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95-416: The Oklahoma City metropolitan area is an urban region in Central Oklahoma . It is the largest metropolitan area in the state of Oklahoma and contains the state capital and principal city, Oklahoma City . It is often known as the Oklahoma City Metro (sometimes shortened to simply " the Metro "), Oklahoma City Metroplex , or Greater Oklahoma City in addition to the nicknames Oklahoma City itself

190-541: A Pentecostal Christian denomination in the United States and the U.S. branch of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship , the world's largest Pentecostal body. The AG reported 2.9 million adherents in 2022. In 2011, it was the ninth largest Christian denomination and the second largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. The Assemblies of God is a Finished Work denomination, and it holds to

285-546: A Southern Baptist minister. They began to identify themselves as Pentecostals. The Apostolic Faith Movement played a leading role in organizing and institutionalizing Pentecostalism in the Midwest and Southwest and from 1909 to 1912 absorbed smaller Pentecostal groups. The Apostolic Faith Movement was a mostly-white organization, but it had some black and Hispanic ministers and missionaries. The Church of God in Christ (COGIC)

380-635: A conservative , evangelical and classical Arminian theology as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Truths and position papers, which emphasize such core Pentecostal doctrines as the baptism in the Holy Spirit , speaking in tongues , divine healing and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ . The fellowship's polity is a hybrid of presbyterian and congregational models. This tension between local independence and national authority

475-627: A city-owned public use airport in Canadian County, Oklahoma ; and Sundance Airpark , a privately owned public use airport in Canadian County. There are no sea ports in Central Oklahoma, as water exports must go through Northeastern Oklahoma via Tulsa , which has one of two large-scale seaport in the state. There are four primary highways in Central Oklahoma. Interstate 35 connects the region with Texas and Kansas to

570-489: A combatant, a noncombatant, or a conscientious objector". This was the culmination of a process begun during World War I, when it was unpopular to hold antiwar views, in which AG adherents questioned their denomination's pacifist stance. The Assemblies of God emerged as the leading Pentecostal denomination in terms of status, wealth, influence, and global adherence. In the 1980s, the Assemblies of God saw rapid growth in

665-652: A move that caused not a little anxiety, a committee introduced the Statement of Fundamental Truths. Oneness proponents and others saw this as an attack on the authority of the Bible, yet it was adopted along with a recommendation that AG ministers use the Trinitarian baptismal formula. Old preaching credentials were recalled and new ones issued with the Fundamental Truths included. Oneness believers, including

760-658: A number of Dowie's followers accepted the Pentecostal message. In 1907, Parham was charged with sodomy while in San Antonio, Texas. The scandal led evangelists to renounce his authority, and his organization dissolved. Parham's former associates reorganized the Apostolic Faith Movement. Prominent leaders of the new movement were Howard A. Goss, L. C. Hall, D. C. O. Opperman, and A. G. Canada. They were later joined by Eudorus N. Bell , previously

855-574: A per capita income of $ 32,703. Among the population economically, 14.5% of its population lived at or below the poverty line. According to Forbes , its cost of living was 6% below the national average. Religiously and spiritually, the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 reported that the Southern Baptist Convention was the metropolitan area's largest Christian tradition with 213,008 members, Christianity being

950-608: A position against homosexuality starting in 1979, which was later reaffirmed. The Assemblies of God also opposes ordination of openly gay or lesbian clergy members. Members of the Assemblies of God have been among the most significant figures opposing homosexuality in the United States. The president of ex-gay organization Exodus International was associated with the Assemblies of God. While LGBTQ students are allowed to participate in Chi Alpha campus ministries, they are not allowed to be student leaders unless they adhere to

1045-557: A previous baptism, should be baptized in the name of Jesus , rather than in the name of the Trinity. By 1915, it was adhered to by many in the fellowship, including founders such as Goss, Opperman, Hall, and Henry G. Rodgers. Other influential leaders, such as G. T. Haywood, adopted the Oneness doctrine as well. In 1916, the 4th General Council met in St. Louis to resolve the "new issue". In

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1140-550: A racially inclusive revival, it accommodated itself to America's culture of racial segregation rather early; the Assemblies of God was no different. As early as 1915, an executive presbyter wrote in an article for the Pentecostal Evangel that segregation was "ordained of God"; however, it was not until 1939 that the General Presbytery enacted a policy prohibiting the ordination of African Americans to

