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 anti-Black 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”The Horrors of “Jim Crow”

Blacks could not shake hands with Whites it implied social equality

Blacks and Whites were not allowed to eat together/or area must be partitioned

Black male never to light cigarette for White female (it implied intimacy)

Blacks could show no public affection, especially kissing, it offended Whites.

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 1/31 – Earthquake in Ecuador (8.6). 4/7 - Mount Vesuvius erupts and devastates Naples. 4/18 - San Francisco Earthquake (7.8) - The most disastrous

earthquake in America's history, killed 3,000+; 250,000 homeless 9/18 - Typhoon with tsunami kills an estimated 10,000 persons in

Hong Kong. 9/22 - Race riots in Atlanta, Georgia. Killed 21 blacks and their

business district is severely damaged. Atlanta, GA 9/27 - Pensacola Hurricane 10/11 - San Francisco public school board ordered Japanese

students to be taught in racially segregated schools. 10/23 First Powered Flight In Europe 12/4 - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the first intercollegiate Greek-

fraternity for African Americans, was founded at Cornell. 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

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.”

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.

1870-1922

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)

His Life and the Greatest Revival of the 20th Century

Verdunville, LA

1870

Chosen Leader

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

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

Prayer meetings on Bonnie Bray

Frank Bartleman

Azusa St. Committee

A Father Kills His Son Seymour- the message was about Jesus and racial/ gender reconciliation. At Azusa

blacks and whites, men and women were in leadership under Seymour-unprecedented 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”

“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

Bethlehem stable and Azusa stable Humble shepherds and Seymour Political and Social Oppression Past and Present Global impact Old Jerusalem and New Jerusalem

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 HarvestLakewood 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

“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

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

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.”

Seymour modeled, “sound judgment, spiritual balance, personal integrity, and faithfulness… He demonstrate the value of racial unity and cultural harmony. ” (Martin, 1999)

One man with God can change the world.

True and rich treasures can come to us from studying history

“Those who look to the past, find the future.” (Joyner, 2001)