A Passion for His People: Fred Smolchuck and Slavic ...

Vol. 26, No. 1, 2, Spring-Summer 2006



Published quarterly by Spring-Summer 2006 Vol. 26, No. 1, 2
The Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center
1445 N. Boonville Ave. PUBLISHED BY THE FLOWER PENTECOSTAL HERITAGE CENTER
Springfield, MO 65802-1894
Phone: 417-862-1447, ext. 4400 A Passion for His People: Fred
Fax: 417-862-6203 Smolchuck and Slavic Pentecostalism
Toll Free: 877-840-5200
Email: [email protected] The son of Ukrainian immigrants to America tells about
Website: www.AGHeritage.org his call to ministry and burden for the Slavic people.

ISSN 0896-4395 4 By Fred Smolchuck

Darrin J. Rodgers Carl M. Hanson: Scandinavian
Harbinger of Pentecost
EDITOR AND DIRECTOR
Before the Azusa Street revival, this evangelist
Joyce Lee preached Pentecost among Scandinavian immigrants

ARCHIVIST 8 to America. By Darrin J. Rodgers

Glenn Gohr The Glory Road

ASSISTANT ARCHIVIST AND COPY EDITOR The daughter of evangelists Raymond and Fern
Jones offers a lively account of her childhood on the
Brett Pavia
road. By Anita Jones Garner
COORDINATOR OF
SPECIAL PROJECTS AND 16
HERITAGE DESIGNER
The H. C. Noah Story
Sharon Rasnake
A pioneer pastor who is best remembered for his 33
ADMINISTRATIVE
COORDINATOR years of leadership at Oak Cliff Assembly in Dallas,

Wayne Warner Texas. By J. Naaman Hall

FOUNDING EDITOR 20

Heritage is indexed in the ATLA God’s Warrior: Niilo Yli-Vainio,
Religion Database, published by
the American Theological Library The Great Finnish Revivalist
Association, 250 S. Wacker Dr., 16th
Flr., Chicago, IL 60606; This Pentecostal evangelist helped change the
E-mail: [email protected] landscape of Christianity in late twentieth-century
Web: www.atla.com
24 Finland. By Benjamin Ranta
ATLA Religion Database (RDB) is
available on CD-ROM and US MARC 2 From the Editor 3 Letters 28 Testimony Time
format directly from ATLA, as well
as online through five aggregators: 32 Seen in Print 34 Time Frame
OCLC’s FirstSearch, EBSCO
Information Services, SilverPlatter, 36 Archives Activities
Ovid Technologies, and Cambridge
Scientific Abstracts. Microfilm of Cover: Fred Smolchuck leading songs at a meeting for U.S. servicemen in New
Heritage is available from Theological York’s Times Square in the 1940s. Director Martin Busse is seated.
Research Exchange Network (TREN),
P.O. Box 30183, 5420 N. E. Glisan,
Portland, OR 97294-3183. Heritage
on CD is available from the Flower
Pentecostal Heritage Center.

© Copyright 2006 by
Gospel Publishing House,
1445 N. Boonville Ave.,
Springfield, MO 65802-1894

POSTMASTER: Send address
change to Heritage, 1445 N. Boonville
Ave., Springfield, MO 65802-1894

This is the final quarterly issue of Heritage. The next installment, the 2007
annual edition (Vol. 27), will be published November 2006. Annual edition
price, $10.00.

FROM THE EDITOR

Pentecostal Saints:
Witnesses to God’s Faithfulness

When my great-grandparents, William and Irene Amundson, of Christianity in one century. Since
William and Irene Amundson, accepted great-grandparents of the editor. its 1914 organization, the Assemblies
Christ in the early 1930s in a little of God has grown to be the world’s
Pentecostal church in North Dakota, only to those near them, but to the largest Protestant fellowship (with over
they probably didn’t realize they larger Christian community, across 55 million adherents in 2005).
were getting in on the ground floor of time and spanning cultures.
something big. When they turned their Unfortunately, many people in
lives over to God, they started out on On the following pages, you will the West seem to have fallen victim
a journey that would develop in them read about: Fred Smolchuck’s passion to a form of spiritual myopia — an
spiritual disciplines that would impact for his people — the Slavs; Carl M. inability to see beyond their immediate
their family and those around them “Daddy” Hanson, whose Pentecostal surroundings and to learn from the
— and ultimately affect eternity. ministry among Scandinavian wisdom of the ages. Values that parents
immigrants prefigured Azusa Street; and grandparents deemed essential
My mother remembers that her evangelists Raymond and Fern Jones; are today devalued. Materialism,
Grandpa Bill was always faithful in A. H. Wendt, first Chairman of the hyper-individualism, and selfishness,
his devotions — that he developed German Branch; Niilo Yli-Vainio, the under the guise of sophistication and
a discipline of daily Bible-reading great Finnish revivalist; H. C. Noah, individual rights, are tearing at the
and prayer, no matter what else was longtime pastor of Oak Cliff Assembly fabric of our families, churches, and
happening around him. Life often was of God, Dallas, Texas; and memories broader society.
a struggle, but my great-grandparents of early Pentecost in Sisseton, South
remained faithful to God, to their family, Dakota. It has been said that he who
and to their church, the small Cando marries the spirit of the age will soon
(ND) Assembly of God. These spiritual These and other Pentecostal be a widower. When current fads pass
disciplines had broader implications; pioneers were in on the ground floor of away, I pray that our Movement, too,
through them they learned that life something larger than themselves. God won’t pass away because our identity
is comprised of little decisions and changed their lives, and they impacted has become so intertwined with the
that these habits of the heart would eternity by touching others. They latest fashions.
determine the direction that their lives were among the earliest members of
would take. a movement that has changed the face Early Pentecostals claimed that
their very reason for being was to restore
Christianity stands on the precept the historic, biblical church. Banners,
that God acts in history, and the hanging in some of the first Pentecostal
testimonies of God’s people throughout tabernacles, quoted Hebrews 13:8:
the ages are holy history. The Flower “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and
Pentecostal Heritage Center is charged today and forever.” Christianity, in its
with the sacred task of preserving DNA, seems to require a commitment
these stories. The example of the to history. To paraphrase author G.
Amundsons’ faithfulness — and of K. Chesterton, Christianity, with its
God’s faithfulness to them — is not insistence upon looking back to move
alone. This theme is repeated countless forward, “is the only thing that saves
times in Scripture, Christian history, a man from the degrading slavery of
and the more recent Pentecostal past. being a child of his age.”

This issue of Heritage recounts How does a person put history
stories of Pentecostal saints who were into practice? I would suggest that one
witnesses to God’s faithfulness — not can start by reading the testimonies
of the saints, including those faithful

2 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

Christians in one’s own family, and your home, school and church. As was places, and events that made the
by sharing those stories with the next mentioned in the previous issue, this Assemblies of God what it is today!
generation. The job of the historian, is the last quarterly issue of Heritage.
according to Grant Wacker, is “to More information about the change Darrin Rodgers is director of the Flower
resurrect the dead and let them speak.” to an expanded annual edition can Pentecostal Heritage Center and editor
That’s our job at the Flower Pentecostal be found in the publication statement of Heritage magazine.
Heritage Center — to give voice to on page 33. I also encourage you to
those who came before. visit our website: www.AGHeritage.
org, which is slated to be redeveloped
I am pleased to include the during the next year. Thank you for
Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center’s your faithful support of the Flower
2006 resource guide in this issue of Pentecostal Heritage Center, and for
Heritage. In it you will find many your continuing interest in the people,
ways to bring Pentecostal history into

LETTERS

Appreciation from American Grace and peace, May the Lord bless you in your
Baptist Churches Dr. Gary K. Clark retirement, may you have good health
National Chairman and continue to bless others with your
Dear Darrin [Rodgers], Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries in service.
Congratulations again on your American Baptist Churches
Pasadena, California With all best wishes and warm
position as Director of the Flower greetings in the Lord,
Pentecostal Heritage Center and editor Dr. Clark donated to the FPHC a
of Heritage. I enjoyed all the time we complete run of Refreshing Times Monsignor Dr. Peter Hocken
shared at the Society for Pentecostal (newsletter of Holy Spirit Renewal Vienna, Austria
Studies in Pasadena. Ministries) and other materials
documenting the charismatic renewal Peter Hocken (left) standing with Wayne
Thank you for the complimentary in American Baptist Churches. Warner in the AG Archives in 1986.
copy of Heritage. I am enclosing a check
for a subscription. A note of interest on Thanks For Wayne Warner’s Photographs for Encyclopedia
page 55 [Dan Betzer, “Honoring Our Contributions Glenn [Gohr]
Faithful Heroes,” Summer-Fall 2005].
I was with Dan Betzer in my home Dear Wayne [Warner], I received the downloads I
town of Sandusky, Ohio, in the 1960s I have just been reading your last requested, and I just wanted to say that
when he began broadcasting on the it was a pleasure working with you. You
small local Sandusky radio station, issue of Heritage, which has brought responded in a very timely fashion, and
WLEC. He interviewed the then Miss back a lot of memories for me: of
America, Vonda Kaye VanDyke, who times when we were mistaken for one (Continued on page 33)
married one of my former classmates another, of my visits to the Archives
and football buddies from Sandusky with a photo that found its way into the
High School. Small world! original Dictionary of Pentecostal and
Charismatic Movements, etc.
The hope is that the diligent
Assemblies of God will pray for the I just wanted to thank you for all
Baptist charismatics for more power that you have contributed to making
and endurance in our mission to put the Pentecostals aware of the importance
Holy Ghost fire under all the Baptist of archival materials and their early
water and produce evangelistic steam. history, and for your own research on
interesting figures in the history.
Looking forward to the next issue
of Heritage.

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 3

A Passion for His People

Fred and Stella
Smolchuck dressed in
Ukrainian ethnic costume
and singing a duet at
the General Council in
Seattle, Washington,
1949.

Fred Smolchuck and
Slavic Pentecostalism

by Fred Smolchuck

Almost eighty years ago, Fred Smolchuck felt God’s call to the ministry. Fred Smolchuck at his graduation from
Following that call led him around the world, and he became a leader within Slavic Zion Bible Institute in 1936 at age 19.
Pentecostalism, both in the United States and in Eastern Europe. Smolchuck’s strong
voice and mind, his smoldering passion for souls, and his leadership gifts continue to Catholic Church.
make their mark on the Pentecostal landscape. That year many immigrants from

The son of Ukrainian immigrants to America, Smolchuck was a founding Eastern Europe came to America, but
member of the Ukrainian Branch of the Assemblies of God, he served as a pastor what a surprise when Kirilo discovered
and district official in Michigan, and he authored 16 books. His life is inextricably that Sophia Buksa, a young lady whom
intertwined with the history of the Slavic churches in the Assemblies of God. In his he knew in Pidlyptsi, also immigrated
latest book, Who Else … But God!, he recounts the story of how God worked in his to Boston and began to attend the
own life and in the broader Slavic Pentecostal movement. In the following account, same church as he. It was a pleasant
Smolchuck shares this exciting story with Heritage readers. — Darrin Rodgers discovery, to say the least. The two
never did show interest in each other
I was born on February 26, 1917 land and my new land. When I felt when they attended their village school,
in Boston, a city teeming with God’s call to the ministry, then, it was but this was different. They kept
immigrants. My parents, Kirilo among Slavic immigrants to America
and Sophia, were recent Ukrainian that I began preaching the gospel.1
immigrants who had fled war-torn
Europe. I attended public schools in In many ways I followed in
Boston and graduated from Dorchester the footsteps of my father. Kirilo
High School. My father, Kirilo, taught Filipovich Smolchuck was 17 years
me the language, folklore, and customs old when he left his family in Pidlyptsi,
of the Ukraine. It was this instruction the Ukraine2 and set sail for the United
that allowed me to bridge the cultural States in 1914. He settled in Boston,
gap between the ways of my ancestral Massachusetts, where he became a
member of the Ukrainian Greek

4 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

Slavic-American Pentecostals

Slavic Pentecostals imported aspects from their culture — most obviously
their language — into their new faith. Other practices common in early Slavic
Pentecostal churches in America were footwashing, the covering of heads by
women, and separation of the sexes in church. Men sat on the right side of the
church; women on the left. Another practice, borrowed from Eastern European
Baptists, was a preference for a succession of short sermons by multiple
preachers, instead of a single sermon by one minister. This arrangement
provided opportunities for younger ministers to gain experience, particularly
since it was rare for ministers to attend ministerial training schools in Eastern
Europe.

Ukrainian Assembly of God,
New York City, about 1949.

Neon sign at Ukrainian Assembly of God Sophia to a saving knowledge of Jesus pastor of several churches, and was
in New York City. Christ as Savior. My parents and I, elected by the Ukrainian Branch of the
then ten years old, also received the Assemblies of God to serve as one of
seeing each other, and within a year baptism in the Holy Spirit. Life for the
Smolchucks was never the same after Wits presbyters.
Gwere married. that. hile God was dealing
od blessed their union with with Kirilo and Sophia,
a son they named Fred, When the Catholic church He was preparing me for
in memory of Sophia’s heard of what happened to our a life of ministry and
brother who was killed family, we were declared “heretics” leadership among both Ukrainians and
during the war. Kirilo Smolchuck, and excommunicated from the Americans. When only ten years of
well liked by the people of the Catholic congregation. We were no longer age, I received the baptism in the
church, was elected executive secretary welcome. Although our close friends Holy Spirit and received the call to
and also was chosen by the parish ignored us, God gave us new friends, the ministry. When I completed high
priest to be his assistant. “brethren” of the new church. We school at age 17, I had already been
became members of the Russian, Polish preaching in youth meetings for about
A series of tragic events, beginning and Ukrainian Pentecostal Church of a year.
with the death of my seven-year-old Chelsea, Massachusetts.
sister Mary, led the Smolchucks to find SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 5
Christ. In the midst of their sorrow My father, Kirilo, grew in the
and despair, the faithful witnessing Lord. His knowledge of the Word of
of their friends Josephine Iwasko and God increased. Pastor Kondrat Kosuk
Agafia Turchinetz brought Kirilo and often called upon him to fill the pulpit
and preach the Word. The congregation
elected him to serve as executive
secretary of the church. Meanwhile,
Sophia became an outstanding witness
for Jesus, visiting unsaved old friends
and, one by one, winning them to the
Lord.

God chose to call Sophia to
Himself when she was only 43 years
old. After her death, Kirilo entered
full-time ministry. He conducted
evangelistic meetings, served as

Fred Smolchuck and Stella Hanko
before their wedding.

