I am excited to announce that my new book, Pentecost in Tulsa, is out today from Seymour Press. Tulsa has become an important epicenter of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity in the United States. In its earliest days, revivals helped establish important churches. Later, well-known launched worldwide ministries from Tulsa that impacted millions around the globe. … Continue reading New Book: Pentecost in Tulsa
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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
“’Rescued Women’: Early Pentecostal Responses to Sex Trafficking”
This week I present at the annual Society for Pentecostal Studies meeting. The theme this year is "'This is My Body": Addressing Global Violence Against Women," a challenging topic for any scholar to address. Yet violence against women is a global phenomenon that is felt by people in virtually every community, including Pentecostals. I have … Continue reading “’Rescued Women’: Early Pentecostal Responses to Sex Trafficking”
Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher and the Pentecostal Origins of Desegregation
In 1954, the Supreme Court decided the famous Civil Rights case, Brown Vs. Board of Education, which argued that segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment. This led the way for the 1964 decision to permanently desegregate schools in America. What many people do not know is that a … Continue reading Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher and the Pentecostal Origins of Desegregation
Bishop Travis B. Sipuel: A Pentecostal Survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
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
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
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
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?
The AG and Black Heritage
During the month of February, I have read several great articles on Pentecostalism's black heritage. Vinson Synan wrote about William Seymours' role as the father of Pentecostalism. Darrin Rodgers highlights 10 African American ministers that were in important to the AG and the Pentecostal movement. David Daniel's highlights what happened to the racial diversity in the Pentecostal movement. … Continue reading The AG and Black Heritage
