Cecil M. Robeck

This is an excellent read that gives a much closer glimpse to the events that began the Pentecostal faith. Robeck, Jr. does not show us a perfect picture and examines, along with the positive growth and expansion of the movement, the unity and diversity of the believers, and the gracious character and overcoming faith of it's leaders, especially of William J. Seymour, but also the controversies, failures, pettiness, and weaknesses of it's leaders, which may have eroded and finally ended the show more revival. Chapters 7 and 8 are truly heart-breaking to read. They follow Seymour's last years in his struggle against betrayal and the church's dwindling congregation in the hopes of bringing back the initial Pentecostal revival of 1906-1908.

It is amazing to read how this little group of African American believers, in the midst of severe racism where lynching was rampart, turned into a multicultural church that has miraculously expanded into the largest and fastest growing Christian denomination where an "estimated 35,000 people join the Pentecostal church each day. Of the world's two billion Christians a quarter are now Pentecostal—up from 6 percent in 1980."

If one wants to know something about the beginnings of Pentecostalism, this is a must read. show less

A highly detailed account of the Azusa Street mission. The author exhaustively covers many details about the mission and revival. At times this can make for difficult, or mundane reading, however I doubt a more accurate accout exists about these events that changed the modern church in America and around the world.

A little methodical in its approach, but for an individual that grew up in the faith it provides a substantial amount of history for the roots of the Pentecostal denomination.