The Apostolic Faith ~ History, Doctrine, and Purpose

A
century has come and gone since Florence
Crawford stepped off the train in Portland, Oregon,
bearing the message that Pentecost had come. The
images and accounts on the pages of this book are

The Apostolic Faith

the threads that, woven together, form the history of the
Apostolic Faith work which originated that day in 1906.
The band of zealous believers who gathered with Florence
Crawford in the mission hall at Front and Burnside, and the
faithful saints of God who followed them, were instrumental in
History, Doctrine, and Purpose shaping a God-given message into a worldwide ministry. These
Gospel pioneers proclaimed without fear or compromise God’s
power to save the repentant heart, sanctify the converted soul,
and pour out the Holy Spirit on sanctified believers.
The Apostolic Faith Church is pleased to present this
keepsake book chronicling its 100-year history. In words and
To learn more about our organization or images, it portrays the organization’s journey from a
to purchase additional copies of this book, ramshackle wooden building on Azusa Street in Los Angeles to
please contact us at: an international ministry that spans six continents.
As you retrace the events that shaped the Apostolic Faith
work and review its method of operation today, we pray that
Apostolic Faith Church reading about God’s guidance of this organization will create
International Headquarters a hunger in your heart. May you be inspired, challenged to
6615 S.E. 52nd Avenue a deeper walk of holiness, and motivated to seek God for a
greater anointing of the Pentecostal fire that blazed on Azusa
Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. Street in 1906.
97206-7660

Phone: (503) 777-1741

Fax: (503) 777-1743
Email: [email protected]

We invite you to visit our website at

www.apostolicfaith.org. You will find a
variety of inspirational reading material
including:
• News and events from around the world
• A daily devotional and Bible study
• Sunday school curriculum ISBN 1-59725-040-6

• Current issue of Higher Way magazine

• Insightful sermons from God’s Word
• Special youth and children’s pages

9 781597 250405

$29.00
A
century has come and gone since Florence
Crawford stepped off the train in Portland, Oregon,
bearing the message that Pentecost had come. The
images and accounts on the pages of this book are
the threads that, woven together, form the history of the
Apostolic Faith work which originated that day in 1906.
The band of zealous believers who gathered with Florence
Crawford in the mission hall at Front and Burnside, and the
faithful saints of God who followed them, were instrumental in
shaping a God-given message into a worldwide ministry. These
Gospel pioneers proclaimed without fear or compromise God’s
power to save the repentant heart, sanctify the converted soul,
and pour out the Holy Spirit on sanctified believers.
The Apostolic Faith Church is pleased to present this
keepsake book chronicling its 100-year history. In words and
images, it portrays the organization’s journey from a
ramshackle wooden building on Azusa Street in Los Angeles to
an international ministry that spans six continents.
As you retrace the events that shaped the Apostolic Faith
work and review its method of operation today, we pray that
reading about God’s guidance of this organization will create
a hunger in your heart. May you be inspired, challenged to
a deeper walk of holiness, and motivated to seek God for a
greater anointing of the Pentecostal fire that blazed on Azusa
Street in 1906.
The Apostolic Faith
History, Doctrine, and Purpose
ISBN: 1-59725-040-6

Copyright 2005, The Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, Oregon

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior
written permission from The Apostolic Faith organization and by the
publisher.

Address all inquiries to: The Apostolic Faith, 6615 SE 52nd Avenue,
Portland, Oregon, 97206, U.S.A. or through the organization’s website
at www.apostolicfaith.org

Published by Pediment Publishing, a division of The Pediment Group, Inc.

www.pediment.com
Printed in Canada
This book is dedicated to the veterans
of the faith who preserved for us the
wonderful Gospel we enjoy today.
 Table of Contents
Origin of the Organization...................................... 10

