Approximately 300 people gathered in Hot Springs, Ark., on April 10-11, 2014, to celebrate the centennial of the Assemblies of God. Echoes of the statements from the founding general council, where another 300 ministers gathered in the same place exactly 100 years earlier, could be heard throughout the two-day event.
The centennial celebration, sponsored by the AGTrust, featured seven speakers and a night of gospel music and worship. The celebration concluded with a pilgrimage to the site of the former Grand Opera House, where the first general council was held, to re-create the iconic photograph of the founders of the Assemblies of God.
One hundred years ago, Hot Springs had a reputation as a wild town, known for its alcohol, prostitution, gangs and drugs. When the founders of the Assemblies of God met at the Hot Springs Grand Opera House for the first general council, they had to pass by the saloon at the front of the building in order to attend the meetings in the auditorium. The centennial celebration was held in a more sanctified setting—the spacious First Assembly of God, Hot Springs, Ark.—pastored by Larry Burton.
The centennial celebration drew people from across the United States. Jean and Magalie Rebecca, a husband and wife who pastor Haitian Assembly of God, Dorchester, Mass., were excited to be able to participate.
"We grew up in the Assemblies of God in Haiti," Jean Rebecca said. "The Assemblies of God is a worldwide family, and we wanted to represent Haitians in Hot Springs.”
Attendees also included descendants of some of the participants in the first general council, held April 2-12, 1914. Bonnie Olsen, the granddaughter of founding Assemblies of God minister Oliver P. Brann, felt right at home.
“I experienced faith-filled services and the power of God this week. I wish I could experience this every day,” she said.
General Superintendent George O. Wood opened the celebration on Thursday by recounting the five reasons for the formation of the Assemblies of God, as enumerated in the century-old “Call to Hot Springs.” Each speaker continued in this vein, expounding on why the founding principles of the Assemblies of God remain compelling today.
Greg Mundis, executive director of Assemblies of God World Missions, shared about the heritage of missionaries who suffered, sometimes unto death, to bring the gospel around the world. Assistant General Superintendent Alton Garrison preached on the bedrock importance of the Word of God.
True to Pentecostal form, the afternoon service included an extended time at the altar. Hundreds of voices were raised in fervent prayer, and people flooded the altars and aisles in the church. Following a time of prayer for specific areas of ministry, Garrison asked those present in need of healing to come forward for prayer. Vocal spiritual gifts were manifested, and several people later testified of physical healings.
Wilfredo De Jesús, pastor of New Life Covenant Church, Chicago, Ill., encouraged those who are carrying on the Pentecostal legacy to fight complacency in their spiritual lives.
“It is essential to build a bridge,” De Jesús said, “so that the younger generation can learn about the power of the Holy Spirit from the older generation.”
He illustrated this principle with the biblical example of Elijah, the older prophet, who discipled Elisha, the younger prophet. “Elijah and Elisha were from different generations, but they walked together,” he said.
Thursday evening, gospel musicians Johnny Minick and Russ Taff led participants in three hours of rousing worship. The music included songs from each decade of the last 100 years. About 40 people—including Wood and Garrison—participated in a Jericho March, which is a spirited procession around the church in a single file during the worship service. The practice originated in Kentucky Presbyterian camp meetings during the Second Great Awakening and had been adopted by some early Pentecostals.
On Friday morning, three younger ministers spoke—Rod Loy, First Assembly, North Little Rock, Ark.; Rob Ketterling, River Valley Church, Apple Valley, Minn.; and Aaron Cole, Life Church, Milwaukee, Wis. They described how Assemblies of God founding ideals are being carried out today and also envisioned the future of the Fellowship.
The celebration culminated in a pilgrimage to the site where the Hot Springs Grand Opera House once stood. The 300 attendees viewed the new historic marker in honor of the Assemblies of God centennial, which was placed in the sidewalk near Mountain Valley Spring Company, located at 150 Central Avenue. They proceeded to climb the winding trail behind the site of the former Grand Opera House until they reached a small clearing where the iconic photograph from the first general council had been taken.
J. Don George, an Assemblies of God senior statesman and founding pastor of Calvary Church in Irving, Texas, called the centennial event in Hot Springs “a historic occasion that will be long remembered.” He noted that the event was relatively small in comparison to the larger centennial celebration slated to be held in Springfield, Mo., on August 5-10, 2014, in conjunction with the World Assemblies of God Congress.
“As a movement we are called to generational, gender, cultural and racial diversity,” George said. When thousands of visitors from across the United States and the world descend on Springfield in August, this diversity will be on full display.
The men and women who met in Hot Springs 100 years ago laid a foundation for a cooperative fellowship that would help Pentecostals to more effectively evangelize the world. One hundred years later, the Assemblies of God has more than 3.1 million adherents in the United States and more than 66 million worldwide.
The centennial gathering offered both a celebration of the past century and a vision for the future.
Assemblies of God Superintendent George O. Wood said, “The Assemblies of God has been marked by purpose and passion. Our purpose is embedded in our doctrine, mission, values and strategies. Our passion comes from the work of the Holy Spirit who continues to empower us to do the greatest work of evangelism the world has ever seen. The future for the Assemblies of God is truly as bright as the promises of God.”
Darrin J. Rodgers, M.A., J.D., is the director of Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center and the editor of the Assemblies of God Heritage.
For the original article, visit ag.org.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Dr. Mark Rutland's
National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)
The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!
FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.
Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.
