A Pivotal Moment In Time
“Called Out of Obscurity”
(I Cor. 1:26-29)
Presented By
Dr. Marlene Groomes C.A.P.P
MDC/Homestead Campus
School Of Arts and Science
Back to the Future
“The Event that Shook the World”
68th Top Event of the Millennium
The Times
“Jim Crow”
The American Caste System
1877 - 1960, Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-Black
laws. It was a way of life. African Americans were relegated to
the status of second class citizens; it was the legitimization of antiBlack racism.
Even many Christian ministers/theologians taught that Whites
were the Chosen people, Blacks were cursed to be servants, and
God supported racial segregation. Craniologists, eugenicists,
phrenologists, and Social Darwinists, taught the belief that Blacks
were innately intellectually and culturally inferior. Politicians
gave speeches on the great danger of integration: the
mongrelization of the White race.
The Horrors of “Jim Crow”
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Blacks could not shake hands with Whites
it implied social equality
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Blacks and Whites were not allowed to eat
together/or area must be partitioned
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Black male never to light cigarette for
White female (it implied intimacy)
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Blacks could show no public affection,
especially kissing, it offended Whites.
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Whites didn’t use titles of respect to
Blacks, only first names. Blacks used titles
to Whites, no first names.
1906 Timeline
1903 -- Ford sold first automobile
1905 – Einstein's Theory of Relativity
1906
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1/31 – Earthquake in Ecuador (8.6).
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4/7 - Mount Vesuvius erupts and devastates Naples.
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4/18 - San Francisco Earthquake (7.8) - The most disastrous
earthquake in America's history, killed 3,000+; 250,000 homeless
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9/18 - Typhoon with tsunami kills an estimated 10,000 persons in
Hong Kong.
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9/22 - Race riots in Atlanta, Georgia. Killed 21 blacks and their
business district is severely damaged. Atlanta, GA
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9/27 - Pensacola Hurricane
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10/11 - San Francisco public school board ordered Japanese
students to be taught in racially segregated schools.
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10/23 First Powered Flight In Europe
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12/4 - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the first intercollegiate Greekfraternity for African Americans, was founded at Cornell.
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12/24 - Fessenden makes the first radio broadcast: DeForest
invented triode electron tube, allowing amplification of electric
signals, critical for long-distance telephones, radio/tv.
“The Red Summer of 1906”
Los Angeles, CA – Circa 1906
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Settled in 1781 by 11 men and their families -3
Spaniards, 2 blacks, 2 mulattos, 4 Indians.
By 1900 there were over 100,000 residents of the
city. A popular destination for many wanting to
live the American dream.
In April 1906, the city was impacted by an
earthquake that devastated San Francisco.
It became a center of oil production in the early
20th century.
The city was warned that the county would soon
dry up unless they built an aqueduct.
L.A. was a growing metropolis with a richness of
racial and ethnic groups. Mexican, European,
Asians, blacks, and Indians .
There were over 6,000 blacks in the city, whose
population had doubled from the prior 10 years.
It was called the Promised Land/ the New or
American Jerusalem.
The Great San Francisco Earthquake
April 18,1906
Azusa Street- Los Angeles, CA
“Color lines were washed away.”
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Services conducted in a small holiness mission on
Azusa St. birthed a global spiritual renewal.
When revival started, thousands converged on the
city from all over the world to attend.
They found a renewed sense of purpose by being
saved, sanctified, or filled with the Holy Spirit
with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
In one meeting over twenty nationalities were
counted.
Fine ladies could be found lying on the floor next
to domestic servants and washer women.
Prominent churchmen and government officials
sat next to field hands.
It was the great social equalizer for race, gender,
age, and class.
William J. Seymour
The Leader and
His Legacy
“Revival is like a fire that is carried by the
wind—its sparks will ignite the dry wood in
every direction it blows”.
(Joyner, 2001)
1870-1922
His Life and the Greatest Revival of
the 20th Century
Verdunville, LA
1870
Chosen Leader
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Son of former slaves
Illiterate
Self-taught by reading Bible
Blind in one eye
Severely scarred from Smallpox
Called “the humble, faithful
Pastor”
Hailed the founder of the
modern Pentecostal Movement
Helped spark spiritual renewal
in the U. S. and the world.
“A man - ahead of his times and
bigger than his is environment”
Stumbling Block to
Education
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Segregation Laws/Teaching: Any instructor who shall teach in any school,
college or institution where whites and blacks are received and enrolled as pupils
for instruction shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof, shall be fined.
Seymour was barred from the room, listened to Parham through an open door in
his Houston Bible school. He was not even permitted to pray with others while
seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Seymour didn't let that stop him from pursuing God.
He soon had grasp all of Parham teachings and was
released to start a “negro” work in California.
Humble Beginnings
Frank Bartleman
Azusa St. Committee
Prayer meetings on Bonnie Bray
A Father Kills His Son
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Seymour- the message was about Jesus and racial/ gender reconciliation. At Azusa
blacks and whites, men and women were in leadership under Seymourunprecedented in the days of Jim Crow.
