying all night William spoke in tongues for the first time on 12 th April .

The news spread quickly and crowds gathered. They held their first meeting on April 14th, 1906. Services were held outside to accommodate the crowds, People were baptized in the Holy Spirit, the sick were healed and sinners received salvation.

To further accommodate the crowd an old dilapidated two storey frame building at 312 Azusa Street, in the industrial section of the city, was secured. In this humble Azusa Street Mission, originally built for an African Methodist Episcopal church, which had been turned into a livery stable, storage building and tenement house, and referred by a newspaper as a tumble down shack the Pentecostal church was born. (Read Azusa Street ‘Conditions’)

The revival was characterised by spiritual experiences accompanied with testimonies of physical healing miracles, worship services and speaking in tongues.

Proud, well dressed preachers came to ‘investigate’. Soon their high looks replaced with wonder, then conviction comes, and very often you find them in a short time wallowing on the dirty floor, asking God to forgive them and make them little children. Apostolic Faith

All sorts of people came in their 100s ( 300-1500 would attempt to fit into the building) to worship from a diversity of backgrounds and different ages. Some came with both skepticism and a desire to participate.

By the end of 1906 most leaders from Azusa Street had spun off to form other congregations. By the end of 1913 the revival at Azusa Street had lost its momentum.

There is so much more to read about -background, Azusa -Services and worship criticism , and Legacy

The revival is considered by historians to be the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century.

Today there are more than 500 million Pentecostal and charismatic believers across the globe. it is the fastest growing form of Christianity.

We continue to need more revival PENTECOSTS. ( Acts ch 2 v1-4)