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Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches Of North America

Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America

The Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America is an interdenominational fellowship of pentecostal and charismatic churches in North America, existing for the purpose of promoting cooperation and understanding. It is a successor to the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America.

Pentecostal Fellowship of North America

The Pentecostal Fellowship of North America (PFNA) was formed by eight pentecostal denominations in 1948 at Des Moines, Iowa. Before the Des Moines meeting, a rally was held in Washington, D.C., and plans for a constitution were formulated. Two of the leading figures of the Washington meeting were Bishop Joseph A. Synan and Oral Roberts.

Charter members of the PFNA


- Assemblies of God
- Church of God (Cleveland)
- Foursquare Gospel Church
- Pentecostal Holiness Church
- Open Bible Standard Churches

Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America

The Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA) was formed as part of a unification of charismatic and pentecostal bodies and a movement toward racial reconciliation. Whereas the PFNA was formed to help bridge doctrinal divisions, the PCCNA set a broader goal of also the racial and cultural gaps. At a meeting in 1994 in Memphis, Tennessee, the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America was dissolved, and the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America was formed. PCCNA headquarters are in Los Angeles, California. We are gathered here in Memphis, Tennessee, to return to our roots and to recapture the initiative of the Spirit. This will be a time of repentance for the sins of the past. This will be a time of forgiveness as we rely upon the wonderful grace of our loving Heavenly Father and mirror that grace in our relationships with one another. The time has come for reconciliation! The time has come to recapture our heritage! We gather here as the children of God and heirs of the twentieth century pentecostal/charismatic renewal of the church. Our Father has called us to unity. - from an address of Bishop B. E. Underwood, Chairman of the PFNA, October, 1994

Members of the PCCNA


- Anchor Bay Evangelistic Association
- Assemblies of God
- Association of Vineyard Churches
- Bethel Gospel Tabernacle
- Center for Spiritual Renewal
- Church of North America
- Church of God (Cleveland)
- Church of God in Christ
- Church of God Mountain Assembly
- Church of God of Prophecy
- Church of God of the Apostolic Faith
- Church on the Way
- Congregational Holiness Church
- Crenshaw Christian Center
- Elim Fellowship
- Faith Deliverance Christian Center
- Independent Assemblies of God, International
- International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
- International Pentecostal Church of Christ
- International Pentecostal Holiness Church
- Italian Pentecostal Churches of Canada
- Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America
- New Life Church
- Open Bible Standard Churches
- Open Bible Faith Fellowship
- Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
- Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Pentecostal Church of God
- Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church
- Pentecostal Holiness Church of Canada
- Regent University School of Divinity
- South Coast Fellowship
- Strang Communications
- The Fellowship (FGFCMI)
- United Evangelical Church
- United Holy Church of America
- Victory Christian Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma

External links


- [http://www.pctii.org/pccna/ Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America]
- [http://www.pctii.org/pccna/history.html Memphis 1994], by Vinson Synan
- [http://www.pctii.org/arc/underwoo.html The Memphis Miracle], by B. E. Underwood

See also


- Pentecostal World Conference Category:Pentecostal denominations Category:Charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity

Pentecostal

The Pentecostal movement within protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as shown in the Biblical account of the Day of Pentecost. Pentecostalism is similar to the Charismatic movement, but developed earlier and separated from the mainstream church. Charismatic Christians, at least in the early days of the movement, tended to remain in their respective denominations.

Beliefs

Pentecostals believe that you must be saved by believing in Jesus as Lord and Saviour for the forgiveness of sins and to be made acceptable to God. Pentecostals believe in water baptism as an outward sign of conversion, and that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct spiritual experience that all who have believed on Jesus should receive. Pentecostals believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is always accompanied initially by the outward evidence of speaking in tongues. This is a major difference between Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians who believe that a Christian who is baptized in the Holy Spirit may exhibit other physical signs instead of speaking in tongues. The idea that one is not saved unless one speaks in tongues is rejected by most major Pentecostal denominations. Pentecostals also believe that the Bible has the final authority in matters of faith.

Theology

Theologically, most Pentecostal denominations are aligned with Evangelicalism in that they emphasize the reliability of the Bible and the need for conversion to faith in Jesus. Most Pentecostals also adhere to the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy. Pentecostals differ from Fundamentalists by placing more emphasis on personal spiritual experience and, in most cases, by allowing women in ministry. Pentecostals have a transrational worldview. Although Pentecostals are concerned with orthodoxy (correct belief), they are also concerned with orthopathy (right affections) and orthopraxy (right reflection or action). Reason is esteemed as a valid conduit of truth, but Pentecostals do not limit truth to the realm of reason. Dr. Jackie David Johns, in his work on Pentecostal formational leadership, states that the Scriptures hold a special place in the Pentecostal worldview because the Holy Spirit is always active in the Bible. For him, to encounter the Scriptures is to encounter God. For the Pentecostal, the Scriptures are a primary reference point for communion with God and a template for reading the world. One of the most prominent distinguishing characteristics of Pentecostalism from Evangelicalism is its emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit. Pentacostals believe that everyone who is genuinely saved has the Holy Spirit living in them and working through them. But unlike most other Christians they believe that there is a second work of the Holy Spirit called the baptism of the Holy Spirit which opens a believer up to a closer fellowship with the Holy Spirit and empowers them for Christian service. Speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia, is the normative proof, but not the only proof, of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Some major Pentecostal churches also accept the corollary that those who don't speak in tongues have not received the blessing that they call "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit". This claim is uniquely Pentecostal and is one of the few consistent differences from Charismatic theology. Some ministers and members admit that a believer might be able to speak in tongues, but for various personal reasons (such as a lack of understanding) might not. This would be the only case where a believer would be filled with the Holy Spirit, but not exhibit the so-called "initial physical evidence" of speaking in tongues. This, however, would be a minority perspective. Pentecostals believe that there are two different types of instances of speaking in tongues. One being tongues as a prayer language given at the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They believe that all Christians can be baptized with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues as a prayer language if they geniunely ask God and wait on His timing for it to occur. The second type of situation that Pentecostals believe speaking in tongues occurs is public utterances. They believe that someone who is given the gift of speaking in tongues may speak in tongues in a church service or other Christian gathering for everyone to hear. They believe that God will give another Christian present the gift of interpretation and that the Christian with the gift of interpretation will be able to speak what the first person did in the language of the audience so that everyone can understand what was said and be edified. They believe that only some people are given the gift of speaking in tongues while everyone has the opportunity to receive a prayer language. Critics charge that this doctrine does not mesh well with what they believe to be Paul's criticism of the early Corinthian church for their obsession with speaking in tongues, Paul stated that speaking in tongues is only one of the gifts of the spirit and is not gifted to all, there are other gifts that are given to others, the power of Prophesy for one.(see [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012-14&version=31 1 Corinthians, chapters 12-14] in the New Testament). Advocates say that the Pentecostal position aligns closely with Luke's emphasis in the book of [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019:5-6&version=31 Acts] and reflects a more sophisticated use of hermeneutics. Dr. Dale A. Robbins writes in regards to charismatic beliefs that Church history argues against the idea that charismatic gifts went away shortly after the apostolic age. Dr. Robbins quotes the early church father Irenaeus (ca. 130-202) as writing the following,"...we hear many of the brethren in the church who have prophetic gifts, and who speak in tongues through the spirit, and who also bring to light the secret things of men for their benefit [word of knowledge]...". Dr. Robbins also cites Irenaues writing the following, "When God saw it necessary, and the church prayed and fasted much, they did miraculous things, even of bringing back the spirit to a dead man." According to Dr. Robbins Tertullian (ca. 155–230) reported similar incidents as did Origen (ca. 182 - 251), Eusebius (ca. 275 – 339), Firmilian (ca. 232-269), and Chrysostom (ca. 347 - 407).[http://www.victorious.org/sprgifts.htm] Some Pentecostal churches hold to Oneness theology, which decries the traditional doctrine of the Trinity as unbiblical. The largest Pentecostal Oneness denomination in the United States is the United Pentecostal Church. Oneness Pentecostals, are sometimes known as "Jesus-Name", "Apostolics", or by their detractors as "Jesus only" Pentecostals. This is due to the belief that the original Apostles baptized converts in the name of Jesus. They also believe that God has revealed Himself in different roles rather than three distinct persons. The major trinitarian pentecostal organizations, however, including the Pentecostal World Conference and the Fellowship of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of North America, have condemned Oneness theology as a heresy and refuse membership to churches holding this belief. This same holds true for the Oneness Pentecostal towards trinitarian churches.