In 1934, I enrolled at Zion Bible Fred Smolchuck introduces David du served there four years.
Institute (East Providence, Rhode Plessis “Mr. Pentecost” to the New York American Assemblies of God
Island), a “faith school” that did not City Ukrainian congregation.
charge tuition. We not only received a brethren granted me ministerial
wonderful Bible education, we got an I graduated in 1936 and, one year later, I credentials in 1938, hoping I would work
education in faith, in believing in God. married Stella Hanko. We immediately with them. However, having grown up
launched out into active ministry. After in a Slavic church, and maintaining
a short time on the evangelistic field, fellowship with such Slavic leaders
we were called to pastor the Russian, as Joseph J. Matolina, Bartholomew
Ukrainian and Polish Pentecostal Hutzaluk, Demian Matysuk, Stephen
Church, a congregation in Claremont, Zuck, and others from the days of my
New Hampshire. Since I was fluent youth, and especially since I felt a
in Ukrainian and did fairly well in burden for the Slavic people, I decided
Russian and Polish, I fit right into the to work with the Slavic brethren. I did,
however, maintain credentials as an
Gmultilingual situation at Claremont. Assemblies of God minister with the
od blessed our ministry New England District.
there. The church grew
in number. Ministry in My fellow ministers asked me
Claremont proved to be to serve in numerous offices, offering
the training I needed to prepare for opportunities to preach, write, and
the work God had in store for me. We administrate. In 1941, I was elected

A New Slavic Fellowship The front cover of the first issue of Palomnyk, a Ukrainian
language Pentecostal periodical sent to readers all over the
In the 1980s, a new wave of Slavic world.
immigrants — including Pentecostals
fleeing Communist persecution — began
to arrive in America. In 1982, some of
these new immigrants formed the Slavic
Pentecostal Fellowship of North America.
Fred Smolchuck served as a bridge between
Slavic and American Pentecostals and was
instrumental in helping to form a new Slavic
Fellowship of the Assemblies of God, USA
in 2002. This new Fellowship progressed
to conference status in November 2005,
the step prior to becoming a district.
Alexander A. Shevchenko, whose parents
fled from the Ukraine to China, and who
now pastors the Russian Gospel Temple in
San Francisco, California, is president of the
Slavic Fellowship. Concerning Smolchuck,
Shevchenko remarked, “He is well-known
among Slavic Pentecostals in America,
the Ukraine and Russia for his passion
for his people. Not only is he an inspiring,
encouraging preacher, but he ministers
in the Ukrainian language. Most people
of Ukrainian heritage born in America do
not learn the language. Fred Smolchuck,
however, developed these abilities and is an
excellent preacher and author.”

6 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

to serve as executive secretary of the Hymnology Hash
Pentecostal Union of the Assemblies of
God (an independent Slavic organization The Russian, Ukrainian and Polish Pentecostal Church of
of about 22 churches which, despite its Chelsea, Massachusetts resolved the issue of which language should
name, was not officially a part of the be used for the song service by allowing congregants to sing the
Assemblies of God). same songs, from songbooks in their own languages, at the same
time. For example, the worship leader would announce, “We shall sing
In 1943, the Pentecostal Union 247 in Russian, 35 in Ukrainian, 164 in Polish and for those singing
joined the Assemblies of God, and in English the number is 78.” What may have appeared confusing to
its Russian and Ukrainian member some became a process by which a number of people learned each
churches formed their own language others’ languages.
branches. In 1947 I was elected
superintendent of the Ukrainian The Slavic people weighed heavily responsibilities at an office. My
Branch of the Assemblies of God, upon my heart. In 1974, I had begun ministry spanned the globe, in places
holding that position until 1952, when traveling to Eastern Europe where I such as Eastern Europe, South America,
I resigned to accept the pastorate of the developed valuable relationships with
Detroit (Michigan) Russian, Ukrainian Pentecostal leaders. I wrote over a IAfrica, Australia, and the Orient.
and Polish Pentecostal Church (later dozen books concerning Pentecostal n 1995, Stella and I moved
theology and ministry, plus numerous from Grass Lake, Michigan to
Wrenamed Evangel Assembly of God). pamphlets and manuals in the Ukrainian Springfield, Missouri. After 65
hile in Detroit, I and Russian languages. years of sharing life and ministry
furthered my own together, Stella went to be with the
education, earning a Upon my retirement in 1983, the Lord in 2002.
bachelor’s degree from General Council of the Assemblies
Great Lakes College, and I helped of God voted to recognize me as an My close contact with Slavic
further the education of others, by honorary presbyter for my 27 years ministries and a personal fellowship
founding Central Bible College, Detroit of service as a general presbyter of with Assemblies of God church leaders
Campus (an extension of the school the Ukrainian and Michigan Districts. since 1927 permitted me to witness
located in Springfield, Missouri). I left Instead of slowing down, I viewed and record remarkable events as God
the pastorate in 1964 upon my election retirement as an opportunity to travel worked among Ukrainian and Russian
to serve as executive secretary-treasurer around the world as a missionary immigrants. How did it all come about?
of the Michigan District. evangelist, unfettered by the daily The title to my recent autobiography
provides the answer: Who Else … But
Fred Smolchuck sharing the good news God! could have done it!
with the people of Zolochiv, Ukraine.

For more information about
Smolchuck’s autobiography, see page
32.

Notes

1 For more information about Fred
Smolchuck and the history of Slavic
Pentecostals in America, see: Fred
Smolchuck, From Azusa Street to the
U.S.S.R.: A Brief History of Pentecost
Among Slavic Immigrants, 1900-1991
(Arcadia, CA: North American Slavic
Pentecostal Fellowship, 1992); Fred
Smolchuck, Who Else … But God!
(Springfield, MO: the author, 2006).

2 In 1914, Pidlyptsi was in Galicia,
a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Galicia came under Soviet rule after World
War II and became known as the Ukraine.

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 7

Carl M. Hanson

Scandinavian Harbinger of Pentecost

By Darrin J. Rodgers

Carl M. Hanson
with one of his
thirteen children,
Anna, in 1910. Anna
went on to serve,
with her husband,
Arthur F. Berg, as
a missionary in
Belgian Congo from
1922 to 1926.

Carl M. “Daddy” Hanson, a spiritual father to many early Pentecostals

on the northern Great Plains, earned his Pentecostal stripes on both sides of Azusa Street. His

brand of radical Scandinavian pietism prefigured the emerging Pentecostal movement, in which

he became an early leader. Hanson traversed Minnesota and the eastern Dakotas during the late

1890s and early 1900s, spreading glossolalic revival even that he listened “to the voice of the enemy telling me I was
before the Topeka and Azusa Street revivals.1 too young, was uneducated and would only be a man going
around doing nothing for his living.” Instead of following
Hanson was born on December 15, 1865 in Minnesota the call to ministry, Hanson recalled, “I yielded to his
to Norwegian immigrants.2 In 1881, he enrolled in the suggestions of waiting until I had become older and made
college preparatory program at Augsburg Seminary, a some money.”7
Lutheran school in Minneapolis. Curriculum for the
freshman class (known as the “Greek Division”) included Hanson married Mathilda Louise Folkedal of Blue
the English, Norwegian, and Greek languages, Religion, Earth County, Minnesota, on November 28, 1888.8 The
History, and Geography. According to school records, he young couple moved to Lemond, Minnesota, where Carl
attended classes from October 1881 until March 1882. operated a creamery and general merchandise store.9 While
Presumably, Hanson was among the many students who left working in a saw mill in 1895, he severed a finger,
to engage in farm work and who did not return for April developed blood poisoning, and entered a hospital in
classes.3 Wauseca, Minnesota, where Drs. Young and Swartz deemed
his condition terminal.10 Facing death, Hanson turned
Hanson converted to Christ while at Augsburg.4 In to God and experienced conviction for his sin. Hanson
a 1906 tract, Hanson wrote that he began to experience testified:
conviction at age 14 and “became real earnest and was
blessedly saved” nine months later.5 In 1904, he testified, My agony … opened the dark of the
“A short time after my conversion at the age of 16 years I abyss, and the revelation of the dreadful
was called of God to offer my life in the Lord’s service to depths made me exclaim, “Thou condemn
preach the Gospel. But through Satan’s frightful might and me in righteousness if Thou cast me into
cunning I was hindered for eleven years.”6 Hanson lamented

8 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

Hell.” In a moment I experienced a burning and spoke in tongues, as in Acts 2.13
of fire, and the peace of God with a glow
overfilled my spirit, soul, and body. A Significantly, the tongues-speech witnessed by Hanson
peace, which cannot be described, came occurred a decade prior to the Azusa Street revival. The
with new life and living power in my 1895 instance of tongues took place during services he held
years. God’s power overshadowed me, and on the H. N. Russum farm near Grafton, North Dakota, and
I gained life. The blood poisoning was no the person to speak in tongues was a small girl. Hanson
longer present and I began as a newborn initially declared, “This must be that which was spoken
child who gathered strength.11 by the prophet Joel,” referring to the prophecy in Joel
2:28. After searching Scripture, he became convinced
Shortly after his healing, Hanson became an evangelist. the experience was of God, but he had not yet connected
He recounted how, in 1895, he received his “anointing to tongues to Spirit baptism. Former General Superintendent
preach”: of the Assemblies of God, G. Raymond Carlson, traced his
family’s Pentecostal roots to that Grafton revival.14
I commenced to witness for the Lord
and after a series of meetings – we had had Hanson continued to thirst for more of God and
a cottage meeting in our home – as I arose questioned whether he was truly Spirit-baptized.
to testify the Spirit of God came upon me in
such a way that I became unconscious of a While there (in Grafton) I met a Brother
single word spoken. But the result was that whom I thought had more than I had. I
the whole audience was moved. Some cried, then thought that I had the Baptism in the
others rejoiced, while others exclaimed, Holy Spirit, but that he had the fire also. I
“The Lord has spoken.” I myself realized asked him to pray for me, and I received a
such a joy in my soul and a keenness in my wonderful anointing, so that I was laid out
spirit to know the condition of things, and under the Power a long time, being filled
received an anointing to preach, and revivals with exceeding joy. I had also gone through
followed.12 a wonderful cleansing before, and was clear
in my spirit, but was struggling over Baptism
Hanson recorded how his understanding of water in the Holy Spirit. With all this and many
baptism and spirit baptism evolved during that first year of other blessings and administrations of the
ministry. Holy Spirit I could not get satisfied.15

Soon after (receiving an anointing to Hanson wrote that two years later (apparently in
preach) I became aware there was much 1897) he prayed for a woman who, shortly after being
more for me and that I needed it, as I Spirit-baptized, “leaped, shouted, and praised God, sang
realized in studying the Word that Jesus and prophesied and spoke in other tongues.”16 In another
required the same works to be done now as
in the days of the Apostles given by Jesus. Hanson (left) with John Feuk and Jennie Olson in
Matt. 10, etc. front of a cabin in the Turtle Mountains of North
Dakota. Early Pentecostal camp meetings were held
It was also made plain that if we came in the Turtle Mountains in the 1910s.
to the place the Apostles were (Acts 1 and
2), the same power would fall. This brought
me to pray for the Baptism in the Holy
Spirit, and searching the scriptures I soon
found I was not baptized in water according
to the Word. Also many false doctrines had
to be cleansed out. My hunger became so
great at times I made up my mind to go
home and wait until I was endued, but had
to go out again and again.

In 1895, while holding meetings and
preaching the full gospel, as I saw it, with a
full consecration, sanctification and Baptism
in the Holy Spirit, one came clear through

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 9

C. M. Hanson (second row, fourth man from left) reported as many as 2,000 people in
attendance at this September 1924 tent revival in Fargo, ND (pictured on pages 10 and
11). Two years later, Norwegian immigrant Henry H. Ness came to pastor the fledgling
flock and organized Fargo Gospel Tabernacle (renamed First Assembly of God in 1949).
Photos courtesy of Irene Hankin

two years (apparently in 1899), Hanson also received this people were saved. This was usually followed by a
experience. consuming desire for more of God’s power in their lives.”18
Hanson was Norwegian, while the Scandinavians to whom
But with all this, and many other wonderful he ministered were mostly Swedes. Hanson primarily
experiences, I was not satisfied until two years preached in the Swedish and English languages, causing
later, while laboring in the country, I was some Norwegian listeners to mistake him for a Swede.19
led to get alone with the Lord. Opportunity
was given, and as I knelt down to pray I fell In 1900, the Hansons moved from Lemond, Minnesota
backwards to the floor and all at once, like a to Minneapolis, where Carl worked as a carpenter to support
mighty rushing wind, the Spiritual atmosphere his evangelistic ministry.20 While in Minneapolis, Hanson
was cleared up and my whole inward soul was attended Zion Tabernacle, a congregation pastored by
enlightened. The atoning blood justifying me Frederick A. Graves and affiliated with the Christian
before God made everything clear. The Holy Catholic Church, a denomination founded by faith healer
Spirit then, as a person, took possession of John Alexander Dowie.21 The Hansons moved in 1904 to a
His Temple, speaking in other tongues, while I small farm near Anoka, Minnesota, located eighteen miles
realized myself as a listener and an instrument north of Minneapolis.
in the hands of the Almighty. Oh, the joy that
filled my soul; and how unworthy I felt as Soon after leaving Minneapolis, Carl testified that the
it now became clear that the Holy Spirit had urgent need to save souls prior to Christ’s second coming
come in to dwell, and I knew Him as a person, drew him back to urban ministry: “... in heartfelt prayer to
not merely as an influence or a blessing.17 God His Word became clear: Jesus soon arrives to fetch
His own … I must go down to Minneapolis and witness
Hanson continued to itinerate as an evangelist, preaching to many.”22 On November 12, 1904, Hanson walked 18
the Word and sharing with others how he was saved, miles to Minneapolis, then continued on to St. Paul, where
healed, and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Hanson’s daughter he arrived that afternoon. Hanson, seeing men and women
recounted, “My father began giving testimony wherever who were drunken, homeless, and poorly clothed, became
doors were open to him: in churches, schoolhouses, homes, convinced God wanted him to open a mission for “these
and missions. The response was amazing. Everywhere wretched children of need.”23 In a plea for financial support
to open a mission, Hanson set forth his needs: “... your
10 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006 sincere intercessory prayers and help for this ‘God’s Saving

Tent revival in Fargo, ND
September 1924.

Hanson described the crowded tent on
the reverse of this postcard.

