Led by The Spirit: The History of the American Assemblies of God Missionaries in the Philippines, Preface and Introduction
To achieve a proper balance and accurate history, problems that occurred on the field are dealt with throughout the book. There are, however, some exceptions. I am well aware that there was a major financial scandal that took place in the AGMF office in 1978 in which a minimum of thirty thousand dollars was either lost in bad business deals or embezzled. The story is not included here for legal reasons. In some cases, moral failures that would adversely affect living family members if they were discussed will remain undisclosed. Other problems related to missionaries currently serving on the field remain confidential because the revelation of such would disrupt the excellent current unity of the field. These issues will be left to future historians.
This volume is offered with the hope that it will contribute both to the historiography of the Assemblies of God World Missions in general and to the Assemblies of God work in the Philippines in particular. I also pray that God will be glorified through this effort.
Dave Johnson
Daraga, Albay, Philippines
November, 2008
Introduction
The story of the Assemblies of God Missionary Fellowship in the Philippines flows out of the well-known 1906–1909 Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, California. During this time, thousands of people from all strata of life were saved, healed, and baptized in the Holy Spirit. At Azusa Street, neither race nor social status was important as all were equally convicted of sin, set free through forgiveness in Jesus’ name, and filled with the Spirit’s power.
Speakers at the revival emphasized several theological themes: Jesus as Savior, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and soon-coming King. They also emphasized a countercultural perspective for that era: that all races were equal before the cross of Christ. This newfound unity between the races may have paved the way for an Assemblies of God missions vision that emphasized the dignity, gifting, and callings of people around the world in the Lord’s harvest. The resulting strategy focused on developing institutions that trained and released national leaders. These leaders, in turn, multiplied missionary efforts hundreds of time over through dynamic Spirit-empowered evangelism and church planting.
Word spread about what God was doing at Azusa Street, and people came from around the world to see what was happening. Many veteran and new missionaries came and experienced the dynamic of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and then left for the mission fields around the world with the conviction that the Holy Spirit baptism empowered believers to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Many independent Pentecostal churches sprang up when those who had been filled with the Spirit were kicked out of their churches.
Category: Church History, Summer 2019