Pentecostalism

Pentecostalism is a movement within Protestant Christianity that focuses on having a direct personal experience of God through something called baptism with the Holy Spirit. The name comes from Pentecost, a special event in the Bible when the Holy Spirit came down to the followers of Jesus Christ. Like other forms of evangelical Christianity, Pentecostalism believes strongly in the Bible and that people need to turn away from their mistakes and believe in Jesus as their savior.

What makes Pentecostalism different is the belief in being baptized with the Holy Spirit, which is thought to help Christians live strong and powerful lives. There are many church groups that follow Pentecostal ideas, and they are found all around the world. The movement is growing very fast, especially in places like the Global South and Third World countries. Today, many people around the world identify as Pentecostals, and when you include others who share similar beliefs, that number is very large. Many experts think Pentecostalism is one of the fastest-growing religious movement in the world.

History

Background

Early Pentecostals believed their movement renewed the church's original power. Historians say it began from Christian revivals in America and Great Britain in the late 1800s.

These revivals focused on personal experiences of God, healing, and the Holy Spirit. Leaders like Dwight L. Moody talked about a special experience called "baptism with the Holy Spirit" that could empower believers.

Certain Christian groups believed in continuing spiritual gifts. Leaders like Albert Benjamin Simpson and John Alexander Dowie influenced early Pentecostals. Small groups reported experiences like healing and speaking in tongues. The Holiness Pentecostal movement explained these events using their beliefs.

Early revivals: 1900–1929

Charles Fox Parham started a school in Topeka, Kansas in 1900. He taught that speaking in tongues showed receiving the Holy Spirit. In 1901, students experienced this and spoke in tongues. Parham spread this teaching.

Around the same time, the Welsh Revival of 1904–1905 began. Thousands converted and some spoke in tongues.

Parham moved to Houston, Texas and started another school. One student, William J. Seymour, went to Los Angeles. In 1906, he began the Azusa Street Revival. This revival attracted thousands and spread the Pentecostal message. People of different races worshipped together, which was unusual at the time.

Women played important roles in the early movement. They started new churches, served as leaders, and wrote religious songs.

Most early Pentecostal groups opposed war and refused military service.

Spread and opposition

People who experienced the Pentecostal revival spread the message to new areas. Missionaries went to Africa, India, and Europe. They believed speaking in tongues meant they could speak foreign languages without learning them.

Pentecostals often faced criticism from other Christians. Some called their practices unwise or wrong. Over time, Pentecostals began working with other Christian groups.

Early controversies

Early Pentecostals came from Holiness backgrounds. Some believed becoming a Christian included a second experience called sanctification. Others believed sanctification happened gradually after conversion. This caused division.

In 1914, white Pentecostal ministers formed the Assemblies of God. They differed from African-American groups like the Church of God in Christ.

Some Pentecostals began teaching that baptism should be done only in Jesus' name. This caused controversy and led to the formation of Oneness Pentecostal groups.

1930–1959

Pentecostals faced rejection from some conservative Christians who believed spiritual gifts stopped after the Bible was written. By the 1940s, Pentecostals began working with other evangelicals.

The Latter Rain Movement began in the late 1940s, teaching about special leaders called apostles. This caused conflict with established Pentecostal groups.

The Healing Revival of the 1940s and 1950s, led by evangelists like Oral Roberts, drew crowds and influenced later movements.

1960–present

In the 1960s, many Christians from traditional churches experienced the Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Spirit but stayed in their own churches. This became known as the Charismatic Movement. Classical Pentecostals had to adjust to these changes.

Beliefs

Pentecostalism is a type of Christian faith that focuses on the Bible and changing one's life by believing in Jesus. Pentecostals believe the Bible is completely true and that faith in Jesus is very important.

A key belief is being "born again," which means turning away from wrong actions and accepting Jesus as a personal savior. This brings a new life with the Holy Spirit. Pentecostals also believe that prayer and faith can help people get better from sickness, and they wait for Jesus to return.

Pentecostals value the gifts of the Spirit, like speaking in different languages or sharing messages from God. They believe these gifts are given to help the church and support each other. These gifts are seen as tools for growing spiritually and helping the community.

Worship

Pentecostal worship is full of energy. It includes praying, singing, listening to sermons, reading the Bible, and sometimes sharing special meals together. People often feel free to follow their hearts, making each service feel a little different.