Azusa Roots........................................................... 26

Early Days in Portland............................................. 38

Campground and Camp Meetings............................ 50

Portland Headquarters Church.................................. 70

Church Services...................................................... 88

Expansion in the United States................................ 100

Expansion Worldwide........................................... 118

Outreach Efforts................................................... 148

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry................. 174

A Closing Challenge............................................. 202

 Foreword
by Darrel Lee

Superintendent General of
The Apostolic Faith Church

O
n March 17, 1974, I entered an Apos- in prayer before, let alone so many people at
tolic Faith Church for the first time. the same time in the same place. The pastor
Six years earlier, my eleven-year-old was an unassuming man, who was friendly and
sister had encouraged me to invite Jesus into my unpretentious. He seemed ordinary, a lot like I
heart. While I had mocked her then, this time viewed my own family. There was the reverence
I accepted her invitation to church. No one else with which the service was conducted. A portion
in our family of nine seemed to take an interest of it was devoted to what they called “testimony
in her church attendance, and I felt sorry for her. time.” Several people stood up and told their sto-
What happened that spring day forever changed ries. One lady spoke softly of having been quite
my life and impacted our entire family. That day sick, but said that now she was well in answer to
I was saved. prayer. I found that interesting. Another smiling
Lacking familiarity with church ways, my young man enthusiastically told of how God had
introduction to the small group in Roseburg, Or- “saved” him. I had never heard that term before.
egon, calling themselves the Apostolic Faith, left Later, I asked my sister if the people who spoke
many impressions upon me. It was apparent from were paid to tell their stories. “No,” she replied,
the beginning that prayer was very important to “they were just spontaneously getting up to
these people. I had never seen anyone kneeling declare how God had answered their prayers.”
There was no doubt in my mind that these people children were saved, married Christians, and have
had experienced something. Then there was the had children of their own. Now, there are over
pianist, the organist, the instrumentalists, and three dozen of us spanning four generations in
the vocalists. Their music was reverent, and I was this church.
told they also participated voluntarily, as unto the I am thankful for those who faithfully labored
Lord. I found that amazing. How was the work to provide the conservative atmosphere where
supported, since they didn’t ask for money? My so many of us could be saved and then grow in
sister told me about the small tithes and offerings the Lord. The loyalty and appreciation we feel
box near the sanctuary entrance where people for them cannot be overstated. They bought
could quietly put whatever they felt led to contrib- property and built our churches. They paid for
ute. So many aspects of the service were foreign to the literature that has benefited us, and has also
me, yet they reflected such common sense. circled the planet and impacted millions of oth-
What I did not know then was that, around ers. Most importantly, they hallowed our altars
the world, there were scores of other Apostolic with their prayers. People we never met or heard
Faith groups just like that one in Roseburg. Over of sacrificed energy, time, and money so that we
the years, the people had come into the organiza- could step into that first meeting to see and hear
tion one by one, much like me. Somebody had what we saw and heard.
invited them, and they came and experienced the The Latter Rain Gospel, as I learned it was
saving grace of God. Then they brought a family called, is as relevant today as it was in 1906 when
member, who brought someone else. No matter Florence Crawford first experienced it. She and
where the geographic location, the message, the many others who left Los Angeles with that
Spirit, and the manner in which the Gospel was message, sparked a revival of global proportion.
presented was the same. Yet, the message was not new. The teachings em-
If you have been in an Apostolic Faith service, phasized then and now are rooted in the second
you know what I am talking about. If not, we pray chapter of the Book of Acts. God still calls and
that this book will inspire you to capture the spirit saves penitent sinners, dramatically transforming
of the Gospel and find the same God we found their lives. New converts are still encouraged to
through this organization. The church did not consecrate their hearts to God in order to receive
save any of us. However, for the past one hundred the instantaneous experience of entire sanctifica-
years, God has used people attending here to tion and begin a walk of holiness. The Holy Ghost
provide an environment where He could speak is still freely given to those who have been saved
to hearts—not only when people first entered, but and subsequently sanctified, empowering them
for years afterward. to witness with evangelistic zeal.
Like so many others, my family has benefited Our prayer is that the readers of this book
by the guidance and wholesome teachings of will accept the challenge of experiencing and
this ministry. In my case, it began with one little then telling others of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
sister. The same year I was saved, my younger in its fullness. The mandate to every Christian
brother was also born again. The following year, is to spread the news. God will bless you and
my parents were saved. Soon, other siblings and those whose paths cross yours as you renew your
their spouses were converted. Over the years, our determination to live for Him.
 Introduction
N
early a century and a half ago, Thomas work whose dimensions will only be made clear
Phillips struggled to write a history of in eternity.
the Welsh revival of the mid-1800s. He Every attempt has been made to provide a
summarized his dilemma with these words, “The true and factual accounting of early events, but
difficulty has been to select and abridge, and so many details of our history were never recorded
to arrange the materials as to avoid sameness and on paper. For that reason, we have had to draw
repetition on the one hand, and incompleteness from the personal recollections of old-timers in
on the other.” I can identify with his struggle. the faith in a number of instances.
When the decision was made to produce a This book is the work of many hands. It goes
book documenting the 100-year history of the without saying that the final product could only
Apostolic Faith work, a content committee was become a reality through the efforts of scores,
convened. As we delved into our organization’s even hundreds, of different people.
past, we were challenged by accounts of those We are grateful to the guardians of our
early pioneers who led the way on the path of history for their diligence, without which this
righteousness in which we walk today. As we re- book would have been impossible. A special
lived events that took place decades before some thanks goes to the many who provided us with
of us were born, we were moved by the zeal of personal recollections, articles, and photographs.
our spiritual forefathers. Each story, each photo, The book is more complete because of their
each personal recollection was compelling in its generosity.
own way. What should be selected? What could As you retrace the events that shaped the
be left out? Apostolic Faith work and review its method of op-
Now, with a series of difficult decisions be- eration today, we pray that reading about God’s
hind us, we acknowledge that this account is by guidance of this organization will create a hunger
no means comprehensive. The events, places, in your heart. May you be inspired, challenged to
and people described on these pages were cho- a deeper walk of holiness, and motivated to seek
sen because they represent the much bigger God for a greater anointing of the Pentecostal fire
picture. They are, in fact, just a microcosm of a that blazed on Azusa Street in 1906.