History

The Pentecostal movement was also prominent in the Holiness movement who were the first to begin making numerous references to the term "pentecostal" such as in 1867 when the Movement established The National Camp Meeting Association for the Promotion of Christian Holiness with a notice that said: [We are summoning,] irrespective of denominational tie...those who feel themselves comparatively isolated in their profession of holiness…that all would realize together a Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost.... Although the 1896 Shearer Schoolhouse Revival in Cherokee County, North Carolina might be regarded as a precursor to the modern Pentecostal movement, modern Pentecostalism began around 1901. It is the generally accepted that its origin dates from when Agnes Ozman received the gift of tongues (glossolalia) during a prayer meeting at Charles Fox Parham's Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas in 1901. Parham, a minister of Methodist background, formulated the doctrine that tongues was the "Bible evidence" of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It should be noted that Pentecostalism has been practiced since the "upper room" experience as mentioned in the book of Acts, with sects continuing to practice and obey what Peter, an apostle of Christ, commanded in Acts 2:38. Parham left Topeka and began a revival meeting ministry which led to a link to the Azusa Street Revival through William J. Seymour whom he taught in his school in Houston, although because Seymour was African American, he was only allowed to sit outside the room to listen. The expansion of the movement started with the Azusa Street Revival, beginning April 9, 1906 at the Los Angeles home of Edward Lee, who experienced what he felt to be an infilling of the Holy Spirit during a prayer meeting. The attending pastor, William J. Seymour, also claimed that he was overcome with the Holy Spirit on April 12, 1906. On April 18, 1906, the Los Angeles Times ran a front page story on the movement. By the third week in April, 1906, the small but growing congregation had rented an abandoned African Methodist Episcopal Church at 312 Azusa Street and organized as the Apostolic Faith Mission. The first decade of Pentecostalism was marked by interracial assemblies, "...Whites and blacks mix in a religious frenzy,..." according to a local newspaper account. This lasted until 1924, when the church split along racial lines (see Apostolic Faith Mission). However, interracial services continued for many years, even in parts of the segregated U.S. South. When the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America was formed in 1948, it was made up entirely of Anglo-American Pentecostal denominations. This was one reason why the United Pentecostal Church would not join and its interracial policy has remained throughout its history. In 1994, segregated Pentecostals returned to their roots of racial reconciliation and proposed formal unification of the major white and black branches of the Pentecostal Church, in a meeting subsequently known as the Memphis Miracle. This unification occurred in 1998, again in Memphis, Tennessee. The unification of white and black movements led to the restructuring of the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America to become the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America. During the beginning of the twentieth century, Albert Benjamin Simpson became closely involved with the growing Pentecostal movement. It was common for Pentecostal pastors and missionaries to receive their training at the Missionary Training Institute that Simpson founded. Because of this, Simpson and the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) (an evangelistic movement that Simpson founded) had a great influence on Pentecostalism, in particular the Assemblies of God and the Foursquare Church. This influence included evangelistic emphasis, C&MA doctrine, Simpson's hymns and books, and the use of the term 'Gospel Tabernacle,' which evolved into Pentecostal churches being known as 'Full Gospel Tabernacles.' From the late 1950s onwards, the Charismatic movement, which was to a large extent inspired and influenced by Pentecostalism, began to flourish in the mainline Protestant denominations, as well as the Roman Catholic church. Unlike "Classical Pentecostals," who formed strictly Pentecostal congregations or denominations, Charismatics adopted as their motto, "Bloom where God planted you." In the United Kingdom, the first Pentecostal church to be formed was the Apostolic Church. This was later followed by the Elim Church. In Sweden, the first Pentecostal church was Filadelfiaförsamlingen in Stockholm. Pastored by Lewi Pethrus, this congregation, originally Baptist, was expelled from the Baptist Union of Sweden in 1913 for doctrinal differences. Today this congregation has about 7000 members and is the biggest Pentecostal congregation in northern Europe. As of 2005, the Swedish pentecostal movement has approximately 90,000 members in nearly 500 congregations. These congregations are all independent but cooperate on a large scale. Swedish Pentecostals have been very missionary-minded and have established churches in many countries. In Brazil, for example, churches founded by the Swedish Pentecostal mission claim several million members. The history of pentecostalism in Australia has been documented by Dr Barry Chant in Heart of Fire (1984, Adelaide: Tabor).

Adherents

Christianity Today reported in an article titled [http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/1998/november16/8td28a.html World Growth at 19 Million a Year] that according to historian Vinson Synan, dean of the Regent University School of Divinity in Virginia Beach, about 25 percent of the world's Christians are Pentecostal or charismatic. The largest Pentecostal denominations in the United States are the Assemblies of God, the Church of God in Christ, Church of God (Cleveland) and the United Pentecostal Church. According to a Spring 1998 article in Christian History, there are about 11,000 different pentecostal or charismatic denominations worldwide. The size of Pentecostalism in the U.S. is estimated to be more than 20 million including approximately 918,000 (4%) of the Hispanic-American population, counting all unaffiliated congregations, although the numbers are uncertain, in part because some tenets of Pentecostalism are held by members of non-Pentecostal denominations in what has been called the charismatic movement. Pentecostalism was conservatively estimated to number around 115 million followers worldwide in 2000; other estimates place the figure closer to 400 million. The great majority of Pentecostals are to be found in Third World countries (see the Statistics subsection below), although much of their international leadership is still North American. Pentecostalism is sometimes referred to as the "third force of Christianity." The largest Christian church in the world is the Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea, a Pentecostal church. Founded and led by David Yonggi Cho since 1958, it had 780,000 members in 2003. The True Jesus Church, an indigenous church founded by Chinese believers on the mainland but whose headquarters is now in Taiwan. The Apostolic Church is the fastest growing church in the world. According to Christianity Today, Pentecostalism is "a vibrant faith among the poor; it reaches into the daily lives of believers, offering not only hope but a new way of living." [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/013/36.107.html]. In addition, according to a 1999 U.N. report, "Pentecostal churches have been the most successful at recruiting its members from the poorest of the poor." [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/013/36.107.html] Also, according to Christianity today, in Brazilian churches, where Pentecostal Christians are often very poor "Preachers constantly ask parishioners to give what seem like laughable sums of money; these people tithe 20, 30, and sometimes as much as 50 percent of their income." [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/013/36.107.html] Christianity Today also noted that Brazilian Pentecostals talk of Jesus as someone real and close to them and doing things for them including providing food and shelter. [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/013/36.107.html] In addition, according to Christianity Today, "Scholars have long branded Pentecostalism an eminently "otherworldly" religion, focused more on things above than the mundane below. To many that seems like a foregone conclusion, given the movement's emphasis on charismatic experiences, intense religiosity, and ascetic tendencies. Even highly respected Pentecostal scholars argue this point." [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/013/36.107.html]

Statistics


- Africa: 41.1 million
  - Nigeria: 12.1 million
  - Kenya: 4.1 million
  - South Africa: 3.4 million
  - Ethiopia: 2.6 million
- South America: 32.4 million
  - Brazil: 13.5 million
  - Argentina: 3.5 million
  - Chile: 1.8 million
- North America: 21.5 million
  - United States: 20.2 million
  - Mexico: 2.7 million
  - Guatemala: 2.0 million
  - Canada: 1.3 million
- Asia: 15.3 million
  - China: unknown; believed to be several million
  - Indonesia: 5.0 million
  - India: 3.9 million
  - South Korea: 1.7 million
- Europe: 4.3 million
  - Sweden: 0.1 million
  - United Kingdom: 0.9 million
- Oceania: 3.3 million
  - Papua New Guinea: 0.4 million
  - Australia: 0.4 million Source: Operation World by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk, 2000, unless otherwise indicated.

