The Azusa Street Revival*

Some observations by Chua Wee Hian who is the regular contributor to our “Quotes” feature

On 9 April, 2016 King Ling and I joined over 55,000 at the Los Angeles Colosseum for The Call, Azusa. It was a special celebration commemorating the revival that broke out in Azusa Street in 1906. We worshipped and we witnessed healing and reconciliation. For me it was moving to see the Lord breaking barriers between groups, races and denominations. Three Roman Catholic leaders were kissing the feet of evangelical leaders. I was astonished to learn that there 150 million charismatic Catholics who trace their origin to Azusa Street. Today, there are 850 million Charismatic and Pentecostal Christians globally.

Until 1992, I have never heard of Azusa Street nor of the black preacher William Seymour who was instrumental in setting the fire of revival and mission in the first half of 20th century. I thought that God was only working powerfully through the evangelical wing of the Church. Now I begin to see how easily Christians are locked in one “stream” of the Spirit’s sovereign move.

*In 1906 a massive spiritual awakening erupted at Azusa Street, Los Angeles. The event was so great that the after-shock waves have been felt throughout the world for almost a century impacting almost every nation of the world. This marked the beginning of the beginning of the Pentecostal Church. Thousands of pastors and leaders from all over the world visited this place of divine visitation, especially during its vibrant early years between 1906 and 1908, and took away the fire of God to kindle the Pentecostal flames in their nations. It grew very rapidly and has continued to spread like wildfire. There are today millions of Pentecostals and Charismatics who trace their spiritual ancestry back to this awesome event. By Tony Cauch

To read more, revival-library.org “William Seymour and the History of the Azusa Street Outpouring”