Headquarters Office Manager

 Origin of the
Organization

The Welsh revival impacted believers

around the world who were
seeking for the Holy Spirit.

A
desperate young father who was handed organization whose goal for one hundred years
a Gospel tract just before he intended has been to proclaim the transforming power of
to commit suicide . . . a former Muslim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
who faced intense persecution because he com-
mitted his life to God . . . a tough young seafaring Origin and Purpose
man who now finds his greatest joy in telling The Apostolic Faith work had its beginning
others about the Christ who changed his life in the early part of the twentieth century during
. . . a rebellious teenager who surrendered to God a worldwide spiritual awakening. Believers living
and now is a minister of the Gospel . . . a vagrant in the United States heard about the remark-
bound by alcoholism who heard a Gospel street able revival in Wales where 100,000 people had
meeting that turned his life around . . . these indi- converted to Christianity in the months prior to
viduals and thousands of others like them are wit- June of 1905. A feeling of expectancy began to
nesses to the power of God to change lives. Their grow among Christian leaders and workers who
life stories are intertwined with an international had been praying for the latter rain outpouring

10 Origin of the Organization

 The Azusa outpouring
empowered many for
service and created
an evangelistic
fervor that quickly
extended worldwide.

of the Holy Spirit, as promised by the Old Tes- The purpose in founding this religious orga- Facing page: A flyer
tament prophet Joel. The amazing reports from nization was to maintain and teach all the doc- announces services
Wales fueled hope that the end-time revival had trines as taught by Christ and by His Apostles in held during the
indeed begun. the days of the Early Church, and to spread the revival in Wales.
The prayers of these earnest seekers were Gospel in its fullness to people of every land.
answered when the long-awaited Pentecostal Above left: The
outpouring came in April of 1906 upon a group Motto Azusa Street Mission.
of saved and sanctified people in Los Angeles, In the early days of the Azusa revival, leaders
California. Known as the Azusa Revival, the infill- took the Bible verse Jude 3 for a motto: “Earnestly Above right: A sign
on the building where
ing of the Holy Spirit empowered many for Chris- contend for the faith which was once delivered
the Azusa Mission
tian service and created an evangelistic fervor that unto the saints.” It is not hard to understand why once stood,
extended worldwide. It was the starting point for that verse was chosen. The happenings on Azusa commemorating the
the Apostolic Faith work of Portland, Oregon, as Street had rapidly attracted attention from such outpouring at that
well as many other Pentecostal organizations. secular media as the Los Angeles Times. Faced with location.

