The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World is the continuation of the great revival that began at Jerusalem
on the Day of Pentecost, A.D. 33, and is based upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone. (Acts 2:1-12; Eph. 2:19,20) Although the true followers have
been little known over the intervening centuries, yet from that time until now, there have always been
earnest contenders for the "faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
At various intervals throughout the past centuries, the followers of the Apostolic Faith and Doctrine have
become prominent through great revivals that have appeared most recently in Great Britain, the United
States, and Canada.
In the days of Tertulian (A.D. 207), Chrysostom (4th Century), Christians of the 13th Century, the early
Quakers (A.D. 1650), Wesley (Methodism and holiness, A.D. 1740), George Whitefield (A.D. 1740) and
Edward Irving (gifts of the Spirit, A.D. 1830), the gifts and manifestations of the Apostolic Church were much
in evidence as the revival spirit swept over the country.
In Kansas (1901), revival broke forth and moved southward to Texas, being known locally only, but finally
reached Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California (1906), from whence it spread throughout the whole earth,
entering into every nation under heaven, penetrating the heathen darkness of India, China, Africa, and the
Isles of the Sea, fulfilling the commission of our Lord: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature," (Mark 16:15-20; Matthew 28:18,19; Luke 24:47-49; Acts 1:4-11), and proclaiming the
soon coming of the Lord.
So great was the awakening that in a few years in nearly every town, there were witnesses to the
Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit (Luke 24:28; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4), and soon there began to appear in
different localities places of worship wherein the gifts of the Spirit were manifested. These places of
worship designated themselves by such names as: "The Apostolic Faith Mission, Pentecostal Mission,
Apostolic Faith Assembly, Full Gospel Assembly or Mission, Assembly of God, " etc.. Their common aim is
to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" in the days of the Apostles,
taking the Bible as their creed, discipline, rule of order and charter.
Our chief aim is to glorify our Savior, even Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us
from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; that we should show forth
the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; and that we may be
blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom we shine as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life, to give light to them that sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide their feet into the way of peace. (See Titus 2:13,14; I Peter
2:9; Philippians 2:15,16; Luke 1:79).
Our duty is to lift the fallen; visit the sick; strengthen the weak; encourage the faint-hearted; comfort the
feeble-minded; point the lost to the way of salvation and urge all believers to seek a spirit-filled life (Eph.
5:18; Acts 19:1-16) and prepare for the coming of the Lord (James 1:27; I Thess. 5:4; Mark 16:15-18;
Matthew 25:1-13).
Moreover it is our indispensable duty, as partakers of the "royal priesthood" (I Peter 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10),
to offer supplications, prayer, intercessions, and giving thanks for all men; for kings, presidents, governors,
magistrates, and all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all Godliness and
honesty; (I Timothy 2:14; Romans 13:1-14) and to submit ourselves "to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake", whether it be king, as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the
punishment of the evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well; so long as these ordinances do not
infringe upon the liberty of service towards God according to the dictation of the heart or conscience. (See I
Peter 2:13-17; Titus 3:1-12; Matthew 22:21)
on the Day of Pentecost, A.D. 33, and is based upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone. (Acts 2:1-12; Eph. 2:19,20) Although the true followers have
been little known over the intervening centuries, yet from that time until now, there have always been
earnest contenders for the "faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
At various intervals throughout the past centuries, the followers of the Apostolic Faith and Doctrine have
become prominent through great revivals that have appeared most recently in Great Britain, the United
States, and Canada.
In the days of Tertulian (A.D. 207), Chrysostom (4th Century), Christians of the 13th Century, the early
Quakers (A.D. 1650), Wesley (Methodism and holiness, A.D. 1740), George Whitefield (A.D. 1740) and
Edward Irving (gifts of the Spirit, A.D. 1830), the gifts and manifestations of the Apostolic Church were much
in evidence as the revival spirit swept over the country.
In Kansas (1901), revival broke forth and moved southward to Texas, being known locally only, but finally
reached Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California (1906), from whence it spread throughout the whole earth,
entering into every nation under heaven, penetrating the heathen darkness of India, China, Africa, and the
Isles of the Sea, fulfilling the commission of our Lord: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature," (Mark 16:15-20; Matthew 28:18,19; Luke 24:47-49; Acts 1:4-11), and proclaiming the
soon coming of the Lord.
So great was the awakening that in a few years in nearly every town, there were witnesses to the
Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit (Luke 24:28; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4), and soon there began to appear in
different localities places of worship wherein the gifts of the Spirit were manifested. These places of
worship designated themselves by such names as: "The Apostolic Faith Mission, Pentecostal Mission,
Apostolic Faith Assembly, Full Gospel Assembly or Mission, Assembly of God, " etc.. Their common aim is
to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" in the days of the Apostles,
taking the Bible as their creed, discipline, rule of order and charter.
Our chief aim is to glorify our Savior, even Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us
from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; that we should show forth
the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; and that we may be
blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom we shine as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life, to give light to them that sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide their feet into the way of peace. (See Titus 2:13,14; I Peter
2:9; Philippians 2:15,16; Luke 1:79).
Our duty is to lift the fallen; visit the sick; strengthen the weak; encourage the faint-hearted; comfort the
feeble-minded; point the lost to the way of salvation and urge all believers to seek a spirit-filled life (Eph.
5:18; Acts 19:1-16) and prepare for the coming of the Lord (James 1:27; I Thess. 5:4; Mark 16:15-18;
Matthew 25:1-13).
Moreover it is our indispensable duty, as partakers of the "royal priesthood" (I Peter 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10),
to offer supplications, prayer, intercessions, and giving thanks for all men; for kings, presidents, governors,
magistrates, and all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all Godliness and
honesty; (I Timothy 2:14; Romans 13:1-14) and to submit ourselves "to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake", whether it be king, as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the
punishment of the evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well; so long as these ordinances do not
infringe upon the liberty of service towards God according to the dictation of the heart or conscience. (See I
Peter 2:13-17; Titus 3:1-12; Matthew 22:21)
| HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLIES OF THE WORLD. INC. |
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| ROSTER OF PRESIDING BISHOPS, P.A.W. |
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| Bishop G. T. Haywood 1925-1931 Bishop Ross Paddock 1967-1974 Bishop Lawrence Brisben 1980-1986 Bishop Paul A. Bowers 1992-1998 Bishop Horace Smith 2004-2010 |
Bishop Samuel Grimes 1932-1967
Bishop Francis Smith 1974-1980
Bishop James A. Johnson 1986-1992
Bishop Norman L. Wagner 1998-2004
Bishop Charles Ellis 2010 - Present
Bishop Francis Smith 1974-1980
Bishop James A. Johnson 1986-1992
Bishop Norman L. Wagner 1998-2004
Bishop Charles Ellis 2010 - Present
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