AboutElder Greg Madden Expertise As a born-again, Holy Ghost filled minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I am avalible to answer questions conserning most all Biblical doctrines, the gifts and fruit of the Spirit, "Pentecostal/Apostolic" issues, and the history of the pentecostal movement.
For more info check out our web site at... http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1
Experience My wife Darla and I have been married for twenty five years. We both gave our hearts to the Lord a few months after we were married during a revival meeting. A few weeks later I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and I have not been the same since!
In those twenty five years we have only attended one church, Harvest Church (Pastor Jeff Burns). I have served there as an Elder for fourteen years. We minister in song with the choir and worship team. I am also the new members class coordinator, men's ministry director, and the Harvest Riders motorcycle ministry president.
In 1993 the Lord called me to "...preach the Gospel where ever I open the door..." Darla and I have had the privilege of ministering God's Word to churches in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. In those meetings we have seen the Lord save, heal, deliver, and fill people will His Spirit.
Organizations I am ordained through Harvest Church, and with the World Harvest Ministerial Fellowship. I also am a licensed minister with the State of Oklahoma, and I am currantly enrolled with the Ames Bible College.
Organizations I am ordained through Harvest Church, and with the World Harvest Ministerial Fellowship. I also am a licensed minister with the State of Oklahoma, and I am currantly enrolled with the Ames Bible College.
Thank you for you response though you did not, or could not, answer my question. I asked:
Please if you can using the written history and written tradition of your church, trace back the roots of your church to Pentacost and the first century. If the early church believed as the Pentacostals today then surely there would be writings thoughout history that show this.
What you gave me is "a" history of your church as "you" and other Pentecostals see it. Your references both of the bible and history are at best opinion. Where are the "documents" where are the writings that back up what you believe stretching back to apostolic times or the 1st century. The list of Catholic writings is unbelievably long but include writings from the church fathers like:
Ignatius of Antioch late 1st early 2nd century
Justin Martyr 2nd century
Ireneaus of Lyons 2nd century
Cyril of Jerusalem 3rd century
Augustine 4th century
and there are a multitude of others who all wrote about the doctrines and practices of the early church. The Catholic church today traces its teachings and doctrines back through these writers and the church all the way back to the 1st century. So in other words to quote you:
So in January 1901 at the Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, after studying the subject of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, and spending time in prayer, they quickly discovered that they lacked the Bible experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit. As they began to seek God for this experience God graciously met their faith. He filled them with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Agnes Ozman is reported to have been the first to receive the experience, followed by several other students and their teacher, Charles Fox Parham.
So, you by your own admission actually trace your church back to the early 20th century and not with writings but experience of Agnes Ozman. Thank you for your candor.