Arm Mission’ that breaks the Living Bread for the Hungry, send for a doctor. They said it was cruel and inhuman to
tells the Saving Word to the unsaved, nurses the sick both in let me sit there suffering and not to do anything to help me,
body and soul, clads the naked, gives the homeless shelter but we trusted in the Great Physician and we did not trust in
and the hungry bread, the unemployed work.”24 vain.”29 Interestingly, at the same time as he was promoting
Spirit baptism and healing, Hanson named a son, Clarence
Published writings offer a glimpse into Hanson’s Philip Melanchthon Hanson (born December 1, 1904), after
emerging Pentecostal theology. In a February 1905 letter, an early sixteenth century German Protestant reformer and
Hanson discussed the relationship between salvation and systematic theologian.30
Spirit baptism: “With the New Birth one has the opportunity
to see the Kingdom of God, but with the Spirit Baptism one As a Free Mission evangelist, Hanson itinerated in
comes into the Kingdom, into the Ark, into the Father’s Minnesota, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, and Iowa, preaching
House.”25 He further claimed that with Spirit baptism, his brand of radical evangelicalism, making converts, and
“The sin of mankind is annihilated and Christ is glorified in seeking funds and workers for his new mission. In late
us.”26 February and early March 1905, Hanson held meetings in
the Gotland neighborhood near Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Describing those Christians without Spirit baptism, Seizing upon local gossip, a reporter wrote, “Several young
Hanson wrote, “Without the power of the Holy Spirit people have been attending these meetings and it is reported
the work became defective,” and “their missions are not that they work themselves into a perfect frenzy, rolling on
perfect for God.”27 Addressing the supposed novelty of his the floor, endeavoring to climb up the walls, tossing chairs
doctrines, he explained, “the question about spirit baptism about and talking oddly in what is supposed to be ancient
has been buried in God’s Word together with the teaching or peculiar languages, imagining that they have the gift of
of baptism and the laying on of hands and recovery for the tongues.”31
body, etc.” These teachings, he claimed, were obscured by
church leaders who kept the masses in the dark.28 Ostensibly sympathizing with one emotive 18-year-
old participant (whom the reporter freely named), the
Hanson’s bedrock belief in divine healing apparently article continued, “One of the meetings came to a climax
excluded reliance upon modern medicine. When his Thursday evening when a young girl named Miss Olga
daughter, Anna, contracted typhoid fever at age eight and Nelson appeared to lose her reason entirely, and became so
again became ill at age eleven (approximately 1905 and violent that the family was finally compelled to take her to
1908), Hanson refused medical treatment. In 1913, Anna the county jail. She quieted down to some extent there, but
testified, “Our neighbors were angry because we would not
SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 11

know exactly what they are doing at all
times.34

Despite the controversy, some converts apparently
stuck by Hanson and paid his fine.35 In a November 1905
letter to Folke-Vennen, Hanson recounted opposition he
faced, referred to his critics as false prophets, and reiterated
his call to minister to youth.36 Hanson’s daughter recalled
angry mobs interrupting her father’s services: “Eggs,
tomatoes, and even stones were thrown. In tent meetings
the ropes were sometimes cut and at times burned.”37

In 1906, the year of the Azusa Street revival, Hanson
printed a tract, in which he testified to having already lived
with the Pentecostal blessing for over seven years.

Fergus Falls (MN) Daily Journal, March 11, 1905. After over seven years of constant
consciousness of the Holy Spirit dwelling
does not appear to be very materially improved today, as she within, witnessing for Himself, speaking
walks up and down in the jail, singing hymns and imagining in other tongues, praying, glorifying God,
she is going to Africa. It is hoped that she will come out all rebuking Satan, comforting, guiding, taking
right in a few days.”32 of Christ’s and committing unto me, pleading
the Blood against principalities and powers,
The next day, the newspaper reported that Hanson glorifying Christ, rejoicing unspeakably,
planned to take five or six young female converts to suffering, etc., I am convinced beyond a
Minneapolis to help them find positions as domestics or to doubt that now in the fulness of time this
engage in mission work. According to the article, Nelson’s wonderful Baptism in the Spirit, that has
irate father swore out a warrant for Hanson’s arrest on been hid from the Church for over fifteen
charges of disorderly conduct. Hanson spent the night in centuries, is brought back by the mighty
jail, then appeared in court, where the judge fined him $35 power of God removing the covering and
and ordered him to leave town. The reporter admitted, revealing the mighty arm of God that is to
“nothing in the shape of assault or anything of that kind be revealed with a greater glory than on the
was alleged,” but wrote, “the evidence was decidedly day of Pentecost before the coming of the
interesting.”33 Several boys testified that Hanson seemed to Lord, which is at hand.38
hypnotize his converts. According to the reporter, Hanson
C. M. Hanson soon identified with the emerging
claimed the testimony was somewhat Pentecostal movement in Chicago, which had roots in the
exaggerated, although cheerfully admitting 1906 Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles.39 On September
that he and his converts roll about on the 25, 1909, Chicago Pentecostal leader William Durham
floor whenever the spirit so moves them. ordained Hanson as a minister with the Full Gospel
He vehemently denied any insinuations as Assembly.40 Durham served as pastor of the North Avenue
to hypnotic influence, and claims that the Mission, where F. A. Sandgren, editor of the Norwegian-
violent actions just described are the results language evangelical newspaper Folke-Vennen, was an
of the working of spirits either of good or elder.41 Hanson transferred his ordination to the Assemblies
evil, and in some instances of the conflicts of God (AG) on September 11, 1917. Participants at the
of the powers of light and darkness as 1922 organizational meeting of the North Central District
described in the Scriptures. He also states Council (AG) unanimously elected “Daddy” Hanson,
that converts are frequently given the gift revered as one of the region’s Pentecostal pioneers, to serve
of tongues, as they were of old, and that as the district’s first chairman (1922-23).42
they talk in whatever language the spirit
directs. He claims further that he knew one In addition to serving as an evangelist, pastor, and
lady who had no knowledge whatever of church official, Hanson provided for his large family by
German who was able to talk this language farming. In 1906, Hanson moved to a farm near Dalton,
when thus moved, and that the converts Minnesota, where he and Mathilda reared 13 children.
Seven children preceded their parents in death; nine
12 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006 survived infancy.43 Two daughters became missionaries:

It is possible that early
Pentecostals in Chicago first
became aware of contemporary
tongues-speech, not from
news of Azusa Street, but
from news of prior glossolalic
revivals in Minnesota and the
Dakotas. Durham and F. A.
Sandgren may have known
about pre-Azusa tongues in
Minnesota, as reported in
Sandgren’s newspaper, Folke-
Vennen, as early as 1904.
Likewise, Frederick A. Graves,
an early Pentecostal and noted
musician in Zion City, IL, must
have been aware that his
friend, Carl M. Hanson, claimed
to possess the gift of tongues
when Hanson attended Graves’
Minneapolis mission for
several years at the turn of the
twentieth century.

C. M. Hanson’s ordination certificate, signed by Chicago
Pentecostal leader William H. Durham in 1909.

Tracts in Norwegian and English by C. M. Hanson.

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 13

Esther M. Hanson (who served at L. M. Anglin’s orphanage more information on these early Scandinavian pietists, see: Darrin
in Taianfu, China from 1921 until her death in 1924)44 and J. Rodgers, Northern Harvest: Pentecostalism in North Dakota
Anna C. (Mrs. Arthur F.) Berg (who with her husband served (Bismarck, ND: North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies
in Belgian Congo from 1922 to 1926 prior to pastoring in of God, 2003), 4-17, 58-62; Darrin J. Rodgers, “Rediscovering
Sisseton and Sioux Falls, South Dakota).45 C. M. Hanson Our Diverse Roots: Pentecostal Origins in Scandinavian Pietism
served pastorates in Chicago, and in St. Paul, Sauk Centre, in Minnesota and the Dakotas,” Paper presented at the 33rd annual
and Princeton, Minnesota. He and Mathilda moved to meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, 2004.
Braham, Minnesota in 1945 to live with their son, Arthur J.,
until their respective deaths on June 28, 195446 and January 2 Carl M. Hanson, 1900 census, Minneapolis, Hennepin
16, 1957.47 County, Minnesota, E.D. 105, sheet 16, line 97; Irene Hankin,
phone conversation with author, October 1, 2002, notes from
The Hanson family’s Pentecostal witness has spanned conversation.
more than a century. Carl M. Hanson’s son, C. Lloyd,
served for over forty years as deacon and Sunday School 3 “Rev. C. M. Hanson at Home with the Lord,” North Dakota
superintendent at Minneapolis Gospel Tabernacle. A number District Echoes, July-August 1954, 2, 7; Carl M. Hanson, student
of budding Assemblies of God preachers, including Ted records, Augsburg College Archives, Minneapolis, Minnesota. I
Ness, Lloyd Christiansen, and Curtis Ringness, sat under his owe the information regarding Hanson’s school records to archivist
tutelage. C. Lloyd Hanson retired in San Jose, California, Kristin Anderson.
where he was active at Bethel Church until his death in 1984.
His daughters, Ruth Erickson and Irene Hankin, have been 4 “Rev. C. M. Hanson at Home with the Lord,” District
active in Assemblies of God congregations in Minnesota Echoes, July-August 1954, 2, 7.
and California. In April 2006, Irene’s grandson, Wesley
Sheley, was ordained by the Oregon District. Recognizing 5 Carl M. Hanson, “My Personal Experiences of the Graces
the significant impact that his great-grandfather’s faith had of Salvation, Healing and Baptism in the Holy Spirit,” tract, 1906.
on his family, Wesley used Carl M. Hanson’s Bible in the
ordination ceremony.48 6 Carl M. Hanson, “Til Guds Menighed,” [trans. Erik L.
Williamson], Folke-Vennen, December 8, 1904, 4-5.
History has spiritual value; it gives witness of the
faithfulness of the saints of the past. More importantly, 7 Carl M. Hanson, “My Personal Experiences of the Graces
history tells of God’s faithfulness to his people. Carl of Salvation, Healing and Baptism in the Holy Spirit,” tract, 1906.
M. Hanson, who preached Pentecost before the broader
Pentecostal movement was recognized, was one of those 8 Mathilda Louise Hanson, obituary, Braham Journal,
saints. His testimony is important, not only because it January 24, 1957, 1, 5.
provides intriguing insight into an often-forgotten aspect
of Pentecostal origins, but also because it confirms that 9 “Couple’s 60th Wedding Anniversary Remembered at Two
one person, working within the fabric of the Christian Occasions,” Braham Journal, undated clipping, circa Thanksgiving
community, can make a difference that affects eternity. 1948.

Darrin Rodgers, M.A., 10 Carl M. Hanson, “My Personal Experiences of the Graces
J.D., is director of the of Salvation, Healing and Baptism in the Holy Spirit,” tract, 1906;
Flower Pentecostal G. Raymond Carlson, “Rev. C. M. Hanson at Home with the Lord,”
Heritage Center and District Echoes, July-August 1954, 2, 7; Anna Berg, “Early Days
editor of Heritage of the Pentecostal Renewal in Minnesota: A Pioneer Minister and
magazine. He authored a Missionary Reminisces,” Assemblies of God Heritage (Winter
book, Northern Harvest: 1996-97): 5; Anna Hanson Berg, interview by Wayne Warner,
Pentecostalism in North September 23, 1980, audio recording. Carlson dated the injury as
Dakota, and numerous 1893, while Hanson and Berg wrote that it occurred in 1895.
articles published in
journals and reference 11 Carl M. Hanson, “Til Guds Menighed,” [trans. Erik L.
works. Williamson], Folke-Vennen, December 8, 1904, 4-5.

Notes 12 Carl M. Hanson, “My Personal Experiences of the Graces
of Salvation, Healing and Baptism in the Holy Spirit,” tract, 1906.
1 Hanson was part of a larger movement among Scandinavian
immigrants in America who practiced Pentecostal gifts, such as 13 Ibid.
speaking in tongues and healing, prior to the revivals at Topeka,
Kansas (1901) and Azusa Street, Los Angeles (1906-09). For 14 H. N. Russum was G. Raymond Carlson’s grandfather. G.
Raymond Carlson, “When Pentecost Came to the Upper Midwest,”
14 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006 Assemblies of God Heritage (Spring 1984): 3; Darrin J. Rodgers,
Northern Harvest: Pentecostalism in North Dakota (Bismarck,
ND: North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies of God,
2003), 154-155.

15 Carl M. Hanson, “My Personal Experiences of the Graces
of Salvation, Healing and Baptism in the Holy Spirit,” tract, 1906.

16 Ibid.

17 Ibid. See also: Anna Berg, “Early Days of the Pentecostal
Renewal in Minnesota: A Pioneer Minister and Missionary
Reminisces,” Assemblies of God Heritage (Winter 1996-97): 5; G.
Raymond Carlson, “When Pentecost Came to the Upper Midwest,”
Assemblies of God Heritage (Spring 1984): 3; William W. Menzies,

