Vinson Synan is well known as a Pentecostal historian and scholar. He authored many books about the work of the Holy Spirit, these include: The Century of the Holy Spirit: 100 Years of Pentecostal and Charismatic Renewal, 1901-2001, An Eyewitness Remembers the Century of the Holy Spirit, and In the Latter Days: The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Twentieth Century. He was also the general editor of Spirit-Empowered Christianity in the 21^st Century: Insights, Analysis, and Future Trends from World-Renowned Scholars and was one of the editors of the four volume series Global Renewal Christianity.[i] Synan was an ordained minister with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. The current volume, Where He Leads Me, which was published a little more than a year before he died, is his autobiography.

Over the years I have read a few of Dr. Synan’s books, but this one was very different from the others. The others focused on Pentecostal and Charismatic history, this one focused on his personal life, which I knew nothing about. I learned he was the son of a minister (page 14) and that he was converted in 1951 (page 36). The night after his conversion he received a call to preach (pages 37-38) and months later received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (pages 38-39). In the preface of the book he says that he always had an interest in history (page 11). Over the course of his life the kind of history he focused on changed, eventually leading him to write extensively on Pentecostal/Charismatic history (page 11). There was also much that I did not know about his ministerial life. As I read through the book one thing that struck me was how busy Dr. Synan was throughout his life!

His ministerial involvements were quite diverse. He served in pastoral ministry in a number of different churches (pages 52-53, 59-60). He also served in the academic community, two of the schools he served were Regent University and Oral Roberts University (page 7). One of his lasting academic legacies is the Society for Pentecostal Studies. He was one of the founders of this organization (pages 82-85). He also served in various denominational capacities in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. He served as the General Secretary (page 101) and the Director of Home and Family Life (page 103).

One thing that really caught my attention was his relationship with the Charismatic Movement. I did not realize he was so involved with it. He supported it and networked with various leaders of the movement, including Catholics. In chapter 6 Synan shares a profound experience he had with God at a Catholic Charismatic meeting at Notre Dame University (pages 90-91). At that time the Lord told him that this movement was from Him and that Synan would have a part in it (page 91). And it was true, he did work with Catholic Charismatics and spoke regularly at some of their gatherings (page 209). He participated in the Catholic Pentecostal Dialogue in Rome (pages 95-99). He also spoke at the golden anniversary celebration of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal which was held in Rome (page 209).

Dr. Synan did much to encourage the Charismatic Movement. He was involved in planning the charismatic conference that was held in Kansas City in 1977, close to 50,000 people attended this gathering (page 108). The conference brought Catholic and Protestant Charismatics and Pentecostals together (pages 108-109). He participated in other conferences as well, which are mentioned in the book. Synan was truly ecumenical. However, not everyone appreciated his involvement with the Charismatic Movement, he admits that he had some critics (pages 143-145).

Vinson Synan’s life is an example of a life well lived. He served the purposes of the Lord by serving the church. He had a significant impact on the body of Christ. Dr. Synan was truly a historian of the Spirit. His books chronicle and preserve the rich history of the work God has done as He has poured out His Holy Spirit. Vinson Synan not only wrote about these events but during the course of his life he participated in some of them. May his life and work serve as an inspiration to those of us who are part of the Spirit-filled movement.

Reviewed by John Lathrop

Publisher page: https://lifespringsresources.com/where-he-leads-me-the-vinson-synan-story

Notes
[i] Editor’s note: The four volumes of Global Renewal Christianity: Spirit Empowered Movements: Past, Present, and Future are: Europe and North America (2017), Africa (2016), Latin America (2016), and Asia and Oceania (2015).

Dr. Synan was a Pentecostal historian, author of twenty-five books and numerous scholarly papers and articles, educator, and statesman. Read his PneumaReview.com author page: Vinson Synan.

An obituary is available at: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/oklahoma-city-ok/harold-synan-9085973

Update:

Christianity Today Online published Daniel Sillman’s tribute on March 17, 2020.

Dr. Synan’s very fine article describes Oral Roberts (1918-2009) as “one of the most important religious figures of the twentieth century,” and that is indeed true. He, more that any person, brought Pentecostalism to the public fore during the 1950’s and 1960’s with his televised tent healing revivals. He then helped lead, inspire and coach the new charismatic movement that broke out in the 1960’s.