Pentecostalism outside the English speaking world

Pentecostal and charismatic church growth is rapid in many parts of the world. Missions expert David Barrett estimated in a Christianity Today article that the Pentecostal and charismatic church is growing by 19 million per year. On November 9, 2003, St. Petersburg Times writer Sharon Tubbs stated in a article entitled [http://www.sptimes.com/2003/11/09/Worldandnation/Fiery_Pentecostal_spi.shtml Fiery Pentecostal Spirit Spreads into Mainstream Christianity] that Pentecostalism is the world's fastest-growing Christian movement. Jeffrey K. Hadden at the Department of Sociology at the University of Virginia collected statistics from the various large pentecostal organizations and from the work by David Stoll (David Stoll, "Is Latin American Turning Protestant?" published Berkeley: University of California Press. 1990) demonstrating that the Pentecostals are experiencing very rapid growth as can be seen on [http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/lectures/Pentecost.html his website]. In Myanmar, the Assemblies of God of Myanmar is one of the largest Christian denominations. The pentecostal churches Igreja do Evangelho Completo de Deus, Assembleias de Deus, Igrejas de Cristo and the Assembleias Evangelicas de Deus Pentecostales are among the largest denominations of Mozambique. Among the Indian charismatic denominations are Apostolic Church of Pentecost, Apostolic Pentecostal Church, Assemblies of Christ Church, Assemblies of God, Bible Pattern Church, Church of God (Full Gospel) in India, Church of God of Prophecy, Church of the Apostolic Faith, Elim Church, Nagaland Christian Revival Church, New Life Fellowship, New Testament Church of India, Open Bible Church of God, Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, Pentecostal Holiness Church, Pentecostal Mission andUnited Pentecostal Church in India, and the largest, indigenous, Pentecostal movement in India, India Pentecostal Church of God.

Leaders

Precursors


- John Alexander Dowie (1848-1907)
- Edward Irving

Early history


- Smith Wigglesworth
- David du Plessis
- Charles Fox Parham (1873-1929) Father of Modern Pentecostalism
- William J. Seymour (1870-1922) Azusa Street Mission Founder
- William Sowders (1879-1952) Restorer of New Testament Order of Worship
- Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944) American Female Evangelist and organizer of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
- Kathryn Kuhlman (1907-1976) American female evangelist who brought Pentecostalism into the mainstream denominations
- William M. Branham (1909-1965) Healing Evangelists of the mid 20th century.
- Jack Coe (1918-1956) Healing Tent Evangelist of the 1950s.
- A. A. Allen (1911-1970) Healing Tent Evangelist of the 1950s and 1960s.
- Oral Roberts (b.1918) Healing Tent Evangelist who made the transition to televangelism
- Rex Humbard (b.1919) The first successful TV evangelist of the mid 1950s, 1960s, and the 1970s and at one time had the largest television audience of any televangelist in the U.S.

Theologians


- Donald Gee (1891-1966)
- Derek Prince (1915-2003) - perhaps the world's best-known Pentecostal theologian.
- Rufus Hollis Gause (born 1925)
- Gordon Fee - New Testament Scholar More Pentecostal theologians are listed in the article Renewal Theologians.

Radio preachers and televangelists


- Dan Betzer
- Morris Cerullo
- Kenneth Copeland
- Kenneth Hagin Sr.
- Kathryn Kuhlman
- Oral Roberts
- Pat Robertson
- C. M. Ward
- Rodney M Howard-Browne
- Philip Barrett

Authors


- David Wilkerson (b. 1931) author of The Cross and the Switchblade and numerous other books. Currently Associate Pastor of Times Square Church, New York

Pastors and evangelists


- Linu Thankachan (1998-) - Senior Pastor of the [http://www.prayerhome.com United Pentecostal Church India] in Bangalore, India.
- David Yonggi Cho (1936-) - Senior Pastor of the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea.
- Jack Hayford - Founding Pastor of Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California.
- Luis Cabral (1965-) - Portuguese evangelist, now based in New Zealand.
- Reinhard Bonnke (1941-) - German evangelist known for his huge crusades, mostly in Africa but also elsewhere. In 2002, he conducted the largest known evangelistic crusade in history, in Lagos, Nigeria, attended by six million people.
- Wayne Hughes - Senior Pastor of the Takapuna Assembly of God, New Zealand.
- Brian Houston - Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia.
- Ouriel de Jesus - Senior Pastor of [http://www.godsrevival.com World Revival Church], the center of the revival in Boston, MA, and the president of the 70 some odd congregations planted by his ministry around the world
- Varghese Yohannan - Organiser and Senior Pastor of Agape Gospel Mission in India. Mainly based in southern parts of India especially Kerala.
- Larry Schoonover - Senior Pastor of [http://newlife-apostolic.com New Life Pentecostal Church] in Puyallup, Washington. Larry Schoonover is also Senior editor of the [http://apostolicherald.com Apostolic Herald].
- Sophia Tan Luang Keng - Founding and Senior Pastor of Living Spring Fellowship, based in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
- Vincent Leoh [1957- ]- General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God of Malaysia; Senior Pastor of Glad Tidings Assembly of God, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
- Rev Mohan - Pastor New Life Assemblies of God Church, Chennai, India.
- Luis & Aileen Torres - Pastors of Centro De Adoracion Nuevos Comienzos, Passaic, New Jersey, US.
- Bishop Sean Teal - Modern day youth preacher
- T.D. Jakes - Oneness Pentecostal pastor of Potter's House in Texas
- Rodney M Howard-Browne - Evangelist & Senior Pastor of the River at Tampa Bay Church, Tampa, FL USA see www.revival.com
- Rev. Joseph Samuel - Pastor and Evangelist, New York -[http://www.eiminc.org EIM, Inc.]
- Rev. Michael G. Diesto - District Presbyter, Universal Pentecostal Church Inc. - Philippines Negros Chapter

Politicians


- John Ashcroft - former Attorney-General of the United States
- Frederick Chiluba - former President of Zambia
- Stockwell Day - prominent Canadian politician
- Andrew Evans - Founder and most influential member of the Family First Party and Member of the South Australian Legislative Council.
- Steve Fielding - Family First Party Leader and Senator from Victoria
- Andrea Mason - leader of the Family First Party of Australia in the Federal Election of 2004.
- Al Sharpton - American politician, civil rights activist, and Pentecostal minister
- Lyndon Caña - Bacolod City, Philippines Councilor
- Bro. Eddie Villanueva - Bangon Pilipinas Presidential Candidate
- Clint M. Diesto - President, Political Science Society-USLS
- Emmanuel Joel Villanueva - Representative, CIBAC Party List
- Homer Bais - Bacolod City Councilor

