Topeka, Kansas, is considered the location
for the start of the global Pentecostal Movement

The Significance of the Pentecostal Movement
The Pentecostal Movement is classified by Life magazine as being #68 out of the most impactful events of the last 1,000 years. The Dictionary of Christianity in America says Pentecostalism is perhaps

the single-most-significant development in twentieth-century Christianity.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit Never Ceased
Though many consider the 1906 Azusa Street Revival as the birth of modern Pentecostalism, and others cite the 1896 Shearer Schoolhouse Revival, yet speaking in tongues, and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, have been recorded throughout history, with their resurgence occurring during times of revival.

There has never been a time in history when the gifts of the Holy Spirit completely ceased to function in the Church of Jesus Christ. History undeniably refutes the claim that it has. For evidence of this fact read our post “Pentecostal Outpourings in History.”

In the many revivals we have researched and written about, we have found occasions in which cessationist editors and authors have attempted to write out of history the continuation of spiritual gifts. The 1927 Shantung Revival was said to have been “The Greatest Revival in Baptist Church History.” Strangely enough, that revival had very distinct Pentecostal features, which brought great embarrassment to that denomination. Another revival was the 1905 Dohnavur Revival (and other revivals throughout India at that time), in which editors of mission magazines and periodicals in Europe pointed out all the gains made through the revival, but they refused to write anything about the accompanying gifts of the Holy Spirit that were undeniably manifested, and that contributed to the subsequent growth of the Church.

That has been typical of denominational books and periodicals through the ages. They sanitize the revival to remove elements that are not aligned with their theology. And it isn’t only cessationists that have done this. Continuationists are also guilty of whitewashing history. The evidence is in how Charles Fox Parham has been omitted from some books, although he was the leading figure in the 1901 Topeka Outpouring as well as having been directly connected to the 1906 Azusa Street Revival.

Most historians cite Topeka, Kansas, as being the location where the Pentecostal Movement got its start.

Parham Family: Charles F. Parham top left. Top right, Parham’s sister-in-law, Lilian Thistlewaite. Seated, Parham’s wife, Sarah.

Charles Fox Parham (June 4, 1873 – c. January 29, 1929)
Charles F. Parham is recognized as being the first to develop the Pentecostal doctrine of speaking in tongues, as well as laboring to expand the Pentecostal Movement. At 27 years old, Parham founded and was the only teacher at the Topeka, Kansas, Bethel Bible College where speaking in tongues took place on January 1, 1901.

There can be no doubt that Parham was highly influential in the movement getting its start, as well as his influence behind the 1906 Azusa Street Revival.

Due to the embarrassment Parham brought to the Pentecostal Movement, originating from his extreme views, overt racism, and questions about his unethical behavior, some Pentecostal historians have omitted his name from their books, and some have even said that this was a “movement without a man.”

Some of the Students at Bethel Bible College

Extraordinary Prayer
Charles Parham started the Topeka, Kansas, Bethel Bible College in October of 1900, with around 34-40 students.

In December Parham had to leave for a speaking engagement, and he left his students with an assignment; to find the Scriptural evidence for the reception of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Upon Parham’s return, the students shared the conclusion of their study, which was that the Scriptural evidence, from the recorded occasions of those receiving the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:6), was that “speaking with other tongues” was the biblical evidence.

From the school’s commencement till the end of the year the student body had committed to around-the-clock-prayer in the school’s “Prayer Tower,” with students having three-hour watches. They would also at times spend entire nights in prayer there. One student stated that

Much time was spent in prayer everyday and all the time.

And another one said

We spent every spare moment in audible or silent prayer, in song or in just waiting upon Him… The presence of the Lord was very real.

Stone’s Folly, location of the Bethel Bible College (Topeka, Kansas)

Agnes Ozman: first to speak in tongues
during the Topeka Outpouring.

