The Independent Assemblies of God, International (IAOGI) is a pentecostal Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

 association with roots in a revival in 1890 decade among the Scandinavian Baptist

Baptist

Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...

 and Pietist

Pietism

Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...

 communities in the United States.

In 1907 most of those revived-congregations (many named Guds forsamling - Assembly of God in Norsk) and individuals learned about the Pentecostal movement through William Howard Durham

William Howard Durham

William Howard Durham was an early Pentecostal preacher and theologian, best known for advocating the Finished Work doctrine.-Early life and career:...

 Mission in Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

. One of his assistant elders, F. A. Sandgren, published the Folke-Vennena a periodical for Scandinavians, and consequently many Midwest churches joined the Pentecostal movement.

This group was organized in 1918 by A. W. Rasmussen as the Scandinavian Assemblies of God in the United States of America, Canada and Foreign Lands. The group operated under this name until 1935. In that year, at their annual convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...

, they merged with another group named the Independent Pentecostal Churches, and adopted the name under which they currently operate. Later, a split over the latter rain movement

Latter Rain Movement

The Latter Rain, also known as the New Order or New Order of the Latter Rain, was a post–World War II movement within Pentecostal Christianity which remains controversial to this day...

 led the formation of the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies

Fellowship of Christian Assemblies

The Fellowship of Christian Assemblies is a pentecostal Christian association with roots in a revival during the 1890's among the Scandinavian Baptist and Pietist communities in the United States....

.

The Independent Assemblies of God, International believes some of the uniqueness that sets it apart from other Pentecostal bodies is "its conviction of the sovereignty of the local church". The IAOGI's doctrinal statement reflects the following beliefs:

• The Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God;
• One God, eternally existent in three persons
• The virgin birth of Christ, His vicarious, atoning death, bodily resurrection, and Ascension
• Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ
• Water baptism by immersion
• The Lord's Supper
• Divine healing through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross
• The baptism of the Holy Spirit
• The sanctification power of the Holy Spirit;
• The second coming of Jesus Christ;
• The Blessed hope resurrection and translation of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and those who are alive at His coming; and The final judgment of those who have not accepted Christ as Savior, with the devil and his angels in the Lake of Fire.

Independent Assemblies of God, International is a member of the Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America. The IAOGI has congregations in Africa, Canada, Guatemala, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Romania, and the United States. The churches meet in an annual convention. International offices are located in Laguna Hills, California

Laguna Hills, California

Laguna Hills is a city located in southern Orange County, California, United States. Its name refers to its proximity to Laguna Canyon and the much older Laguna Beach. Other newer cities nearby—Laguna Niguel and Laguna Woods—are similarly named.-Geography:...

. There are possibly 1500 churches worldwide.

India

They are present in India since the second half of the 20th century. The area of their work includes Nagaland

Nagaland

Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...

.

External links

• Independent Assemblies of God - International Web Site
• Independent Assemblies of God - Canadian Web Site
• Adherents.com