Independent Assemblies of God, International

The Independent Assemblies of God, International "(IAOGI)" is a pentecostal Christian association with roots in a revival in 1890 decade among the Scandinavian Baptist and Pietist 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 H. Durham Mission in Chicago. 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.

The Scandinavian Pentecostalism has been characterised by an extreme congregationalism, which led to an isolation from the other Pentecostal groups in North America, and the formation of loose networks, such the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies and the Independent Assemblies of God, International.

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, they merged with another group named the "Independent Pentecostal Churches", and adopted the name under which they currently operate.

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 body does not exercise control over its ministers or churches. 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 with the evidence of speaking in other tongues;"
*"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, Nagaland, the Philippines, Romania, and the United States. The churches meet in an annual convention. International offices are located in Laguna Hills, California. There are possibly 1500 churches worldwide.

Though sharing some common background in the Pentecostal movement, the "Independent Assemblies of God, International" should be distinguished as a separate body from the Assemblies of God.

References

*"Handbook of Denominations in the United States", by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood

External links

* [http://www.iaogi.org/ Independent Assemblies of God] - International Web Site
* [http://www.iaogcan.com/ Independent Assemblies of God] - Canadian Web Site
* [http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_315.html#1997 Adherents.com]