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Print April 17, 2006 This is the biggest celebration of Pentecost, for anyone from whatever strip of Pentecostalism you claim, since Acts chapter 2. We contacted a primary organizer to better understand what the Oneness branch is celebrating over the week of April 25 – 29, 2006? --------- 90&9: What is the Azusa Street Centennial (ASC) celebration and who is sponsoring this event? RB: The ASC is a coming together of Pentecostals of all persuasions. Many groups that can trace their roots to the Azusa Street Revival 100 years ago are gathering to celebrate and commemorate. This event is sponsored by a variety of individuals and is led by leaders from various Pentecostal denominations. However, the United Pentecostal Church has planned events that are simultaneous with the centennial events. Our involvement includes the performance of the Azusa Street Drama entitled The Fire Still Falls, messages about Pentecost past, present, and future, and a Holy Ghost Crusade. Also, we will be putting on a concert at the site of the Azusa Street Mission on Friday morning, April 28. Finally, there will be a Youth Explosion on Saturday, April 29, to remind our young people of the importance and power of the name of Jesus and the Oneness message.
90&9: Where do you pastor and what is your involvement in the Centennial? RB: I pastor the United Pentecostal Church in Pasadena, CA. Last year, evangelist Greg Godwin and I realized that the 100-year anniversary of the revival on Azusa Street was months away. We noted that nothing was being planned by the UPC to commemorate this historic event. We began planning a meeting for our churches, and then, at General Conference in Richmond, VA, General Superintendent Kenneth Haney got permission from the General Board for the UPC to be at Azusa. Bro. Haney asked us to join our efforts with what the UPC was going to do. Bro. Ronnie Mullings was asked to lead this event, and he, in turn, asked Bro. Godwin and me to take oversight of the planning. Specifically, I have located and secured the venue for the event—Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles, located and secured hotel accommodations. I also serve as the liaison between the UPC and the overall Azusa Centennial Committee. I have been very busy. 90&9: Who has been invited to participate in the planning of this event? RB: Bro. Haney assembled a committee of General Board members, headquarters representatives, and California pastors to plan the event. The Home Missions department is over the bilingual Holy Ghost Crusade on Friday night, and the Historical Department will represent Oneness Pentecostalism at the Centennial Booth area. Also, evangelists Greg Godwin, Sam Emory, and Mark Morgan were invited to help in the planning. Finally, Pastor Ken Gurley from Pearland, TX is involved as his church is overseeing the presentation of the drama. 90&9: What oneness Apostolic organizations are participating? RB: We have made efforts to get the word out to the ALJC (Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ), the Apostolic Assembly (a largely Hispanic Apostolic Organization), and the PAW (Pentecostal Assemblies of the World). 90&9: How many Pentecostals do you expect in the Los Angeles area during the week of April 25 – 29, 2006? RB: There are estimates of 200,000 to 300,000. We know that every hotel room in downtown Los Angeles is already booked. We are looking for over 5,000 at our Holy Ghost Crusade on Friday night, and the LA area churches are believing for 1,000 to be filled with the Holy Ghost. This would represent the largest single service outpouring in North America ever. The churches are working hard to ensure the candidates will be there; help us pray for a great outpouring. 90&9: Is the United Pentecostal Church sponsoring separate events during this week or will they be joining with other Pentecostal organizations in a combined effort? RB: We have exclusive use of the Grand Olympic Auditorium wherein we will be presenting the drama, lectures, and the Holy Ghost crusade. We will have outreach teams handing out invitations to the drama and crusade at the main Centennial Venue. Some may wish to visit some other events as well. On Saturday, the Los Angeles Coliseum will host the only completely combined event. The rest of the week there will be various events and venues operating simultaneously. 90&9: What activities/events is the UPC hosting/sponsoring? The Fire Still Falls, written and directed by Ken Gurley, will be presented four times on Wednesday through Friday. Bro. Haney, Bro. David Bernard, and Bro. Anthony Mangun will be speaking on the legacy of Pentecost past, present, and future during the day on Thursday and Friday. Friday morning will be the UPC concert on Azusa Street, and Friday night will be the crusade with Rev. Mark Morgan speaking. Saturday is the Youth explosion. Also, there will be opportunities to tour the significant sights of Pentecost in Los Angeles. 90&9: What outreach efforts are being made to coordinate with this celebration? RB: We have outreach and street drama teams that will be working the streets early that week. Some churches are bringing in buses of people for the purpose of street outreach. 90&9: You pastor in the Pasadena area. Are local churches in the area getting involved? If so, how? RB: Yes, there is a lot of excitement and involvement among the local churches. Many of the churches are dividing up into outreach teams to bring people to the crusade. Many churches have pledged to bring 50-100 candidates for the Holy Ghost on Friday night. Some churches, including ours, are renting vans to provide transportation for these seekers from our area. 90&9: I understand that The Fire Still Falls drama will be presented during this week. What is this drama about and who is presenting it? RB: This is the story of the Azusa Street outpouring dramatized by Pentecostal actors and actresses. It is a high impact musical drama, and they are anticipating many to receive the Holy Ghost at the end of each presentation. Bro. Gurley and the Pearland Church will be working together with some local participants in the presentation of the drama. 90&9: As a pastor in the area, what impact do you see this celebration having on your local assembly and outreach efforts? RB: The excitement and anticipation has created an atmosphere where we are already seeing people receive the Holy Ghost every weekend. Also, if we take 50 people to the crusade and a number of them receive the Holy Ghost, we will be blessed tremendously. If people are just finding out about this celebration and would like more information about attending, where can they go to get more information? RB: Go to www.thefirestillfalls.com.
ninetyandnine.com Ó 2006, ninetyandnine.com--------- |
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