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 over 700 different church groups that follow Pentecostal ideas, and they are spread all around the world. The movement is growing very fast, especially in places like the Global South and Third World countries. Today, more than 279 million people around the world identify as Pentecostals, and when you include others who share similar beliefs, that number grows to over 644 million people. Many experts think Pentecostalism is the fastest-growing religious movement in the world.

History

Background

Early Pentecostals believed their movement was a renewal of the church's original power. Historians say it began from late 19th-century Christian revivals in America and Great Britain.

These revivals focused on personal experiences of God, healing, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Leaders like Dwight L. Moody began talking 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. However, their roles became more limited over time.

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 between Holiness Pentecostals and Finished Work Pentecostals.

In 1914, white Pentecostal ministers formed the Assemblies of God. They differed from African-American groups like the Church of God in Christ. This marked the end of full racial unity in Pentecostalism.

Some Pentecostals began teaching that baptism should be done only in Jesus' name, not using "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 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, leading to differences lessening over time.

Beliefs

Pentecostalism is a type of Christian faith that emphasizes the importance of the Bible and the personal transformation that comes from believing in Jesus. Pentecostals believe that the Bible is completely true and that changing one's life through faith in Jesus is essential.

A key belief in Pentecostalism is the idea of being "born again," which means turning away from sin and accepting Jesus as one's personal savior. This brings about a new life filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Pentecostals also believe in divine healing, where prayer and faith can lead to physical recovery, and they look forward to Jesus's return.

Pentecostals place great importance on the gifts of the Spirit, such as the ability to speak in different languages or to prophesy, which they believe are given to believers to help build up the church and serve others. These gifts are seen as powerful tools for spiritual growth and community support.

Worship

Pentecostal worship is lively and full of energy. It includes praying, singing, listening to sermons, reading the Bible, and sometimes sharing special meals together. People in these services often feel free to follow their hearts and spirits, which can make 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. For example, a person might fall back gently when praying, feeling deeply touched. Others might dance or walk around the church as a way to show joy. 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. Some Pentecostals also practice covering women’s heads during certain prayers, following an old Bible teaching. Others may wash each other’s feet as a sign of kindness, just as Jesus did.

Statistics and denominations

Further information: List of Christian denominations § Pentecostalism

See also: List of Pentecostal churches

Pentecostalism is one of the fastest-growing religious movements in the world. Many people are choosing to become Pentecostal or "Born again" each day. Scholars say it might be the fastest-growing religious movement ever.

In 1995, there were about 217 million Pentecostals worldwide. By 2011, that number grew to about 279 million people, making up about 4% of the world's population and 12.8% of all Christians. The most Pentecostals live in Sub-Saharan Africa (44%), followed by the Americas (37%) and Asia and the Pacific (16%). Pentecostalism is growing most quickly in Africa, Central and Latin America, and most of Asia. There are many different groups within Pentecostalism, with some following teachings from the Wesleyan tradition and others from different backgrounds.

Among the over 700 Pentecostal groups, 240 follow Wesleyan teachings. These groups believe in three important experiences in a Christian's life: turning to faith, becoming holy, and receiving the Holy Spirit. Other groups, called Finished Work Pentecostals, believe there are only two main experiences: turning to faith and receiving the Holy Spirit.

There are also Apostolic Pentecostals, who have their own leadership structure, and Oneness Pentecostals, who have different beliefs about God and baptism. Many Pentecostal churches operate 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 442,000 churches and 85 million members worldwide. Other large groups include the Apostolic Church, Church of God (Cleveland), The Foursquare Church, and the United Pentecostal Church International.

Among counts done in 2020, the largest Pentecostal groups on each continent were:

In Africa, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, with 14,000 churches and 5 million members.

In North America, the Assemblies of God USA with 12,986 churches and 1,810,093 members.

In South America, the General Convention of the Assemblies of God in Brazil with 12,000,000 members.

In Asia, the Indonesian Bethel Church with 5,000 churches and 3,000,000 members.

In Europe, the Assemblies of God of France with 658 churches and 40,000 members.

In Oceania, the Australian Christian Churches with 1,000 churches and 375,000 members.

Assessment from the social sciences

Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston studied how Pentecostalism spread 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 against changes in Black Protestant churches as more Black people became educated and wealthier. 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 the duties of a system called the cargo-system, where leaders had to pay for and organize big yearly celebrations. 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 that lets them face the challenges of modern life while keeping parts of their old ways.

Pentecostalism in Academia

Pentecostalism has a special way of thinking about the Holy Spirit that comes from the story of Pentecost in the Bible. This idea is different from what many other Christian groups believe, which creates 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 too much on special experiences during worship, like speaking in unknown languages or falling to the ground. They also worry that some Pentecostal churches focus too much on getting rich quickly, promising wealth in return for large donations.

There have been debates about faith healing in Pentecostal churches. Some people believe that these healings are real miracles, while others think they might be the result of strong belief or personal growth instead. Some Pentecostal churches have also been criticized for not encouraging people to use modern medicine, which can be dangerous. However, many Pentecostal believers see healing as both a physical and spiritual experience, helping 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.