1235-466: A registered sex offender to serve as a mentor despite knowing of his status. Two Texas pastors who knowingly connected their students with the mentor were removed from their church positions. The Assemblies of God district in North Texas started an investigation to discover if other credentialed ministers had acted similarly. A Baylor University campus minister was arrested on sex abuse charges, and

1330-487: A second work of grace. He believed in the finished work doctrine, teaching that "when God saves a man, He makes him clean". Durham had a direct influence on many of the founders of Pentecostal movements around the world. A. H. Argue of Winnipeg, Canada, received Spirit baptism under Durham's ministry. Argue returned to Canada, and his preaching led to the founding of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada ,

1425-518: A third of the fellowship's ministers, were forced to withdraw, a loss especially felt in the South where the Oneness doctrine had the most influence. A side effect of this was a transition in leadership from former Apostolic Faith leaders, many of whom accepted the Oneness teaching, to men with Christian and Missionary Alliance backgrounds. The Oneness dissenters formed the General Assembly of

1520-520: Is at the heart of what is known as Tornado Alley , and is one of the most tornado-prone areas in the United States. Central Oklahoma is home to The Oklahoman , the most widely circulated in the state. NewsOK.com is the Oklahoman's online presence. okcBIZ is a monthly publication that covers business news affecting those who live and work in Central Oklahoma. WKY Radio in Oklahoma City

1615-416: Is contrary to our view of the clear teachings of the inspired Word of God". Most of the founders and first generation members of the denomination held to this view, and it was presented as official teaching throughout World War I and World War II. The official pacifist position remained unchanged until 1967 when the denomination affirmed "the right of each member to choose whether to declare their position as

1710-508: Is dominated by the largest urban area in the state, the Greater Oklahoma City area. Oklahoma City is the political, economic, tourism, commercial, industrial, financial, and geographical hub of the state, as well as being its primary cultural center. The only Central Oklahoma city which is not officially considered a suburb of Oklahoma City is Stillwater, Oklahoma . Central Oklahoma is a humid-subtropical region dominated by

1805-601: Is known for, such as OKC or " the 405 ". Counties in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area include Canadian , Cleveland , Grady , Lincoln , Logan , McClain , and Oklahoma . According to the 2020 U.S. census , the metropolitan region had a population of 1,425,695, up from 1,083,346 at the 2000 census . The Micropolitan Statistical Area of Shawnee (in Pottawatomie County ) is included in Oklahoma City's Combined Statistical Area (CSA) which brings

1900-683: Is seen in the AG's historical reluctance to refer to itself as a denomination, preferring the terms fellowship and movement . The national headquarters are in Springfield, Missouri , where the administrative and executive offices and Gospel Publishing House are located. Convoy of Hope serves as the AG's aid organization. The AG's college ministry is Chi Alpha , which has been involved in multiple controversies over sexual abuse since 2022. The Assemblies of God maintains relationships with other Pentecostal groups at both regional and national levels through

1995-634: Is the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma which is routinely ranked as the top public regional university by the U.S. News Rankings. Other colleges include Oklahoma Christian University , Oklahoma City University , Langston University , and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma , in Chickasha . Central Oklahoma is home to the state's oldest and largest single site hospital, St. Anthony Hospital and Physicians Medical Center, and

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2090-517: Is the primary airport of the region and the busiest in the state. The airport has one terminal with 17 gates, but is in the process of expansion. Wiley Post Airport in Bethany and Max Westheimer Airport in Norman serve as reliever airports for Will Rogers Airport. The region is also home to Tinker Air Force Base , the largest military air depot in the nation; Clarence E. Page Municipal Airport ,

2185-573: Is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God". The Assemblies of God holds the Arminian position on salvation. While it agrees with the Calvinist position that God is sovereign, at the same time, it believes that mankind has free will —free to accept or reject God's gift of salvation and eternal life. Therefore, the Assemblies of God disapproves of the doctrines of double predestination and

2280-747: The Church of God in Christ , Apostolic Faith, or other early Pentecostal groups. In 1916, the General Council condemned Oneness Pentecostalism , causing a split within the young denomination and the adoption of the Statement of Fundamental Truths, which endorses the Trinity . Established during the Jim Crow era , the AG forbade the ordination of black ministers from 1939 until 1962. However, African Americans could still be issued local licenses to preach. Black Pentecostals seeking ordination were referred to