Seymour-"No instrument that God can use is rejected on account of color or dress
or lack of education."
His dream was shattered when his mentor Charles Parham visited Azusa Street in
October of 1906.
The educated, white Parham was appalled at what he called "darky camp meeting
stunts”
Parham’s racist views were hardening. By 1910 he had become Klan supporter
Parham challenged Seymour’s authority and unsuccessfully tried to take his church.
He start a nearby rival ministry which soon failed.
Before 1906 had ended, most Azusa leaders left to form congregations, such as the
51st Street Apostolic Faith Mission, the Spanish AFM, and the Italian Pentecostal
Mission, which consisted primarily of immigrant or ethnic groups, the poor,
outcasts, newcomers, and/or the low-wage laborers.
From Beauty to Ashes
“Scattered all over the Earth”
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“It is hailed as one of the greatest events in Christian history.”
However, the Azusa revival was destroyed by racism, jealousy,
factioning, division and thief.
Clara Lum a leader in the ministry stole the mailing list of
50,000 monthly subscribers, because she was heartsick Seymour
married. She started another church in Oregon
Because of these problems the sparks of revival and the gospel
were carried all over the world. Twenty-five churches were
started in L.A. in the first four years.
Many denominations were born from this movement, ex.
Assemblies of God. But, racial segregation was institutionalized
Today, this great symbol of God’s moving in the earth is a
parking lot.
“We are on the verge of the greatest miracle the world has ever
seen." –William J. Seymour
The Fire That Ignited the World
Some factors make this movement significant in large
cultural terms:
 The massive number of adherents makes this the
most important spiritual event of the 20th century
 At least for a few years corporate worship
transcended racial, gender, and age hierarchies
dominated by Jim Crow paternalism.
 It often overshadowed other mainline
denominations, especially in the South.
 The press was critically important in sustaining its
national and worldwide exposure. (Stephens, 2002)
Parallels and Paradigm Shifts
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Bethlehem stable and Azusa stable
Humble shepherds and Seymour
Political and Social Oppression
Past and Present Global impact
Old Jerusalem and New Jerusalem
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THE FLAME of Pentecostalism was first lighted in 1901 that speaking in
tongues was a sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit. It might have sputtered if
not for William Joseph Seymour, a black preacher
He set out for L A, where his own baptism in the Spirit in 1906 brought him
an enthusiastic following. He founded a the Azusa St. mission in an
abandoned livery stable
Within two years his multicultural ministry sent missionaries to 25 countries.
Pentecostalism is a religion of the heart. Since a personal experience of God
is as important as doctrine, it is an adaptable faith.
By the end of the 1960s, Protestants and Catholics had embraced the gifts of
the Spirit in Charismatic renewal movements. Their worship services may
feature speaking in tongues, and spiritual healing.
Today about a half billion are Pentecostal or Charismatic, and Pentecostals
alone outnumber Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans and Presbyterians
combined; they are the second largest sub-group of global Christianity.
From Seed to Fruits of Harvest
“The impact from this small seed is
continuing. Through this Pentecostal
Revival and subsequent Charismatic
Renewal more ministers, missionaries,
churches have been planted, and
people brought to salvation than any
other movement in church history.
Soon the numbers of those impacted
will eclipse all other religious
movements put together.”
Rick Joyner
Lakewood Church is a megachurch of 30,000 adult
in Houston, Texas
Yoido Full
Gospel Church –
Seoul Korea
800,000 members
Largest church
in the world
Global Impact of Pentecostalism
“Pentecostals/Charismatics- Segments of Christianity which believe in and experience
the dynamic work of the Holy Spirit including supernatural demonstration of God’s
power, with dynamic and participatory worship and zeal for evangelism.” (Ma,2004)
Worldwide Impact:
 Educational reform and the establishment of many Colleges, Universities, and
Seminaries at home and abroad.
 Social and political liberation through legal and governmental reform.
 Worldwide improvements and modernization of health care.
 Racial and gender equality and justice.
 Positive changes in socio-economic conditions.
 Establishment of innumerable publications and periodicals.
 Establishment of multimedia conglomerates- which utilizes radio, film, TV, and
internet to preach the Gospel. Ex. TBN the largest Christian network, and possibly
the largest of any in the world.
 Supernatural phenomena – millions of documented healings, miracles, salvations,
revivals, psycho-social and socio-economic transformations.
 Growth of a massive underground church movement in Asia, which will lead billions
to Christ.
Lessons For Us 100 Years Later
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Destiny and purpose doesn’t have to be limited by your circumstances or
environment, race, gender, or age.
“Don’t let your perceived limitations define you.”
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Seymour modeled, “sound judgment, spiritual balance, personal integrity,
and faithfulness… He demonstrate the value of racial unity and cultural
harmony. ” (Martin, 1999)
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One man with God can change the world.
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True and rich treasures can come to us from studying history
“Those who look to the past, find the future.” (Joyner, 2001)