To understand the birth of the Pentecostal movement, one must look at a series of spiritual and historical events that spanned from Rome to the American Midwest. This history is marked by a deep longing for a “New Pentecost,” significant racial tension, and the establishment of Springfield, Missouri, as a global hub for the faith.
The Spiritual Spark (Rome and Topeka)
The 20th century began with a unique spiritual alignment between the Catholic Church and a small Bible school in Kansas.
- Saint Elena Guerra & Pope Leo XIII: An Italian nun, Saint Elena Guerra, spent years urging Pope Leo XIII to lead a return to the Holy Spirit. In response, the Pope sang the Veni Creator Spiritus on January 1, 1901, dedicating the new century to the Holy Spirit.
- Stone’s Folly: On that exact same day in Topeka, Kansas, a student named Agnes Ozman experienced what she believed was the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Stone’s Folly, a mansion converted into a Bible school by Charles Parham.
The Global Expansion (Azusa Street)
While Topeka provided the theology, the Azusa Street Revival (1906) in Los Angeles provided the momentum. Led by William J. Seymour, the revival was famous for its interracial character, where “the color line was washed away in the blood.” This stood in sharp contrast to the views of Charles Parham, who remained a proponent of segregation.
The Springfield Connection & Racial Conflict
The movement’s arrival in Springfield, Missouri, occurred during a period of intense local trauma.
- The 1906 Lynchings: Just a year before the revival reached the city, Springfield was the site of the horrific lynching of three Black men—Horace Duncan, Fred Coker, and William Allen—on the City Square during Easter weekend. This act of terror caused a massive exodus of the Black population.
- Sister Lillie Corum: Amidst this tense atmosphere, Lillie Corum received the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” in June 1907 at a farmhouse prayer meeting. Her experience, and the subsequent revival, eventually led to the Assemblies of God choosing Springfield as its international headquarters.
Find Out More About The Spark Of Pentecost At Stone’s Folly In Topeka Ks On New Years Morning 1901