Other notables raised in the faith


- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Dolly Parton
- Elvis Presley
- Denzel Washington
- Ted DiBiase
- Chuck Norris
- Hector Guerrero
- Irving Fryar

See also


- Apostolic Church
- Apostolic Faith Mission
- Charismatic
- Christian views of women
- Christianity
- Criticisms of Pentecostal and Charismatic belief
- Full Gospel
- List of Pentecostal Denominations
- Montanism
- Pentecost
- Religious pluralism
- Snake handling
- Speaking in tongues
- Prophecy
- Left Behind
- Summary of Christian eschatological differences

Studies


- Walter Hollenweger The Pentecostals (1972)
- Walter Hollenweger Pentecosalism (1997)

External links

Academic - Centres and Journals


- [http://jpt.sagepub.com/ Journal of Pentecostal Theology] is published by SAGE publications. The editorial board is comprised of members of the Church of God Theological Seminary faculty.
- [http://www.encounterjournal.com Encounter: Journal for Pentecostal Ministry] is a published by the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS)
- [http://www.hollenwegercenter.net/ Hollenweger Center] for the interdisciplinary study of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements at the Free University of Amsterdam
  - [http://www.hollenwegercenter.net/page3.html PentecoStudies]: Online Journal for the Interdisciplinary Study of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements fromthe Hollenweger Centre
- [http://www.pctii.org/ Pentecostal-Charismatic Theological Inquiry International]
  - [http://www.pctii.org/cyberj/index.html Cyberjournal for Pentecostal Charismatic Research]
    - [http://www.pctii.org/cyberj/cyberj10/paulson.html Encounter of Western Pentecostalism with Native Pentecostalism in Kerala]
- [http://www.oru.edu/university/library/holyspirit/ Holy Spirit Research Center] at Oral Roberts University Library
- Religious Movements at the University of Virginia
  - [http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/penta.html Pentecostalism]
    - [http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/lectures/Pentecost.html Lecture on "Pentecostalism"]
- [http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/pics/geo200/religion/pentecostal.gif Map showing Percentage of Pentecostal Population in USA by county] from Valparaiso University

Pentecostal Affiliated


- [http://www.pentecostal.biz Jesus Name Apostolic Holiness Church] Free streaming Audio of sermons and music
- [http://unitedpentecostalchurch.info United Pentecostal Church] The Whole Gospel to Whole World.
- [http://apostolicherald.com Apostolic Herald] Online newsletter sharing Pentecostal and Apostolic concepts written primarily by pentecostal authors.
- [http://lifemediaonline.com Life Media Productions] - produces and distributes high definition DVD's of Bible based ministry of kingdom concepts for today's committed Christian. Pentecostal Preachers and Speakers from around the world.
- [http://www.truth-not-tradition.com/the_view/index.html View From the Lighthouse] Quarterly newsletter promoting Apostolic/Pentecostal End Time Beliefs from the Post-Tribulation viewpoint and Oneness Theology
- [http://www.ipul.us/quienes.htm United Latin American Pentecostal Church (Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Latinoamericana)]
- [http://www.pcnak.org Pentecostal Conference of the North American Keralites]
- [http://www.icpf.org Inter Collegiate Prayer Fellowship]
- [http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm "The Oneness of God"] by David K. Bernard (Series in Pentecostal Theology, Volume 1) from United Pentecostal Church
- [http://www.victorious.org/sprgifts.htm Understanding Spiritual Gifts by Dr. Dale A. Robbins]

Opposing Viewpoints


- [http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/tongues.html The Speaking in Tongues Phenomenon]
- [http://www.soundbiblicaldoctrine.com/sbd1_000002.htm Charismatic Activities are not Biblical] Category:Christian denominations Category:Christian evangelicalism Category:Christian theology Category:Charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity ja:ペンテコステ運動 ko:운동입니다

Charismatic

:For a description of the personality trait, see Charismatic authority. Charismatic is an umbrella term used to describe those Christians who believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit seen in the first century Christian Church, such as healing, miracles and glossolalia, are available to contemporary Christians and ought to be experienced and practiced today. Dr. Dale A. Robbins writes in regards to charismatic beliefs that Church history argues against the idea that charismatic gifts went away shortly after the apostolic age. Dr. Robbins quotes the early church father Irenaeus (ca. 130-202) as writing the following,"...we hear many of the brethren in the church who have prophetic gifts, and who speak in tongues through the spirit, and who also bring to light the secret things of men for their benefit [word of knowledge]...". Dr. Robbins also cites Irenaues writing, "When God saw it necessary, and the church prayed and fasted much, they did miraculous things, even of bringing back the spirit to a dead man." According to Dr. Robbin, Tertullian (ca.155–230) reported similar incidents as did Origen (ca.182-251), Eusebius (ca.275–339), Firmilian (ca.232-269), and Chrysostom (ca.347-407).[http://www.victorious.org/sprgifts.htm] The word charismatic is derived from the Greek word charis (meaning a grace or a gift) which is the term used in the Bible to describe a wide range of supernatural experiences (especially in 1 Corinthians 12-14). Often confused with Pentecostalism (which it was inspired by), Charismatic Christianity tends to differ in key aspects: most Charismatics reject the preeminence given by Pentecostalism to glossolalia, reject what they consider to be legalism sometimes associated with Pentecostalism, and often stay in their existing denominations such as Roman Catholic Charismatics. Because of the continual cross-over between Pentecostalism and the modern Charismatic movement, it is increasingly difficult to speak of Charismatics and Pentecostals as being part of separate movements. Yet because neither movement is monolithic, it is also unfair to speak of them as being one movement either. The difference is primarily one of origins. Beliefs of the two groups are very similar; each movement, however, is unique in its historical beginnings. Having been conceived in unique contexts, the difference may secondarily be described in terms of contrasting church cultures evidenced through each movement's manners and customs (i.e., worship styles, preaching styles, altar ministry methods). Until a more acceptable broad nomenclature is used, it needs to be understood that both movements share a great deal in common, and yet can sometimes be clearly differentiated.

History

Beginnings 1950-1975

While it is difficult to locate the place and time that Charismatic Christianity began to influence the mainstream churches, Dennis Bennett, an American Episcopalian, is often cited as the movement's seminal influence. Bennett was the Rector at St Mark's Episcopal Church in Van Nuys California when he announced to the congregation in 1960 that he had received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Soon after this he was ministering in Vancouver where he ran many workshops and seminars about the work of the Holy Spirit.[http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/arm12.htm] This influenced tens of thousands of Anglicans world-wide and also began a renewal movement within the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. In the 1960s and 1970s there was a renewed interest in the supernatural gifts of the Spirit in mainstream churches such as the Episcopal, Lutheran and Catholic churches. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal was focused in individuals like Kevin Ranaghan and his group of followers at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Dennis Bennett was Ranaghan's counterpart in the Episcopal Church. The Charismatic Renewal movement in the Eastern Orthodox Church never exerted the influence that it did in other mainstream churches. Individual priests, such as Fr. Eusebius Stephanouof the Greek Orthodox Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, founder of the Brotherhood of St. Symeon the New Theologian, Fr. Athanasius Emmert of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese and Fr. Boris Zabrodsky of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America, founder of the Orthodox Spiritual Renewal Services and editor of "Theosis" journal, were the more prominent leaders of the Charismatic renewal in Orthodoxy. On an international level, David du Plessis along with a host of others (including Lutheran and even Southern Baptist ministers) promoted the movement. The latter did not last long with their denominations, either volunteering to leave or being asked to do so. But in the Episcopal and Catholic churches priest and ministers were permitted to continue on in their parishes, provided they did not allow these concerns to create major divisions within their congregations.