Anointed to Serve: The Story of the Assemblies of God (Springfield, 34 Ibid.
MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1971), 30-31; Carl Brumback, 35 Ibid.
Suddenly from Heaven: A History of the Assemblies of God 36 Carl M. Hanson, letter, Folke-Vennen, November 30, 1905,
(Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1961), 14; Henry H. 5.
Ness, Demonstration of the Holy Spirit (Seattle, WA: Hollywood 37 Anna Berg, “Early Days of the Pentecostal Renewal in
Temple, n.d.), 7; Stanley H. Frodsham, With Signs Following. Minnesota: A Pioneer Minister and Missionary Reminisces,”
Rev. ed. (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1946), 16. Assemblies of God Heritage (Winter 1996-97): 5.
Historians differed on the dates of these events. Hanson and Berg 38 Carl M. Hanson, “My Personal Experiences of the Graces
wrote that the Grafton revival occurred in 1895. Frodsham and of Salvation, Healing and Baptism in the Holy Spirit,” tract, 1906.
Brumback concurred with Hanson and Berg. Carlson and Menzies 39 It is unknown when Hanson identified with the Chicago
dated the revival as 1896, and Ness placed it in 1898. According Pentecostals. He may have been influenced by his close friend and
to a careful reading of Hanson’s 1906 tract, his Spirit baptism former pastor, Frederick A. Graves, who had moved to Zion City,
occurred four years after the Grafton revival (apparently in 1899). Illinois in 1905 or 1906 and became an early Pentecostal. In a
Berg, Frodsham, Brumback, and Menzies wrote Hanson was 1908 letter, Hanson recounted a trip to Detroit Harbor, Wisconsin,
Spirit-baptized two years after the Grafton revival, Ness dated the during which he apparently met with Chicago Pentecostals. Carl
Spirit baptism in 1899, and Carlson wrote that it occurred “shortly M. Hanson, untranslated letter, Folke-Vennen, September 24, 1908,
after” the Grafton revival. 5. For another account of Hanson’s trip, see: John Ommundsen,
untranslated letter, Folke-Vennen, November 12, 1908, 4.
18 Anna Berg, “Early Days of the Pentecostal Renewal in 40 Carl M. Hanson, ministerial file, FPHC.
Minnesota: A Pioneer Minister and Missionary Reminisces,” 41 Richard M. Riss, “William H. Durham,” inNew International
Assemblies of God Heritage (Winter 1996-97): 5. Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 594-95.
19 Irene Hankin, phone conversation with author, October 1, 42 “Minutes of meeting held at Brainerd, Minn., November
2002, notes from conversation. 10, 1922 for the purpose of forming a District Council,” Minnesota
District Council Archives, Minneapolis, MN. Hanson was
20 Mathilda Louise Hanson, obituary, Braham Journal, succeeded as chairman by Frank J. Lindquist.
January 24, 1957, 1, 5; Minneapolis City Directories, 1900-04. 43 Hanson’s 13 children were: Clarence Martin Leonard
(1889-1901), Arthur John (1890), Arthur John (1891-1984),
21 G. Raymond Carlson, “When Pentecost Came to the Upper Chester Lloyd (1892-1893), Chester Lloyd (1894-1984), Anna
Midwest,” Assemblies of God Heritage (Spring 1984): 3; “Anna C. Charlotte (Mrs. Arthur F.) Berg (1897-1990), Harry (1899), Esther
Berg,” in Historical Sketches of the Minneapolis Gospel Tabernacle M. (1900-24), Ada (1902-1977), Clarence Philip Melanchthon
(Minneapolis, MN: The Church, 1930), 13; Anna Hanson Berg, (1904-1986), Mary (1906-35), Lily (twin of Mary, died 1906 in
interview by Wayne Warner, September 23, 1980, audio recording. childbirth), and William Harold (1910-2005). Mathilda Louise
According to Anna, the Hansons attended Graves’ mission for Hanson, obituary, Braham Journal, January 24, 1957, 1, 5;
four years. Articles from Dowie’s periodical placed Graves in Hanson family, 1900 census, Minneapolis, Hennepin County,
Chicago in late 1902, where he served as an elder in Central Zion Minnesota, E.D. 105, sheet 16, line 97 through sheet 17, line
Tabernacle, then in Minneapolis as early as March 1903 through 3; Hanson family, 1920 census, Tumuli Township, Otter Tail
at least June 1905. Leaves of Healing, December 6, 1902, 223; County, Minnesota, E.D. 128, sheet 6A, lines 1-8; Irene Hankin,
Leaves of Healing, March 7, 1903, 635; Leaves of Healing, June phone conversation with author, October 1, 2002, notes from
24, 1905, 349. conversation.
44 “Esther M. Hanson, Missionary,” in Historical Sketches
22 Carl M. Hanson, “Til Guds Menighed,” [trans. Erik L. of the Minneapolis Gospel Tabernacle (Minneapolis, MN: The
Williamson], Folke-Vennen, December 8, 1904, 4-5. Some sources Church, 1930), 15-16; Esther M. Hanson, missionary file, FPHC.
indicate the Hansons resided near Andover, not Anoka. 45 “Anna C. Berg, Associate Pastor-Missionary,” in Historical
Sketches of the Minneapolis Gospel Tabernacle (Minneapolis, MN:
23 Ibid. The Church, 1930), 13; Arthur F. and Anna C. Berg, missionary
files, FPHC.
24 Ibid. 46 Carl M. Hanson, obituary, Braham Journal, July 1, 1954,
1.
25 Carl M. Hanson, letter, [trans. Erik L. Williamson], Folke- 47 Mathilda L. Hanson, obituary, Braham Journal, January
Vennen, February 2, 1905, 5. 24, 1957, 1,5.
48 Irene Hankin, letter to author, June 23, 2006.
26 Ibid.
SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 15
27 Ibid.

28 Ibid.

29 Anna Hanson, “Personal Testimony,” 1913, tract. Five of
Hanson’s thirteen children died before reaching adolescence. It
is unknown whether Hanson sought medical treatment for their
ailments.

30 Irene Hankin, phone conversation with author, October 1,
2002, notes from conversation.

31 “Too Much Excitement,” Fergus Falls Daily Journal,
March 10, 1905, 3.

32 Ibid.

33 “Fined $35,” Fergus Falls Daily Journal, March 11, 1905,
3.

The author, Anita Jones Garner, singing
at a revival in Sayre, Oklahoma in the
early 1950s, while her father accompanies
on steel guitar.

The Glory Road

By Anita Jones Garner

Have you ever wondered what the life of a traveling evangelist would be After World War II, music played
like? In this account, Anita Jones Garner recounts her childhood spent on an increasingly important role in
the road with her parents, Assemblies of God evangelists Raymond D. and evangelism, working hand in hand with
Fern Jones. The Joneses, who were traveling evangelists in the 1940s, later sermons that spoke of a more personal
pioneered and pastored churches in Bogalusa, Louisiana; Murfreesboro religious experience. Some scholars
and El Dorado, Arkansas; Atlanta, Texas; and Columbus, Georgia. Fern credit this combination of testimonies
wrote gospel songs that were a hit with audiences everywhere. Louisiana about a personal Savior and a variety
Governor, Jimmie Davis and country music legend Johnny Cash both of musical expressions with helping
recorded her song, “I Was There When It Happened.” propel Pentecostals into a new period
of enormous growth.
We were a band of gospel gypsies, thousands. Still, the roads out there
traveling down the bumpy roads of the were getting more crowded as musical Church music changed drastically
Deep South in our old sedan during evangelists like my parents, Raymond during my childhood, evolving from
the 1940s, on our way to another (ordained AG 1945) and Fern Jones the acoustic, folk and country-based
church or tent revival or all-day (ordained AG 1950), were in great renditions of old hymns to a sound
singing. Daddy and Mother preached demand. Preachers who could play no one had yet named—a style that
and sang just about any place we instruments and sing and who would
were invited, including campgrounds, work in the rural areas were booked Raymond Jones preaching a morning
brush arbors and tiny churches in the up steadily. Everyone traveling in the radio sermon at Bogalusa, Louisiana.
country, reachable only via rutted ministry seemed to know each other,
and sometimes flooded roads. They which is a wonder, considering that we
even held services on street corners, seldom stayed in one place for more
where the sermons and the prayers and than a few weeks at a time.
the music were carried to the crowds
through speakers mounted on the tops We criss-crossed several states
of parked cars. over and over again: Arkansas, Texas,
Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Daddy said the country suited him Georgia, with an occasional trip to
best, so we stayed away from urban Kansas and Missouri. And when we
areas that were served by evangelists weren’t traveling in the ministry, we
like Billy Graham and Oral Roberts, headed to California on Route 66 to
with their huge custom tents that seated visit our relatives there.

16 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

involved syncopation and even—to the Fern Jones’s 1959 LP “Singing A Happy Song,” along with additional material,
shock of some of the old-timers— has been re-mastered and released as “Fern Jones: The Glory Road.”
amplified instruments. We heard the
whispers about our own mother’s into evangelism, and she was holding possess, he’d just as soon be a steel
singing—how she sounded more like a revivals on her own. Daddy was proud guitar player. Or he’d settle for being
Saturday night than a Sunday morning, of her and since he was the only one able to play any guitar half as good
while from the pulpit Daddy reminded who could drive, he often worked all as his friend, the brilliant musician,
worshipers that all the songs and words day, fulfilled the duties of his pastorate, Brother Gene Thompson.
of praise offered in the Lord’s name and also dropped mother off and went
were sanctified. back to pick her up wherever she Daddy liked singing the high
was preaching and singing. It wasn’t harmony parts in the background, and
In some ways, the changes in long before they came to the obvious only reluctantly took the lead once in a
church music were clearly reflected in conclusion—they needed to work while. The music he sang and played
the two distinct musical personalities together. in church was straight out of the old
in our house. Daddy, the eldest of ten hymnals. Mother, however, heard a
children of a sharecropper, had studied Their combined efforts resulted hymn completely differently in her
shape note singing at singing schools in dynamic evangelism, and as they head and her heart, and she added her
held at the local schoolhouse. These traveled, Brother Jones was asked to own style to every note before she let
lessons were taught by Stamps-Baxter pastor another church. He said yes, and it loose.
and J. D. Vaughn and other publishers headed to Columbus, Georgia, where he
who sent out teachers in the early built a congregation, this time relying The Joneses had begun using
1900s in an effort to sell more hymnals heavily on regular radio broadcasts to newer songs, called “specials,” and
and sheet music. From these rudiments, draw a crowd. The Joneses respected among them were songs composed by
Daddy took his education a step the power of radio and wherever there Mother and her songwriting colleagues.
farther, teaching himself to play guitar was a radio antenna, we stopped to They featured more prominent
and accompanying his family’s hymn sing. When the opportunity presented instrumental solos and focused on
singing every night after suppertime. itself, Daddy offered a sermon on the tight vocal harmonies, borrowing from
air, and when time was limited, it was the race music of the time, putting
Mother, the eldest of three, was a few minutes of song and a prayer together old Pentecostal songs with the
an early-maturing, lonely teenaged girl before closing. call and response that black churches
who already had an unusual singing used. The sum of all these parts was
voice when she fell in love with Daddy sang like a country boy a spontaneous, joyous outpouring
Raymond Jones and married him at and he enjoyed singing, but he said if that was known, loosely, as Southern
age 16. She’d been playing guitar and he’d been given his choice of gifts to Gospel.
piano and accordion—all self-taught—
since the age of 12. By the time she
was 14 she had her own radio show
and regularly sang with dance bands.

When Daddy got saved at First
Assembly of God in El Dorado,
Arkansas in 1939, the first thing he did
was race home, take his teenaged bride
by the hand, and lead her back to the
same altar. From there, each answered
a calling to serve, but their approaches
couldn’t have been more different. He
took up the pastorate of a small church,
putting much of the salary from his
sales job into church repairs. He later
said, “If it came down to buying new
benches for the church or a newer car,
well the church would generally win
out.”

While Daddy tended to his
budding congregation, Mother had
already channeled her musical abilities

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 17

This new church music in the Mother drew, publicity materials and down in the middle of nowhere. We
1940s was nothing like what is now photos they mailed out along the way, prayed for each other. And while we
called Contemporary Christian. Nor records we sold at singing appearances, had the chance, we children ran around
was it like today’s Praise Music. In and two long-legged kids with our outside, gleeful at the freedom from
fact, there wasn’t anything else like it clothes and schoolwork—all went into cramped traveling quarters in the back
anywhere—not even on the radio—not one old sedan. seat.
yet. What these musical evangelists did
was to redefine church music. Without Whatever didn’t fit inside was We preachers’ kids whooped and
knowing it, they were making history. stacked carefully on top of the car and hollered in a clearing under the big trees
covered with an old oilcloth, worn in the piney woods, getting ourselves
Every member of our family through in places from the corners of the good and dusty until someone—a
was put to work and every skill was kitchen table, carefully tucked around church woman or another preacher
employed to spread the gospel. I sang our belongings to keep the elements —suggested firmly that we might want
with the family in revivals, in churches out. We emerged from windstorms on to clean up before taking our seats
and on the radio from the time I was the road with that oilcloth flapping on inside the tabernacle, in the first few
three years old. Before my brother, top of the car, like our own family flag rows, where our parents could see our
Leslie Ray, was ten years old, he flying down the road. every move from their chairs on the
could fix anything mechanical. What platform.
he couldn’t fix, he could patch together We went to great lengths to
with tape and twine until our next attend regional events that drew We kids favored all-day singings
stop. fellow preachers and evangelists from with dinner on the grounds. This was
several states. There were Assemblies where we ate the best food in the
Daddy and Leslie Ray packed of God district gatherings and also world—church food—supplied by all
up the car for every trip, and it was a multi-denominational meetings, and the great cooks in the region and set
masterful feat each time they managed all-day or all-night singings. We drove out on long tables formed by sawhorses
to fit in our family belongings and the hundreds of miles to perform, and as with long planks laid on top. The
tools of the trade. Musical instruments soon as we arrived, we spent all our church folks knew us by name from
and the amplifier with the treble cleft free time getting caught up with other our many stops in their towns, and
decorating the center of the speaker, preachers and their families. as we wandered from table to table
Mother’s oxblood color leather outside, they offered a cup of sweet tea
zippered music books, an assortment Grown-ups traded stories about and a hug, and we heard over and over
of Bibles and sermon notes that Daddy the condition of the roads and the about how tall we were getting.
took along in his black briefcase, art weather. We helped each other unpack
supplies and easels for the pictures instruments and set them up. We A crowd-pleaser at any gathering,
swapped stories about cars that broke and a special friend to all preachers’

18 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

kids in the south, was a young evangelist She sent a song she wrote to culture for all time. Today the circle is
named Cecil Janway1, whose unique former Louisiana Governor, Jimmie complete, as the gospel music created
style kept the piano keys bouncing. At Davis, who had a successful career by these believers decades ago enjoys
times Brother Janway seemed like a as a gospel singer and had written renewed popularity. Millions of new
big tall kid himself, leaning way over the hit song, “You Are My Sunshine.” fans are being introduced to the sounds
to make a sliding piano run on the Governor Davis recorded mother’s of good old Southern Gospel.
treble keys, then grinning at us before song, “I Was There When It Happened”
laying down that booming bass left and it became a hit on the radio. Fern Jones’ album has been re-
hand that so many people copied. It mastered, nearly fifty years later, and
was Brother Janway who got the credit And then the music began to move has recently been released as The Glory
for inspiring many secular keyboard along almost more quickly than we Road. This CD is available at: www.
players like Jerry Lee Lewis. could follow. On the radio, Elvis sang amazon.com and in stores everywhere.
his hits, based on the style he’d learned Additional information is available at
We crossed paths with Southern in Pentecostal churches, and backed by this website: www.thegloryroad.com
Gospel quartets, who were the new the same gospel quartets who worked
stars of the singing circuit. They the Southern Gospel circuit. Somebody Notes
dressed alike in flashy suits and, called this music rockabilly. 1. Cecil Janway was a pioneer
while the songs they sang were about pastor and evangelist, who later served as
Jesus, they included comedy in their Johnny Cash heard Governor Louisiana District Superintendent, 1976-
performances and thrilled the crowds Davis sing “I Was There When It 1994 (See “Ministering in Louisiana,” AG
with stratospheric notes sung by star Happened” and he recorded it too.2 Heritage, Spring 1999).
tenors and low, low notes offered by So did several other artists. Mother 2. A recent development is that the
bass singers who carried the music was pleased that her music was being movie about Johnny Cash’s life, Walk The
down to their toes. heard, but she wouldn’t be happy until Line, features Fern Jones’ song, “I Was
she got a chance to record her songs There When It Happened.” Cash recorded
Everyone knew they could hear her own way, so she kept mailing out that song several times on many records,
great music at a revival, and at each tapes to record companies. and it is currently on the best selling CD,
stop, Daddy and Mother invited the Johnny Cash: The Legend.
best musicians in the area to join us. Finally, her chance came. She
Many of these guests played popular signed a recording contract with Anita Garner, the daughter of Fern and
songs on their own radio programs gospel/bluegrass music legend Mac Raymond Jones, is a writer/broadcaster,
by day and then showed up at night Wiseman, who took her to Dot Records living near San Francisco, California.
to participate in our revival services. in Hollywood. They set up recording
One night we might hear an old fiddler sessions with the same musicians who SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 19
play a down-from-the-hills version of backed Elvis and went into the studio
“Leaning On The Everlasting Arms” in Nashville in 1958. Mother recorded
and the next night a young electric several of her original songs, as well as
guitar player would take the lead on a few old favorites. It was still unusual
a syncopated version of “Take My in the late 1950s to hear a female who
Hand, Precious Lord.” Mixed in were sang like she did, and especially one
banjos, harmonicas, drums, Dobro who sang church music. Her album,
guitar, trumpets, stand-up bass, “Singing A Happy Song,” released in
accordions, steel guitars, and always, 1959, never got the attention she hoped
the joyous gospel piano that people it would.
now expected.
Raymond and Fern Jones retired
Late in the 1940s Mother was to Palm Springs, California, where Ray
writing more songs, and the more she passed away in 1987, and Fern went to
sang her original compositions, the join him in 1996, but their story, and
more letters arrived after every radio the stories of many of those gospel
show. Listeners were moved by her gypsies who traveled the same road,
music and told her so. Mother believed live on.
her songs were gifts from the Creator,
sent to her in a specific sequence. She These pioneers changed the way
said God sent her the titles first, and worship was conducted. They helped
then the words and then, finally, the write the history of religion in America
melodies. after World War II, and along the way
they added a chapter to the history
of American music, changing the

The H. C. Noah Story

By J. Naaman Hall

H. C. Noah, who pastored Oak
Cliff Assembly of God Church in
Dallas, Texas for more than three
decades, was a dynamic force for the
gospel in our movement and was a
faithful servant to our Lord throughout
his ministry, during the good times and
the bad. From nearly dying from a
chronic illness during his early ministry,
to his eventual healing, then nearly
dying from an accident years later, he
always remained true to his cherished
goal of sharing the good news to his
community.

