Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ

Infobox Christian denomination
name = Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ
origin = 1931
headquarters = USA


imagewidth =
caption =
main_classification = Pentecostal
orientation = Apostolic
polity = Episcopal
founder = Bishop Ray. O. Cornell
founded_date = 1931, Columbus, Ohio
founded_place =
from = Merger
parent = Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ
merger =
separations = United Pentecostal Church (UPCI), Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW), International Circle of Faith (ICOF), Apostolic Churches International (ACI), Apostolic Ministerial Fellowship (AMF)
associations =
area = United States of America
congregations = est. 50
members = est. 5,000
ministers = 85
footnotes =

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 countyFact|date=September 2008. 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, A.D. 33. They believe their doctrines to be founded upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. (Acts 2:1-42; Eph. 2:19-20). [ Constitution of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. Preamble. 1955. http://www.pajc.org ]

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

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 World 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 Morris Golder, The History of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. 1976. ] .

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) [ History of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. Truth Liberty and Freedom Press (TLFP). Dr. Bernie L. Wade, Copyright 2001, pg. 2. ]

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. [ Outlook. Official organ of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. August. 1961. ] [ http://www.pajc.org ]

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. [ Dialogue with a Pentecostal Giant (Bishop Carl Angle). 1983. ] 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. ["Outlook" magazine. March 1971. Volume 24. Issue 3]

Chairmen of the PAJC

* Arnold Warnock - present
* Bishop R. O. Cornell
* Bishop C. B. Gillespie
* Bishop Carl Angle
* Bishop John B. Blyestone

Notable bishops of the PAJC

* Bishop Ray O. Cornell
* Bishop C. B. Gillespie
* Bishop Carl Angle
* Bishop J. T. Bass
* Bishop Briggs
* Bishop Hughes
* Bishop George A. Wade
* Bishop John Blystone
* Bishop George King
* Bishop Arthur Leslie
* Bishop Jesse Minor
* Bishop Paul Kearney
* Bishop Patterson
* Bishop Sanford L. Wade

References

External links

* [http://www.pajc.org/ The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ website]
* [http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1356.asp The Association of Religion Data Archives]
* [http://www.icof.net/ The International Circle of Faith]
* [http://www.paw.org/ The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World website]
* [http://www.upci.org/ The United Pentecostal Church International website]

Navbox
name = Apostolic Church
state =
titlestyle =
title = Apostolic (Oneness Pentecostal) Christianity


bodystyle =
abovestyle =
above =
group1 = Denominations
list1 = AAFCJ • ALJC • AM • AWCF • Bible Way COOLJC • CJCI • CLJC • COOLJC • IAFCJ • ICOF •OGCOE • PAJC • PAW • PCAF • TJC • UPCI • ICJC
group2 = Historical Leaders
list2 = Carl Angle • Morris Golder • Antonio C. Nava • Francisco F. Llorente • Felipe Rivas • G.T. Haywood • Carl Ballestero • Nathaniel A. Urshan • Murray Burr • Ray O. Cornell • Ben Hawthorne • Mark Lawson • R.C. Lawson • S.C. Johnson • Ralph R. Robertson • Frank Ewart • C. B. Gillespie • Andrew Urshan • G. B. Rowe • Howard Goss •
group3 = Modern Leaders
list3 = Kenneth Haney • Nathaniel Wilson • Dr. Bernie L. Wade • T.D. Jakes • Daniel G. Sanchez • Gilsen Levi • Robert Martin • Horace E. Smith • Yared Mengistu; • Brad Lambeth • Tommy Tenny • Barney Phillips • Wilde E Almeda • • John W. McCann
group4 = Other Pages of Interest
list4 = Oneness Pentecostalism • Oneness Pentecostalism (doctrine) •Oneness vs Trinity • Jesus-Name doctrine
belowstyle =
below =