When the power of God hit Los Angeles...The Azusa Street Revival of 1906. One hundred years ago a movement like none other since shook the very foundations of the American church.
William J. Seymour (1870-1922)
William J. Seymour (1870–1922) was one of the most influential men in the birthing of the modern Pentecostal movement. His leadership and participation in the Azusa Street Revival at the beginning of the 1900s sparked the growth of a global reawakening to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and a large missionary sending movement. Born to former slaves in 1870, he had a humble upbringing in Centerville, Louisiana, amidst much poverty and devastation,and humility was the character that marked William’s life.In his early 20’s, he attended a church and surrendered his life to the Lord fully for the first time.
"In early 1906, William Seymour was invited to become the pastor of a small holiness church in Los Angeles, CA. Seymour’s arrival in Los Angeles created a small stir in the holiness community there because of his bold preaching about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. After about a month in the city, he arrived at the church to teach at the Sunday evening service to find the door locked. His zeal was not dampened and soon he had gathered several people and started a prayer meeting in a friend’s house on Bonnie Brae Street. The first gatherings were attended primarily by a few African American washwomen and their husbands,5 but within a month, these humble prayer meetings had exploded. The Holy Spirit had begun to anoint this gathering and many people started to pray and sing in tongues. The exponential growth soon caused the group to move to a larger building; 312 Azusa Street. This was the beginning of what became known as the Azusa Street Revival." Read more...
The Azuza Street Revival of 1906 Documentary
The Comforter Has Come & the Azusa Street Revival
Listen to this very real, raw, uncut, unedited, clip of The Comforter Has Come (1890) released during a field trip I took my Vanguard University History of Pentecostalism class to at the Bonnie Brae Street House on March 7, 2020. This song was a prominent song during the Azusa Street Revival. When attendees first arrived, they bowed in prayer. As little social greeting as possible was given. Service would start spontaneously through testimonies, praise and worship. There were no hymnbooks. Old well-known hymns were sung from memory. The most popular hymn sung was, “The Comforter Has Come”. Another popular song was “Under the Blood”.There was no piano. Listen to lyrics and audio, "Under The Blood" from popular song at the Azusa Street Revival.
Lyrics "Under the Blood"
Lord, keep my soul from day to day, Under the blood, under the blood; Take doubt and fear and sin away, Under the precious blood. Refrain Under the blood, the precious blood, Under the cleansing, healing flood; Keep me, Savior, from day to day; Under the precious blood. The sinner’s refuge here alone, Under the blood, under the blood; Here Jesus makes salvation known, Under the precious blood. Refrain Lord, with Thyself my spirit fill, Under the blood, under the blood; And work in me to do Thy will, Under the precious blood. Refrain Sweet peace abides within the heart, Under the blood, under the blood; And gifts divine their joy impart, Under the precious blood. Refrain The Holy Spirit, hour by hour, Under the blood, under the blood, Exerts His sanctifying power, Under the precious blood. Refrain
The Holy Spirit, hour by hour, Under the blood, under the blood, Exerts His sanctifying power, Under the precious blood. Refrain
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Outpouring of the Holy Ghost at Azusa Street Mission, The Impact of Holiness Preaching as Taught by John Wesley and the Outpouring of the Holy Ghost on Racism http://www.revempete.us/research/holiness/azusa.html
Interview of witnesses of the Azusa street revival, https://youtu.be/Q8Kjc6Qdtko
The Malachi Project IHOP-KC William J. Seymour, https://www.ihopkc.org/malachiproject/biography/william-j-seymour
It's Under The Blood, https://youtu.be/iIX7j-ifEmI
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