The Early Days H. C. and Dorothy Noah with their daughter, Connie, 1934.
Halley Cambrick “Hal” Noah was
born in Marysville, Marion County, and I knew that I had lived a life that had never seen anything approaching
Iowa, on September 23, 1907 to David needed to be right with God, too.” For that before, and felt that was just what
and Ola Noah. Hal and his siblings were a while, he tried to serve the Lord, but he needed, to be born again and find
not brought up in an overtly religious eventually, he drifted back into his old such joy, so he humbled himself, knelt
family, although they did attend a ways. at the altar and asked God to save him
few revivals, and sometimes Sunday — and when He did, great joy filled his
school. Hal grew up in Consol, Iowa, a Salvation heart.
mining town, as his father, David, was At about age twenty, H. C. Noah
a miner. With no church in the town, attended a Pentecostal meeting. During Noah stated that one scripture in
occasionally Sunday school meetings the service, one young married lady particular, Isaiah 61:10, defined that
or revivals were held in the school stood up during the meeting to give moment for him: “I will greatly rejoice
building, which the family attended. her testimony, and her face literally in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in
Hal Noah felt the turning point in radiated. He could see the joy there, my God; for he hath clothed me with the
his life was at age fourteen, when he and he was amazed when she shouted garments of salvation, he hath covered
was deeply affected by a tragedy that and praised the Lord. Then, she began me with the robe of righteousness, as
happened to his childhood friend, Irving to dance in the Spirit, and he saw that, a bridegroom decketh himself with
Peterson. Irving injured his toe and “… she was so lost in the Lord.” Noah ornaments, and a bride adorneth herself
blood poisoning set in. It was through with her jewels.”
that disheartening event that God
began to deal with Noah’s heart. After
his friend passed away, his mother, Ola,
told her son that Irving had given his
heart to the Lord, and Hal realized that
he needed to give his heart to the Lord
also.
Years later in an interview, Noah
avowed, “Well, I knew that I needed to
be right with God, too. And the Lord
dealt with my heart, and I broke down
— just completely, melted, and thought
about my friend going to heaven,

20 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

The Indwelling they fell in love, and were married in Lighthouse design of the entrance
At this time, the family was living Iowa on February 3, 1932. to Oak Cliff Assembly at 919
near Ft. Madison, Iowa, and he began Morrell Street in Dallas.
to attend a meeting at Calvary First They began their ministry
Assembly of God. It was here (about together in 1932, going to a new work years of life with his wife, children and
18 months after salvation) that Hal in Eddyville, Iowa. God gave them an ministry, he would be content. Years
accepted and received the indwelling open door, so Hal and Dorothy decided later, he told the Oak Cliff congregation
of the Holy Spirit. At first, he struggled to just walk through it. Dorothy had the that he was glad that God didn’t always
with the issue, trying to figure it out on most experience of the two at the time, answer your prayers exactly as you
his own; but finally, he decided to just since she had been already involved in asked. God did eventually heal him,
yield and trust God, and he was filled. the evangelistic ministry with another but gave him many more years of
After being filled with the Holy young lady, and he depended greatly life, instead of just a few. However,
Spirit, Hal became very passionate on, and trusted, her judgment. because of that illness, he decided
about serving God. He was known to not to complete his education at
consistently start out to walk the ten Later, they went to an older, Southwestern.
miles from his home in order to attend established Assemblies of God work
church, but often various members of in Knoxville, Iowa (about 1932-1936), Hal regained some of his strength
the church would pick him up so he and the Lord gave them a very fruitful back and he and Dorothy decided to
wouldn’t have to walk so far. ministry there. They were pastoring just trust in God, and they entered the
It was during these days that he in Knoxville during the Depression, evangelistic field for a while (about
began to feel a call into the ministry, when the banks all closed. Pastor 1936 or 1937). It wasn’t long before
which frightened him very much. Noah reflected that he and Sister Noah they accepted a position at a church
Nothing was further from his mind. In didn’t lose a dime, for they were living in Creston, Iowa, where they stayed
fact, he would dismiss the feeling with by faith, rather than trusting in a bank for three years and two months (from
a rebuke, but he couldn’t escape it. The account. around 1937 until 1940).
inner voice continued to increase as he
studied his Bible, trying to prepare his They saw many souls come into They began to feel a burden for
heart for whatever God wanted him to the kingdom during the hard times of a church in Rock Island, Illinois, and
do. His burden increased to a point the Depression, and they counted those went to pastor that church from around
where he had to respond to the call to difficult years as some of their happiest. 1940 until 1945. Hal’s weakness in
minister. The Noahs couldn’t afford a car then,
yet they still visited people (walking), SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 21
The Ministry and the Lord blessed their church in
A young evangelist named Knoxville with real growth.
Dorothy Fae Tubbs from Lake City,
Iowa, caught his eye while he was However, Hal felt the need
participating in a church “camp for greater education in order to be
meeting” service one evening in 1931; more effective in the ministry, and in
(approximately) 1936, he attended
H. C. Noah (left) and David Nunn in the Southwestern Bible School in Enid,
pulpit about 1996. Oklahoma, while pastoring a nearby
church, the Covington-Garber Oil Field
Church. He greatly admired several
teachers at the school, and gave them
credit for adding to his spiritual life.

Unfortunately, it was during this
time that he became very ill, and nearly
lost his life. He contracted rheumatic
fever that went into his heart and began
to bleed. This, along with a toxic goiter,
made it almost impossible to carry out
all his duties as student and pastor,
and for much of the time, he became
bedridden. Ultimately, he had to drop
out of school and give up his pastorate
due to his health.

He prayed, promising the Lord
that if He would give him seven more

H. C. Noah (left) and deacon Sam H. C. Noah at his desk about 1960.
Monzingo watch as the steeple is raised
on the new sanctuary at 110 Ann Arbor in
1964.

An aerial view of Oak Cliff Assembly located at the corner of Ann Arbor
and South R. L. Thornton Freeway.

22 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

body continued, and became much H. C. and
worse. Hal later found out that some Dorothy Noah in
in his congregation had been coming the mid-1970s.
to the services certain that each sermon
would be his last.

The Call to Oak was taken to Calvary. Not in a vision and family in their heavenly abode.
Cliff Assembly or by miraculous visitation, but by a When asked once in an interview
In 1945, the call came in for the divine realization of what Calvary was
Noahs to try out for a church in Dallas, all about — that everything, absolutely with Everitt M. Fjordbak how he
Texas, called Oak Cliff Assembly of everything, connects back to Calvary wanted to be remembered, H. C. Noah
God. The church voted the Noahs — God’s sacrifice for us, our healing, replied, “I just want to be remembered
in, and they pastored Oak Cliff for 33 our salvation, everything. as just a person who loved the Lord
years until their retirement in 1978, with all his heart, and loved people
with only a short break to return to the During all of Pastor Noah’s because God put it into my heart; and,
evangelistic field for about a year in pastorates, his primary goal was as one who served the Lord with all of
1953. always “outreach” to the community, his heart.”
That was the beginning of a great in his quest for souls for the Kingdom.
relationship of love between Pastor and He did this through various means: J. Naaman Hall, a
Mrs. Noah and the congregation of Oak citywide revivals, radio outreach (The third-generation
Cliff, which had far-reaching effects Morning Worship Hour), tracts, door- member of the
throughout the years. Nonetheless, to-door witnessing, a bus ministry, and Assemblies of
H. C. Noah continued to have heart advertising in the local newspapers. God, is editor of
problems as he came to Dallas, but he the Ol’ Fashion
credited his obedience to God’s call On a Sunday morning in October Camp Meeting
with his eventual healing. 1978, Pastor Noah shocked the Oak Newsletter which
One of H. C. Noah’s burdens Cliff family with the news of his is distributed to
was for evangelism, and under his impending resignation as pastor of the past members
leadership, Oak Cliff Assembly church. There was not a dry eye in the of Oak Cliff Assembly of God. This
became involved in sponsoring and house. article is adapted from “And the Latter
coordinating revival meetings during Days...” — a forthcoming history of
the 1940s and 1950s that changed the Noah’s Last Witness Oak Cliff Assembly, now The Oaks
complexion of Dallas. Some of the Very late on Sunday evening, Fellowship.
better-known revivalists included Jack June 1, 1997, Pastor Noah’s daughter,
Coe, David Nunn, Gordon Lindsay, Connie Smith, felt a desire to call him. Resources
Gayle Jackson and Oral Roberts. The When he answered the phone, she
congregation grew, and the church could hear a crowd of people talking H. C. Noah, interview by Bill Smith,
relocated to a 17-acre site at 110 Ann in the background, and thought it odd, March 27, 1975, Flower Pentecostal
Arbor, where a new 1,450-capacity for it was much too late for any activity Heritage Center.
sanctuary was completed in 1964. in his room. They talked for a while,
enjoying each other’s company, and H. C. Noah, interview by Everitt M.
The Valleys and then he somewhat cryptically told her, Fjordbak, ca. 1980, Flower Pentecostal
the Mountaintop “Well, I have to go. They are waiting Heritage Center.
Although he was always thankful for me.” And he hung up the phone.
for his life, Pastor Noah was rocked Early Monday morning, June 2, H. C. Noah, interview by Wayne E.
to the core by the tragedy of his son, 1997, Pastor Noah slipped away again Warner, May 19, 1981, Flower Pentecostal
Ken Noah’s untimely death on March to join his Lord, and a host of his friends Heritage Center.
10, 1970, and the loss of his beloved
wife Dorothy, on June 6, 1989. He and Recollections (oral and written) of
Dorothy had been married fifty-seven longtime Oak Cliff members, including
years. Yet, God carried him through Spencer January, Cozadene Martin (the
the valleys. church’s historian), Karen Singleterry,
His “mountaintop” experience Betty Dempsey, and Noah family
came during a service once, when he members.

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 23

God’s Warrior

Niilo Yli-Vainio
The Great Finnish Revivalist

By Benjamin Ranta his missionary work. He read about among Pentecostals a life of Pentecost
the Azusa Street Revival from a came to be known as “traveling the
From about 1977 to 1981, the periodical and began to seek Spirit way of the knees.”
small nation of Finland was shaken by baptism at prayer meetings. Soon, he
one of the greatest revivals the country received Spirit baptism at a New York The pastors were not highly
has ever seen. At the center of this City prayer meeting. When he left educated, and their message was
awakening were the Holy Spirit and the United States, he took the fire to simple but effective. They taught the
His instrument, Niilo Yli-Vainio. First, England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, soon coming of the Lord, baptism
I will discuss the general context of the and Finland. In 1911, Barratt visited in the Spirit, salvation from hell,
Finnish Pentecostal movement. Second, the Swedish-speaking areas of Finland. and most importantly, the centrality
I will tell the fascinating story of Yli- Although the revival meetings were of Jesus to the life of believers. In
Vainio’s part in the revival. Finally, I first held among the Swedish minority traditional Pentecostal fashion, Finnish
will consider what possible lessons can of Finland, soon the Holy Ghost fire believers also shared prayer requests
be drawn from the revival ofYli-Vainio. spread among the Finns themselves. and testimonies of how extraordinary
The Pentecostal movement in Finland God had been to them. The sharing of
and the revival of Yli-Vainio show that The early Finnish Pentecostals testimonies and prayer requests is still
although revivals often tend to center did not intend to leave their former practiced in Finnish churches today.
around charismatic leaders, they are denominations, but their churches
fully dependent on the Holy Spirit and did not tolerate healings, speaking Itinerant pastors were the norm,
an attitude of prayer and humility on in tongues, and the believer’s water and even those who stayed in one city
the part of their participants. baptism. As a result, the Pentecostals often traveled to nearby villages. Later,
began to gather in homes, taking turns when the local churches obtained their
In 1906, an English Methodist at hosting meetings in each believer’s own buildings, the pastors continued
missionary to Norway, Thomas Ball home. The singing of hymns and itinerating to reach the lost and thirsty
Barratt, itinerated in the United States fervent prayer while kneeling on the of surrounding villages. Although this
in order to raise support funds for floor marked these meetings. Thus, itineration caused loneliness and strain
on families, the pastors often saw the
24 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

Niilo Ylivainio, center right in white the family already had a soldier of for four years during the war, and I did
shirt, ministers to a crowd at a three-day war, the son would grow up to be not see anything other than deceit and
conference in Helsinki, about 1977, in a strong soldier in the Kingdom of wrongdoing. The chaplains blessed us
which almost 400 accepted Christ. God. The father laughed at this idea. and promised heaven to us if we fall in
Nonetheless, both the mother and child battle. Then, they drove us to be cannon
church as having a higher priority than survived the rigors of labor, and Yli- fodder like lambs to the butcher....
their wife and children; as one pastor Vainio grew to the stature of a man. God does not exist. If humans do
remarked, “When I felt the call to be
a minister, I thought to myself that Not long after his conversion, Yli-Vainio
God was calling me to the life of a began seeing visions of lost souls being
wandering Gypsy.” chained and sent to Hell.