2375-706: The Cross Timbers , an area of prairie and patches of forest at the eastern extent of the Great Plains . The region is essentially a transition buffer between the wetter and more forested Eastern Oklahoma and the semi-arid high plains of Western Oklahoma, and experiences extreme swings between dry and wet weather patterns. Climate is dominated by large differences in annual rainfall totals, with Central Oklahoma's western boundary receiving far less rain than compared to its eastern boundary. Because of these convergences of dry and wet weather patterns, Central Oklahoma

2470-726: The Edmond Medical Center , Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman, the Grady Memorial Hospital in Chickasha, Lakeside Women's Hospital . 35°30′N 97°30′W  /  35.5°N 97.5°W  / 35.5; -97.5 Assemblies of God USA Christianity • Protestantism The Assemblies of God USA ( AG ), officially The General Council of the Assemblies of God , is

2565-602: The Foursquare Church ). This made the issue of women's place in the movement important in the 1930s. It was also recognized that many congregations who could not afford male pastors relied on women preachers. Although opposition to female pastors had been regularly affirmed since 1914, the office of pastor was opened to women in 1935. Between the World Wars, the movement kept a relative isolation from other Pentecostal and evangelical groups, but after World War II,

2660-563: The Oklahoma Department of Transportation through a fee-for-service contract with Amtrak . Union Bus Station in Oklahoma City is the principal bus terminal in the region and the state. Central Oklahoma is an important hub of higher education . The region contains both the University of Oklahoma , in Norman , and Oklahoma State University , in Stillwater , the state's largest universities. A notable regional university

2755-629: The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority member network), Fox affiliate KOKH-TV , CW affiliate KOCB , independent station KAUT-TV , MyNetworkTV affiliate KSBI , and Ion Television owned-and-operated station KOPX-TV . The region is also home to the Trinity Broadcasting Network owned-and-operated station KTBO-TV and Norman-based Daystar owned-and-operated station KOCM . Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City

2850-734: The Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America and the Pentecostal World Fellowship . It is also a member of the Wesleyan Holiness Consortium and the National Association of Evangelicals . The denomination was founded in 1914 during a meeting of Pentecostal ministers at Hot Springs, Arkansas . These ministers came from several different Pentecostal movements. Some were loosely affiliated with

2945-513: The charismatic movement that began in the 1960s was a cautious one, affirming the move of the Holy Spirit yet urging that all revival must be judged by scripture. For the first time, beliefs and practices which had largely remained confined to the classical Pentecostal denominations began to impact mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic churches on a large scale (see: Catholic Charismatic Renewal ). The fact that this occurred in these churches (which were historically seen by Pentecostals as suspect),

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3040-399: The unconditional security of the believer, which holds that once saved it is impossible for a person to be lost. Instead, the Assemblies of God believes that salvation is received and kept by faith, if faith in Christ is lost, then salvation is lost. According to the Statement of Fundamental Truths, "All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek" the baptism in

3135-498: The 1980s, a growing number of AG ministers have been educated and risen to leadership positions at evangelical institutions, such as Fuller Theological Seminary , Gordon-Conwell , and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School . This "evangelicalization of the Assemblies of God" has led to the weakening of Pentecostal distinctives, especially the doctrine of initial evidence. Other traditional practices, such as holding prayer meetings and altar services, have faded over time as well. Despite

3230-408: The 20th century, Pentecostals saw themselves as "peculiar people", and one of the components of this identity were particular prohibitions on behavior. Prohibitions on drug use, gambling, social dancing, consuming alcohol, smoking, attending theaters, bowling, swimming in public pools and beaches, owning television sets, and restrictions on feminine attire and fashion helped distinguish Pentecostals from

3325-763: The AG started an approximation with Pentecostal groups overseas. Like the Federation of Pentecostal Churches in Germany and the Assemblies of God in Australia , at that time many national denominations came to affiliate with the U.S. fellowship. These partnerships would later develop into the World Assemblies of God Fellowship. As well as establishing fellowships in other nations, the AG also began to communicate with other U.S. churches. The Assemblies of God

3420-653: The AG until the 1960s, though some served as missionaries and evangelists, the denomination's work among Spanish-speaking people has a long history, first sanctioned explicitly in 1918. Hispanic outreach became independent of the Foreign Missions Department in 1929 when the first Latin American District was established. By the end of World War II, the AG's Latin American constituency formed the largest Protestant presence among Hispanics in

