What is a Pentecostal Church?

Pentecostalism is an evangelical Protestant Christian denomination with a focus on a personal connection with God and baptism in the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues. A charismatic movement, Pentecostal believers and congregations are one of the fastest-growing Christian movements worldwide.

The name is a reference to the Day of Pentecost found in the New Testament, where the apostles of Jesus Christ began revivals in the city of Jerusalem, speaking in a language they didn’t understand, evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit.

History of Pentecostalism

The origins of the Pentecostal movement are credited to Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas. On January 1, 1901, forty students studying the Holiness Movement, including Agnes Ozman, began speaking in tongues.

Charles Fox Parham, a methodist pastor and founder of the school, then preached at an event in Houston, Texas, where William J. Seymour heard the message. William Seymour, an African American preacher, took this teaching to Los Angeles where he started the Azusa Street Revival. The testimony of the people who attended a service at 312 Azusa Street was of salvation, sanctification, and baptism in the Holy Spirit.

This is considered by historians to be the cause of the spread of the Pentecostal movement in the 20th century. Many believers and pastors who took part brought the teachings back to their faith communities.

Core Beliefs of the Pentecostal Church

The core belief of classical Pentecostalism is that through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, sin is forgiven and worshipers can be reconciled with God. This is referred to as the gospel, or ‘Good News’. Pentecostal Christians have an emphasis on a personal connection with God through the Holy Spirit, and the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, glossolalia, as evidence of someone’s baptism, or full immersion in the Holy Spirit. While this is not considered a requirement for salvation, it is a significant experience for charismatics. Similar to Baptist churches, there is a large focus on water baptism.

worshipping in church

Pentecostal traditions include the role of spiritual gifts to healing of the sick, prophecy, do miracles and cast out demons. This is to aid the mission and ministry of sharing the love of God with others.

The congregation often has a practice of meeting midweek in small groups, to create fellowship and community with the members.

Pentecostal Worship and Practices

Pentecostal worship services are often energetic, expressive, and sometimes spontaneous. The majority of conversions come through their Sunday services. There is music, prayer, and prominent speaking in tongues compared to other denominations of the Christian church.

The doctrine of Pentecostal churches is that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, and as such, the preaching of the Bible is a key part of every worship service.

Denominations and Variations within Pentecostalism

There are 740 recognised Pentecostal denominations, with 240 classified as Wesleyan, Holiness, or Methodistic Pentecostalism. In Australia, there are several large denominations, including Assemblies of God, Church of God, with Australian Christian Church as the largest with 1,000 churches and 375,000 worshipers.

The overarching characteristics of each group will be similar, with slight differences in tradition, practices and governance.

Global Impact and Growth of Christianity

A 2011 study found that there are an estimated 279 million Pentecostals, making up about 4% of the world’s population. It is reported to be the fastest-growing religious movement in the world, with an estimated 35,000 people converting to Pentecostalism every day.

full church

Challenges and Controversies Facing Pentecostal Churches

While the beginning Pentecostal converts were mainly from the Holiness Churches, with an understanding of sanctification as an instantaneous experience. This was challenged in 1910 when William Durham preached the Finished Work, a doctrine which placed sanctification at the moment of salvation and the belief that after conversion, the believer would continue to grow in grace as a lifelong process.

A more modern example would be various Christian groups criticising Charismatic churches for placing too much focus on physical manifestations, such as glossolalia or falling to the ground, as well as anti-intellectualism.

Visit a Pentecostal Church Today

Pentecostal church are growing on every continent of the world as a key part of the global Christian faith. With an appeal to a wide range of men and women, and a focus on welcoming visitors, we would love to see you at C3 Powerhouse on the Sunshine Coast.