Another unique element in Finnish In about 1938, Yli-Vainio married not help themselves, they will remain
Pentecostalism is the guitar choir. The a young woman by the name of unhelped.” Little did he expect that
guitar choir is composed of both men Linnea. Unfortunately, he had barely a greater warrior than he would soon
and women, almost all of which strum been married a year when the Finno- storm the ramparts of his soul.
guitars in harmony. Sometimes similar Russian war broke out in November
choirs were formed with accordions. 1939. During this war, Yli-Vainio After the war, Pentecostalism grew
These choirs were put to effective use was sent to the front as a soldier. in many regions due to the relocation of
with a strong beat, a minor key, and (Many Pentecostals refused to bear refugees after the war. Before the war,
forlorn lyrics calling the unsaved to arms and were imprisoned as a result. many of these refugees were part of a
repentance. It was in this context that They saw their heavenly citizenship as Pentecostal revival in Viipuri (Vyborg)
Yli-Vainio came to know Christ, and transcending any human government near the Russian border. Linnea began
was called to the ministry. and believed that to follow Jesus’ to attend house church meetings in
example in loving one’s enemy required nearby villages, while Yli-Vainio
Niilo Yli-Vainio was born in that they love Russians as Jesus had worked long days at a workshop. The
February 1920 to a mildly religious loved them.) Word of God was planted in Linnea’s
Lutheran home. His father was a heart, and she accepted Christ as her
soldier decorated in the Finnish War Up until this time, Yli-Vainio savior. Although Yli-Vainio was very
of Independence (from Russia, 1918), had been a nominal Lutheran. On the much against this change, he sometimes
but had left the military to work in the battlefield, any faith that Yli-Vainio visited Pentecostal house meetings. He
logging industry; while his mother was might have had was taken from him. was struck by the joy and authenticity
a caring homemaker. The young couple He explains his attitude, “There is of the believers’ faith. He was also
lived with Yli-Vainio’s grandmother. no such thing as the word of God. I touched by the beautiful songs sung by
crawled through forests and thickets the guitar choirs. Soon, he too accepted
When Yli-Vainio was born, Christ as Lord.
the doctor expected both him and
his mother to die. However, the Not long after his conversion,
grandmother prophetically proclaimed Yli-Vainio began seeing visions of
that this son would not die, and since lost souls being chained and sent to
Hell. He was greatly disturbed at these
visions and felt that this was a call to
ministry. Shortly thereafter, he began
the process of visiting nearby villages
with a friend, holding evangelistic
meetings in homes. People were
saved and filled with the Spirit at
his meetings, and he received further
confirmation of his calling through a
personal prophecy.

The years passed in itinerating, and
Yli-Vainio was even elected the pastor

Niilo Yli-Vainio addresses a crowd in
Helsinki, about 1977.

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 25

Niilo Yli-Vainio speaking to a crowd of intermittently for over ten years, his Yli-Vainio preached, people began to
Finnish believers. wife was also diagnosed with cancer be slain in the Spirit (to fall under the
in 1976. There was nothing that could power of the Spirit), others were healed,
of an established church. Nevertheless, be done. Yli-Vainio was operating at and still others spoke in tongues. In
his messages were always centered on 80% effectiveness, and even his wife the first several meetings, there were
evangelization and repentance. During was ill. The middle-aged couple began several hundred listeners, but within
this time of persistent work, he lived to plan the rest of their lives. They weeks the meetings had to be moved
in Sweden serving as the pastor of would move to the countryside to die to a large hall. Thousands flocked
several Finnish immigrant churches. in peace. This time of sickness taught to Lapua. Busloads of people from
He was considered a successful pastor. Yli-Vainio the humility he would later all walks of life, Christians and non-
Churches grew under his leadership, need. Christians, and people from various
and he wrote tracts for Christian living denominations came. Meetings were
and evangelization. That Christmas, Yli-Vainio went held in Lapua once a week, and on
to Australia to preach at the Australian other days Yli-Vainio itinerated.
He also often contributed to Ristin Finnish Pentecostal Conference.
Voitto (This publication, translated During his visit, he experienced a At the nightly meetings one
“The Victory of the Cross,” is the transformation. It was as though God hundred to two hundred people
Finnish equivalent of the Pentecostal regularly came to accept Christ as Lord.
Evangel). In one of his articles, he Newspaper reporters came to observe
wrote about peace. He proclaimed that the meetings, some to mock, others
individuals must have peace between recognizing the indisputable evidence
both God and their fellow humans. The of miracles. Between the years 1977
prophecy of his grandmother was being and 1980, each weekly issue of Ristin
fulfilled; the son of a decorated soldier Voitto contained at least three articles
no longer served in an earthly army, and three advertisements for meetings
but was a soldier for the Kingdom of concerning Yli-Vainio’s revival and his
God. schedule. A film was shot concerning
his revival, and his biography was
During one of the general councils published in 1978. One advertisement
of the Pentecostal Church of Finland, stated, “This is a different Lapua
Yli-Vainio made a striking observation. Movement,” in reference to a 1932
He told the gathered pastorate that he Fascist insurrection of the same name.
had noticed that the fires of Pentecost Yli-Vainio, who became known as
had begun to ebb in Finland. He said “God’s Warrior,” was at the center of a
that people were no longer being filled movement that was even renaming past
with the Spirit with the same frequency militaristic movements.
and zeal as before. He connected this
development to the lack of prayer. The

Newspaper reporters came to observe
the meetings, some to mock, others
recognizing the indisputable evidence of
miracles.

Finns were no longer “traveling the had opened a window into his life and
way of the knees” as they had before. he was filled with joy and healing. After
This observation was duly noted in the that point, his sermons changed. It was
minutes and in Ristin Voitto, but life as though they were filled with light.
went on as usual. At the prayer meetings in Australia,
people began to be filled with the Spirit
Then, in 1963, something unlike Yli-Vainio had ever seen before.
terrible happened. Yli-Vainio began When he returned to Finland, his wife
having heart trouble. Although God was miraculously healed at home.
miraculously healed him, it was not
long before he was also diagnosed with In 1977, Yli-Vainio was invited
cancer. After struggling with cancer to the city of Lapua, to preach. As

26 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

Yli-Vainio no longer itinerated in after. Although the Spanish visit was Pentecostal church in Sault Sainte Marie,
houses and villages, but in stadiums and intended as a vacation, Yli-Vainio still Michigan. He loves to study history and
cities. He even traveled to the Far East held meetings. Then, one day while write poetry. This article, written in
to spread the revival. The lame walked, jogging, he collapsed. His heart had partial fulfillment of an internship at
the blind saw, and those with cancer become too weak with his furious pace the FPHC, makes accessible for the
received healing. Some people reported of meetings and trips. He died as he first time to English-speaking audiences
being healed merely at the sight of Yli- had lived, far away from his family. valuable information about the life and
Vainio’s picture, while others were ministry of Niilo Yli-Vainio.
healed by having a kerchief blessed Yli-Vainio definitely made an
by Yli-Vainio laid on him or her (this impact on Finland. During his time Selected Bibliography
relic-based healing is still practiced of ministry, he visited or pastored
among Finnish Pentecostals). in Sweden, Norway, Japan, Thailand, Bundy, David. “Sollte Gott Keine Wunder
Spain, Australia, Canada, and Israel. Tun? Niilo Yli-Vainio, Ein Zeuge
Needless to say, the great fame Today, Yli-Vainio is still the second Gottes In Unserer Zeit.” Book Review.
made humility quite difficult for Yli- most known Pentecostal in Finland Bulletin of the European Pentecostal
Vainio. The revival caused almost a (69% of Finns can recognize his name) Theological Association 2:1 (1983):
cultic following around him. People next to Sari Essayah, a Finnish Olympic 10-12.
referred to him as “the miraculous athlete (88%).
healer Yli-Vainio” or simply “the Grönroos, Raimo. “Niilo Yli-Vainio
healer Yli-Vainio.” He received mail All Pentecostals may learn from Helsingissä.” Ristin Voitto. 19 January
and continuous phone calls seeking Yli-Vainio’s life. He emphasized that 1978, 1, 12.
appointments and asking him to heal an attitude of prayer and expectation
individuals. Nevertheless, he remained is indispensable to experiencing Latva-Teikari, Tuulikki. “Lapualla palaa.”
humble. Pentecost. In his ministry, he insisted Ristin Voitto. 13 October 1977, 6.
on drawing people’s eyes to Jesus and
He desperately sought to focus to the Holy Spirit, not to himself. He Luoto, Valtter. “Niilon kautta kulkivat
people’s eyes on Christ and the Holy proclaimed that revival does not depend monet voimaviivat.” Ristin Voitto. 26
Spirit, as he taught in one sermon, on what one does, whose meeting one November 1981, 1, 3.
“Do not tell others that someone has attends, or even what label is plastered
been healed by the power of a human on the side of the church; it is the work Luoto, Valtter. “Suomen herättelijä sai
here. Humans do not make anyone of God. The Holy Spirit chooses which kutsun kotiin.” Ristin Voitto. 19
healthy, only God can do that.... The gifts are given to which people, and November 1981, 2.
Holy Spirit descends on the person, he decides the time and place of Spirit
moves as a gust of wind through the baptism. Mäkelä, Vilho. “Elämä voittaa-filmi
person, and if God so desires, the levittämään Pyhän Hengen vaikutusta.”
person is healed.” He also declared, “I Some people in Finland are asking Ristin Voitto. 16 February 1978, 7.
do not recommend some denomination the question, “Do we need another
to you, some church or organization. I Niilo Yli-Vainio to gather the embers “Niilo Yli-Vainio er død,” Korsets Seier
recommend Jesus. He fills the person of revival?” I would suggest no. Yli- 78:94 (25 November 1981), 1.
with the Holy Spirit and fire. The Bible Vainio taught that Christians should
says, ‘There is no salvation in any other focus on Christ, not on a person. The “Niilon Voitto.” Ristin Voitto. 10
name.’ God loves all people without lesson for Pentecostals everywhere is December 1981, 16.
paying attention to race, nationality, that revival is the result of prayer,
color, or denomination.” The sermons expectation, and Christ-centered Partanen, Pekka. “Pyhä Henki kaiken
and writing of Yli-Vainio reflect an teaching. lihan ylle.” Ristin Voitto. 2 December
almost desperate state. It seemed that 1978, 12.
people just did not understand; it was Benjamin Ranta is an undergraduate
not about him, it was about God. At student at Evangel University. He Suomen Helluntaikirkko (Pentecostal
his meetings, he repeated almost like a was raised in an immigrant Finnish Church of Finland). <www.
mantra, “Jesus did it, Jesus did it.” ekirkko.org>.

By 1981, the revival appeared to Träff, Tytti. Elämä Voittaa: Niilo Yli-
be slowing down. Yli-Vainio wanted Vainion Tarina. Tikkurila, Finland:
to take a month off to fast and pray, Ristin Voitto, 1978.
but his itineration was as feverish as
ever. He went to Spain in February, Träff, Tytti and Petman, Erkki. Sollte Gott
and planned to visit Ukraine soon Keine Wunder Tun? Niilo Yli-Vainio,
Ein Zeuge Gottes In Unserer Zeit.
Erzhausen: Leuchter Verlag, 1981.

Walden, Pentti. “Jumalan tuuli puhalsi
Keniassa.” Ristin Voitto. 9 February
1978, 7.

Wirtanen, Esa K. “Niilon viimeinen taival
ristille vuoren huipulle.” Ristin Voitto.
3 December 1981, 6-7.

Yli-Vainio, Niilo, “Rauha.” Ristin Voitto.
24 December 1956, 1-2.

Yli-Vainio, Niilo. “Sateen Kohina
Kuuluu.” Ristin Voitto. 8 December
1977, 8.

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 27

TESTIMONY TIME

Early Pentecost in
Sisseton, South
Dakota

By Avis Opsal Osland

T hree score and 15 years ago God sent forth into this city two Blanche Brittain, the spiritual “sod
handmaidens with a wondrous message, conceived in God’s Word, buster” of North and South Dakota.
and dedicated to the proposition that all its citizens might have the
opportunity to hear the gospel. I wanted her to speak to me, but she
did not, so I did not go forward that
We are here tonight to reflect on those who gave their dedication, energy and evening.

meager means that this city might be reached for God. After this 75th anniversary, When the tent was taken down,
meetings continued in the old Opera
many of you will little note or long remember what we say here, but let us never House with Sister Brittain until
the death of a loved one called her
forget what God has done here. away. Peter Jepsen and Roy Reed
ministered at different times. Anna
These were my opening words as I began to relate the early history of the Vassen, burdened for someone to
come and shepherd the group of new
Assembly of God of Sisseton, South Dakota, on its 75th anniversary which was believers, traveled to a fall convention
in Alexandria, Minnesota. There
celebrated June 29 – July 1, 2001.* she gave the Macedonian cry, “Will
someone please come to Sisseton?”
God’s special servants who accompanied by pianist and trombonist Arthur and Anna Berg, newly-returned
missionaries who had spent four years
brought Pentecost to Sisseton were Marie Cowing and altar worker Ruth in Belgian Congo, heard the plea and
felt challenged. Later, enroute to the
Anna Vassen of Westby, Montana, Larson, presented the Word of God west coast, they stopped in Sisseton for
a 10-day meeting and then returned to
and Blanche Brittain, known as the each evening. Those sitting in the tent Minneapolis to spend the holidays with
loved ones.
spiritual “sod buster” of North and did not seem to think the long, l2-
It was early January l927 when
South Dakota. Anna’s brother Ole lived inch wide planks too uncomfortable. the Bergs arrived in Sisseton. With
them was the little three-year-old girl,
in Crosby, North Dakota, and was Nightly the tent was filled and many Aggie, who had been born of Swedish

known as the town drunkard. Anna stood outside, some listening and

contacted evangelist Brittain and plans others causing disturbances. Ole, the

were made to launch a tent meeting in former drunkard, was the maintenance

Crosby. Anna prayerfully believed that man. He, his wife, and four children

Ole would be reached by God — and completed the gospel team. Many

he was! Now a new creature in Christ, responded to the altar call including

he and Anna asked Sister Brittain to go my parents, Ole and Ollie Opsal.

to Sisseton, where two unsaved Vassen One evening I, a little nine-year-

brothers resided. old, was greatly under conviction. I

In July l926, a tent was erected had seen the altar worker speak to

in Sisseton. There, evangelist Brittain individuals and lead them to the altar.