3515-421: The AG's future leaders had CMA backgrounds. In 1914, Apostolic Faith Movement leaders Bell, Goss, Opperman, M. M. Pinson, and A. P. Collins issued the call for a general council to "Churches of God in Christ, and to all Pentecostal or Apostolic Faith Assemblies". What resulted was a merger of the Apostolic Faith Movement, Chicago Pentecostals, and CMA Pentecostals at Hot Springs, Arkansas. The 1st General Council

3610-499: The African-American leaders of the denomination. Though in some instances, the relations between Mason's church and white ministers were more informal. Beginning in 1911, many white ministers affiliated with COGIC expressed dissatisfaction with African American leadership. In 1913, 353 white ministers formed a new church, which gave its own credentials, although still using the same name as Mason's organization. By 1910,

3705-521: The Apostolic Churches, which later merged with another group to form the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World . Among the Fundamental Truths was a statement regarding speaking in tongues as the initial physical evidence of Spirit baptism. Its inclusion was challenged by F.F. Bosworth , an executive presbyter, who argued that while for many speaking in tongues was an evidence of the baptism it

3800-503: The Assemblies of God for their unpredictability and the dramatic religious experiences of participants. In the case of the Brownsville Revival, the AG's national leadership gave it cautious approval and support. Chi Alpha is the Assemblies of God's student organization and college ministry. As of 2022, it operated on 275 campuses. Chi Alpha's Texan chapters were highlighted by Christianity Today in 2023 for allowing

3895-414: The Assemblies of God had no objections to women being engaged in ministry. The Pentecostal belief in personal experience, Spirit baptism as empowerment for service, and the need for evangelists and missionaries encouraged women to be active in all types of ministry. What concerned some Pentecostal leaders, such as Bell, were women exercising independent authority over men. The council therefore approved of

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3990-426: The Assemblies of God officially opposed Christian participation in war and was listed by The Pacifist Handbook as America's third largest peace church in 1940. The official position of the church until 1967 encouraged Christian nonviolence: "We . . . are nevertheless constrained to declare we cannot conscientiously participate in war and armed resistance which involves the actual destruction of human life, since this

4085-531: The Assemblies of God with the National Association of Evangelicals in 1942 signaled the AG's alignment with evangelicalism and its opposition to mainline Protestantism and the ecumenical movement . The AG and its evangelical partners agreed on most issues and shared similar world views though the AG's Pentecostal distinctives—Spirit baptism and the operation of spiritual gifts—were not embraced by most evangelical Christians. The AG's response then to

4180-556: The Assemblies of God's sister denomination. The Stone Church and the North Avenue Mission were the "main exporters" of Pentecostalism to Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) churches of the Midwest and Northeast. The CMA was a higher life denomination founded by A. B. Simpson . Simpson and other Alliance leaders were cautiously receptive to the new movement. In the spring of 1907, the Alliance's annual council

4275-532: The Baylor chapter was suspended. In 2022, a minister working for Chi Alpha in Corpus Christi, Texas, was charged with sexual abuse of a minor. By the end of January 2024, the Assemblies of God was sued by a parent of an unnamed minor who alleged sexual abuse by members of the organization, and an Orange,Texas-based church disaffiliated with AG over the scandal. The Assemblies of God General Council took

4370-562: The Church is built on present-day apostles and prophets. The Latter Rain theology of no pre-tribulation rapture and the manifested sons of God teaching were condemned as heresy . The Latter Rain and the Salvation/Healing Revival of the late 1940s and 50s would be a major influence on later renewal movements. During this time, by 1953, the denomination's college ministry Chi Alpha was chartered. The affiliation of

4465-401: The Church of God in Christ. Women were allowed to become pastors in 1935, but prior to that women had served as evangelists, preachers, and missionaries . The denomination identified itself with the broader American evangelical movement in the 1940s. The charismatic movement of the 1960s and 1970s influenced the AG as well. Standards on behavior and dress became more relaxed over time, and

4560-668: The Churches of God in Christ name for the "white work". In 1910, the Apostolic Faith Movement was renamed “Church of God in Christ and in Unity with the Apostolic Faith.” This change was part of a movement within Pentecostalism at that time to adopt church names that appeared in the Bible, such as Church of God, Church of God in Christ, and Assembly of God. In the Church of God in Christ, white ministers were supervised by

