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
Assemblies of God
Write On
For Christmas, Amonda bought me this shirt. It has a simple phrase: "Write On." This shirt was such a blessing to me because it has ably characterized this season of my life. My dissertation was finished nearly a year before I submitted it. In the mean time, I found it refreshing to write about other … Continue reading Write On
The Spirit of The Millennium – Perspectives on Assemblies of God Eschatology
Recently I was asked to teach a series of classes at my church based on my dissertation on the development of Assemblies of God eschatology. This was the first opportunity for me to present some of the findings of my research. I did a week for each of the four AG eschatological statements in the … Continue reading The Spirit of The Millennium – Perspectives on Assemblies of God Eschatology
The Future of AG Eschatology
On May 16th I successfully defended my dissertation and was awarded the degree of PhD in Pentecostal Theology from Bangor University (Wales, UK). I was examined by Dr. Robert Pope of Westminster College (Cambridge, UK) and Dr. Andrew Davies of University of Birmingham (UK). The Viva (so called in the UK) took about an … Continue reading The Future of AG Eschatology
A Summer Update
It is July and I haven't mentioned much lately about the progress on my PhD. I have had several people ask about my PhD and am I done yet. Well, the answer is yes and no. I finished writing my dissertation back in March and my supervisor has read it and given the OK for … Continue reading A Summer Update
How Eschatology Shaped AG Social Ethics
This week I attended the annual meeting for the Society for Pentecostal Studies. It was a wonderful meeting. The theme this year was "Pentecostals and the Poor". This theme appealed to me because one of the questions my thesis attempts to answer is how Assemblies of God eschatology translated to how they engaged in social … Continue reading How Eschatology Shaped AG Social Ethics
Eschatological Women of the Assemblies of God: Alice E. Luce
Alice Eveline Luce was a missionary to India and church planting pioneer who entered the Pentecostal movement in 1910. She was born in England in 1873 and at age 22 she became a missionary with the Anglican Church Missionary Society.[1] While in India, word of the Pentecostal movement had reached her in 1910 and she … Continue reading Eschatological Women of the Assemblies of God: Alice E. Luce
Eschatological Women of the Assemblies of God: Elizabeth Sisson
In my studies of AG eschatology I was delighted to uncover a couple women who were influential with their eschatological writings. One such woman was Elizabeth Sisson who had the unique opportunity to transition with from the late nineteenth century healing holiness movement, to the Pentecostal movement and finally into the AG. Sisson had a … Continue reading Eschatological Women of the Assemblies of God: Elizabeth Sisson
The Theological Legacy of “I’ll Fly Away”
If you were to ask for song requests in any AG church in America, I can almost guarantee someone will request "I'll Fly Away". For whatever reason, this song has become an American and Pentecostal favorite of previous generations. There are several reasons its popular. For one, this song has an Oklahoma connection, being written … Continue reading The Theological Legacy of “I’ll Fly Away”
Were Early AG Leaders Anti-Intellectual?
From the beginning, the Pentecostal movement had a careful relationship with theology and the pursuit of education. Even today, many of my educated AG pastor friends are often frustrated with the way in which people within our fellowship are suspicious of education. Roger Olsen speaks of the these attitudes. He says, ‘Endemic to Pentecostalism is … Continue reading Were Early AG Leaders Anti-Intellectual?