Church of God, House of Prayer
Encyclopedia
The Church of God, House of Prayer is a Pentecostal holiness
body of Christians
.
view of eschatology. Other beliefs include the baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by glossolalia
; water baptism
by immersion; the Lord's supper and feet washing
for believers only; and that the atonement provides not only for spiritual rebirth, but also for healing and deliverance from evil spirits.
, and 2 churches in eastern Canada
. The estimated membership was 1200. Local congregations are "integral parts" of the General Assembly of the Church of God, House of Prayer, and are subject to the General Assembly and its officials. Headquarters are in Markleysburg, Pennsylvania
.
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
body of Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
History
The Church of God, House of Prayer, founded in 1939 by Harrison W. Poteat and incorporated in 1966, is doctrinally similar to the Church of God (Cleveland). They are Trinitarian and Arminian in theology, holding a premillennialMillennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
view of eschatology. Other beliefs include the baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by glossolalia
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
; water baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
by immersion; the Lord's supper and feet washing
Feet washing
Foot washing or washing of feet is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. The name, and even the spelling, of this practice is not consistently established, being variously known as foot washing, washing the saints' feet, pedilavium, and mandatum.For some...
for believers only; and that the atonement provides not only for spiritual rebirth, but also for healing and deliverance from evil spirits.
Organization
In 1979, the Church of God, House of Prayer had 24 churches in the eastern United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and 2 churches in eastern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The estimated membership was 1200. Local congregations are "integral parts" of the General Assembly of the Church of God, House of Prayer, and are subject to the General Assembly and its officials. Headquarters are in Markleysburg, Pennsylvania
Markleysburg, Pennsylvania
Markleysburg is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 282 at the 2000 census. The town is served by the Uniontown Area School District.-Geography:Markleysburg is located at ....
.
Further reading
- Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
- Profiles in Belief: the Religious Bodies of the United States and Canada, by Arthur Carl Piepkorn