4655-466: The General Council approaching, there were fears that the fellowship might split over the Latter Rain issue, but in the end, the General Council was united against what were seen as the excesses of the movement. A General Council resolution specified six errors which included: imparting, identifying, bestowing, or confirming gifts by prophecy and the laying on of hands. It also rejected the idea that

4750-517: The Methodist Church and became a nondenominational evangelist . As a restorationist , he rejected traditional denominations as incompatible with true, biblical Christianity, which he referred to as the "apostolic faith". By 1900, he concluded based on his study of the Bible that glossolalia (speaking in tongues) was the evidence of receiving baptism with the Holy Spirit . While other people had claimed to speak in tongues before Parham, he

4845-694: The Methodist doctrine of entire sanctification as a second work of grace . He was also an adherent of the holiness movement and believed that faith healing was provided for in Christ's atonement . Parham had some contact with the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church led by Benjamin H. Irwin. He accepted Irwin's teaching of a third experience of grace identified with the "baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire". After 1895, Parham left

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4940-483: The Spirit. It also states, "This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church". It is a separate experience from and occurs after salvation. This baptism gives to the receiver an "enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry". There are four experiences listed in the Fundamental Truths that result from Spirit baptism: "overflowing fullness of

5035-659: The U.S. also. By 1921, there were districts in Canada (see Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada ), China, Japan (see Japan Assemblies of God ), India (see Assemblies of God in India ), and Egypt. Central Bible College was started in the basement of the Central Assembly of God church in Springfield, Missouri, in 1922. In 1929, the fellowship claimed 91,981 members in 1,612 churches. Despite Pentecostalism's origins in

5130-546: The U.S. to broadcast in color. In mid-2002, WKY radio was purchased outright by Citadel Broadcasting ; in 2011, Citadel merged with Cumulus Media , who owns and operates WKY to this day. WKY-TV, which is now KFOR-TV , is currently owned by Tribune Broadcasting as of December 2013. The major U.S. broadcast television networks have affiliates in Central Oklahoma including NBC affiliate KFOR-TV , ABC affiliate KOCO-TV , CBS affiliate KWTV-DT (owned by locally based Griffin Communications ), PBS station KETA-TV (owned by

5225-409: The U.S., for several years ranking as the fastest growing American denomination. This growth was mainly the result of its Hispanic outreach (in 1988 Hispanic members made up some 15 percent of the fellowship's total constituency). The growth of an Asian immigrant constituency was also recognized in this decade when the first Korean district was created. The Assemblies of God gained national visibility in

5320-408: The United States. Howard A. Goss was appointed field director for Texas to supervise around 60 full-time evangelists. Around this time, L. C. Hall and D. C. O. Opperman joined the movement. Both men were prominent former members of John Alexander Dowie 's Christian Catholic Apostolic Church. Parham attempted to gain control of Zion, Illinois , the utopian community established by Dowie. As a result,

5415-550: The United States. The AG also focused on major European immigrant populations, but as later generations assimilated into American culture, these separate European segments were absorbed into the regular geographic districts. During the time when African Americans were barred from ordination, women began to receive greater opportunities for leadership. Women formed an important part of the Assemblies of God's constituency, many being Sunday School workers and evangelists, most prominent being Aimee Semple McPherson (who would later found

5510-461: The area population to 1,498,693. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area, being the state's principal and largest metropolitan statistical area, had a population of 1,425,695 at the 2020 census , up from 1,252,987 in 2010; the 2021 American Community Survey estimated its population increased to 1,441,647. With a 2021 median age of 36.1, the sex ratio was 51% female and 49% male. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010, its racial and ethnic makeup

5605-607: The area's predominant religion. Non/interdenominational Protestants were the second largest tradition with 195,158 members. The Roman Catholic Church claimed 142,491 adherents throughout the metropolitan region and Pentecostals within the Assemblies of God USA numbered 48,470. The remainder of Christians in the area held to predominantly Evangelical Christian beliefs in numerous evangelical Protestant denominations. Outside of Christendom, there were 4,230 practitioners of Hinduism and 2,078 Mahayana Buddhists . An estimated 8,904 residents practiced Islam during this study, making it