Dr. Synan is recognized as the dean of Pentecostal/charismatic historians. From his pen have flowed some of the major histories of the various Spirit-filled movements of this Century and the past. His first work, The Holiness Pentecostal Movement in the United States (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972) has remained a classic and continues in print to this day. He was also a longtime friend of the Rev. Roberts, and served as Dean of Oral Roberts University’s College of Theology and Ministry.

In this concise article, Dr. Synan outlines Oral Robert’s impressive spiritual journey and life. He was born into a dirt-poor Pentecostal household in Oklahoma, suffered from tuberculosis as a teen, but was miraculously healed. He went on to become a Church of God minister. He rose in rank and responsibilities in that denomination, but surrendered that role and its securities to become a traveling healing evangelist. In that he was perhaps the most successful in his class, aided by the advent of radio and television, which his ministry team mastered. By 1960, he was the world’s best known Pentecostal minister and “faith healer,” a term he disliked. Roberts friendship with Billy Graham opened doors of opportunities and increased interest in the healing ministry among previously suspicious Evangelicals – not a small achievement.

In 1965 he founded ORU, which has become one of the great Christian Universities of the World. At that time, he also became a key figure in the new Charismatic Movement (which might be dated at 1960). Oral Roberts influence among charismatics came mainly through his TV ministry, but increased by his surprise transfer to the United Methodist Church where he became an elder (1968). His friendship and consistent support of Demos Shakarian and his Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International (FGBMFI) was also a major boost to the Charismatic Movement.

Roberts was ousted from the United Methodist because of his sometimes-extravagant fund raising tactics, as in claims that the Lord would call him to his heavenly home unless the funding for his “City of Faith” complex was complete. But by that time, Rev. Roberts was definitively planted in Charismatic circles and that change was of no great concern. Years later when he did go to his heavenly reward, his stature as both a Pentecostal and Charismatic was unchallenged.

This is a very insightful article, a must read for those want to know about the relationship between Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Movement. I must register a minor disagreement with its title. It is a bit of a stretch to call Oral Roberts “Father” of the Charismatic Movement. This suggests that without him it would not have been birthed. Certainly, without him it would have grown slower or flowed in different (perhaps inferior) direction. And certainly, ORU would not have been birthed. But a movement like the Charismatic Movement is made up of many rivers that flow into one mighty river, as for instance the Mississippi. Which secondary river is the most important? Similarly, there were several “fathers” of the Charismatic Movement, such as Demos Sharakian,[1] Dennis Bennett, Glenn Clark and a mother too (Agnes Sanford).[2]

Aside from this historian’s quibble this article is really a great summary of Oral Robert’s contribution to the Spirit-filled churches of the modern era (sometimes called “Renewalist” churches) and a great source. I especially recommend it to college students and seminarians who want to study either Pentecostalism or the Charismatic movement.

A final observation. It is wonderful to see the rebirth of the Spiritus journal. It first appeared decades ago and then disappeared, but this issue indicates that it will be among the most important journals for Renewalist Christians.

Reviewed by William De Arteaga

Read the full article: http://digitalshowcase.oru.edu/spiritus/vol2/iss2/4

Notes

[1] I have suggested in an earlier article that the founding of the FGBMFI may be a better marker for the beginning of the Charismatic Movement than Fr. Dennis Bennett’s dramatic announcement that he spoke in tongues (1960). See William De Arteaga, “Demos Shakarian and His Ecumenical Businessmen,” Pneuma Review (Summer 2014).  http://pneumareview.com/demos-sakarian-and-the-his-ecumenical-businessmen/

[2] On the importance of Agnes Sanford to the Charismatic Movement see my work, Agnes Sanford and Her Companions: The Assault on Cessationism and the Coming of the Charismatic Renewal (Wipf & Stock, 2015)

Vinson Synan, historian, professor, and dean emeritus of the School of Divinity at Regent University, skillfully blends his memoirs with Pentecostal Church history, reflecting on his previous books while integrating his first-hand experience of the events. The book is arranged somewhat chronologically, first retelling the Azusa Street story, then following significant events like the 1948 New Order of Latter Rain revival, healing revivals, Catholic charismatics, racial reconciliation, and it offers brief commentary on recent revivals. Synan offers his personal observations in order to color in the growth of the renewal movement. Herein he has personalized his narration of the events by offering a complementary view of his previous historical accounts. Synan, true to the title of this book, gives the reader an eyewitness account of movement of the Holy Spirit in the past three-quarters of the twentieth century.

