The
Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith is
the continuation of the great revival that began in Jerusalem,
on the Day of Pentecost, AD 33. This organization has as its foundation
the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets, and we claim Jesus
Christ Himself as the Chief Cornerstone of our faith. (Acts
2:11-12) (Ephesians 2:19-20). The true followers
of Christ have always suffered persecution and near extinction,
but God has always sounded a refreshing note that in every age
He would have a people who would yield themselves to His Word
and His divine plan; and, because of this, God has ordained that
the true church should "earnestly contend for the faith that
was once delivered to the saints" (Jude
1:3). That is to say that we must hold to our
biblically based tenets of faith.
As the Sons of God, Jesus Christ's visible representatives in
this world, we recognize that God is at work and has manifested
Himself in the United States, Great Britain, Canada and the uttermost
parts of the world, and has validated His presence through signs,
wonders and many miracles.
The advent of Christ and the descent of the Holy Ghost began on
the Day of Pentecost and can be traced back to the days of Tertullian
(AD 33), Chysostom (4th Century), Christians of the Thirteenth
Century, the early Quakers, Wesley, Whitfield and Irving. The
Church has always manifested the gifts of the spirit as was in
evidence during the many revivals that swept over America in the
late Eighteenth Century.
Apostolic history reveals that in 1901, in the State of Kansas,
this revival broke forth in a mighty way and moved southward through
Texas, reaching Los Angeles, California in 1906. This revival,
manifested by the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, spread throughout
the whole earth, entering into nearly every nation under heaven,
penetrating even into the heathen darkness of India, China, Africa
and the isles of the sea, fulfilling the great commission of our
Lord, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel every
creature," (Mark 16:15-20;
Matt. 28:18-19; St. Luke 24:47-49 and Acts 1:4-11)
by proclaiming the soon coming of the Lord.
So great was this awakening that, in just a few years, many towns
and cities, large and small, were witnessing the Pentecostal outpouring
of the Holy Spirit. Not long afterwards, there began to appear,
hi various localities, places of worship designating themselves
by such names as: The Apostolic Faith Mission, Pentecostal Mission,
Apostolic Faith Assembly, Full Gospel Assembly/Mission, Assembly
of God, etc.; their one common aim being to contend for and preserve
the faith which was taught to the saints in the days of the Apostles,
proclaiming the Bible as their Creed, Discipline, Rule of Order
and Charter.
It is the primary aim of the Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic
Faith to glorify our Savior, Jesus Christ, who alone gave His
life upon the cross, that He might redeem us from all iniquity
and purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.
The Lord Jesus desires that we should show forth His praises,
since it was He that called us out of darkness into this marvelous
light of salvation. Our Lord requires and expects that we be blameless
and harmless, the Sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of
a crooked and perverse society.
God desires that the light He has placed in us would truly shine
outwardly into a world that is groping in spiritual darkness.
We are hold forth the Word of Life in such a way that we can give
spiritual understanding "to them that sit in darkness and
in the shadow of death, to guide their feet in the way of peace
(Titus 2:1-13; I Peter 2:9; Phil.
2:15 and Luke 1:79).
It is our Christian duty to lift the fallen, visit the sick, strengthen
the weak, encourage the fainthearted and comfort the feebleminded.
We should further seek to point the lost to the way of salvation
and urge all believers to seek a spirit filled life. (Eph
5:18 and Acts 19:1-16) and to prepare for the
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (James
1:27; I Thess, 5:4; Mark 16:15-18 and Matt 25:1-13).
It is our indispensable duty, as partakers of the "Royal
Priesthood," to offer supplications, prayers, intercessions
and giving of thanks for all men: for kings, presidents, governors,
magistrates, and all that are in authority, that we may lead a
quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty (I
Tim. 2:1-4; Rom. 13:1-7; I Peter 1:9 and Rev. 1:6, 5:10).
As saints of the Most-High God, we pledge to submit ourselves
to every ordinance and law of man, whether that submission be
to the governor, or a representative of the state that is authorized
and carries the powers of the state to punish evil doers, so long
as these ordinances do not infringe upon our God-given liberties,
which include service toward God according to the dictates of
our conscience (I Peter 2:13-17;
Titus 3:1-12 and Matt 22:21)