Azusa Street

The Azusa street revival was essentially the birth of the new age Pentecostalism; where Charles H. Parham and William J. Seymour spread the news of being Baptized in the Holy Spirit not being a mandatory step in righteousness, but, the given power of God to be able to minister effectively to all those around you. William J. Seymour was something of a student of Charles H. Parham. Seymour, according to the Handbook of Pentecostal Christianity, became deeply committed to Parham’s novel explaining how we need the “third blessing” (baptism in the Holy Spirit) following justification and sanctification. The Biblical proof of being baptized in the Holy Spirit was the speaking of tongues. This idea was not new to the Holiness movement, however; the Biblical evidence of speaking in tongues is what made Parham’s concept unique. Shortly after having attended Parham’s school in Houston, Texas, Seymour was invited to pastor at an African American church in L.A., California because the head pastor was heading out to do missions work. Seymour hadn’t experienced the “third blessing” yet, but he was completely devoted to the principles of it being necessary to Christian Ministry work. Most people who were part of the Holiness Movement believed that speaking of tongues and having a “third blessing” to be heretical. So the members of the congregation that was welcome to Seymour coming out to pastor in absence of the head pastor Julia W. Hutchins, ejected Seymour out of their church. To clear up Seymour’s view on the three works grace; he believed that the first two acts of grace (justification, and sanctification) were necessary, but separate from the third work grace: to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. After being ejected out of the church, Edward and Mattie Lee invited him to stay with them, because he is now out of a job and home. Seymour then started a small prayer group in Edward and Mattie Lee’s home. It became more and more popular each time the meeting was held. It grew so big that Seymour had to end up searching for a new place to hold the prayer group. He found a place on Azusa Street. People began coming here from all over the world. This venue was eventually called the Apostolic Faith Mission. The Azusa Street revival became such a big deal because people from all ethnic groups were coming to it and that there were leaders being formed from this once small prayer group who would spread the new theology around the United States, and around the world. As life went on, people began planting churches elsewhere and the home base of Azusa street became less and less popular of a venue. Seymour never left though. He continued to lead his African American congregation until his death in 1922. His wife Jennie then took over the leadership role in the church until a man name Ruthford D. Griffith offered to take over the Pastoral duties at Azusa street. After Ruthford fought for control of the establishment, and after a few lawsuits, the Apostolic Faith Mission was demolished forcing the remaining members to hold services at Asberry home where it eventually died out and the members joined other churches.