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In April of 1906 two events focused the world’s
attention on Los Angeles: The city was impacted by an earthquake that
also devastated San Francisco, and services conducted in a small holiness
mission on Azusa Street birthed spiritual renewal globally. Thousands
of individuals converged on the city to attend the revival at Azusa Street’s
mission, where they found a renewed purpose and passion in serving Jesus
Christ and were commissioned to share the message of His love and power
with others. Almost a century later, the activities of the renowned Azusa
Street outpouring in Los Angeles are hailed as one of the greatest events
in Christian history.
Los Angeles was not the only place and time of spiritual renewal, however.
The Spirit of God was being poured out in other parts of the world simultaneously.
Revival was sweeping parts of Europe, specifically in Wales. In the United
States the same transforming revivals were taking place in Minnesota,
North Carolina, and Texas. Among the spiritual manifestations accompanying
these outpourings included remarkable healings, complete transformations
of lifestyle, deliverance from ungodly habits, physical demonstrations
of emotion, and speaking in languages unknown to the speaker.
William Seymour arrived in Los Angeles on February 22, 1906, and within
two days was preaching at the holiness church pastored by Julia Hutchins,
meeting in a home on Bonnie Brae St. He preached on regeneration, sanctification,
faith healing, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking
in other tongues. Some felt that he should discontinue preaching about
the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues because he
had not yet experienced the blessing about which he was preaching. A few
days later, on April 12, William Seymour finally received his baptism
at about four o’clock in the morning, after having prayed all night
long.
The Apostolic Faith Mission at 312 Azusa
Street, ca. 1906.
The group found an available building at 312 Azusa Street, which had originally
been constructed as an African Methodist Episcopal Church. Having fallen
into disrepair, the building was used as a stable to house hay and livestock.
(Can you imagine such a work being “birthed in a stable?”)
Nonetheless, it was secured and cleaned in preparation for services. Within
days, the Los Angeles press learned of the revival services at the Azusa
Street Mission and newspaper reports were published throughout the U.S.
and the world.
Thousands learned of the revival and were drawn to the meeting. They all
came together in worship: men, women, children, black, white, Hispanic,
Asian, rich, poor, illiterate, and educated. The message was the love
of God, and unity and equality were priority. Frank Bartleman noted, “The
‘color line’ was washed away by the blood.” Women were
provided positions of leadership at the mission as well.
In September 1906 a local newspaper reporter frowned on the events taking
place and wrote that the Azusa Street mission was a “disgraceful
intermingling of the races… They run, jump, shake all over, shout...
Some of them pass out and do not move for hours as though they were dead.
They claim to be filled with the spirit. They have a one eyed, illiterate,
Negro as their preacher who stays on his knees much of the time with his
head hidden between the wooden milk crates. He doesn't talk very much
but at times he can be heard shouting, ‘Repent,’ and he's
supposed to be running the thing... They repeatedly sing the same song,
‘The Comforter Has Come.’”
Yet, while some stirred the waters of opposition, the river of God’s
Spirit was flowing mightily in Los Angeles. God had proven faithful in
answering prayer; revival had come. Within months the Azusa Street mission,
known as the Apostolic Faith Mission, was the largest congregation in
the city, with as many as 1300 attending the services and the revival
fervor continued for three years. Services were held three times daily,
often without a break in the “spontaneous” services. Humility
was fundamental at the mission, and Seymour often admonished that “our
highest place is low at His [Jesus’] feet.”
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT: Participant
A. C. Valdez, Sr. later wrote: On the platform, a black man [Seymour]
sat behind two wooden boxes, one on top of the other. They were his pulpit….
Occasionally, as Pastor Seymour prayed, his head would be so low that
it disappeared behind the top wooden box…. Everything about the
Azusa Street Mission fascinated me; especially the prayer or “tarrying
room” on the second floor. Usually one hundred or more black, brown
and white people prayerfully waited there for the Holy Spirit to come
upon them. Dozens of canes, braces, crutches and blackened smoking pipes
leaned against the barn-like walls.
Many times waves of glory would come over the tarrying room or meeting
room, and people would cry out prayers of thanks or praise as they received
the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Meetings used to go past midnight and
into the early hours of the morning. Hours there seemed like minutes.
Sometimes after a wave of glory, a lot of people would speak in tongues.
Then a holy quietness would come over the place, followed by a chorus
of prayer in languages we had never before heard.
Many were slain in the Spirit [in a trance-like state], buckling to the
floor, unconscious, in a beautiful Holy Spirit cloud, and the Lord gave
them visions. How I enjoyed shouting and praising God. During the tarrying,
we used to break out in songs about Jesus and the Holy Spirit, “Fill
Me Now,” “Joy Unspeakable,” and “Love Lifted Me.”
Praise about the cleansing and precious blood of Jesus would just spring
from our mouths. In between choruses, heavenly music would fill the hall,
and we would break into tears. Suddenly the crowd seemed to forget how
to sing in English. Out of their mouths came new languages and lovely
harmony that no human beings could have learned.
BEYOND AZUSA STREET: As
a direct result of the Azusa Street outpouring, thousands of individuals
were led into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. People began to
study the Word of God, become convicted of sin, and surrender their lives
to Christ. They were baptized with the Holy Ghost, who led and guided
them into greater spiritual truths found in the Word of God. The Spirit
of God empowered them with boldness to fulfill the great commission. Signs
and wonders followed those who believed, such as blinded eyes being opened,
deaf being able to hear, mute being able to speak, the lame made to walk,
and the dead raised to life again. Such reports are commonplace among
these early Pentecostal believers, and all of these signs testify of the
glory and power of the Risen Christ. These early Spirit-filled believers
considered everyone to be witnesses, and many sailed to foreign lands
as missionaries to share the gospel message.
This move of God was not only for Los Angeles, but it was for the whole
world—even future generations. What happened at Azusa Street has
helped renew Christianity, bringing fresh vision and passion to the Great
Commission. Consumed with zeal for God and empowered by the Holy Spirit,
individuals have taken the Word of God to diverse villages and races across
the globe. As a result many have learned of the love and grace of Christ,
ultimately preparing the world for His return. That same power of God
is still filling men and women with the Holy Spirit to continue the work
of Christ throughout the world. Ultimately hundreds of millions have been
reached as an indirect result of Azusa Street. Today there are more than
500 million Pentecostal and Charismatic believers across the globe.
 William
Joseph Seymour, pastor of the Azusa Street mission, is
recognized globally for his influence on the Pentecostal movement of the
Twentieth Century. Born on May 2, 1870 in Centerville, Louisiana, his
parents had been slaves and his father fought with the Union Army during
the US Civil War. Seymour was reared in poverty and began traveling at
a young age—living in Memphis and St. Louis. At age 25, he worked
as a waiter for some of the most upscale restaurants and hotels in Indianapolis.
It was in Indianapolis, IN. that William Seymour personally accepted Jesus
Christ as his personal Savior.
Pastor Seymour led these services with the help of a volunteer staff comprised
of blacks, whites, men and women. The revival continued unabated for about
three years, until 1909. During the peak of the Azusa Street meetings,
Seymour married Jennie Evans Moore on May 13, 1908. She and Seymour formed
a ministry team, and she often preached at the mission in his absence.
The couple resided in a small apartment above the mission. He continued
to serve as pastor of the Mission on Azusa Street. Rev. Seymour died on
September 28, 1922, and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in East Los Angeles,
California. His widow, Jennie, continued to pastor the mission after his
death until at least 1931.
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