Change 1975-2000

While there are many charismatics within established denominations, many have left or have been forced out and have joined either more progressive Pentecostal churches or formed their own churches or denominations. The house church movement in the UK and the Vineyard movement in the USA are examples of a formal Charismatic structure. The Hillsong Church in Australia is an example of a Pentecostal church that has embraced Charismatic belief and practices, which has, in turn, influenced the Australian Assemblies of God denomination. In New Zealand, the pre-eminent Pentecostal movement has been the New Life Churches, although other local and international Pentecostal denominations are also well established. Since the mid 1980s, the Charismatic movement has made some notable changes in its theology and emphases. This process has been termed The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit and has been typified by the ministry of C. Peter Wagner, Word-faith Theology and the Toronto blessing phenomenon. Some opponents of the Charismatic movement have noted that these recent trends have been influenced heavily by the Latter Rain Movement of the 1950s within the Pentecostal churches — a movement that was officially declared heresy by The Assemblies of God at the time. There appears to be a great deal of evidence which shows that, since 1975, the Charismatic movement has been influenced by the Latter Rain Movement and its influential teachers (such as William M. Branham). This can be explained by the desire of Charismatic Christians to enter into fellowship with those within the Christian church who have experienced similar forms of Religious ecstasy. As a result of this, Charismatics came into contact with both mainstream Pentecostalism as well as the Latter Rain Movement. It appears that modern-day Charismatics and Pentecostals are far more united in experience and theology because both movements have adopted elements of Latter Rain teachings.

Charismatics - a world perspective

As noted earlier pentecostalism and charismatic are often used interchangeably. With that in mind, according to Christianity Today, pentecostalism is "a vibrant faith among the poor; it reaches into the daily lives of believers, offering not only hope but a new way of living." [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/013/36.107.html]. In addition, according to a 1999 U.N. report, "Pentecostal churches have been the most successful at recruiting its members from the poorest of the poor." [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/013/36.107.html] Also, according to Christianity today, in Brazilian churches, where Pentecostal Christians are often very poor "Preachers constantly ask parishioners to give what seem like laughable sums of money; these people tithe 20, 30, and sometimes as much as 50 percent of their income." [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/013/36.107.html] Christianity Today also noted that Brazilian Pentecostals talk of Jesus as someone real and close to them and doing things for them including providing food and shelter. [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/013/36.107.html] In addition, according to Christianity Today, "Scholars have long branded Pentecostalism an eminently "otherworldly" religion, focused more on things above than the mundane below. To many that seems like a foregone conclusion, given the movement's emphasis on charismatic experiences, intense religiosity, and ascetic tendencies. Even highly respected Pentecostal scholars argue this point." [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/013/36.107.html]

Charismatic Denominations

The following groups are all charismatic, although some of then would describe themselves as non-denominational
- Newfrontiers
- Vineyard Movement
- Sovereign Grace Ministries

Charismatic Catholics

Main article: Catholic Charismatic Renewal
While Charismatic Christians are not exclusive to any single denomination, Charismatic theology is not uniquely Protestant. There is a burgeoning Charismatic movement within the Catholic Church, and Pope John Paul II was reputed to have had a Charismatic Priest as his personal pastor.

Criticism of the Movement

Christians who are at odds with Charismatics (often Southern Baptists and the various Reformed denominations), sometimes use the word in a derisive manner and generally believe and teach that Charismatics are everything from shallow to dangerous — even demon possessed, although this latter charge is increasingly rare as Charismatic and Pentecostal groups become more established in the American religious landscape. Many conservative authors have written detailed polemics against the movement. Charismatic Chaos by scholar John MacArthur is one of the better known examples of this. Similar books by dispensationalists include: Occult Invasion by controversial author and apologist Dave Hunt; One World by Ron J. Bigalke Jr.; and, Seduction of Christianity by Hunt. One of the earliest criticisms comes from B. B. Warfield's book Counterfeit Miracles, which is still considered to be one of the classic defenses of cessationism and criticisms of the revivalism that the charismatic movement is based on. Criticism comes from non-cessationists as well. For example, apologist Hank Hanegraaff's controversial book Counterfeit Revival (criticized by Charismatics and some of Hanegraaff's fellow apologists for its gross misrepresentation of the charismatic movement) is critical of many of the extremes of the movement, particularly of groups such as the Toronto Blessing and the Kansas City Prophets. (Contrary to popular belief, Hanegraaff is not a cessationist). The term Charismaniacs is occasionally used to parody the movement. This term is also often used, especially in Calvary Chapel, to distinguish moderately charismatic churches, such as Calvary Chapel itself, from more extreme variants such as those associated with the Latter Rain and Toronto Blessing movements. In fact, the term may have been coined by Calvary Chapel founder Chuck Smith. There have been many criticisms of the movement and Biblical arguments made against the movement. Some of these include: 1. There is claimed to be Scriptural support for cessationism from the following verses 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, Ephesians 2:20, Hebrews 2:3-4, Acts 2:22, 2 Cor. 12:12, etc. 2. Charismatics often argue that the Bible never says that the gifts will cease. However, this is rejected as untrue by cessationists and has numerous logical problems. For example, it is an argument from silence, considered to be a logical fallacy. It can also be used "both ways" - i.e. one could just as easily reverse the argument and state that the Bible never says that the gifts will continue either. 3. Charismatics have also been accused of having extreme practices. For example, the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship has allowed controversial practices such as being "slain in the Spirit" and "holy laughter," and participants imitating animal noises such as lions while "drunk in the Spirit." Books such as Charismatic Chaos by MacArthur and particularly Counterfeit Revival by Hanegraaff document many examples of extreme practices within the charismatic movement. 4. Historically, the gifts appear to have ceased, as documented by B. B. Warfield in Counterfeit Miracles. Although charismatics argue that the gifts did continue at least into the 4th century A.D., it seems clear that, at very least, the gifts did not continue to the same quality and extent that they did in the New Testament times. Charismatics sometimes attribute this to various factors such as "corruption" in the church. 5. It has been pointed out that miracles did not occur "evenly" throughout the biblical record but are clustered around a few brief periods. This is the exact opposite of what one would expect if the charismatic position were correct. However, charismatics point out that in the Old Testament there were highs and lows of adherence of God's laws in the Old Testament. 6. The Bible clearly indicates that the sign gifts were meant to authenticate the Apostles and Jesus (Acts 2:22, 2 Cor. 12:12, Heb. 2:3-4, etc.) and that the Apostles and prophets played a unique or "foundational" role in the church (Eph. 2:20). 7. Most charismatics agree that the canon of Scripture is closed and that there are no longer apostles in the church. Cessationists point out that apostleship was listed among many of the other "charismatic gifts" in 1 Cor. 12:28-30, and charismatics themselves admit that apostles ceased. Hence, at least one gift has ceased. (Yet, this is not true. Only in the Protestant churches has apostleship ceased. The Roman Catholic Church use the claim of continual line of apostles, called "apostolic succession," through the popes, bishops, and priests, so as to give that church legitimacy). Cessations further argue that, since there cannot be any more Scripture writers, New Testiment prophecy cannot currently operate in the same manner as it did in the early church. 8. Studies have indicated that modern tongues, unlike Biblical tongues, are not meaningful, spoken languages. See Tongues of Men and Angels: The Religious Language of Pentecostalism by William J. Samarin. However, charismatics point out that Paul talks about the "tongues of angels." Charismatics also point out that the Spirit may not cooperate with studies and perhaps the researchers missed many instances where speaking in tongues did occur in other languages outside of the researchers purview. These arguments are often dismissed by critics as an "invisible-dragon" argument (i.e. the conclusion is unfalsifiable because the arguer excludes every possible test of truth as invalid - "I have a dragon in the garage, but he's invisible..." - and fails Occam's Razor because the explanation is needlessly complicated). The argument is also criticized as factually incorrect because the research did not compare tongues to the set of known languages (i.e. the research did not compare toungues to French, German, English, etc. and conclude that it was not any of these languages) but rather examined toungues to see whether it even had any characteristics of language and concluded that it did not. 9. Arguments have been made from the doctrines such as the completeness of the canon of Scripture and Sola Scriptura (the sufficiency of Scriptures first advocated in during the Reformation). These doctrines imply that, unlike in the New Testament age, there cannot be any more additions to the Bible or anything authoritative other than Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura translates "Scripture alone") and that the Scripture is sufficient for one's spiritual life and for everyday living. Charismatic theology inherently implies that something more than Scripture is needed, which is often typical of Christian cults. Also, the fact that the canon is closed implies that the nature of prophecy has changed since the New Testament. 10. Charismatics have traditionally placed the burden of proof on cessationists. However, some cessationists argue that the burden of proof is on charismatics rather than on cessationists. This is based on many of the arguments above. For example, MacArthur made this case based on historical evidence in Charismatic Chaos.

