God's Generals Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. God's Generals Why They Succeeded and Why Some Failed ISBN 188008-947-5 Copyright © 1996 by Roberts Liardon P.O. Box 30710 Laguna Hills, California 92654 4th Printing, 1997 Published by ALBURY PUBLISHING P.O. Box 470406 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74147-0406 All possible efforts were made by ALBURY PUBLISHING to secure permission and insure proper credit was given for every entry within this book. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the Publisher. Endorsements The strength and power of the body of Christ today did not come by accident. True, it is a work of the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit anoints faithful and humble servants to bring about His purposes. In this book, Roberts Liardon has done a masterful job of opening new windows of insight upon the lives of some of the greatest heroes of the faith. God's Generals will encourage you and strengthen you to succeed in whatever purpose God has for you in His kingdom. Dr. C. Peter Wagner Author and Professor of Church Growth, Fuller Theological Seminary Pasadena, California A project which combines the stories of great twentieth century Pentecostal preachers into one book has been much needed, and I am sure this publication will be greatly appreciated. I am glad my mother, Aimee Semple McPherson, has been included among God's other Generals, for she served wholeheartedly as a pioneer in the front line trenches for the greatest of all Generals, her Lord Jesus Christ. I appreciate the tribute this book has given her. Rolf K. McPherson President, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel Los Angeles, California Until Roberts Liardon came along, very few people here had heard of John Alexander Dowie, Maria Woodworth-Etter, Jack Coe, and the likes. His teachings have impacted the young churches of Asia in a very profound way. The lessons we can learn from the great revivalists of the twentieth century—what attributed to their successes and failures—are absolutely vital to propel an emerging generation to greater spiritual heights as we enter a brand new millennium. Hee Kong Pastor, City Harvest Church; President, City Harvest Bible Training Centre Singapore I've known Roberts Liardon since he was a teenager. I met him when he was searching for information about my father, Jack Coe Sr., who is one of the twelve Generals studied in this book. I was impressed with Roberts' diligence then, and am happy to see the fruit that has been born from his life and ministry today. I recommend this book for not only its historical value, but for the insight into what it takes to carry the very power of God. 5 GOD'S GENERALS Jack Coe Jr. International Evangelist; President, Christian Fellowship Dallas, Texas Roberts Liardon is one of America's leading experts on the dynamic healing ministries of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Having spent almost two decades researching and studying the most significant spiritual leaders whose lives have been characterized by signs, wonders, and miracles, Liardon presents a powerful and inspirational panorama of their ministries. This is the first comprehensive volume to bring together a thorough survey of these giants of the faith. It is church history at its best. Paul G. Chappell, Ph.D. Dean of Graduate School of Theology, Oral Roberts University Tulsa, Oklahoma God's pioneers are controversial figures. They often get things wrong, perhaps, because few if any have been this way before. Roberts Liardon has done an excellent job in providing well researched material on God's Generals, the pioneers of Pentecostal and Charismatic history. Through reading this book your faith will be inspired, and you shall learn a few lessons along the way. Gerald Coates Pioneer International We need to rediscover our Pentecostal heritage. As we seek to tap into the pure stream of Pentecost that stretches from the pages of the New Testament to the revivals of this century—we will see God take us to our full potential in Him. Roberts Liardon has recognized the importance of honoring those who have gone before us, learning from their mistakes, and drawing inspiration from their testimonies. I know from hearing Pastor Roberts' presentation on the material in this book, that the years he has spent studying the lives of these great men and women of God have resulted in a resource that will encourage, exhort, and teach many in this generation. I give it my highest recommendation knowing that it will change lives and re-introduce to us an element of Pentecostal living with which many are unfamiliar. Colin Dye B. D Pastor, Kensington Temple London, England 6 Dedications I want to dedicate this book to three groups of people: To my Associate Pastors, Larry and Kathy Burden, and to my congregation at Embassy Christian Center in Irvine, California. I want to especially thank you for all of your faithfulness, your loyalty, and your trustworthiness. I want you to know that I recognize you as one of the best gifts I have in the call of God. To Pastors Hee and Sun Kong and the congregation in City Harvest Church in Singapore, I want to especially thank you for the encouragement and the very special friendship that we share together. Your fellowship is a very important part of my life. It's great to be an official member of your church, even though I am thousands of miles away! To Pastors Richard and Gail Perinchief and their congregation at Spirit Life Christian Center in Florida, I want to especially thank you for your loyal friendship through the years. And I want to thank you for the uniqueness that we seem to have in our heavenly call—we always seem to end up preaching together in the same nation, at the same time! It's wonderful to minister throughout the nations with you, as well as being counted as your friend. My friends, we must never quit in our pursuit to reach the high call of God! 7 Contents Foreword..............................................................................................11 Preface..................................................................................................13 Acknowledgments................................................................................15 Introduction..........................................................................................17 1: John Alexander Dowie—"The Healing Apostle"............................19 2: Maria Woodworth-Etter—"Demonstrator of the Spirit".................43 3: Evan Roberts—"Welsh Revivalist".................................................71 4: Charles F. Parham—"The Father of Pentecost"...............................97 5: William J. Seymour—"The Catalyst of Pentecost".......................123 6: John G. Lake—"A Man of Healing"..............................................151 7: Smith Wigglesworth—"Apostle of Faith".....................................177 8: Aimee Semple McPherson—"A Woman of Destiny"...................205 9: Kathryn Kuhlman—"The Woman Who Believed in Miracles"....241 10: William Branham—"A Man of Notable Signs and Wonders"....277 11: Jack Coe—"The Man of Reckless Faith"....................................311 12: A. A. Allen—"The Miracle Man"................................................339 9 Foreword I want to commend my dear friend and fellow minister, Roberts Liardon, for this contribution to making known the history of the great moving of God through the ministry of His true Generals. This book will show you their strengths and their weaknesses. It is clear that this is not the work of a man, but of the Holy Spirit of the living God. It will show you that it is not what we are, or what we possess in ourselves that God is depending on, but what He can make of us! As you read this most inspiring book, you will be stirred to remember that the God of Elijah is your God—just as He was the God of His other past Generals. So take your Bible now and read Hebrews 11:1-12:2 before you embark on this historic journey, and you will see that "all truth is parallel." God has always had His Generals—"For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). God would not have us to forget this as we see many new Generals emerging on the battlefields today. So always let us look to "Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). This literary work is destined to be a spiritual classic. It will show you that even the smallest, seemingly insignificant person can be used by God. Roberts' commentary is powerful and practical, and will leave you with great hope to succeed. God's Generals were diamonds in the rough—mostly unsophisticated, uneducated by man's standards—yet vessels God recognized who possessed the unique characteristics that He could use if they would surrender their call. Will you? Dr. Morris Cerullo, President Morris Cerullo World Evangelism San Diego, California 11 Preface Roberts has always had a hunger to understand the calls of great men and women of God. As his mother, I saw his spiritual hunger develop in two ways. First, as a very young boy, Roberts' interest grew because my mother told him so many stories about great ministers and their camp meetings, of which she had been a part. Her descriptions were lively and vivid, and with almost every story, she would have a lesson to preach. Second, when Roberts was twelve years old, the Lord appeared to him and instructed him to study the lives of the great men and women of God. The Lord told Roberts that this intensive study would be an important part of his training for the ministry. Immediately after that visitation from the Lord, Roberts began to study. In our house there was already an atmosphere conducive to study.