28 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

parents while in Congo. Her mother “Girls, promise me you’ll ask the Lord and miraculous answers to prayer in
died when she was l7 days old, and her to show you your need of Him.” We those dedicated times.
father left her with a missionary couple both promised, but I completely forgot
and returned to Sweden with his young my promise and I don’t know if my Brother Berg, upon hearing that
son. This couple died within a couple of friend remembered. the Methodist church was vacant and
days of each other and then the Bergs might be for sale, made an inquiry. The
took Aggie and she became known as The following Sunday I and my Methodist board members did not want
“the little girl without a country.” Also two younger sisters were sitting on a to sell to a group of “holy rollers.”
accompanying the Bergs was Nina bench in front of our parents. At the Berg then learned of empty lots and
Englund (later Mrs. Glenn Renick), a close Mother reached forward, trying
former missionary to Brazil, who was to clasp us three and said, “Girls, won’t Arthur and Anna (Hanson) Berg with
a precious coworker. you give your hearts to Jesus tonight?” daughter Aggie, about 1927. Aggie
We went forward and oh, how we cried later became the wife of D. V. Hurst.
The Bergs rented the Commercial out to Jesus. We did not have Kleenex®
Hall over the Golden Rule store. Here tissues in those days, so we each used
the benches were better than those Mama’s handkerchief.
in the tent, inasmuch as an upper
plank afforded rest for tired backs. On Jesus became so precious to each
plank-topped tables the Bergs placed of us, and we have served Him these
African curios—an attraction and an many passing years. Esther, who was
introduction to customs of Congo. almost seven that night, went to be
with Jesus in l998. Yvonne, almost
I remember one Sunday evening four, grew up and became a missionary
service, on August 2l, l927, when with her husband, Orville Carlson, to
my parents and others were at the East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and
homemade altar praying. My friend, the Fiji Islands. Her book, Treasured
Vonnie Fenske, and I were sitting Memories, relates God’s loving care
back and softly whispering. Brother
Berg came to us and asked, “Girls, A New Work
how old are you?” “I’m ten,” Vonnie
answered and I excitedly added, “I’m Sister Blanche Brittain writes from Sisseton, S. Dak.: “Our
ten tomorrow!” tent meeting at Sisseton closed Aug. 1 at high tide. There were
good crowds and many church people partook with us. Over
“Ten years old and you haven’t 30 sought salvation and restoration at the altar. The meetings
given your hearts to Jesus,” he said. I are now being continued four times a week in the opera house.
don’t know what Vonnie thought, but Baptismal service will be held Aug. 15. The prospects are
to me it sounded like we had done good for an established work. Pray for us.” — The Pentecostal
something very bad. Then he added, Evangel, Sept. 11, 1926.

Dexter Collins (center), his wife Elsie, and
Bert Webb (right) in 1928.

inquired as to their possible sale. The
owners would sell and Berg advanced
$50. Then the Methodist men changed
their minds, thinking “if these people
are going to build, we might as well let
them have our building.”

It was a happy group who came
and worked to get the building ready
to use. Men, women and even we
kids were out on the lawn with old-
fashioned rug beaters, pounding the
“Methodist dust” out of pew cushions.

The first Sunday of October l927,
we were in our new building, which
we called Bethel Church, and many
of us children sat on the front row.

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 29

Blessings Overflow at Sisseton, S.D.

Sister Berg Reports Fine Results

From Zelma Argue Campaign

The Assembly of God at Sisseton, about We have just closed a series of revival services with Sister
1930, during the time Bartlett Peterson Zelma Argue of Winnipeg, Canada, as the evangelist. She was with
was pastor. us for three weeks and from the very first service God’s power and
glory were present in a remarkable way. The showers of “Latter Rain”
When Thanksgiving Day came, our fell in the real old-time way; and we were made to rejoice as we saw
congregation celebrated as one big the Lord working. Several sought God for salvation and twenty-one
family with a turkey dinner with all were gloriously filled with the Holy Spirit. Among them were a number
its trimmings in the basement. Pastor of mature men who had been seeking the baptism of the Holy Ghost
Berg knew business procedures and for some time. At one meeting there were three ministers tarrying for
presented a financial plan for the the Holy Spirit, of whom two, a Holiness minister and a Nazarene lay-
coming year. The believers, with their preacher both received an Acts 2:4 experience. The Holiness minister
newfound love for Jesus, quickly whose home is in Ellendale, N.D., and has been holding meetings
responded with pledges and within l3 in Rutland, N.D., just 60 miles from Sisseton, came down for the
months paid off the church debt. purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit and both he and the brother with
him were blessedly filled.
The side room of the church was
the first “parsonage” with a small According to our custom we continued with our weekly meetings
movable partition separating it into in the jail and twice during the revival we had as our guests the
two rooms. Not long after the church prisoners from the County jail, brought at their request by the sheriff.
debt was cleared, members purchased They were deeply moved and several requested prayer.
the old Methodist parsonage, located
next to the church. The ministry of Sister Argue was of great blessing to the entire
community, and the Word of God preached in power and with
The ministry of the Bergs was anointing brought conviction upon the unsaved, and the saints were
extensive as each of them preached and wonderfully strengthened and encouraged to press the battle until
taught Bible studies using illustrated Jesus comes.
charts. We children were as interested
as the older people. Sister Berg formed Brother Berg could not be home for the meetings as he is in
a “Glory Choir” and our theme chorus Montana traveling in the interest of World Missions. He reports victory
was “We are the Savior’s boys and and blessing in his work there. — Mrs. Arthur F. Berg, The Gospel
girls.” She announced that we could
even sing it backwards — which we did Broadcast, May 1930.
by turning our backs to the audience
and singing. She also organized a Webb to hold tent meetings in Sisseton Anna Vassen and her brother Ole.
“Glory Orchestra” with many different and also in a rural area out where
small and inexpensive instruments. the Vassen brothers lived. Pentecostal
practices sparked curiosity within many
The summer of l928 the Bergs local residents. When a number of new
invited Dexter Collins and Bert believers were baptized in Red Iron
Lake, curious onlookers also attended.
30 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006 When a young lady who was one of
the early believers died, the church was
packed for the funeral. Some residents
thought that a Pentecostal funeral
would somehow be different than
Lutheran funerals (with all those holy
rollers!). The funeral wasn’t shocking,
it turned out, and with the passing of
time, some of these onlookers were
saved and joined the Pentecostals. The
Bergs also conducted weekly services
in the Roberts County jail.

It was a very sad day when the

A few of the people who attended Blanche Brittain’s tent meeting at Sisseton in July 1926. L-r:
Blanche Brittain, unidentified, Ole Vassen’s daughter, 2 unidentified, and Inga and Ole Vassen
with 3 children. The tent in the background says “Pentecostal Revival.”

Bergs said “Goodbye” and moved to were active in Christ’s Ambassadors children of it, and let your children
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after having programs. It was another sad day when tell their children, and their children
pastored Bethel Church for four years. the Petersons resigned and entered the another generation” (Joel 1:3).
evangelistic field. *Founded in July 1926, Sisseton Assembly
The church body elected E. of God is now 80 years old. The church
Bartlett Peterson as their new pastor. This was followed by an interim affiliated with the Assemblies of God on
He and his wife were newlyweds. period with Clarence Gordon and August 15, 1928, during the time that
She had been part of the Espeseth trio Tommy McNickle serving at different Arthur Berg was pastor.
(which consisted of her and her brother times. Later C. E. Thurmond was
and sister-in-law). Now she and her elected pastor. During his stay the Avis Opsal Osland, formerly of Saint
husband sang duets, accompanying nationally-known Lorne Fox Party of Thomas, North Dakota, is a licensed
themselves on string instruments. The Canada held a two-week campaign. Assemblies of God minister and a
congregation continued to hold jail They gave a concert at the Sisseton freelance writer living in Springfield,
services and also began ministering High School gym. Being a student Missouri.
at the County Farm, a place for older, there, I was very happy to have them in
needy people. our school. The church was filled each
evening, and many gave their hearts to
Pastor Peterson’s evening the Lord.
prophetic messages attracted many,
even a group of prisoners from the This history of the first nine years
county jail accompanied by the of the Sisseton Assembly recounts
deputy sheriff. The Petersons also my memories from age nine until I
reached out to neighboring towns, graduated from high school and left
including New Effington, South Dakota, home to attend North Central Bible
where they held services twice a week Institute. Many have pastored in the
and organized a Sunday School. He passing years and many are now in
participated in city events and entered glory.
parades with posters announcing
church activities. We young people I feel I have fulfilled Joel’s
admonition when he said, “Tell your

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 31

SEEN IN PRINT

Who Else … But God! by Fred Bloomington AG in 1953, he could However, after an extended
Smolchuck. Springfield, MO: the not have known that the congregation period of research and reflection, he
author, 2006. Fred Smolchuck, the would become one of the largest in came to believe in God and accepted
son of Ukrainian immigrants, became Minnesota, or that he would continue to Christ. He immediately felt a call
a leader within Slavic Pentecostalism, pastor the church until 1989. Kingsriter, to the ministry, was ordained by the
both in the U.S. and in eastern Europe. through his leadership in the Minnesota Assemblies of God, and became one
His story is significant, as he traces not District, his steady and balanced life, of the early leaders in Teen Challenge,
only his family’s spiritual pilgrimage, and his passion for missions and church a Christian drug and alcohol treatment
but the development of Pentecostalism planting, has influenced generations of program. He ultimately served as
among the Slavic peoples in the U.S. Pentecostals. the first National Representative for
from the 1920s until the present. A Teen Challenge. In Is There a God?,
prolific author, Smolchuck is former In Move, and I Will Move, Kingsriter Reynolds shares his own faith-building
superintendent of the Ukrainian District aims to share lessons from his life and story, which provides an insider’s
Council of the Assemblies of God. ministry. From his recollections as a perspective concerning the early years
student at North Central Bible Institute of Teen Challenge.
Paperback, 366 pages, $10, plus in the 1930s, to accounts of various
$2.50 shipping ($6.50 shipping on revivals and leaders with whom he Paperback, 139 pages, $12, plus
foreign orders). Order from: Fred worked, to leadership lessons learned $1.60 shipping. Order from: Frank
Smolchuck, c/o Maranatha Village, through crises such as the Latter Reynolds, 4626 S. Crescent Ave.,
233 E. Norton Rd., Springfield, MO Rain movement, to advice offered Springfield, MO 65804.
65803. to ministers, this book will prove a
valuable resource for pastors, scholars,
and people in the pew.

Paperback, 210 pages, illustrated.
$12.95 plus shipping. Order from:
University Bookstore, North Central
University, 910 ElliotAve., Minneapolis,
MN 55404. Ph. 612-343-7887.

Move, and I Will Move: How the Is There a God?, by Frank Reynolds Sponsored by the Holy Spirit, by Gene
Great Church Builder Taught Me with Joan Kruger. Lenexa, KS: 3Cross Burgess. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse,
Step by Step, by Arvid Kingsriter Publishing, 2006. Filled with anger Inc., 2005. Burgess, pastor of First
with Lynne Jonell. Minneapolis, MN: after his father deserted his family in Assembly of God (Bartlett, TN), has
North Central University Press, 2006. the midst of the Depression, Frank written an inspiring account of his life
When Arvid Kingsriter pioneered Reynolds was determined to graduate and ministry. Raised in Memphis (TN)
from high school and go to college. FirstAssembly, he recounts his youthful
He became an atheist early in life, was friends and acquaintances, including
convinced success was in wealth and the Blackwood Brothers, James Hamill,
education, and graduated from Cornell and Elvis Presley. When Burgess left
University. his position as a pharmacist in 1963 to
launch out into evangelistic ministry,
many people questioned his wisdom.
However, God’s call was evident, and
he went on to serve as an international
evangelist, missionary and pastor.

Paperback, 164 pages, illustrated.

32 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

Available at www.amazon.com. Publication Statement
$16.95 retail.
This issue, Spring-Summer 2006, is the last quarterly installment of
The Old Path to Peace: A Cruger Assemblies of God Heritage. Scheduled to make its debut in 2007 is an
Family Journey, by Carolyn Cruger expanded 64-page annual edition of Heritage, which will be sent to all AG
Williams. Enumclaw, WA: Pleasant ministers in addition to subscribers. The annual edition will continue to
Word, 2003. This well-documented provide enriching and inspiring information about our Pentecostal heritage,
family history contains a treasure trove as you have come to expect.
of information about early Pentecostals
in Spokane, Washington, including All who currently receive Heritage will receive a letter containing further
stories of John G. Lake, Aimee Semple information about their subscription and instructions for ordering the 2007
McPherson, the Philadelphian Church, annual edition.
and Bernard Hebden.
Ordering information is below:
Paperback, 438 pages, illustrated.
Available at www.amazon.com. $22.99 Assemblies of God Heritage 2007 annual edition
retail. GPH product number: 750-270
Publication date: November 30, 2006
I’m Glad I Lived, by Ernest E. Holbrook. Cost: $10 plus postage and handling (a reduced rate of $8 applies on
Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2005. orders of 5 or more copies)
Ernest Holbrook, raised on a farm near
Lakeland, Florida, entered the ministry Order from Gospel Publishing House by phone (1-800-641-4310) or by
at age 18. Ordained by theAssemblies of internet: www.gospelpublishing.com
God in 1952, he served as senior pastor
of Faith Temple Assembly of God (Plant (Continued from page 3) to complete the task that Joann Cole
City, FL) for 27 years. Holbrook, in a Webster [Dr. Cole’s daughter] and
folksy style and with humorous stories, this greatly expedited my work on Dr. Trask tasked us to do. I look
tells his story and provides insight into illustrations for the encyclopedia. forward to an ongoing relationship.
grassroots Pentecostal ministry. If there is anything you guys should
Thanks! need from us don’t hesitate to ask!
Paperback, 474 pages, illustrated. Mike McClymond
Available at www.amazon.com. $22.95 Saint Louis University From the bottom of my heart…
retail. thank you!
The Encyclopedia of Religious
Revivals in America (Greenwood In Christ,
Press), edited by Michael Seth M. Webster, Administrator
McClymond, is scheduled for Ed Cole® Library
publication in the fall of 2006.
The family of the late Dr. Edwin Louis
The Ed Cole Library Cole, a men’s ministry pioneer and
Darrin [Rodgers], former Assemblies of God minister,
has established The Ed Cole Library
Your team at the Flower in order to make materials from his
Pentecostal Heritage Center life and ministry more accessible to
was amazing. Fast, courteous, a global audience. The website,www.
professional and above all gracious EdColeLibrary.org, includes scanned
to take the time to help put the images of Dr. Cole’s personal sermon
life’s work of my grandfather [Dr. outlines and notes, his ministry
Edwin Louis Cole] in a place where itinerary, and additional resources
it can be preserved for the benefit for pastors and men. In June 2006,
of unknown numbers of people. It The Ed Cole Library deposited Dr.
means a lot to me to have established Cole’s original sermon outlines and
our relationship, to work towards notes at the FPHC for preservation
preserving an incredible legacy and and research purposes.