Origin of the Organization 11

 Jude 3 has been the
motto of the Apostolic
Faith work since its
beginning.

persecution and ridicule, those who had received the news of the Pentecostal outpouring. When
the Pentecostal experience soon understood the Florence Crawford came to Portland, she kept
necessity of contending. They realized that Jude the verse on the papers printed at the new loca-
was encouraging whatever struggle was necessary tion. This verse has appeared on every issue of
Above: Jude 3 to defend the faith—the Gospel message preached the flagship publication of the Apostolic Faith
is a well-worn by the Apostles. This authoritative communica- organization. The publication was originally
passage in Florence tion from the Christ-appointed leaders of the titled The Apostolic Faith and now bears the name
Crawford’s Bible. Early Church must not be eradicated by criticism Higher Way.
or compromised by false teachers. Jude 3 is also inscribed on the cornerstone
Right: The Jude spoke of the faith which was delivered to of the headquarters church in Portland, Oregon,
cornerstone on the the saints, and those whose lives had been em- along with the words, “Founded 1906” and “Built
headquarters church
powered at Azusa knew that something precious 1983.”
in Portland, Oregon,
is inscribed with had been entrusted to them. They recognized
the motto. that it was their responsibility to care for it and Mission Statement
see that it was delivered to others. The mission of the Apostolic Faith organiza-
The workers putting together reports at the tion has always been evangelism: endeavoring to
revival epicenter decided to feature this verse present the Gospel in its fullness and to lead to
on their first publication that carried abroad God those who are unconverted. In addition,

12 Origin of the Organization

 Mission
Statement
there is a focus on encouraging the development of the
of Spirit-filled, Christ-like character in the lives
of believers. Apostolic
Just as God has an individual call for each be-
liever, He also has a specific role for organizations
Faith Church
in the general mandate to believers of every era,
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel The mission of the Apostolic Faith Church is to spread
to every creature” (Mark 16:15). In the year 2000, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We accomplish this as we:
the decision was made to formulate a written
mission statement for the Apostolic Faith work, PRAY
defining in words the purpose that has been in We make prayer the basis of every ministry and encourage
place since the organization’s founding. communion with God as the way we grow
The mission statement needed to accomplish to spiritual maturity in Him.
three goals: to review what God had called the
organization to do in the past and point the direc- PREACH
tion for the future, to provide both a corporate We emphasize the original Pentecostal doctrines of salvation,
and individual challenge, and to express goals sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, continually
suitable for branch churches around the world striving to develop fully committed disciples of Jesus Christ.
as well as for the headquarters church.
After prayerful consideration and input from PUBLISH
the Portland congregation, a team of ministers
and workers developed the following statement
We publish the Gospel through the printed word, the spoken
as an expression of what God has called the
word, and through our personal lives, daily looking for
opportunities to spread the message, “Ye must be born again.”
Apostolic Faith organization to do:
The mission of the Apostolic Faith Church is to International Headquarters: 6615 SE 52nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97206-7660 U.S.A.
spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We accomplish this www.apostolicfaith.org

as we:
Pray – We make prayer the basis of every ministry
and encourage communion with God as the way we
grow to spiritual maturity in Him.
Preach – We emphasize the original Pentecostal
doctrines of salvation, sanctification, and the baptism
of the Holy Spirit, continually striving to develop fully
The mission of the Apostolic Faith
committed disciples of Jesus Christ. organization has always been
evangelism.
Publish – We publish the Gospel through the
printed word, the spoken word, and through our per-
sonal lives, daily looking for opportunities to spread
the message, “Ye must be born again.”
Daniel 12:3 says, “And they that be wise shall
shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they

Origin of the Organization 13

 The phrase chosen for
the logo has been
significant to the
organization since its
inception.

