Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ
Encyclopedia
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ (PAJC) is an independent association of Pentecostal Churches, primarily located in the United States. Like many Pentecostal groups, they trace their modern history to the Azusa Street Revival
of 1906. Historically they have had members across the USA and in nearly every county. They were formally organized in 1931. The original headquarters were located in Columbus Ohio, later moved to St. Louis, Missouri
, then to Cleveland, Ohio
. Today they are in Bowersville, Ohio
.
The PAJC consider themselves (as do most Pentecostal groups) to be a continuation of the great revival that began on the day of Pentecost
at Jerusalem, AD 33. They believe their doctrines to be founded upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophet
s, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. (Acts 2:1-42; Eph. 2:19-20).
were once part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ and a third the International Circle of Faith - ICOF traces its roots to the PAJC. All of these groups trace their roots to a revival in 1906 (Azusa Street) that has become synonymous with the Pentecostal movement. According to Pentecostal historian
Morris Golder, in 1931 a unity conference with representatives from four Oneness Pentecostalism
organizations met in Columbus, Ohio, in an attempt to bring more Oneness organizations under the same banner. This attempt was partially successful.
The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance ministers voted to merge with The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, but the terms of the proposed merger were not accepted by the ministers of The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. Ministers from the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
withdrew from their respective organizations and formed a new organization in November 1931. They adopted the name of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ (PAJC)
In the year of 1945, the PAJC and the Pentecostal Churches Inc. (PCI) merged together forming what is now called the United Pentecostal Church (UPCI). According to Pentecostal historian
Dr. Bernie L. Wade
, in August 1946, a group of brethren became dissatisfied with the merger with the United Pentecostal Church, revived the original charter of the PAJC and reorganized the group. There were a number of reasons for the dissatisfaction but historian Morris Golder believes that the primary issues were related to the treatment of the United Pentecostal Church of black (Negro) ministers.
In the spring of 1948 the Churches of the Lord Jesus Christ met with the brethren of the PAJC and proposal a merger. In August, 1948 the merger became complete. At that time a proposal was issued to the new secretary, J. Frank Wilson, to make an amendment that both charters be dropped. This action was never taken and both charters lay idle until the reviving of the charter came about forming the Assemblies of Jesus Christ.
The old charter of the PAJC again lay idle until the year of 1955. Then a group of ministers led by Bishop Carl Angle (Nashville, TN), Bishop Ray Cornell (Pastor of Apostolic Faith Church of God, Cleveland, OH) and Bishop C. B. Gillespie (Fairmont, WV) went to the State of Ohio
and took out a charter known as the PAJC, Inc. The PAJC, Inc. is still chartered in the state of Ohio. They believe themselves to be Apostolic
in doctrine and teachings, and believe that they use only the Bible as their guide book.
The new headquarters was established (using the strength of Bishop Ray O. Cornell's 2500 member Apostolic Faith Church of God) in Cleveland Ohio (established in 1932). Bishop Ray Cornell, Bishop Carl Angle, and Bishop Charles B. Gillespie became the catalyst to the recharter effort. During the 1950s and 1960s the group's headquarters was at 2050 West 55th Street. The group grew through an aggressive recruitment effort spearheaded by national evangelist Carl Angle. It also grew by a number of mergers with other groups who were using the PAJC name. Most notable is the Southeast PAJC with Bishop J. T. Bass and the PAJC of Knoxville, Iowa where the group's printing presses were housed and publications were printed.
Azusa Street Revival
The Azusa Street Revival was a historic Pentecostal revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California and is the origin of the Pentecostal movement. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher. It began with a meeting on April 14, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915...
of 1906. Historically they have had members across the USA and in nearly every county. They were formally organized in 1931. The original headquarters were located in Columbus Ohio, later moved to St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, then to Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Today they are in Bowersville, Ohio
Bowersville, Ohio
Bowersville is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States. The population was 290 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Bowersville is located at ....
.
The PAJC consider themselves (as do most Pentecostal groups) to be a continuation of the great revival that began on the day of Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
at Jerusalem, AD 33. They believe their doctrines to be founded upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
s, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. (Acts 2:1-42; Eph. 2:19-20).
Publications
The Pentecostal Outlook is the official publication of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, Inc. It has been in publication since 1956. It is published bi-monthly.National Directors
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Rev. Ronald Warnock | General Chairman |
| Rev. Carlos Lewis | Assistant General Chairman |
| Rev. Galen Brown | Secretary/Treasurer |
| Rev. Mike Crabtree | Home Missions Director |
| Rev. Phillip Fuller | Foreign Missions Director |
| Rev. Ron Shumar | National Sunday School Director |
| Sis. Elizabeth Estepp | Ladies' Auxiliary President |
| Rev. Jason Weir | National Youth Director |
History
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ (PAJC) is one of the oldest active Pentecostal organizations in the world. Two of the largest Pentecostal organizations United Pentecostal Church International & Pentecostal Assemblies of the WorldPentecostal Assemblies of the World
The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World is a Pentecostal Christian denomination. Founded in 1914, it is one of the oldest Oneness Pentecostal organizations in existence. Headquarters are in Indianapolis, Indiana, and The Christian Outlook is the church's official publication...
