Life on Wings The Forgotten Life and Theology of Carrie Judd Montgomery (1858-1946) Jennifer Ann Miskov A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham March 2011 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT Over the years, Christian historiography has overlooked Carrie Judd Montgomery‟s (1858-1946) significant contribution to both the Divine Healing movement and Pentecostalism. Since the extent of her effect within both movements as a whole has been greatly unexamined, the purpose of this thesis is to recover her forgotten life and theology and to discover her impact. Montgomery‟s healing account in 1879 and her early literature acted as a “Tipping Point” within American Evangelicalism to turn Christians from believing that it was good to suffer unto God, to them believing that God wanted to heal. Her healing homes were also among some of the earliest in the country. These things in addition to her early contribution to the formation of the doctrine of healing in the atonement make Montgomery one of the most influential people in the American Divine Healing movement. She additionally influenced early Pentecostalism. Following her 1908 tongues experience, Montgomery spread Pentecostal themes throughout her networks. She introduced many significant leaders to healing and to the Pentecostal Spirit baptism who later built and expanded the movement in profound ways. An analysis of Montgomery‟s writings from 1880-1920, reveal that the prayer of faith in James 5 and healing in the atonement were two of the major foundations in her theology of healing. The implications of these lived out in relation to suffering and the gift of healing demonstrate that neither one of these was really necessary since healing was already available in the finished work of Christ to those who appropriated it. An analysis of her Pentecostal pneumatology shows that Montgomery actively pursued the fullness of the Spirit, also at times referred to as “Spirit baptism,” both before and after her own 1908 tongues experience. While the manifestation of tongues enhanced her spirituality, added a new flavor to her ministry, and caused her to re-interpret past experiences through a Pentecostal perspective, it did not produce any major shifts within her theology of healing. In light of her experiences with the Spirit throughout the years, a proposed redefinition of the Pentecostal Spirit baptism is presented. In conclusion, Montgomery‟s approach to the newer manifestations of the Spirit and her relentless pursuit of the “fullness of the Spirit” however that looked in her generation can similarly inform present day approaches to revival. DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my parents who have always been there to support and encourage me in everything that I have followed my heart to do Joseph and Deanna Miskov Thank both for your unconditional love and belief in me. I love you dearly. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work has taken me on quite a journey through the past four years. It was only after I moved from California to England so that I could study revivals that I then came across Carrie Judd Montgomery‟s story. That she also lived the majority of her life in California makes this study even more meaningful. Throughout this research, I have had the opportunity to intersect with many great people from both continents along the way. Just a few are mentioned below. England I am greatly indebted to Allan Anderson for introducing me to Carrie in his Spreading Fires book. His comments and insights in relation to my work and his friendship have been a great support. I am also grateful to Mark Cartledge whose feedback on my work and care for me as a person is something that I will always appreciate. His wife Joan has been a blessing in connecting me with employment during my time here and it has been a great privilege to journey along side of his daughter Becky in her pursuit after God. My colleague Gerald King has helped me with feedback on my work over the past few years. I want to also thank all my other colleagues and Andrew Davies here at the University of Birmingham for their encouragement and helpful feedback during the seminars. Others like, Lisa and Ngoma let me stay in their home for a few weeks when I needed a place to stay and their encouragement and excitement for my work has been a blessing. Special thanks to Becky, Craig, and Ben Whitelaw for their friendship and support here. Yogi Pardhi, Ania Kolonko, Than Pham, Sara Husseini and other post graduate students I have shared life with while here have enriched me through their friendship. I want to thank my church family at Birmingham Vineyard Network House (McNeils, Kay, Colin, Jo and many others) and more recently the church plant of Grace Vineyard (Inksters, Bristows, and the others) for all the support, encouragement, friendship, and family away from home I have experienced in you. Special thanks to Bonnie and Margaret for their excitement in relation to my paper for the Society of Pentecostal Studies conference in 2010 which encouraged me to publish Spirit Flood: Rebirth of Spirit Baptism for the 21st Century in light of the Azusa Street Revival and the life of Carrie Judd Montgomery. The Healing on the Streets team, Jackie Tearle, Sandra Eagle, Becky Cartledge, Nick Corbett, and the rest of the gang, it has been such a privilege and honor to bring God‟s kingdom of love and healing to the people in the heart of the city. You are all beautiful people. A very special thanks to all those who have been a part of the Silver to Gold project in one way or another. It was nice to have another outlet besides academics during my time here. Jo Bullock, Affi Luc and Alice, Emma Rushton, Andrew, Joe, and many others are just a few of the many who have been an incredible support to me. Also, Alex and Christy, Shivani, Mal, and Tracy, trips to Starbucks have been a wonderful break and I value each one of you. California I can not thank my family enough for all their support and love throughout my life. I am super blessed to have such supportive and encouraging parents. Thanks mom and dad for everything! My brother is an inspiration who goes into the heart of disaster struck countries to bring relief and support to those who need it the most. My sister has such a beautiful and pure faith and she has to be one of the best single mothers I have ever seen in my life. Thank you for always rooting for me sis. Justin, thanks for going after God, you are a special young man with a heart exploding with compassion for others. My Aunt Adrienne and Uncle Fred have always been very encouraging as has my grandfather Perry Winslow who I am very grateful for his support in this project. Thanks to my whole extended family for all the support! Thanks to David McNutt, the Pewthers, Bob Fulton, Ade and Frannie Collie, the Scherers, Jamie Gillentine, Linda Costa, and the many others who have believed in, supported, and prayed for me during my time here. Yadira, Ruthie, Cristina, Davina, Laurie, and so many other precious friends who have journeyed with me over the past years, your friendship is like gold to me! To the ladies from my small group who are now all grown up and many married, I love that you are following your hearts and living the beautiful purposes God has put in your heart. Keep shining and know that you do make a difference! Financial help I am thankful for the financial support in various ways through Perry Winslow, Ade and Frannie Collie, Linda Costa, the McNutts, the Inksters, The Panacea Society, Gilchrist Educational Trust, Ithiel Conrad Clemmons Student Travel Award, The Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship (www.tffps.org), the Roberts Fund from the University of Birmingham, and the amazing ways that God never ceases to amaze me in how He comes through again and again to take care of me. Research I am indebted to Daniel Albrecht who went before to pave the way to help make this study possible. With a much harder job of accessing resources than today, he saw the gold inside of Carrie nearly twenty years ago and laid important foundations. I am thankful for Kimberly Alexander and her work in relation to Carrie as well as her encouragement. Cecil M. Robeck took extra time to invest his thoughts into my completed thesis to help refine it even more. I greatly value and appreciate his excitement and encouragement for this work. I am grateful for Paul Chappell, David Petts, Jennifer Stock, Espinosa Gastón, Paul King, Joe McIntyre and all of the others who have recognized something significant in Carrie to include her in their narratives. Thanks to David Roebuck for providing me with an opportunity to have Silver to Gold and Spirit Flood available at the Society of Pentecostal Studies conferences.