Church of God (Cleveland)

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The Church of God ( Cleveland ) is one of the oldest and largest Pentecostal churches in the world. The origin goes back to the revival and sanctification movements around 1900, the self-image is in evangelical tradition. Their branches and wards are known by various names. The Church of God (Cleveland) currently has over 7 million believers in almost 180 countries. The German branch is the Church of God Germany KdöR with about 70 churches and about 3300 members. In Austria the Pentecostal Church Congregation of God has 27 (Romanian-speaking) congregations and approx. 4000 members. There is a mission in Switzerland with around 20 members.

Name, synonyms and other languages

The name Church of God was unanimously adopted at the International General Assembly in 1907. This expressly does not claim to be the absolute community, but rather a biblical reference ( 1 Corinthians 1: 2; 2 Corinthians 1,1) is to be established.

Internationally, the Church of God is known as the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee ) . The addition of Cleveland, Tennessee , where the international Church of God is headquartered, is used to distinguish it from many other churches of that name in the United States . In the individual nation states, the church has a name in the respective national language. This is often just a translation of the international name Church of God . But sometimes there are also individual proper names. For example, in England and Wales the church is called the New Testament Church of God , in France Eglise de Dieu en France and in Latin America Iglesia de dios .

prehistory

The roots of the Church of God go back to the 19th century. During this time, especially in the Anglo-Saxon sanctification movement , there was a growing need for spiritual awakening . Richard G. Spurling from Tennessee, USA, a Baptist preacher (1857–1935), his father Richard Spurling (1810–1891) and some like-minded people devoted themselves to intensive Bible study and prayer for divine guidance. RG Spurling saw the need for a further reformation of the church that went beyond the great Reformation of the 16th century. He saw the general focus of the Reformers on right faith and pure doctrine than on relationship with Jesus Christ and love for one another. Confessions have become more important than the guidance of the Holy Spirit and one's own conscience.

After they were expelled from their Baptist congregation, this small group founded a “Christian Union” in 1886 with the aim of realizing resolute Christianity based on the early Christian model. It was not until 1896 that the longed-for revival began to break out. People experienced the overwhelming presence of God in the meetings. People were baptized in the Spirit and spoke in new, Spirit-worked languages . The movement quickly spread across the area. This event formed the beginning and starting point of God's church. To this day, great importance is attached to the scriptural effectiveness of the Holy Spirit within God's church.

In 1902 a local church was organized through the initiative RG Spurlings, which gave itself the name "Holiness Church at Camp Creek". It spread in parts of Europe even before the First World War .

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.churchofgod.org/index.php/site/history Church of God website, accessed April 25, 2013
  2. ^ Information from the Federal Secretariat in November 2011.
  3. ↑ Dieter L. Knospe: Church of God. Faith - Goals - Vital Structures. A manual for the service of God's church in its international fields , Schorndorf 2011, p. 21
  4. ^ AJ Tomlinson: The last great conflict , Cleveland, Tennessee 1913, p. 206.
  5. ↑ Knospe, Dieter L .: Church of God. Faith - Goals - Vital Structures. A manual for the service of God's church in its international fields , Schorndorf 2011, p. 24f.
  6. ^ AJ Tomlinson: The last great conflict , Cleveland, Tennessee 1913, p. 213.