During my research on the history of the Pentecostal movement in Tulsa, I discovered the story of a Church of God in Christ pastor, Bishop Travis B. Sipuel, who survived the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. His story we know because of his daughter Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, the famous Oklahoma Civil Rights leader. This is … Continue reading Bishop Travis B. Sipuel: A Pentecostal Survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
Oral Roberts: The (almost) Missionary to Palestine
Oral Roberts has a famous life story. In fact, he rehearsed this story over and over in his preaching and in his five autobiographies. But there is one story that has never been told. Oral Roberts was almost a missionary to Palestine. Oral Roberts was ordained in the Pentecostal Holiness Church by Bishop Dan T. … Continue reading Oral Roberts: The (almost) Missionary to Palestine
Aimee Semple McPherson and the Spanish Influenza In Tulsa
In conducting my earlier research on Pentecostals and the Spanish Flu in 1918-1919 (that has since gone viral around the world through Influence Magazine ), I had wondered if there was anything about the epidemic tied to Tulsa. At that point, my searches had come up empty. However, I decided to look back on some … Continue reading Aimee Semple McPherson and the Spanish Influenza In Tulsa
How Pentecostals Responded to the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic
(Note: This blog was also published in Influence Magazine and can be viewed on their website https://influencemagazine.com) Hear a podcast about this topic with Steve Strang of Charisma Magazine. Right now the whole world is feeling the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic. It seems like every institution in our society is closing down to protect … Continue reading How Pentecostals Responded to the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic
The Origin, Development, and Future of Assemblies of God Eschatology: A PhD Thesis
Last May I completed a my journey through my PhD program. For 10 years I have immersed myself in the world of Assemblies of God history and doctrine in order to produce the first comprehensive study of AG eschatology that looks at 100 years of official, popular and scholarly expressions of the AG's position on … Continue reading The Origin, Development, and Future of Assemblies of God Eschatology: A PhD Thesis
Interview on the Deborah Sweetin Show
A few weeks back I was invited to be on the Deborah Sweetin Show, which airs on KGEB. It was a delight. Deborah is a very gracious host and a skilled interviewer. We talked about ORU, the healing movement, and some of the treasures in the Holy Spirit Research Center. I am grateful to Deborah … Continue reading Interview on the Deborah Sweetin Show
Reclaiming Racial Spaces in Tulsa: Oral Roberts and Beno Hall
In the aftermath of the 1921 Race Massacre in Tulsa, many of the residential areas surrounding the Greenwood District were still in ruins. Into one of those spaces, the Tulsa KKK built a giant white building in 1923 at 501 N Main called Beno Hall. The new building that housed the 3,000 member klavern served … Continue reading Reclaiming Racial Spaces in Tulsa: Oral Roberts and Beno Hall
Oklahoma’s Pentecostal History: Lamont
A tiny town of 500 in north-central Oklahoma was at one time responsible for the Pentecostal revival's spread across many parts of Western Oklahoma from 1907-1908. That tiny town was Lamont, Oklahoma. This video tells the story of Lamont and the revival of 1907-1908 that impacted the Pentecostal Movement in Oklahoma. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmYGHc7T094 Lamont was the … Continue reading Oklahoma’s Pentecostal History: Lamont
An Open Letter to Samson and Luck, The African Slaves Owned by My Isgrigg Ancestors
Dear Samson and Luck, You are part of my Isgrigg family that I didn't know existed until just recently. Nearly two decades ago, my father began a journey of writing the story of our Isgrigg ancestors who came to America in 1740. The story he discovered was that at the age of 16, our ancestor, … Continue reading An Open Letter to Samson and Luck, The African Slaves Owned by My Isgrigg Ancestors
A Short Clip of My Graduation
Here is a short clip of when I was recognized for the completion of my PhD from the Centre for Pentecostal Theology at Bangor University (Wales, UK) at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary Commencement held on May 21, 2019. I was the only PhD graduate that day so my program director, Dr. John Christopher Thomas, was able … Continue reading A Short Clip of My Graduation
