Assemblies of God Mission Theology: A Historical Perspective Gary B. McGee he emergence of the Pentecostal movement in the early of its historical development can be considered here. T decades of the twentieth century coincided with the close The articulation of Assemblies of God mission theology took of the "Great Century" in Christian missions. Significantly, it many years to achieve. Early publications often referred to three came at a time when some Christian leaders voiced concerns Scripture passages that seemed to validate their readers' per­ about the need for greater emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit spective on missions: Mark 16:15, 17-18; Matthew 24:14, and Acts in the missionary effort.' Perhaps with little cognizance on the 1:8. The first two established their eschatological belief that when part of most observers and a great deal of skepticism about its the gospel had been carried to the ends of the earth, Christ would longevity, the subsequent expansion of the Pentecostal move­ return. Such a view is not unique to Pentecostalism and was ment proved to be a vigorous new thrust in the Christian world shared by many premillennialists at the turn of the century. The mission, reporting to be directed and empowered by the Holy last passage promised that the Holy Spirit would empower those Spirit. 2 efforts. To them this marked the restoration of the apostolic pat­ Because of the clamor of criticism in the early years, many tern of evangelism. Indeed, the reports of early Assemblies of theological conservatives failed to appreciate that the Pentecostals God missionaries abound with testimonies of conversions, deliv­ shared common theological bonds with them. Among others, erances from drug and alcohol addiction as well as demon pos­ these included the inspiration and authority of the Bible and the session, and physical healings." motivation to obey the Great Commission of Christ to evangelize Over the years the denomination has become well known the world prior to the imminent return of Christ. With certain for its implementation of indigenous-church principles. From the holiness and higher-life advocates of the time, they believed that second year of its existence, the organization committed itself to subsequent to salvation a baptism in the Holy Spirit would endue this approach, viewing it as the New Testament pattern of evan­ the Christian with power to evangelize. They differed, however, gelism." However, a more precise definition of this perspective in their insistence that speaking in tongues constituted a neces­ did not appear until the General Council meeting of 1921.7 sary evidence for this experience. To them this was proof for the Several factors contributed to this development. First, many early Pentecostals who joined the Assemblies of God held anti­ organizational sentiments but united to achieve their objectives. 8 In their examination of the book of Acts, they observed indepen­ "The emergence of the dent congregations, directed by the Spirit, evangelizing their vi­ Pentecostal movement in cinities. For the most part, the paternalistic approach of a missionary the early decades of the agency retaining control over its younger churches was alien to their thinking. twentieth century Second, A. B. Simpson and the Christian and Missionary coincided with the close of Alliance (CMA) contributed to this perspective. Simpson's Mis­ the 'Great Century' in sionary Training Institute (founded in 1882 at New York City and later moved to Nyack, New York) emphasized the indigenous­ Christian missions." church principles of John Nevius and S. J. Burton in its curricu­ lum." Following an outbreak of Pentecostalism in the CMA, a significant number of ministers and missionaries left when it failed fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. Hence in the "last days," the to wholeheartedly endorse their new perspective on the baptism Holy Spirit was empowering believers for evangelism and au­ in the Holy Spirit. Many of these eventually joined the ranks of thenticating the gospel message with the same "signs and the Assemblies of God and some became prominent leaders. Of wonders" that had followed its proclamation in the book of Acts. considerable importance is the fact that until the early 1920s, the The General Council of the Assemblies of God came into largest number of alumni from anyone school serving as Assem­ existence in April 1914 at a conference of Pentecostal believers in blies of God missionaries had been trained at Nyack.l" Unwit­ Hot Springs, Arkansas. Unlike the previously organized holiness tingly, Simpson had prepared a considerable portion of the early denominations of the southern United States, which embraced leadership of the Assemblies of God and its missionary force. Pentecostalism, the delegates represented those who had been The third and perhaps most significant outside influence came expelled from their churches and denominations." They gathered from the writings of Roland Allen. This first became apparent in for several reasons, including the desire to achieve legal recog­ a series of articles written by Alice E. Luce for the Pentecostal nition and bring a semblance of order to their fragmented mis­ Evangel in 1921, just months before the organization met for its sionary efforts. 