Praying is very important in Pentecostal worship. People might pray together out loud, sometimes in a special way called speaking in tongues, or they might pray quietly. During prayer, people may raise their hands or place their hands on someone who needs support. These actions come from the Bible and are shared by many Christian groups today. Music also plays a big role, with many well-known Christian songs and groups starting from Pentecostal traditions.

Some services include special moments where people feel very moved by their faith. These moments happen more often during special meetings and are seen as ways to celebrate faith together.

Pentecostals also have special ceremonies called ordinances. One is water baptism, where people show their belief by being fully immersed in water. Another is Holy Communion, a meal in memory of Jesus, often using grape juice instead of wine.

Statistics and denominations

Further information: List of Christian denominations § Pentecostalism

See also: List of Pentecostal churches

Pentecostalism is a fast-growing religious movement. Many people choose to become Pentecostal or "Born again" each day. Scholars say it might be the fastest-growing religious movement.

In 1995, there were about 217 million Pentecostals worldwide. By 2011, this grew to about 279 million people. Most Pentecostals live in Sub-Saharan Africa, followed by the Americas and Asia. Pentecostalism is growing quickly in Africa, Central and Latin America, and Asia. There are many groups within Pentecostalism, some following teachings from the Wesleyan tradition.

Among the many Pentecostal groups, some believe in three important experiences: turning to faith, becoming holy, and receiving the Holy Spirit. Other groups, called Finished Work Pentecostals, believe there are two main experiences: turning to faith and receiving the Holy Spirit.

There are also Apostolic Pentecostals and Oneness Pentecostals, who have different beliefs. Many Pentecostal churches work independently, and some use television and radio to share their message.

According to a 2025 count, the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal group, has many churches and millions of members worldwide. Other large groups include the Apostolic Church, Church of God (Cleveland), The Foursquare Church, and the United Pentecostal Church International.

In 2020, the largest Pentecostal groups on each continent were:

In Africa, the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

In North America, the Assemblies of God USA.

In South America, the General Convention of the Assemblies of God in Brazil.

In Asia, the Indonesian Bethel Church.

In Europe, the Assemblies of God of France.

In Oceania, the Australian Christian Churches.

Assessment from the social sciences

Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston studied how Pentecostalism grew through her work in anthropology and sociology. Her essays, published after her death in a book called The Sanctified Church, show how this movement stood up for changes in Black Protestant churches. She described Pentecostalism as bringing new energy to Black music and religion, keeping traditions from Africa alive within Christianity.

Rural Pentecostalism

Pentecostalism is often seen in cities but also attracts many people in the countryside, especially in Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Sociologist David Martin looked at how rural people in Latin America, including indigenous and peasant communities, turned to Pentecostalism. This change happened as life in the countryside became more modern, and many peasants chose Pentecostalism as a way to deal with these changes.

For example, in Guatemala, some people turned to Pentecostalism to escape duties in a system called the cargo-system. By becoming Pentecostal, they found a way out of these responsibilities. Studies in Brazil show that rural Pentecostalism often feels like a mix of old traditions and new ways of living. This shift helped people create a new identity.

Pentecostalism in Academia

Pentecostalism has a special way of thinking about the Holy Spirit from the Bible story of Pentecost. This idea is different from many other Christian groups, which makes interesting discussions among scholars. Pentecostal scholars study how followers understand the Holy Spirit, how they interpret the Pentecost story, and what it means for their church and beliefs. A book by Roger Stronstad, The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke, helped start this kind of study.

Controversies and criticism

Some Christian groups have questioned Pentecostalism for focusing a lot on special experiences during worship, like speaking in unknown languages or falling to the ground. They also worry that some Pentecostal churches talk too much about getting rich quickly, promising wealth if people give large donations.

There have been debates about faith healing in Pentecostal churches. Some people believe these healings are real miracles, while others think they might be because of strong belief or personal growth. Some Pentecostal churches have been criticized for not encouraging people to use modern medicine, which can be unsafe. But many Pentecostal believers see healing as a special experience that helps people feel better in many ways.

People

Forerunners

This section lists important early leaders who helped shape Pentecostalism, such as William Boardman, Alexander Boddy, and John Alexander Dowie, among others.

Notable People

Many well-known figures have been part of Pentecostalism. For example, Scott Morrison, the former Prime Minister of Australia, practiced Pentecostalism. David Yonggi Cho founded the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, which became one of the world's largest churches. Aimee Semple McPherson was an evangelist who started the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Other important leaders include Charles Harrison Mason, founder of the Church of God In Christ, and William J. Seymour, known for starting the Azusa Street Revival that helped spread Pentecostalism around the world.