Theologians and Scholars


- J. Rodman Williams
- Wayne Grudem
- C. Peter Wagner
- Other Charismatic theologians are listed in the article entitled Renewal Theologians.

See also


- pentecostalism
- Transformationalism
- Hallelujah diet
- Assembleias de Deus Africanas
- Hillsong Church
- Ministries of His Glory
- Neocharismatic
- Snake handling
- Criticisms of Pentecostal and Charismatic belief

Further reading

(This list is by no means systematic or comprehensive) Opposed: Charismatic Chaos by Dr. John MacArthur Counterfeit Revival by Hank Hanegraaff Corinthean Catastrophe by George E. Gardiner Counterfeit Miracles by B. B. Warfield Perspectives on Pentecost by Richard B. Gaffin Supporting: Surprised by the Power of the Spirit by Jack Deere The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today by Wayne Grudem Neutral: Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Edited by Wayne Grudem

External links


- [http://www.victorious.org/sprgifts.htm Understanding Spiritual Gifts by Dr. Dale A. Robbins]
- [http://home.regent.edu/rodmwil/ Charismatic Pentecostal Theology]

Alternative viewpoints


- [http://ex-pentecostals.org/ The Association of Former Pentecostals] A non-profit association uniting former Pentecostals and Charismatics worldwide. Category:Christian evangelicalism Charismatic movement Category:Charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity

North America

North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific Ocean. It covers an area of 24,497,994 km² (9,458,728 sq mi), or about 4.8% of the Earth's surface. As of July 2002, its population was estimated at more than 514,600,000. It is the third largest continent in area, after Asia and Africa, and is fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe. Both North and South America are named after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a previously undiscovered (by Europeans) New World. North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, the Americas, or simply America. North America's only land connection is to South America at the narrow Isthmus of Panama. (For geopolitical reasons, all of Panama – including the segment east of the Panama Canal in the isthmus – is often considered a part of North America alone.) According to some authorities, North America begins not at the Isthmus of Panama but at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with the intervening region called Central America and resting on the Caribbean Plate. Most, however, tend to see Central America as a region of North America, considering it too small to be a continent on its own. Greenland, although a part of North America geographically, is not considered to be part of the continent politically.

Physical features

Greenland, plutonic, metamorphic rock types of North America. ]] Plate tectonics recognizes the vast majority of North America as being the surface of the North American Plate. Parts of California and western Mexico are known for being the edge of the Pacific Plate, with the two plates meeting along the San Andreas fault. The continent can be divided into four great regions (each of which contains many sub-regions): the Great Plains stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian Arctic; the geologically young, mountainous west, including the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, California and Alaska; the raised but relatively flat plateau of the Canadian Shield in the northeast; and the varied eastern region, which includes the Appalachian Mountains, the coastal plain along the Atlantic seaboard, and the Florida peninsula. Mexico, with its long plateaus and cordilleras, falls largely in the western region, although the eastern coastal plain does extend south along the Gulf. The western mountains are split in the middle, into the main range of the Rockies and the coast ranges in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia with the Great Basin – a lower area containing smaller ranges and low-lying deserts – in between. The highest peak is Denali in Alaska. Since 1931, Rugby, North Dakota, has officially been recognized as being at the geographic center of North America. The location is marked by a 4.5 metre (15 foot) field stone obelisk. Image:North america terrain 2003 map.jpg|North America bedrock and terrain. Image:North america basement rocks.png|North American cratons and basement rocks. Image:North America Tectonic Elements.jpg|Tectonic elements of North America Image:North america craton nps.gif|North American craton.

Territories and regions

craton On the main continent landmass, there are three large and relatively populous countries:
- Canada - many large islands off the shore of North America belong to Canada, including Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands on the west, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island on the east, and the Canadian Arctic islands (including Ellesmere Island, Baffin Island, and Victoria Island) in the north
- Mexico - the Revillagigedo archipelago and numerous smaller islands off its coast belong to Mexico
- The United States - the 48 contiguous states and Alaska are part of North America, while the state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean is not; the Aleutian Islands south of Alaska also belong to the U.S. At the southern end of the continent, in a relatively small area known as Central America, are the countries of:
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panama 1 At the southeastern end of the continent lies a chain of islands territories called the Antilles, the Caribbean or the West Indies, which include the countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago 1 And the dependencies:
- Anguilla (British overseas territory)
- Aruba 2 (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
- Cayman Islands (British overseas territory)
- Guadeloupe (French région d'outre-mer)
- Martinique (French région d'outre-mer)
- Montserrat (British overseas territory)
- Navassa Island (U.S. territory)
- Netherlands Antilles 1 (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
- Puerto Rico (U.S. commonwealth)
- Turks and Caicos Islands (British overseas territory)
- British Virgin Islands (British overseas territory)
- U.S. Virgin Islands (territory of the USA) Lying in the Atlantic Ocean but considered part of the continent are the dependencies:
- Bermuda, a British overseas territory found about 1,072 km (670 mi.) southeast of New York City
- Greenland, the largest island in the world and a self-governing dependency of Denmark, which is located in the far north of the continent to the east of Nunavut.
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French collectivité d'outre-mer off the south coast of Newfoundland, is the last of France's once vast possessions in America north of the Caribbean. 1 These states and dependencies have territory both in North and South America.
2 These dependencies lie in South America, but are considered North American because of cultural and historical reasons.
See here for details.

Usage

The United States, Canada, and the other English-speaking nations of the Americas (Belize, Guyana, and the Anglophone Caribbean) are sometimes grouped under the term Anglo-America, while the remaining nations of North and South America are grouped under the term Latin America. Alternatively, Northern America is used to refer to Canada and the U.S. together (plus Greenland and Bermuda), while Central America is mainland North America south of the United States. The West Indies generally include all islands in the Caribbean Sea. In this respect, Latin America generally includes Central America and South America and, sometimes, the West Indies. The term Middle America is sometimes used to refer to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean collectively. The term "North America" may mean different things to different people. The term in common usage is often taken to mean "the United States and Canada, only" by some people of the United States and Canada, excluding Mexico and the countries of Central America, unless the context makes it clear that they are to be included (such as with specific reference to Mexico, when talking about NAFTA). For example, guides to wild flora and fauna published by the National Audubon Society for "North America" frequently include only species found in Canada and the U.S. This may be attributed to the fact that culturally and economically, the U.S. and Canada are more alike to each other than they are to the rest of North America. Mexicans, however, are acutely aware that Mexico is a part of North America and object to this usage. Central Americans, however, are generally content to be called Central Americans – largely because of their shared history, which includes several attempts at supranational integration in the region and in which Mexico, their much larger northern neighbor, was never involved.

