Evangelist Charles S. Price 2008
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EEvangelistvangelist CharlesCharles S.S. PricePrice 2008 • Teen Challenge • Congregational Music • Racial Reconciliation Volume 28 • Religious Life of Elvis • Women in Ministry Plus Other Features Published annually by The Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center 1445 N. Boonville Ave. Springfield, MO 65802-1894 USA Phone: 417-862-1447, ext. 4400 Fax: 417-862-6203 Toll Free: 877-840-5200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.iFPHC.org ISSN 0896-4395 2008 Vol. 28 PUBLISHED BY THE FLOWER PENTECOSTAL HERITAGE CENTER Darrin J. Rodgers EDITOR AND DIRECTOR 4 Dr. Charles S. Price: His Life, Joyce E. Lee Ministry and Influence ARCHIVIST This Oxford-educated pastor became one of the most noteworthy Pentecostal evangelists of the twentieth century. Glenn W. Gohr BY TIM ENLOE REFERENCE ARCHIVIST AND COPY EDITOR 14 Teen Challenge: 50 Years of Miracles William J. Molenaar What began as an outreach to the gangs of New York City has SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR developed into one of the largest and most successful Christian drug-treatment programs. Sharon L. Rasnake BY DAVID BATTY AND ETHAN CAMPBELL ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR Randy Clute 22 Conflicted by the Spirit: The HERITAGE DESIGNER Religious Life of Elvis Presley The “King of Rock ‘n Roll,” the most famous Assemblies of Wayne E. Warner God Sunday school prospect from the 1950s, experienced an FOUNDING EDITOR all-too public struggle between his religious upbringing and the temptations of the world. Price: $8.00 BY JAMES R. GOFF, JR. Heritage is indexed in the ATLA Religion Database, published by 32 A Short History of Congregational the American Theological Library Song in the Assemblies of God Association, 250 S. Wacker Dr., The distinctive testimony of the Assemblies of God is reflected in 16th Flr., Chicago, IL 60606 its hymnody, which has evolved over the decades. E-mail: [email protected] BY BODIE GILBERT Web: www.atla.com 40 Known and Yet Unknown: Women ATLA Religion Database (RDB) is available on CD-ROM and US MARC of Color and the Assemblies of God Inspiring vignettes of women of color who have impacted the format directly from ATLA, as well Assemblies of God, but whose stories are largely unknown. as online through five aggregators: BY JESSICA FAYE CARTER OCLC’s FirstSearch, EBSCO Information Services, SilverPlatter, Ovid Technologies, and Cambridge 44 The Uphill History of Hispanic Scientific Abstracts. Microfilm of Assemblies of God Women in Heritage is available from Theological Ministry, 1915-1950 Research Exchange Network (TREN), An examination of the origins and early history of Hispanic P.O. Box 30183, 5420 N. E. Glisan, clergywomen in the Assemblies of God. Portland, OR 97294-3183. Heritage BY GASTÓN ESPINOSA on CD is available from the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center. 50 The Assemblies of God and © Copyright 2008 by the Long Journey toward Gospel Publishing House, Racial Reconciliation 1445 N. Boonville Ave., An analysis of the historical roots of racial unity and disunity Springfield, MO 65802-1894 in the Assemblies of God. BY DARRIN J. RODGERS POSTMASTER: Send address change to Heritage, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802-1894 2 From the Editor 49 FPHC News 62 Heroes of the Faith 67 Resources Front cover: Evangelist Charles Price in a preaching pose. The crowd from his Edmonton, Alberta crusade, October 1923, can be seen in the background. FROM THE EDITOR tive, this history must consider the Enduring Core Values undesirable and often unmentioned By Darrin J. Rodgers traits that were only too apparent to those outside the Movement.1 ashions and fads — in the broader society According to Brumback, shortcom- ings found in the early Pentecostal as well as in church — may come and go. movement included: its impermanent However, history offers perspective about what status; doctrinal tangents; fanaticism; F immoral persons; a superiority com- lasts and what matters most. What lessons can be plex; and proselytizing fellow Chris- 2 gleaned from the history of the Assemblies of God? tians. One does not need to look beyond the past year’s news headlines Reflecting back upon the spiri- “the greatest evangelism that the to see that these difficulties continue to tual pilgrimage of the Assemblies of world has ever seen,” such resolve exist in some Pentecostal circles — and God, General Superintendent George must have seemed to some to be sheer in the broader church. O. Wood identifies five enduring core audacity. In less than one century, The Assemblies of God was formed values that its leadership has aimed to though, this commitment has yielded precisely to address these problems exemplify since its inception in 1914: results that hit shockingly close to the — to provide doctrinal, financial, and 1. Passionate proclamation, at home and mark. In 