5700-464: The belief that homosexual activity is sinful. The primary beliefs of the Assemblies of God are summarized in its Statement of Fundamental Truths . The following is a summary of these essential AG beliefs: The AG considers salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, divine healing and the Second Coming of Christ to be its four core beliefs. The Statement of Fundamental Truths states, "Man's only hope of redemption

5795-437: The center of the Pentecostal movement had moved from Los Angeles to Chicago, Illinois. According to historian Vinson Synan , "for the next decade, Chicago served as the de facto worldwide missions and theological center for the fast-growing movement". The two most important Pentecostal congregations were the Stone Church and the North Avenue Mission. Both churches had contacts with the Apostolic Faith Movement. The Stone Church

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5890-433: The civil rights movement and its cultural effect on American society. In 2007, according to Joe Newman in Race and the Assemblies of God Church: The Journey from Azusa Street to the "Miracle of Memphis" , ...that although current Assemblies of God leaders have embraced the concept of an integrated church fellowship that no longer excludes African Americans, there is virtually no evidence of wide acceptance of this concept at

5985-410: The context of baptistic evangelical theology and, by the 1950s, emphasized certain doctrines and practices as requisite for Spirit baptism. Charismatics challenged these views by claiming to receive Holy Spirit baptism outside of this context (such as remaining in liturgical churches, failing to reject sacramental theologies, and not adopting Pentecostal taboos on dancing, drinking, smoking, etc.). On

6080-473: The denomination dropped pacifism as an official teaching. In the 1990s and 2000s, AG churches have experienced revivals that have drawn comparisons to early Pentecostalism, the most famous being the Brownsville Revival . Charles Parham was a leading figure in the early development of the Assemblies of God. Parham was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and served as an unordained supply pastor in Eudora, Kansas, from 1893 to 1895. Parham believed in

6175-441: The early years of the Assemblies of God. The African American pastor Garfield Thomas Haywood , for example, pastored one of the largest churches and was an influential voice within the fellowship until he withdrew from the newly-founded denomination after 1916. The founders of the fellowship did not intend to create a denomination and originally had no creed or doctrinal statement. However, in response to several doctrinal issues,

6270-404: The efforts of denominational leaders to reassert Pentecostal identity and remain more than "evangelicals plus tongues", the process of acculturation has continued. Additionally, the Assemblies of God leadership alongside other predominantly and traditionally white Christian denominations renounced racism during the 1990s, seeking to reconcile with the Church of God in Christ and others following

6365-414: The fellowship experienced growth in subsequent years. District councils were organized in various regions of the country and, where these did not exist, home missionary fields were designated to maximize evangelistic efforts. In 1917, W. Jethro Walthall led his Holiness Baptist Association of southwestern Arkansas into the Assemblies of God. District councils and missionary stations were established outside

6460-504: The granting of credentials to female evangelists and missionaries while restricting the office of pastor to men, and it was not until 1920 that female evangelists could vote at denominational meetings. By the fall of 1914, out of 512 credential holders, 142 were female missionaries and evangelists. After 1914, the Church of God in Christ became predominantly Black or African American and the Assemblies of God would remain predominantly white. However, there were African Americans involved in

6555-479: The interracial Azusa Street Revival . Seymour initially considered himself under Parham's authority, but Parham's criticism of the revival led to a permanent split between the two men. The Azusa Street Revival soon eclipsed Parham’s influence over the nascent Pentecostal movement. In 1906, Parham's movement had an estimated 8,600 members concentrated in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. In that year, he appointed Warren Fay Carothers as general field director for

6650-484: The larger society. Starting in the 1950s, attitudes in the Assemblies of God on many of these activities underwent dramatic change. The most change probably occurred over views on women's attire, with the former stance against wearing make-up and jewelry giving way to the acceptance of popular fashion. Most of these "holiness standards" are no longer adhered to; however, some are still held to, such as proscriptions on smoking, alcohol and drug use. For much of its history,

6745-486: The late 1980s from the popularity and later scandals surrounding two of its ministers, Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker . The Assemblies of God launched an effort to increase evangelism and growth in the 1990s called the "Decade of Harvest". Such efforts failed to sustain the impressive growth of the 1980s, however. From 2003 to 2008, growth had slowed to an average annual increase of just over 1 percent. With increased growth came increased acceptance and acculturation. Since

6840-435: The leadership of General Superintendent Thomas F. Zimmerman , that the denomination finally began issuing ordinations without regard to race. Three years later the 1965 General Council adopted a resolution affirming the goals of the civil rights movement and condemning racism and discrimination. By the 1970s, there was renewed focus on inner-city evangelism and integrated urban efforts. While blacks were largely excluded from