Undoubtedly, Synan’s book will stand the test of time in a similar manner as Frank Bartleman’s classic eyewitness account of the Azusa Street revival, for from both descriptions we have direct and irreplaceable personal narration of the North American renewal movement in the twentieth century. This book is destined to become a point of reference for future historians and students of church history. Both books place people and events together, by assisting us to grasp the narrative flow of the stories, and by filling in gaps left by other less-personal descriptions. Likewise, both books give us systematic details of the events important to the author and less detail when the narrator is simply connecting events. Synan clearly focuses on the ecumenical attribute of the renewal movement as the necessary ingredient for the long-lasting spiritual vitality.

Perhaps the greatest contribution Synan makes here is found in his reminiscing on his involvement with the Roman Catholic charismatic movement, the 1977 Kansas City conference, and the Memphis miracle. In each of these accounts, he has recorded his personal involvement as a minister, but more importantly his ideological struggle as he observed the Spirit of God working in ways that he did not expect. Likewise, we can appreciate his candid admission of naiveté as he admits his presupposition towards race relationships as a boy raised in Virginia during the first half of the twentieth century. We can appreciate his candor as he reconciles his Protestant-Catholic bias. Moreover, we are grateful that he has shared the process and the enormous effort required to pull together multiple national denominational leaders for the conferences on spiritual renewal.

Synan’s memoir emphasizes the ecumenical and relational attributes of the renewal movement, combining multiple stories of how he and others built consensus on the essentials of Christian faith, while minimizing the non-essentials. If there is a lesson for the historian to teach current church leaders, then it will certainly be found in the humility of Synan’s narration, for it is a story of how the Holy Spirit will use those who have courage to continue taking steps of faith.

Reviewed by John R. Miller

Preview this book: books.google.com/books?id=GEHAkcfWtKEC

Vinson Synan wrote this book at the urging of the publisher and Bert Ghezzi, his good friend. I know that name but cannot remember why. This book is a small soft covered volume that contains a quotation, testimony or witness from 60 men and women who over the centuries have contributed to the Pentecostal movement, though most lived in the last 2-300 years.

Each testimony runs 2-3 pages. I recognized 52 of the people Synan chose to include. I have spoken to eleven on the list and worked for two of them. It is interesting to read about the Pentecostal movement when one has been part of that movement.

The great majority of those listed had no idea that their words would ever go farther than the audience to which those words were originally directed. I tell my Bible college students that they will speak words like these, words that God will take and use to ignite others to do great things for this world because my students are part of another Kingdom.

I will no doubt bring this little book to classes in the future and read various testimonies at appropriate moments. Our Pentecostal world needs to assemble all it can to describe and define our history.

Reviewed by H. Murray Hohns

Vinson Synan, “2000 Years of Prophetic Ministry: Read the Stories Behind the Gift” Ministries Today (Sep/Oct, 2004), pages 24-28.

Vinson Synan

Vinson Synan, perhaps the leading historian of the modern Pentecostal movement, presents a two part review of the place prophecy has held in the church. The “centuries of suppression” lasted for about 1900 years, and generally were not very happy or fruitful for the prophetic gifts. The second portion of the review tells of prophecy’s gain in the eyes of church leaders and the laity since the days when William Seymour laid his hands upon and prophesied for the many men and women who had received the “message” at Azusa Street and went forth from there.

Synan has the great advantage of being part of our history and knowing many that played key roles in that unraveling of blessing and wonder in the last 100 years. He touches on half a dozen prophecies that changed the world as well discussing the need for us, today’s leaders, to teach how we are to minister in this great gift to the church and to the world that God so loves. Sound teaching about how one should prophesy is something that should interest all Christian leaders.

Reviewed by H. Murray Hohns

Read the article from Ministries Today archives: http://ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-today-archives/152-fivefold-ministries/9666-2000-years-of-prophecy [available as of June 24, 2014]

Vinson Synan, The Century of the Holy Spirit: 100 Years Of Pentecostal And Charismatic Renewal, 1901-2001 (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001), 484 pages.

Vinson Synan has lived many of the 100 years he chronicles in his latest book which was published to be ready for the World Pentecostal Conference in Los Angeles in May 2000. Actually the book contains 15 chapters or sections, seven of which were written by Synan and nine other familiar names wrote the rest.

