Tulsa's Black Pentecostal community has a rich history. As Tulsa's black population thrived along side the development of the Greenwood District known as "Black Wall Street," Pentecost also took hold with at least two Church of God in Christ Churches by 1921 with over 100 members each. In doing research for my book, Pentecost in … Continue reading Notable COGIC Women from the Tulsa Area
Pentecostal history
Who Will Be Left Behind?
I have heard there is a new Left Behind movie out in theaters. It has been several decades since Tim LaHaye's series fictionalizing the return of Christ captured the evangelical imagination. This latest movie focusing on the antichrist seems to be following the pattern of trying to dramatize teachings about the end times for the … Continue reading Who Will Be Left Behind?
Russell Spittler’s 1983 Predictions for Pentecostal Studies and Their Fulfillment
This week we received the news that pioneering Pentecostal scholar, Dr. Russell Spittler (Ph.D. Harvard, 1971) had passed away. Spittler had a long and distinguished career as a Pentecostal scholar and educator serving at Central Bible College, Vanguard University, and Fuller Theological Seminary. He was also very involved in the Society for Pentecostal Studies where … Continue reading Russell Spittler’s 1983 Predictions for Pentecostal Studies and Their Fulfillment
Pentecost: How Long Does it Take?
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he instructed his disciples to ‘Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high’ (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4 KJV). Drawing from these words, the practice of having "tarrying" services became a uniquely Pentecost ritual whereby believers actively lingered in Pentecostal services for the … Continue reading Pentecost: How Long Does it Take?
Metro Pentecostal Church Celebrates 100 Years
Tulsa is a city with a rich history of Oneness Pentecostalism. Following the split between Trinitarian and Oneness believers in the Assemblies of God in 1916, it is unclear if any Oneness congregations were maintained from the number of early Pentecostal believers in Tulsa. The first known church was started In 1922, when a Oneness … Continue reading Metro Pentecostal Church Celebrates 100 Years
Mildred Wicks: The Greatest Female Preacher of the Healing Revival
While researching the history of Pentecostalism in Tulsa, I discovered many stories of women who shaped Pentecostalism in Oklahoma. Perhaps none was more important than Mildred Wicks, an important Pentecostal Holiness Revivalist who was recognized in the 1950s as the one of the greatest preachers and healing evangelists of the Healing Revival. Mildred Wicks was … Continue reading Mildred Wicks: The Greatest Female Preacher of the Healing Revival
A Conversation About Oral Roberts: Voices of Renewal Podcast
Voices of Renewal is a podcast from Regent University looking at the activity of the Holy Spirit of renewing the church throughout history. A few weeks back I joined Dr. Corne Bekker for a conversation about Oral Roberts and his role in renewal theology in the church. You can listen by clicking the image below … Continue reading A Conversation About Oral Roberts: Voices of Renewal Podcast
God Broke Me on The Wheel of My Prejudice: Jonathan E. Perkins
Jonathan Ellsworth Perkins was an early Assemblies of God pastor who served from 1924-1926 at the "5th and Peoria" Assembly of God in Tulsa. Perkins was an important early leader who wrote The Brooding Presence, one of the first AG books on the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Perkins also served with Stanley Frodsham as Associate Editor … Continue reading God Broke Me on The Wheel of My Prejudice: Jonathan E. Perkins
The African Roots of the Day of Pentecost
A Pentecostal reflection on Thomas C. Oden's claim that the first Pentecost took place in the home of an African Jewish woman.
Pentecost in Greenwood
Back in April of this year, I was invited to present at the Tulsa City-County Library Unite Tulsa symposium commemorating the Centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. I was one of a dozen presentations on various themes that spark conversations about race and society. I presented on "Pentecost in Greenwood: The Black Pentecostal Churches … Continue reading Pentecost in Greenwood
Daniel D. Isgrigg 