Political divisions and regions

Notes:
1 Continental regions as per UN categorisations/map.
2 Depending on definitions, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago have territory in one or both of North and South America.
3 Due to ongoing activity of the Soufriere Hills volcano beginning 1995, much of Plymouth, Montserrat's de jure capital, was destroyed and government offices relocated to Brades.

See also


- Discoverer of the Americas
- Economy of North America
- European colonization of the Americas
- History of North America
- Birds of North America

External links


- http://www.america-norte.com/america-norte-mapa.htm Category:Continents Category:North America zh-min-nan:Pak Bí-chiu ko:북아메리카 ja:北アメリカ simple:North America th:ทวีปอเมริกาเหนือ

Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines (french for 'Some Monks') (pronounced in English, Image:ltspkr.png in French) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Iowa. (Originally, the capital of Iowa was in Iowa City) It was incorporated on September 22, 1851 as Fort Des Moines, until it was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857.[http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/AC/Information/AChistoricalinfo.htm] It is the county seat of Polk County. According to the 2000 census, the population of the city is 198,682. Des Moines is located in the south central part of the state. The Des Moines River and the Raccoon River meet just south of the downtown and serve as the city's primary water supply. Many insurance companies are headquartered in Des Moines, including the Principal Financial Group, Equitable of Iowa, Allied Insurance, and American Republic Insurance Company. In 2004, it replaced Hartford, CT, as the number one city for insurance in the United States. As a center of financial and insurance services, the metro area appears to be well poised for continued growth.

History

Des Moines was founded in May 1843 when Captain James Allen built a garrison (fort) on the site where the Des Moines and Raccoon River merge. Allen wanted to use the name Fort Raccoon, but the American War Department told him to name it Fort Des Moines. The original origin of the name Des Moines is uncertain. It could have referred to the river of the Moingonas, named after an Indian tribe that resided in the area and built burial mounds. Others see it as referring to Trappist monks, some of whom lived in huts at the mouth of the river, or connected to the phrase de moyen in French, meaning middle, because of its location between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Settlers came and lived near the fort, and on September 22, 1851, it was incorporated as a city after its town charter was approved in a vote on October 18. In 1857, the name Fort Des Moines was shortened to Des Moines alone and it was made the capital of Iowa.

Geography

Iowa Des Moines is located at 41°35'27" North, 93°37'15" West (41.590939, -93.620866). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 200.1 km² (77.2 mi²). 196.3 km² (75.8 mi²) of it is land and 3.8 km² (1.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.88% water.

Metropolitan area

The Des Moines metropolitan area consists of five central Iowa counties: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Madison, and Guthrie. The area had a 2000 census population of 481,394. The Des Moines-Newton-Pella Combined Statistical Area consists of those five counties plus Jasper and Marion counties; the 2000 census population of this area was 550,659. (Before metropolitan areas were redefined in 2003, the Des Moines metropolitan area only consisted of Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties.) Recently, Des Moines annexed certain parcels of land in the northeast, southeast, and southern corners of Des Moines, particularly areas which border the recent highway "bypass" that has been constructed.

Suburbs

Des Moines's suburbs include Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights. Des Moines' suburbs are growing economically and physically at enormous rates, especially the largest suburb, West Des Moines, which is home to the Jordan Creek Towncenter, and an enormous number of Wells Fargo institutions, soon to include their corporate headquarters. It was ranked by Forbes Magazine as being the "Number 8 Metropolitan Area in the United States," on the basis of standard of living, growth potential for business, etc.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 198,682 people, 80,504 households, and 48,704 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,012.0/km² (2,621.3/mi²). There are 85,067 housing units at an average density of 433.3/km² (1,122.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 82.29% White, 8.07% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 3.50% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.52% from other races, and 2.23% from two or more races. 6.61% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 80,504 households out of which 29.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% are married couples living together, 12.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% are non-families. 31.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 3.04. In the city the population is spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.5 males. The median income for a household in the city is $38,408, and the median income for a family is $46,590. Males have a median income of $31,712 versus $25,832 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,467. 11.4% of the population and 7.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.9% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Government

Des Moines currently operates under a council-manager form of government. The council consists of a mayor (who, as of 2005, is Frank Cownie), two at-large members, and four members representing each of the city's four wards. A plan to merge the governments of Des Moines and Polk County was rejected by voters during the November 2, 2004, election. The consolidated city-county government would have had a full-time mayor and a 15-member council that would have been divided among the city and its suburbs. Each suburb would have still retained its individual government but had the option to join the consolidated government at any time. Although a full merger was soundly rejected, many city and county departments and programs have been consolidated.

Transportation

Most residents of Des Moines get around the region by car. Interstate 235 cuts through the city, and Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 both pass through the Des Moines metropolitan area. U.S. Highway 65 and Iowa Highway 5 form a freeway loop to the east and south of the city. U.S. Highways 6 and 69 and Iowa Highways 28, 141, and 163 are also important routes to and within the city. Des Moines's public transit system, operated by the Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority, consists entirely of buses, including regular in-city routes and express and commuter buses to outlying suburban areas. Downtown Des Moines features a 3.5 mile-long (5.6 km) skywalk system, allowing people to move between buildings without going out of doors. Greyhound Bus Lines and Jefferson Lines run long-distance, inter-city bus routes to Des Moines. The nearest Amtrak train station is in Osceola, about 40 miles (64 km) south of Des Moines. Trains on the route that passes through Osceola, the California Zephyr, go east to Chicago, Illinois and as far west as Oakland, California. The Des Moines International Airport (DSM), located in the southern part of Des Moines, on Fleur Drive, offers non-stop service to destinations within the United States, including to major hub airports such as Chicago O'Hare, Atlanta Hartsfield and Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport. Despite its name, there are no direct flights, as of 2005, between the airport and destinations outside of the United States.

Colleges and universities


- AIB College of Business
- College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery
- Des Moines Area Community College
- Drake University
- Grand View College
- Hamilton College
- [http://www.mchs.edu Mercy College of Health Sciences]
- Simpson College
- Des Moines University and College of Osteopathic Medicine

Culture

Media

AM radio stations


- WOI-AM 640, NPR affiliate (generally talk)
- [http://www.praise940.com KPSZ] 940, christian music and programming
- WHO 1040, news, talk radio, University of Iowa sports
- [http://www.kwky.com/welcome.htm KWKY] 1150, christian talk, music
- [http://www.1350krnt.com KRNT] 1350, "Great Songs, Great Memories"
- KXNO 1460, sports talk, Iowa State University sports

FM radio stations


- WOI-FM 90.1, NPR Affiliate (Generally music) Classical, Jazz, Public Broadcasting
- KJJY 92.5, country music
- KIOA "Oldies 93.3", oldies
- KGGO 94.9, classic rock
- KHKI 97.3 "The Hawk", country music
- KWQW 98.3 "Wow FM", talk radio (Formerly KRKQ 98 Rock)
- KZZQ Positive Hits "Q99.5 KZZQ" Christian CHR
- KMXD 100.3 "My 100", mixture of 1980s, 1990s, and current hits
- KSTZ "Star 102.5," hot adult contemporary
- KAZR "Lazer 103.3," hard rock music
- KLTI "Lite 104.1," soft adult contemporary
- KCCQ 105.1 "Channel Q," top 40 pop and rock
- KDRB "106.3 the Bus," blend of classic hits, similar to Jack FM (changed from its previous hip-hop and R&B format on April 1, 2005)
- KNWI 107.1 "Life 107.1" Christian Music
- KKDM 107.5 "Kiss 107 FM," current popular music