6935-637: The local church level in the denomination. Churches within the Assemblies of God have experienced revivals from the 1990s and early 2000s which featured worship and practices reminiscent of early Pentecostalism. The most prominent of these was the Brownsville Revival , which occurred at the Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida, from 1995 into the early 2000s. These revivals often faced criticism from within and without

7030-430: The local level, Assemblies of God churches were influenced by the charismatic movement. Some charismatics left their original churches and joined less formal Assemblies of God congregations. In addition, the contemporary decreased emphasis on traditional Pentecostal taboos in the AG is in part attributable to the charismatic movement, which accelerated a trend already in existence. Since their movement's emergence early in

7125-515: The median household income in the MSA was $ 55,065, and the median family income was $ 68,797. The per capita income for the MSA in 2015 was $ 27,316. For the population age 25 years and over, 88.4% was a high school graduate for higher, and 29.8% had a bachelor's degree or higher. By the 2021 ACS census estimates, its median household income increased to $ 61,815; 40% of the population made under $ 50,000 while 32% made from $ 50–100,000 annually. The metropolis had

7220-412: The ministry. Districts were still allowed to license African Americans to preach but only in the district where the license was issued. Black Pentecostals seeking ordination were referred to "one of the colored organizations". This was especially true of the Church of God in Christ, which, despite the fact that it predates the Assemblies of God, was seen as a "younger sibling". It was not until 1962, under

7315-563: The most important being the Oneness teaching, the AG felt the need for agreement on central doctrines and to reassure evangelical Christians of its adherence to orthodox belief. Oneness Pentecostalism rejected Trinitarian theology, instead identifying the Jehovah of the Old Testament with the Christ of the New . Furthermore, Oneness adherents believed that Christians, regardless of

7410-440: The multifaceted nature of the movement owing to the many different traditions its participants came from, and the perception by Pentecostals that the movement was based too much on experience and not on biblical teaching led some in the Assemblies of God to see it in relation to the ecumenical movement. The charismatic movement forced a reevaluation of what it was to be Pentecostal. The Assemblies of God understood Spirit baptism in

7505-528: The phrase "seek not, forbid not" that summarized the CMA stance on speaking in tongues. The CMA had a profound influence on the Assemblies of God. According to historian Joe Creech, the Assemblies of God derived its "hymnody, healing doctrine, ecclesiology, and organizational structures" from the CMA. While the Apostolic Faith Movement drew its adherents from the rural Southwest, the CMA and Chicago Pentecostals were primarily Northern middle-class evangelicals. Many of

7600-558: The second-largest religion in the area. The metropolitan region has, since the 21st century, grown into a diversified economy. Its diverse economy has been primarily stimulated by oil and natural gas, fast food, retail, banking, telecommunications, and technology companies. Notable companies with a large presence in the area include, Notable colleges and universities in the Oklahoma City metro include, 35°30′N 97°30′W  /  35.500°N 97.500°W  / 35.500; -97.500 Central Oklahoma Central Oklahoma

7695-469: The south and north, Interstate 40 connects with West Texas and Arkansas , and Interstate 44 is a turnpike its entire duration through the region (except within Oklahoma City), and traverses from Southwest Oklahoma to Missouri . The region is served by BNSF , Union Pacific and several short-line railroads . Daily passenger service from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth , Texas , is provided by

7790-721: The state's largest teaching hospital and only level-1 trauma center, OU Medical Center . INTEGRIS Health owns multiple hospitals in Central Oklahoma. INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center was named in U.S. News & World Report ' s 2012 list of Best Hospitals. Other hospitals include the Midwest Regional Medical Center in Midwest City , the Oklahoma Heart Hospital and the Mercy Health Center, Deaconess Hospital ,

7885-636: Was 67.4% non-Hispanic white , 10.4% African American , 4.1% Native American , 2.8% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 5.5% from other races or ethnicities, 5.2% multiracial , and 11.3% Hispanic or Latino of any race. During the 2021 American Community Survey, its racial and ethnic makeup was 62% white, 10% African American, 3% Native American, 3% Asian, 1% other, 8% multiracial, and 14% Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2021, there were an estimated 565,309 households with an average of 2.5 persons per household; among them, 61% were married-couples and 18% were non-family households. Approximately 51% of its population

