Classical Pentecostalism emerged from the holiness revivals of the late 1800s. Many were hungry for an experiential faith, and began seeking the deeper life during this time. The Holiness Movement saw this fulfilled in a sanctifying experience called Entire Sanctification. There were Wesleyan and Keswick branches of this movement, both believing that through the baptism and fullness of the Holy Spirit, lives could be made free from sin and obedient to God. Denominations like the Christian & Missionary Alliance, the Church of the Nazarene, and the Wesleyan Church maintain this classical holiness teaching.
Some, hungry for this experience, wanted to know how to be sure they had been Baptized with the Holy Spirit. Charles Parham, a hungry Methodist, had students at his Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas search the scripture for the Bible evidence of the Spirit’s fullness. They concluded that the initial, physical sign was speaking with other tongues. As Parham took this message across the world, William Seymour carried this to Los Angeles where he led the Azusa Street Mission. Thousands came to Azusa to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, and were sent forth empowered for life and service. Out of the Azusa Street Revival, Pentecostalism emerged as fellowships and denominations either formed or embraced the Pentecostal message: Assemblies of God, International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Church of God (Cleveland, TN), and others. Many classical holiness denominations did not want to be associated with evidential tongues, the distinctive of Classical Pentecostals.
In the 1940s, many Pentecostals joined the National Association of Evangelicals. In this process, I believe some of the distinctives of Classical Pentecostalism have been lost. I believe there's something special to the heritage of Classical Pentecostalism and our roots in the Holiness Movement. Through this ministry, I want to see authentic, transformational Classical Pentecostalism understood and expressed in today's world.