The book starts with an overview of the last century—the Pentecostal century. Synan then reviews our Pentecostal roots describing the Holiness setting that emerged in the 19^th century and set the stage for the Azusa Street revival and all that followed.

We learn of the global impact of the revival and then there are chapters on the Holiness Pentecostal Churches, the “Finished Work” Pentecostal Churches, the charismatic renewal at mid century and later in the established mainline denominations.

There are chapters on the Catholic Charismatic renewal, women in the movement, African American Pentecostal Churches and Hispanic Churches. Most of the white Pentecostal North Americans have no idea of the importance and place of the African American Pentecostal churches and this book will help bridge that unfortunate gap. There is a chapter about the healers and the televangelists of the last 55 years. The book closes with Synan’s synopsis of the last hundred years, an excellent study on our growth by David Barrett, and a chronology of our God’s dealing with the Pentecostal church starting from its beginning unto today. There are also predictions of things to come, some of which are hard to even imagine.

Synan is one of my favorite contemporary historians. His earlier books on the Pentecostal Holiness traditions are the best treatment of much of our history. I, like Synan, have lived 70 years of that history so for me the book is filled with stories of people I know, places I have gone and meetings that I attended in my own quest to be filled with the Holy Spirit and thus endued with power from on high.

One aspect of the book that I found disappointing was that while the guest authors brought the reader up almost to the end of the century in their respective chapters, all of Synan’s portions ended in the late 1980’s. The last five to ten years of the century were not covered in his half of the book. There is never enough time.

Nonetheless it is the best summary of last century available. I use this book as the main text in my course on Revivals at Pacific Rim Bible College. It belongs in the library of every Pentecostal preacher, adherent, and student.

Reviewed by H. Murray Hohns

Publisher’s page: http://www.thomasnelson.com/the-century-of-the-holy-spirit

Vinson Synan, “Pentecostal Millennialism: The Second Comers: At first, the gift of tongues meant one thing: Jesus was returning soon” Christian History, Issue 61, pp. 38-39

The Christianity Today publication Christian History has recently featured an issue on the history of eschatology, answering the question: What have believers taught and believed about the return of Christ? Among the various essays appears a brief article by historian Vinson Synan of Regent University, perhaps best known for his recent book The Holiness Pentecostal Tradition (Eerdmans, 1997).

Professor Synan says that for the early Pentecostals, the reemergence of the gift of tongues meant Jesus was returning soon. Although the Pentecostal movement has come to be known by others for being a tongues movement (see Robert Graves’ article in this issue about this), Synan states that early on it was more a Jesus-is-coming movement.

In this article subtitled “Pentecostal Millennialism,” Synan briefly sketches the beginnings of the Pentecostal movement, mentioning its major figures including Agnes Ozman, Charles Fox Parham, William J. Seymour, and George Floyd Taylor. Also spoken of are the proto-Pentecostal stirrings in England of the 1830’s and their link to the development of dispensational eschatology which emphasizes the Rapture. Two topics that are briefly explained in their historical context are the early Pentecostal’s concepts of xenoglossolalia, otherwise known as missionary tongues, and of tongues being the “sealing” of the Holy Spirit thereby qualifying them for the Rapture.

One note of interest is the editor’s caption appearing under a dynamic picture of people gathered at the altar at Brownsville Assembly of God, “Come Again? Early Pentecostals focused less on tongues and more on what the tongues were saying. At the 1906 Azusa Street Revival, William Seymour reported, ‘”Jesus is coming soon” is the message that the Holy Ghost is speaking today through nearly everyone that receives the baptism with the Holy Ghost.’ This emphasis was especially evident in England where Pentecostals were usually called ‘Second Comers.’ More recently, Pentecostal churches such as Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida, have downplayed prophetic themes.” Although this editor is by no means an expert on the teachings of Brownsville Assembly of God, I am unaware that they downplay the Assemblies of God’s denominational emphasis on last things and the Rapture. Perhaps what is discouraged is the idea that “this revival” is the last great revival before the Lord’s return, a teaching popular among many in the charismatic prophetic movement.

While this issue of Christian History may not be a good introduction to eschatology, it is fascinating reading for any amateur church historian and those interested in the development of doctrines in the church. As with all issues, the articles are generally even-handed, extremely readable and informative.

Reviewed by Raul Mock

Read the original article: www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1999/issue61/61h038.html