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Azusa Street – 100 years later :D
Centennial of L.A. revival to be commemorated next month
Posted: March 18, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern


© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Tens of thousands of Christians will gather next month in downtown Los Angeles to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Azusa Street revival.

In April 1906, the Los Angeles Times reported that a new "fanatic" religious sect gathered on Azusa Street in Los Angeles and babbled in a weird tongue.

Spiritually hungry people met together, both whites and blacks, to receive "an outpouring of the Holy Spirit" April 9, 1906, in the Azusa Street Revival. Pentecostals today credit the development of the modern Pentecostal and charismatic movement to the revival. The movement played a major role in world evangelism during the 20th century. Prominent theologians deem the event the "birthplace of the Pentecostal movement."

Many denominations were born from the Pentecostal movement, such as the Church of God in Christ, Assemblies of God and the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.

Tens of thousands of people from all over the world are expected to take part in the Centennial Celebration revival from April 25-29. The event will be "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the reflection and reality of the world's greatest revival," according to Rev. Billy Wilson, executive officer of the Azusa Street Centennial. "The various streams of the movement are coming together in an unprecedented way."

The highlights of the event include: an Azusa believers convention, rallies commemorating William Seymour (the leader of the Azusa revival), women in ministry services, an international revival series, a U.S. pastors conference, a prophetic conference, an international pastors training conference, a Spirit-filled gathering of Native Americans, an international youth convocation and a host of other auxiliary meetings held in conjunction with the centennial.

The organizers of the nearly weeklong event have booked the largest venues in Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles Convention Center, the Sports Arena, West Angeles Church of God in Christ and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Also, the largest Pentecostal and charismatic churches in the Los Angeles area will host sessions during the week and take part in the event.

On Saturday, April 29, attendees and local ministries will reach out to the community by distributing dozens of truckloads full of clothing and food for the less fortunate in the area. The distribution promises to be the largest one-day compassion-oriented outreach in American history.

More than 150 Pentecostal leaders from all over the world are going to be teaching or preaching. Some of the confirmed guests include: Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House in Dallas; Rev. Paula White of the Church Without Walls in Tampa, Fla.; Rev. Jack Hayford of Living Way Ministries in Van Nuys, Calif.; and Pastor Kenneth Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Fort Worth, Texas.

"As it was at Azusa Street, personalities will fade into insignificance as all glory is given to God," Wilson said. "This will be a time of unparalleled blessing, ministry and renewal that we hope will be the launching pad into an even greater second century of Pentecostal revival."

The event has been declared an official U.S. State Department event. People from 74 nations are registered to attend the Centennial.

The event is not only being endorsed by Pentecostal leaders but by evangelicals also. Ted Haggard, the president National Association of Evangelicals, will be speaking, as well as Rick Warren, the author of the best-selling book, "The Purpose Driven Life."