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 33

TIME FRAME

August Herman Wendt:
German District
Pioneer

By A. Reuben Hartwick

W hen the German 1892. He married Lucinda
Branch (renamed
German District Gonawein of Fremont, A. H. Wendt, first chairman of the German Branch.
Ohio, in 1888. Of their

in 1973) of the eight children, four daughters and one For several years the Assembly

Assemblies of God was organized in son survived into adulthood. While of God sponsored three-week-long

New Castle, Pennsylvania in 1922, attending a conference at Linwood tent meetings in Cunningham’s

participants elected August Herman Park, Ohio, in 1904, Lucinda took ill Woods (now Gaston Park) in New

Wendt to serve as its first chairman. and died. Wendt married Bertha Ursula Castle. Wendt cooperated with the

A. H. Wendt was born in Hoch of New Castle, Pennsylvania, the meetings, hearing early Assemblies of

Schoenberg, Wurttemberg, Germany, following year. They had no surviving God luminaries such as Robert and

on October 12, 1864. After receiving children. Marie Brown of New York City, David

an education in Europe, he immigrated Wendt held credentials with the McDowell of Scranton, Pennsylvania,

to the United States and became a Evangelical Association of North Joseph Tunmore of Pittsburgh, E. S.

naturalized citizen on March 26, America-Erie Conference for 35 Williams of Philadelphia, and D. W.

years. He pastored at least eight Kerr of Cleveland, Ohio. He also heard
German-speaking churches in that Pentecostal missionaries, including the
fellowship, including ones in Rocky Christian Schoonmakers of India, the
Ridge, Youngstown, and Huron, Victor Plymires of China, and others
Ohio; and Altoona, Freedom, and during the meetings.
New Castle, Pennsylvania. While in
Wendt’s fellowship with
New Castle, he became acquainted Pentecostals and his desire for the
with former members of the German deeper spiritual life that he sensed
Evangelical Church who had received in them came to the attention of the
the Pentecostal experience in the local bishop, who reassigned him to a parish
Christian and Missionary Alliance near Toledo, Ohio. His wife, Bertha,
congregation. They were worshiping later related that spiritual awakenings
at the newly-formed English-speaking occurred in that church and in the
Assembly of God, which was meeting subsequent parish to which he was
directly across from the Evangelical assigned. He continued his quest for
Church.
the deeper life of the Spirit, resigned

A. H. Wendt (left) and his wife, Bertha, with his credentials with the Evangelical

her father, Charles Hoch, about 1905. Church, and returned to New Castle,

34 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

where he pioneered the German was elected chairman. A. Reuben Hartwick and his wife, Thelma,
Pentecostal Tabernacle. He applied Wendt remained as pastor of the reside in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. A.
for credentials with the Assemblies H. Wendt was Thelma’s grandfather.
of God, which recognized his former German Pentecostal Tabernacle and as Reuben is professor emeritus at Valley
ordination and welcomed him into chairman of the German Branch until his Forge Christian College, where he
their fellowship on December 2, 1921. death on January 2, 1929. He is buried taught from 1969 to 1995.
in Greenwood Cemetery, New Castle,
In his travels among the German Pennsylvania. While Wendt came Notes
Pentecostal believers, he observed the into Pentecost late in life, he made a
need for an organizational bond such significant impact on German-speaking 1 E. N. Bell, letter possibly to A.
as was offered by the newly-formed Pentecostal churches in America. C. H. Wendt, November 9, 1922. German
Assemblies of God. After contacting W. Loenser, secretary of the German District files, Flower Pentecostal Heritage
Chairman E. N. Bell and Secretary Branch, offered the following praise of Center.
John W. Welch, he received a letter Wendt’s faithfulness:
in November 1922 that said in part: 2 A. H. Wendt, obituary, New Castle
“We should be glad to have a German The Lord honored our dear News, undated clipping (January 1929).
Branch to recommend Germans for brother’s efforts by giving him
credentials and to encourage you in souls wherever he went. His
every way possible. God bless and fatherly counsel and timely
guide you. Door is open. In His love, messages were a great help and
E. N. Bell.”1 inspiration to all the German
assemblies which he visited
With approval granted, a group of from time to time… We will
ministers and delegates of the German always cherish the memory of
Pentecostal churches in North America our esteemed brother as a loyal
gathered for a conference a few weeks coworker, a beloved spiritual
later at New Castle, Pennsylvania, father, a faithful pastor, and
resolving to form the German Branch humble servant of the Lord.2
of the Assemblies of God, and Wendt

The Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center is actively seeking the
following materials related to your ministry and the worldwide
Pentecostal movement:

• Magazines • Sermons • Photographs
• Diaries • Interviews • Scrapbooks
• Books • Audiovisual Resources • Memorabilia
• Newsletters • Correspondence • College Yearbooks
• Tracts • Congregational Histories • Other Materials

Please contact us at: Call Toll Free: 877-840-5200
Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center E-mail: [email protected]
1445 N. Boonville Avenue Website: www.AGHeritage.org
Springfield, MO 65802-1894

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 35

ARCHIVES ACTIVITIES

Robert and Norma Allen: Flokstra: Misc. Pentecostal books, by R. Field; General Constitution and
Songbook used in the Ponpei tracts, periodicals, photographs, and
Assembly of God, Micronesia. Jackie audio and video recordings. Gerard By Laws of the Pentecostal Church of
C. Ashpole: Constitution and By- Flokstra, Jr.: Misc. books, tracts, God of America, 1960; Gospel Rays
and papers, including many early in Manchoukuo / by Foreign Missions
laws, 1949-1950, Oklahoma District Pentecostal materials from New Department; The Baptism In The Holy
England. Verna Flower: Publications Ghost / by K. E. Abraham; How to
Council of the Assemblies of God from the New England and Southern
Inc.; 1949-1950 Minutes, Arkansas New England Districts; sermon notes Make the Most of Life’s Opportunities
from George E. Flower; materials / by A. E. Stuernagel; 5 boxes of
District Council of the Assemblies of relating to First Pentecostal Church, books, magazines, and cassette tapes.
God; booklet: Echoes from Calvary’s Lancaster, Pennsylvania; clippings Richard Justinger: Reel-to-reel
Call; yearbook: IBI, The Torch, about and correspondence from audio tapes of sermons, teaching, etc.
1957; Workers Together / Jim Grant. missionaries Leonard and Ada Bolton from various Pentecostal/charismatic
Harry and Martha Bartel: Books: and Beulah Buchwalter; publications leaders, mostly from the 1960s.
from the AG in the Gold Coast Dayton Kingsriter: Casino (MN)
La Historia de las Asambleas de (Africa); misc. clippings, music, Assembly of God, 80th anniversary
correspondence, etc. booklet, 1922-2002. Ruth Lyon: 15
Dios de Colombia: 1942-1992, Los boxes of misc. books, periodicals,
Primeros Cincuenta Anos / Judy Rod Gerhart: Tracts: Is It papers, etc., mostly relating to Home
Bartel Graner; The Secret of Joy in Necessary to Praise God? / by Missions.
Our Golden Years / Martha Bartel; Raymond T. Richey; Healing for All!
Getting Old is For the Brave / Martha / by Raymond T. Richey; Houston W. A. and Ruth McCann:
Bartel; Envejecer es de Valientes / Times All Church Press, February 20, Photographs from their ministry in
Martha Bartel; Loving Jesus’ Names 1976 [features Evangelistic Temple]; Texas and other places. Gary B.
and Finding Peace / Martha Bartel; The Christian World News, May McGee: Historia de las Asambleas de
1951; clippings and photographs
Seize the Times to Proclaim the Savior about Raymond T. Richey and the Dios en Mexico 2 la Consolidacion,
/ Harry Bartel. Richard W. Bishop: Richey family. Marilyn R. Goswick: 1930-1960 / Alfonso de los Reyes
The Second Coming of Christ / Aimee St. Louis (MO) newspaper article on Valdez. K. D. Mailes: Articles of
Semple McPherson; Mussolini: Brother Ben / by Dickson Terry, April
Is He the Antichrist? / Charles S. 4, 1948. Lucille Green (estate): 100 Faith and Bylaws of the Apostolic
Price; Northwest District Messenger boxes of misc. books, periodicals, Church of Jesus Christ, Inc., sixth
(scattered issues, 1940s-1950s); and papers, audio and video tapes, etc. edition, 1936; camper manual:
other books and periodicals. Stephen P. Green: “The Experience Explore the Lord’s Word, Southern
of Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers”; Power Missouri District Camp, Rocky
Diane Carter: Wooden BGMC From On High / by John Greenfield; Mount, Missouri, 1973 / by John
Buddy Barrel (c.1955); Speed the The Holy Spirit / by Thomas H. Eller. Jared Martin: Tales of Paul
Light coin collector (c.1979); misc. Wilson, 1911; miscellaneous Lowenberg / by Jared Martin, March
books. Gary K. Clark: Refreshing periodicals. 5, 2006. Brenda (Clouse) Mosher
[granddaughter of Walter Clouse]:
Times: The Voice of Holy Spirit Jeffrey M. Hall: Congregational Photographs of the AG Headquarters
Missionary Leadership Institute plant being built in late 1940s (Walter
Renewal Ministries in American notebook used at the Assemblies of Clouse was the foreman on the job).
Baptist Churches (1990-2006); misc. God Conference Center. John N.
pamphlets concerning the charismatic Hall: Selected Days from the Life of Polly Brown Olive: Tracts:
movement in the American Baptist
Churches USA. Daniel Donelson: Mayburn P. Potts’ Family, Part One, Women’s Missionary Council of the
Dispensational chart of Finis Dake, 1902-1909; photographs of former
1949; photograph of Davis City, Iowa, pastors of Oak Cliff Assembly, Northern California and Nevada
1939; audio tapes of David Roever Dallas, Texas. George Jenkins:
and Jack Moore. Donald Edson: Photo album that belonged to Helen District Council of the Assemblies of
Flyers for Gospel Tabernacle of Earley. Charles Jennings: 70 times 7: God, Inc.; An Actor’s Conversion / by
Bismarck, North Dakota and Gospel Selected Subjects for Bible Studies / Duncan McNeil; What Shall We Call
Tabernacle of Fargo, North Dakota. It? December 1948; books: Mighty
Jack R. Evans: Commentaries by Prevailing Prayer / edited by A.
Leland B. Good. Sims; The Overcomer, Sunday School
Department / Joseph K. Larrimore,
Linda Fields: Miscellaneous editor; Stories of Salvation, Alliance
items relating to home missionary Press Company. Oregon District
Pauline Mastries. Gary and Glenna

36 AG HERITAGE SPRING-SUMMER 2006

Council: The World God Made, VBS salvation experience under Lyman B. Spong: The Life and Times of Norman
Beginner Pupil’s Workbook, Gospel Richardson]. Darrin Rodgers: Audio
Publishing House, 1949; My Bible T. Spong, Pentecostal Pioneer Pastor:
Solves the Mystery, Intermediate interview with Fred Smolchuck / by Insights into Pioneer Ministry /
Pupil’s Workbook, Vacation Bible Charles W. Spong. Juanita Stetz:
School, Gospel Publishing House, Darrin Rodgers; audio interview with
1952. Madam Guyon: An Autobiography
Carl Callihan / by Darrin Rodgers and / Anna C. Reiff; miscellaneous
Kenneth Perkin: Photographs, Woodvall Moore. Mary Rodgers: Pentecostal books and materials; 6
memorabilia, articles, etc. from the boxes of sermon notes of Peter Stetz;
families of Noel Perkin and Andrew Calvary Chapel AG (Sawyer, ND) prayer cards.
Teuber. John F. Perry: Christmas church records; misc. books. Berneice
card from Herbert Buffum and Rogers: Photographs, slides, Ella Mae Teuber: Slides of
his evangelist family; evangelistic Israel from Andrew Teuber. Kenneth
campaign flyer, August 15th, 1917; clippings, audio recording, buckskin Allen Tinch: Pamphlet: Full
evangelistic campaign flyer, June
24th, 1919. C. Byron and Marjory costume and Indian headdress relating Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship
Personeus: Photographs of their International, May 17-19, 1979.
life and ministry in Alaska. Patricia to ministry of Berneice and Burl James Tygrett: Framed photo of
Pickard: Tract: Report of the Mrs. Central District Council at Dayton,
Rogers. Ohio, 1928. Margaret Underwood:
M. B. Woodworth-Etter Pentecostal Harold and Alvina Scott: Rolled photograph of Jack Coe tent
meeting in Springfield, Missouri,
Camp meeting held at Petoskey, Cassette tapes of sermons and 1950s. Wayne Warner: Misc. files
Michigan, July 1914; poster from music. Paul Smith: Photos and and books. George O. Wood: Diaries
“Jesus 77.” Frank Reynolds: Book: kept by Missionary Mrs. L. M.
Is there a God? / Frank Reynolds. papers relating to the Church School Johnson of the Pentecostal Mission at
Lyman W. Richardson: All or Literature Department. Fred Big East Gate, Canton, China, 1915,
Nothing / by Harold Cole [about his Smolchuck: Book: Who Else … But 1917, 1921, and 1923.

God! / Fred Smolchuck; photographs

of Ukrainian District, sermon notes,

various Slavic-language books, tracts,
and periodicals. Katherine Sobey:

Photographs of Beulah Heights

Missionary Training School, North
Bergen, New Jersey. Charles W.

› Dr. Charles Edwin Jones, premier bibliographer
of the Holiness and Pentecostal movements,
visited the FPHC in June 2006. Here, he displays
his published books.

Darrin Rodgers (right) accepts the ›
donation of Edwin Louis Cole’s personal
sermon outlines and notes from Seth
Webster (left) of the Ed Cole Library,
June 2006.

SPRING-SUMMER 2006 AG HERITAGE 37

1445 N. Boonville Avenue
Springfield, Missouri 65802-1894

Richey Family Photographs

Raymond T. Richey (left) and Elmer Gerhart in Raymond T. Richey (2nd from left), George Bowman (center),
1928. and Andrew Richey (right) giving Gideon Bibles to new army
recruits in Houston, Texas.

Advertisements for Raymond T. Richey meetings.

Front Row: Eli and Sarah Richey on their 50th wedding
anniversary, 1931. Back Row: Leonard F., Ziona F., Earl A., Mary
Jane, Bessie M., Andrew J., Roxanna N., Raymond T.
Raymond T. Richey (1893-1968) was a
prominent Assemblies of God evangelist.
Photographs donated by Rod Gerhart