2007, over 57 million peo- moral accountability and to develop abroad, by word and deed of Jesus as ple were associated with the World structures to serve the growing Pen- Savior, Baptizer in the Holy Assemblies of God Fellowship. tecostal movement. The founders of Spirit, Healer, and Soon the Assemblies of God gave a five- Coming King; Learning from Struggles fold purpose for calling the first Gen- 2. Strategic investment There is a danger, however, that eral Council: unity, conservation of in the next generation; these encouraging statistics will breed the work, provision for missionaries, 3. Vigorous planting of a sense of triumphalism. The believers a legal charter for the churches, and new churches; who make up the Assemblies of God creation of a “general Bible Training 4. Skillful resourcing are to be commended for bringing mil- School with a literary department for of our Fellowship; lions to faith in Christ and for faith- our people.”3 It was from this founda- and fully working to fulfill the Great Com- tion that the Assemblies of God devel- 5. Fervent prayer mission. However, Pentecostal history oped into what it is today. for God’s favor reveals a much more complex story — and help as we one in which testimonies of saved lives, In This Issue serve Him with restored families, and healed bodies This issue of Assemblies of God pure hearts and are accompanied by stories of human Heritage showcases stories of people, noble purpose. frailty, sacrifice, and struggle. ministries, and themes that illustrate Focusing on Carl Brumback, in his 1961 histo- some of the enduring core values iden- these enduring core ry of the Assemblies of God, warned tified by Dr. Wood. These stories will values has enabled against forgetting the hard-won lessons evoke memories for those who have the Assemblies of of Pentecostal history: lived the history. Hopefully, readers God to reach the will be challenged to reflect not just world for Christ. We tend to glamorize the formative about the triumphs of the faith life, When, in Novem- days of the Pentecostal Movement, but also about the snares that have ber 1914, the sec- to gloss over the objectionable fea- prevented people from accomplish- ond General Coun- tures, and to dismiss as prejudice the ing God’s will for their lives. cil committed the criticisms that were leveled against The feature article recounts the Assemblies of God it. We should be mature enough inspiring life of Charles S. Price, the to labor toward now to face the facts. To be objec- Oxford-educated Congregational pas- 2 AG HERITAGE 2008 tor who scoffed at Pentecostals from his napolis pastor and missions leader Thom- and wall images of people and places pulpit, until he converted to Christ in an as Paino, Jr.; and Central Bible College they have known as well as enjoying the evangelistic service held by Aimee Sem- music professor Glenda Morrow. interactive video kiosks and displays. ple McPherson in 1920. He abandoned his theological modernism and became Bringing History to You Sharing Your Legacy one of the most noteworthy Pentecostal Assemblies of God Heritage is just Do you have Pentecostal historical evangelists of the twentieth century. one of the ways the Flower Pentecostal materials that should be preserved? Do Next, you will read the exciting Heritage Center (FPHC) helps bring you know of someone with treasures story of Teen Challenge, which is Pentecostal history into your home, in their attic or basement? I would be one of the largest and most success- school, and church. The FPHC’s honored if you would consider depos- ful Christian drug-treatment programs. online research center is the world’s iting these materials at the FPHC. We The ministry, birthed fifty years ago by largest Pentecostal history website would like to preserve and make them David Wilkerson as an outreach to the and includes searchable databases, accessible to those who write the history gangs of New York City, demonstrates digitized periodicals and photographs, books. Are you uncertain whether the that no person is beyond redemption. and more (see page 49). Our digital FPHC would be interested in your col- The next two articles touch on music. products (see pages 67-71) allow you lection? I encourage you to contact the Gospel music historian Jim Goff pro- to browse through thousands of pages FPHC; I would be delighted to discuss vides a careful assessment of Elvis Pre- of rare periodicals and books on your whether your materials might fill in one sley’s religious confliction. Assemblies of the many gaps in our collections. of God members have often felt mixed As you read the following pages, feelings toward the “King of Rock ‘n I hope you will be inspired and chal- Roll.” Many liked his music and were lenged. The Assemblies of God was proud that he once sat in the Sunday formed to provide a mature, Biblical school at Memphis First Assembly of voice within Pentecostal and evangeli- God. At the same time, Elvis’ all-too cal Christianity.