The legacy and ministry of William J. Seymour may seem heartbreaking, but the results of his efforts in the three short years between 1906 and 1909 produced and exploded the Pentecostal movement around the world. Today, many denominations attribute their founding to the participants of the Azusa Street church, and countless others are linked to this revival. Whenever Azusa is mentioned, most immediately think of the power of the Holy Spirit that was poured on their ranks.
As you continue to explore the great generals of our past and determine to learn from their successes, follow those, like William J. Seymour, who pressed into God's Spirit. Let his fiery sermons ignite your heart and imagination, and encourage you to a deeper walk with the spirit.
William Joseph Seymour was an African American minister, and an initiator of the Pentecostal religious movement. Seymour not only rejected the existing racial barriers in favor of "unity in Christ", he also rejected the then almost-universal barriers to women in any form of church leadership. This revival meeting extended from 1906 until 1909, and became the subject of intense investigation by more mainstream Protestants.
Some felt that Seymour's views were heresy, while others accepted his teachings and returned to their own congregations to expound them. The resulting movement became widely known as "Pentecostalism". While there had been similar manifestations in the past, the current worldwide Pentecostal and charismatic movements are generally agreed to have been in part outgrowths of Seymour's ministry and the Azusa Street Revival.
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