Television stations


- WOI 5, local ABC affiliate
- KCCI 8, local CBS affiliate
- KDIN 11, local PBS member station, Iowa Public Television network flagship
- WHO 13, local NBC affiliate
- KDSM 17 local Fox affiliate
- KPWB 23 local WB affiliate
- KFPX 39 local i affiliate

Print


- Des Moines Register, newspaper
- Cityview, an alternative weekly newspaper
- Des Moines Business Record
- Juice, a weekly publication from the Register targeted toward the 25- to 34-year-old demographic

Points of interest


- Iowa State Fair and Grounds
- [http://www.downtowndsm.info/ Downtown Attractions]
  - Iowa State Capitol, featuring a genuine gold-covered dome
  - The Iowa Events Center
    - Wells Fargo Arena Home of the Iowa Stars Hockey team and other Events
    - Hy-Vee Hall
  - [http://http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/CD/NH%20Development/East_Village.htm East Village Shopping Area] at foot of capitol featuring antebellum atmosphere
  - Principal Stadium Home of the Iowa Cubs AAA Baseball
  - [http://www.sciowa.org Science Center of Iowa and IMAX theatre] Court Ave
  - Des Moines Botanical Center
  - [http://www.knowdowntown.com/events/farmersmarket/ Downtown Farmer's Market]
  - [http://www.principal.com/riverwalk Principal Riverwalk]
  - [http://www.desmoinesartsfestival.org Des Moines Art Festival]
  - Des Moines Downtown Skywalk System
  - [http://www.civiccenter.org Des Moines Civic Center]
  - [http://www.hoytsherman.org Hoyt Sherman Place]
  - [http://www.shermanhill.org Sherman Hill Neighborhood], historic district just north of downtown
- [http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org Des Moines Art Center] designed by IM Pei and other International Architects
- The [http://www.blankparkzoo.com Blank Park Zoo]
- Arie den Boer Arboretum
- Lilac Arboretum and Children's Forest
- Merle Hay Mall, one of Iowa's oldest and largest shopping malls
- Terrace Hill, home of the governor of Iowa
- [http://www.jordancreektowncenter.com/ Jordan Creek Towncenter] central Iowas' newest and largest mall
- [http://www.adventureland-usa.com Adventureland] a regional theme park
- [http://www.prairiemeadows.com Prairie Meadows Casino and Thoroughbred Raceway] (Altoona)
- [http://www.valleywestmall.com Valley West Mall Shopping Center] featuring Von Mawr and Younkers
- [http://www.shopsouthridgemall.com Southridge Mall Shopping Center] featuring Target and Younkers
- [http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/PR/trails.htm Recreational Trail System]
- [http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/PR/grayslake.htm Grays Lake Park]
- [http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/Saylorville/ Saylorville Lake]

Sports


- The Iowa Cubs baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, the Class AAA affiliate of the major-league Chicago Cubs. They play their home games at Principal Park (formerly Sec Taylor Stadium).
- The Des Moines Dragons basketball team played in the IBL from 1997-1998 season until the end of the 2000-2001 season. They played at Veterans Memorial Auditorium.
- The Des Moines Menace soccer team plays in Waukee.
- The Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League play at Buccaneer Arena in neighboring Urbandale.
- The Iowa Stars of the American Hockey League play at Wells Fargo Arena (part of the Iowa Events Center).
- The Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League moved to New York in 2000 and are now the New York Dragons.

Notable natives


- Bill Bryson, author
- Stephen Collins, actor
- Thomas M. Disch, author
- Rory Freeman, star on television show Survivor: Vanuatu
- Tana Goertz, star on television show The Apprentice 3
- Cloris Leachman, actress
- The McCaughey septuplets, the first surviving set of septuplets, were born in Des Moines to a couple from nearby Carlisle.
- Chris Pirillo, television personality and technology figure
- All of the members of Slipknot, especially Corey Taylor, a heavy metal band.
- Stephen Stucker, actor, best known for his role as the air traffic controller in the 1980 movie, Airplane!
- Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, member of the singing group, TLC.
- Bill Stewart, well known jazz drummer with Pat Metheny Group.
- Steve Higgins, producer of Saturday Night Live.

References


- [http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/AC/Information/AChistoricalinfo.htm City of Des Moines Action Center Historical Guide]

External links

Civic and cultural links


- [http://www.blankparkzoo.com/ Blank Park Zoo]
- [http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us City of Des Moines]
- [http://www.civiccenter.org/ Civic Center of Greater Des Moines]
- [http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/ Des Moines Art Center]
- [http://www.desmoinesartsfestival.org/ Des Moines Art Festival]
- [http://www.dmmo.org/ Des Moines Metro Opera]
- [http://www.desmoineslibrary.com Des Moines Public Library]
- [http://www.dmps.k12.ia.us Des Moines Public Schools]
- [http://www.dmsymphony.org/ Des Moines Symphony]
- [http://www.knowdowntown.com/ Downtown Community Alliance]
- [http://www.desmoinesmetro.com/ Greater Des Moines Partnership]
- [http://www.lib.drake.edu/heritage/odm/ Historic Des Moines] Drake University photo collection
- [http://www.iowastatefair.com/ Iowa State Fair]
- [http://www.lhf.org/ Living History Farms]
- [http://www.salisburyhouse.org/ Salisbury House]
- [http://www.sciowa.org/ Science Center of Iowa]

Other links


- [http://www.absolutedsm.com/ absoluteDSM.com]
- [http://www.desmoinesbeat.com/ Des Moines Beat] - Des Moines Nightlife Category:All-America City Category:Cities in Iowa Category:Polk County, Iowa Category:U.S. state capitals ja:デモイン

Oral Roberts

Oral Roberts (born January 24, 1918) is an American Charismatic Christian evangelist. He was born in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma as Granville "Oral" Roberts, the fifth and youngest child of Rev. and Mrs. Ellis M. Roberts. His mother was 1/4 Cherokee. He left high school and his further education consists of about two years of college study undertaken at Bible schools in Oklahoma on a part-time basis. In 1938, he married a preacher's daughter, Evelyn Lutman Fahnestock. Their marriage lasted 66 years until her death on May 4, 2005. They expanded his preaching in tents to preaching on radio, and eventually on television, with a vast viewership. He has written more than 120 books, including his autobiography, Expect a Miracle, and Miracle of Seed-Faith. In 1947 he resigned his pastorate to enter an evangelistic ministry to pray for the healing of the whole man. He has conducted more than 300 evangelistic and healing crusades on six continents and has appeared as a guest speaker for hundreds of national and international meetings and conventions. He later founded Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1963, stating he was obeying a command from God. The first students entered the school in 1965. Part of the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association is the Abundant Life Prayer Group, which operates 24x7. Mostly made up of students, they receive thousands of calls for prayer daily from around the world. In 1980, Oral Roberts said he had a vision of a 900-foot-tall Jesus, who encouraged him to continue the construction of his City of Faith Medical and Research Center, which opened in 1981. It included three skyscrapers, the tallest being Cityplex Tower which stands at 198 meters (648 feet) and 60 floors, the second tallest building in Oklahoma. This was the largest health facility of its kind in the world and sought to merge prayer and medicine in the healing process. The City of Faith was in operation for only eight years before closing in late 1989. The Orthopedic Hospital of Oklahoma still operates on these premises. The CityPlex Towers and is currently utilized as office space. Cityplex West Tower, at 30 floors and 106 meters (348 feet) is still in use as a hospital, and is the eighth tallest hospital in the world, according to Emporis.com. (Were the main tower still in use as a hospital, it would be the tallest hospital in the world by a very large margin.)