What Happened
The students were gathered on New Year’s Eve, praying, and they “had a blessed service.” The next day, January 1, 1901, again while in prayer, the Lord’s presence was with the students “in a marked way.”

In the evening it was stated that “the spirit of prayer” was upon them, and at almost 11:00pm, one of the students, Agnes Ozman (age 30), felt led to ask for hands to be laid on her that “she might receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” As the students did this, “the Holy Spirit fell” upon her and she began to speak in tongues.

Witnessing this, the other students had their hunger for more of God enhanced. On January 3, when some of the students gathered for prayer, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon others. As they began speaking in tongues, there was also the interpretation that followed. Then a remarkable thing happened that none of them anticipated.

With a simultaneous movement we began to sing together, each one singing in his own new language but all in perfect harmony.

It would be impossible to describe the hallowed glory of His presence in our midst.

In less than a year the Bethel Bible College came to an end and the students spread out, carrying the message of Pentecost across the nation. As they would arrive in other locations, many were saved, the sick healed, and “believers received the Baptism” with the accompanying speaking in tongues.

By the fall of 1905, after conducting successful ministry in Missouri and throughout Kansas, Parham eventually arrived in Houston, Texas where he moved his headquarters and started a Bible school. One of the students in this school was William J. Seymour, who went on to launch the renowned 1906 Azusa Street Revival, in Los Angeles, CA. This revival became the catalyst that spread Pentecostalism throughout the world.

Bulletin promoting Parham’s Camp-Meeting in Kingman, Kansas

Note the bottom line on the bulletin, with the “KKK.” One of the reasons Parham was ostracized by many in the Pentecostal Movement, and written out of some historical accounts, was due to his racism, embarrassing and eccentric doctrines, and accusations from enemies of homosexual behavior (which were never proven).

Charles Parham, street preaching

Results of the 1901 Topeka Outpouring
► Life Magazine places the Pentecostal Movement at #68 out of the top 100 events that have occurred in the last 1,000 years.
► Following the spread of the Topeka Outpouring to the 1906 Azusa Street Revival, Pentecostalism mushroomed throughout the world.
► Most all Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations trace their roots to the Azusa Street Revival.
► Pentecostalism has become the fastest growing movement in Christianity. It is growing at a rate of 13 million a year, or 35,000 a day.
► There are over a half billion adherents to the Pentecostal Movement.
► Pentecostals & Charismatics alone outnumber Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans and Presbyterians combined.
► The Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea (Pentecostal), is the largest Christian congregation on earth. 

Sources
► 100 Top Events of the Millennium by Life Magazine
► 1906 Azusa Street Revival by Beautiful Feet
► 1896 Shearer Schoolhouse Revival by Beautiful Feet
► Adapting Christianity to the Challenges of the American West by Alan F. Bearman and Jennifer L. Mills
► Agnes Ozman by Wikipedia
► Aspects of Pentecostal-Charismatic Origins by Vinson Synan
► Azusa Street: How Revival Came to Los Angeles by Frank Bartleman
► Bethel Bible College Timeline by Jan Downing and Timothy Miller
► Charles Fox Parham by Wikipedia
► Christian History Timeline: The Rise of Pentecostalism by Vinson Synan
► Pentecostal Historical Timeline by Apostolic Archives International Inc
► Pentecostalism by Encyclopedia Britannica
► Pentecostalism by Wikipedia
► Religion in Twentieth Century America by Randall Herbert Balmer
► Stones Folly by Kansas Historical Society
► The Charismatic Century by Jack W. Hayford
► The Fire Still Falls by Campus Ministry International
► The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition by Vinson Synan
► The Rise of Pentecostalism by Christian History Institute
► The Women of Azusa Street by Denzil R. Miller
► The Wonderful History of the Latter Rain by Lillian Thistlewaite
► “With Signs Following” by Stanley H. Frodsham
► Where the Latter Rain First Fell by Agnes Ozman in The Latter Rain Evangel

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Chet & Phyllis Swearingen:
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