were once part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ and a third the International Circle of Faith - ICOF traces its roots to the PAJC. All of these groups trace their roots to a revival in 1906 (Azusa Street) that has become synonymous with the Pentecostal movement. According to Pentecostal historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
Morris Golder, in 1931 a unity conference with representatives from four Oneness Pentecostalism
Oneness Pentecostalism
Oneness Pentecostalism refers to a grouping of denominations and believers within Pentecostal Christianity, all of whom subscribe to the nontrinitarian theological doctrine of Oneness...
organizations met in Columbus, Ohio, in an attempt to bring more Oneness organizations under the same banner. This attempt was partially successful.
The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance ministers voted to merge with The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, but the terms of the proposed merger were not accepted by the ministers of The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. Ministers from the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World is a Pentecostal Christian denomination. Founded in 1914, it is one of the oldest Oneness Pentecostal organizations in existence. Headquarters are in Indianapolis, Indiana, and The Christian Outlook is the church's official publication...
withdrew from their respective organizations and formed a new organization in November 1931. They adopted the name of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ (PAJC)
In the year of 1945, the PAJC and the Pentecostal Churches Inc. (PCI) merged together forming what is now called the United Pentecostal Church (UPCI). According to Pentecostal historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
Dr. Bernie L. Wade
Bernie L. Wade
Bernie L. Wade, born on June 29, 1963 in Lakewood, Ohio, is an American minister, entrepreneur, and author. He has served in a variety of roles including Senior Pastor and Chief Operations Officer of the Christian Brotherhood...
, in August 1946, a group of brethren became dissatisfied with the merger with the United Pentecostal Church, revived the original charter of the PAJC and reorganized the group. There were a number of reasons for the dissatisfaction but historian Morris Golder believes that the primary issues were related to the treatment of the United Pentecostal Church of black (Negro) ministers.
In the spring of 1948 the Churches of the Lord Jesus Christ met with the brethren of the PAJC and proposal a merger. In August, 1948 the merger became complete. At that time a proposal was issued to the new secretary, J. Frank Wilson, to make an amendment that both charters be dropped. This action was never taken and both charters lay idle until the reviving of the charter came about forming the Assemblies of Jesus Christ.
The old charter of the PAJC again lay idle until the year of 1955. Then a group of ministers led by Bishop Carl Angle (Nashville, TN), Bishop Ray Cornell (Pastor of Apostolic Faith Church of God, Cleveland, OH) and Bishop C. B. Gillespie (Fairmont, WV) went to the State of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and took out a charter known as the PAJC, Inc. The PAJC, Inc. is still chartered in the state of Ohio. They believe themselves to be Apostolic
Oneness Pentecostalism
Oneness Pentecostalism refers to a grouping of denominations and believers within Pentecostal Christianity, all of whom subscribe to the nontrinitarian theological doctrine of Oneness...
in doctrine and teachings, and believe that they use only the Bible as their guide book.
The new headquarters was established (using the strength of Bishop Ray O. Cornell's 2500 member Apostolic Faith Church of God) in Cleveland Ohio (established in 1932). Bishop Ray Cornell, Bishop Carl Angle, and Bishop Charles B. Gillespie became the catalyst to the recharter effort. During the 1950s and 1960s the group's headquarters was at 2050 West 55th Street. The group grew through an aggressive recruitment effort spearheaded by national evangelist Carl Angle. It also grew by a number of mergers with other groups who were using the PAJC name. Most notable is the Southeast PAJC with Bishop J. T. Bass and the PAJC of Knoxville, Iowa where the group's printing presses were housed and publications were printed.
Chairmen of the PAJC
- Arnold Warnock - present
- Bishop R. O. Cornell
- Bishop C. B. Gillespie
- Bishop Carl Angle
Notable bishops of the PAJC
- Bishop Ray O. Cornell
- Bishop C. B. Gillespie
- Bishop Carl E. Angle
- Bishop J. T. Bass
- Bishop Raymond Briggs
- Bishop J. Edgar Hughes
- Bishop George A. Wade
- Bishop George King
- Bishop Arthur Leslie
- Bishop Jesse Minor
- Bishop James A. Lee
- Bishop Paul Kearney
- Bishop Terrell
- Bishop Patterson
- Bishop Sanford L. Wade
- Bishop George Wade
- Bishop P. Patterson
Notable People from the PAJC
- Dr. Johnny Scheel
- Dr. Bernie L. WadeBernie L. WadeBernie L. Wade, born on June 29, 1963 in Lakewood, Ohio, is an American minister, entrepreneur, and author. He has served in a variety of roles including Senior Pastor and Chief Operations Officer of the Christian Brotherhood...
- Janice Alvear (Taylor)
- Rev. Nathaniel Urshan