4 Since that time, the Assemblies of God has grown biennial conference and elaborated its mission to the world. Luce to become the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United had served with the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in India States and now ranks as a leader in the Protestant missionary and later ministered to Hispanics in the United States. While still enterprise. Consequently, the nature and development of its mis­ affiliated with the CMS, she read Allen's Missionary Methods: St. sion theology bears examination. However, only selected aspects Paulor Ours? shortly after it was published in 1912. Although she initially felt that his suggestions were unrealistic, later reflection caused her to recognize "the diametrical distinction between our methods of working and those of the New Testament."l1 Gary B. McGee is Associate Professor and Chairman, Bible and Theology De­ partment, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield, Missouri. In these articles, Luce advocated Allen's perspectives on church 166 International Bulletin of Missionary Research The faculty of the School of World Mission is mandated to train students to teach the good newsof thecross and resur­ rection of Jesus Christ in ways that respect every culture. The lifeblood of any academic in­ growth , church planting, anthro­ ity. Prayer and the life with God stitution is its faculty . Our twelve pology, contextualization, com­ are priorities in classroom, cha­ full-time professors , each a munication, Bible translation, pel, and small groups. We are "hands-on" missionary with im­ Muslim studies and Chinese stud­ learning how God's miraculous pressive credentials, and the ies. In many cases, our faculty power applie s to missiology. Our more than 30 adjuncts believe members are producing the chief belief is that the Gospel must be and teach that the primary focus textbooks for those concentra­ communicated in word and deed, of mission is the proclamation of tion s, in fact, it is true to say that and that deeds are done through the good news. The very size of at least half of the graduate level individuals filled with the Holy our facult y allows students the missiological research carried out Spirit. We are a company of the opportunity to specialize in vari­ today comes from the School of committed who want our grad­ ous fields of missiology, permit­ World Mission. uates to have the truth to tell, and ting a wide selection of concen­ But we are not only concerned the power to tell it in their out­ trations including: leadership with high academic levels, we reach to the world. selection and training, church strive for excellence in spiritual- Write the Office ofAdmissions School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91182 Phone: (818) 449-174510ut-of-State (800) 235-2222 l[!yj G ' 11d lllll t Schoo/} 0/ INTRODUCING EDGAR JAMES ELLISTON, Ph.D. T H ( OL O G Y PSY C H OL O GY Here with Dean Pierson is Dr.'Eddie ' Elliston, Assistant Pro­ -- W OR L D MI SSI O N f essor of Leadership Selection and Training. Through his years of •• missionary and leadership experience in Ethiopia and Kenya, together with his outstanding academic contribution to leadership development, he represents an addedstrength to SWM. planting. Foreign leadership may be necessary for a time, but it Hodges. A series of lectures at the 1950 Missionary Conference cannot be based on attitudes of racial or cultural superiority. Such in Springfield, Missouri, provided the basis for the book. It proved guidance must be founded on greater experience and spiritual to be the most significant book on mission strategy and theology maturity. Missionary leadership should model humility and obe­ that the organization had produced. Perkin considered its pub­ dience to the Holy Spirit if younger national ministers are to be lication to be a "trial balloon" and hoped for a positive recep­ properly trained to take their places. Thus, "when the Lord tion by the missionaries. No other book of its kind had yet been raises up spiritually qualified leaders in the native churches them­ offered by a Pentecostal writer. selves, what a joy it will be to us to be subject to them.,,12 In eleven chapters, Hodges discussed the nature of a New While Luce endorsed Allen's methods, her Pentecostal the­ Testament church and its implementation. Relying on his expe­ ology led her to believe that apostolic methods of evangelism and riences in working with national church organizations, he also church planting would be followed by the power and demon­ discussed how to change an existing structure from a paternalistic stration of the Holy Spirit.