7980-553: Was a founding member of both the National Association of Evangelicals and the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America (now Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America ). In the 1950s, the AG was challenged by the Latter Rain movement , which began among former members of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada , the AG's Canadian counterpart, and quickly spread to the United States. The "New Order" as it

8075-495: Was a predominantly African American Holiness church headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1907, its founder, Charles Harrison Mason , visited Azusa Street and adopted the Pentecostal message. Mason's group was the first Pentecostal denomination to incorporate, which gave its clergy privileges such as railroad discounts. Mason led the church until his death in 1961. He was highly respected by both black and white Pentecostals. COGIC

8170-544: Was attended by predominantly white representatives from 20 states and missions in Egypt and South Africa. The fellowship that emerged was incorporated as the General Council of the Assemblies of God . Bell was elected the first general superintendent. The Assemblies of God gave five reasons for calling the meeting: Other actions taken at the 1st General Council addressed women in ministry. The Pentecostals who founded

8265-617: Was convinced "that God [was] now visiting His people in many places with a special manifestation of power". Throughout the summer of 1907, aspects of the Pentecostal revival were on display at CMA events. At the Beulah Park Convention in Collinwood, Ohio, it was reported that "God poured out His Spirit upon the people in general and upon others in particular, so that they spoke with new tongues and magnified God. The sick were healed and demons were expelled". While Simpson

8360-482: Was established in 1906 by William Hamner Piper, a former follower of Dowie who had joined the Pentecostal movement. Due to its strategic location in Chicago, the church often hosted large conventions and rallies. The North Avenue Mission was pastored by William Howard Durham , who received Spirit baptism at Azusa Street in 1907. Unlike other early Pentecostal leaders, Durham did not believe in entire sanctification as

8455-493: Was interracial with many white members, and many white Pentecostal ministers sought ordination from Mason. Early Pentecostal groups were loosely organized. Historian Cecil M. Robeck, Jr. notes, "While a person might hold primary allegiance to one organization, she or he could hold credentials with a second organization as well." In 1907, Goss had received a license to preach from Mason's group, and he claimed that Mason had given him permission to issue ministerial credentials under

8550-409: Was known was highly critical of denominations, such as the AG, and taught that the gifts of the Spirit are channeled through church elders and are given to others by the laying on of hands . However, the Assemblies of God and other classical Pentecostal groups maintained that the charismata are not personally received or imparted but are manifested as the Holy Spirit wills. In 1949 with a meeting of

8645-414: Was married. Of its 615,726 housing units at the census estimates, 92% were occupied and 64% were owner-occupied. An estimated 32% of its housing units were constructed since 2017, reflecting the metropolitan population growth. There was a median owner-occupied value of $ 190,800 and 36% of its units ranged from $ 100–200,000, while 17% were valued at under $ 100,000. As of 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated

8740-517: Was not opposed to speaking in tongues, he opposed the doctrine of evidentiary tongues. In 1914, the Alliance adopted an official position stating, "the consecrated believer may receive the Spirit in His fulness without speaking in tongues or any miraculous manifestation whatever." Afterwards, CMA members who believed strongly in evidentiary tongues left the Alliance. After Simpson's death, the Alliance became more hostile to tongue-speaking. A. W. Tozer coined

8835-426: Was not the only evidence. The issue was decided at the General Council of September 1918 where Bosworth, who two months earlier had resigned so as not to damage the fellowship, was present and invited to address the council. Following debate two resolutions were passed which assured that initial evidence would remain an official teaching of the fellowship. While doctrinal controversy led to the withdrawal of ministers,

8930-660: Was the first radio station transmitting west of the Mississippi River and the third radio station in the United States. WKY received its federal license in 1921 and has broadcast under the same call letters since 1922. In 1928, the station was purchased by the Oklahoma Publishing Company and affiliated with the NBC Red Network . In 1949, WKY-TV (Channel 4) went on the air and later became the first independently owned television station in

9025-465: Was the first to connect glossolalia with Spirit baptism. His Apostolic Faith Movement was strongest in southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas. He established several congregations around Galena, Kansas. In 1905, Parham moved his headquarters to Houston, Texas, and opened a Bible training school. One of his students was William J. Seymour , an African American holiness preacher. In 1906, Seymour moved to Los Angeles, California, where his preaching ignited

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