Church History

Historically, Pentecostal Church of God (PCG) roots date back to Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas, founded in October 1900 by Charles Fox Parham.

Parham assigned the student body the task of determining from their study of Scripture the evidence of receiving the baptism in the Holy Ghost. All the students unanimously reached the same conclusion: the indisputable proof of one receiving the baptism was speaking with other tongues. On January 1, 1902, Agnes N. Ozman requested those present to lay hands on her and pray that she might receive the infilling of the Holy Ghost. When this was done she began to speak in tongues. It is reported she was so overwhelmed by this new experience of Pentecostal power that she could not speak in the English language for three days. Miss Ozman’s baptism inspired the other students to seek for a similar experience. The students, as well as the others in the city, continued in intercessory prayer for three glorious days. Then on the night of January 3, 1901 many others, including Parham, received the mighty infilling of the Spirit. After this glorious experience, Parham carried this Pentecostal message to many other cities.

On December 30, 1919, a group of dedicated men and women met in Chicago, Illinois to organize what is known today as the Pentecostal Church of God. Eli DePriest, one of those present, reported that after they had concluded the business prayer was offered to God. While they were praying, the building where they were assembled was actually shaken y the Power of God! The objective of this group was to unite their resources for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. Cooperative evangelism was the strength of their effort.

From this humble beginning emerged one of the leading Pentecostal denominations of our day – the Pentecostal Church of God.