that turn many church building at Southwest Front and Burn-

to righteousness side, which was known as “The Lighthouse by the
as the stars for ever and Bridge.” At times, the words of this sign caught
ever.” God could have given His message through the attention of individuals who were thinking
words of fire written in the sky, a voice from Heav- of ending their lives by jumping from the bridge
en, or angelic messengers. Instead, He chose men into the river below. Arrested by its message of
Above: The corporate and women as His tools to spread the greatest news hope, some came into the services to seek God.
logo for the Apostolic the world has ever known. He designed the message When the headquarters church was moved
Faith organization.
of the Gospel to be handed from person to person, to Northwest Sixth and Burnside in 1922, the
Right: At times, the and it is the purpose of the Apostolic Faith organi-
logo is featured on zation to dedicate every effort toward making that
a billboard located happen.
at the corner of the
campground in Logo
Portland, Oregon. Production of a new corporate logo took
place in 2001. The design team determined at
the outset that Jesus’ words in John 12:32 should
be a key concept: “I, if I be lifted up from the
earth, will draw all men unto me.” Based upon
that Scripture, the logo features a phrase that
has been with the Apostolic Faith work since its
inception: “Jesus the Light of the World.”
This phrase was initially displayed in 1917 as
an electric sign on the first Portland headquarters

14 Origin of the Organization

same message was displayed on top of the new
building. It was proclaimed from that spot for
about sixty years. Its dominant position at the
heart of downtown Portland made it a well-
known landmark that was featured in local and
national publications on several occasions. It
touched countless lives.
In 1921, when the tabernacle was construct-
ed on the newly obtained campground, a ten-
foot gold star was placed at the top of the arch
above the same words. Today, more than eighty
years later, it is still there. People familiar with
southeast Portland are aware of the big domed

Above: The congregation

in Zadarin, Romania,
gathers in front of their
church, which bears the
Apostolic Faith logo in
the Romanian language.

Left: For many years,

the “Jesus” sign on top of
the headquarters church
was a landmark in
downtown Portland.

Origin of the Organization 15

 building with the words, “Jesus the Light of the
Above: Current World.”
publications of the As years have come and gone, branch church-
Apostolic Faith es in many locations have chosen to display the
organization teach same heartwarming message. Today, from the
the same doctrines Philippines to the West Indies and across the
that were initially Atlantic Ocean to Africa, hundreds of Apostolic
taught by the Azusa Faith churches display the words chosen to be on
Street revival leaders. the corporate logo.
Right: The doctrines
printed in early Azusa Doctrinal Position
Street publications The Apostolic Faith Church traces its doctri-
included justification nal beliefs from the days of the Apostles, when
by faith, the second the Early Church was founded. Believing that
definite work of “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
sanctification, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
and the baptism of correction, for instruction in righteousness”
the Holy Spirit. (2 Timothy 3:16), the Bible from Genesis through
Revelation is taught and upheld.
The foundation stones of the Apostolic Faith
have stood the test of ages—simple Bible truths

16 Origin of the Organization

expounded through the centuries by leading security, and teaches the importance of living an
Christians, many of whom were willing to suffer overcoming Christian life on a daily basis. Below: In
martyrdom in defense of the Word of God. One unique aspect of the Apostolic Faith Apostolic Faith
As a Trinitarian and fundamental church, Church is the unity that is enjoyed by its mem- services worldwide,
one of the organization’s key teachings is that of bers worldwide, in spite of differences in race, believers testify to
a born-again salvation experience. The necessity culture, and background. This unity is tied, in receiving the spiritual
of entire sanctification (holiness) as a second, a great measure, to the organization’s consistent experiences taught in
definite experience, and the need for sanctified doctrine and practice. God’s Word. Here, a
young man testifies at
believers to receive the experience of the baptism Following is a brief description of the core a service at the head-
of the Holy Spirit is also central to the church’s doctrines taught and upheld by the Apostolic quarters church in
doctrinal position. The organization holds to the Faith work. These and other basic Bible truths downtown Portland,
Arminian teaching of salvation rather than to the provide the solid, Scriptural foundation on which in the mid 1960s.
Calvinistic belief of predestination and eternal this church stands.

Origin of the Organization 17

 The Divine Trinity consists of three Persons: Entire Sanctification, the act of God’s
God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the grace whereby one is made holy, is the second
Below: Faithful
ministers teach the Holy Ghost, perfectly united as one. Matthew definite work and is subsequent to justification.
doctrines of God’s 3:16-17; 1 John 5:7. John 17:15-21; Hebrews 13:12.
Word in Apostolic Repentance is a godly sorrow for and a re- The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is the
Faith services. Here, nouncing of all sin. Isaiah 55:7; Matthew 4:17. enduement of power upon the sanctified life,
Loyce Carver Justification by faith (salvation) is the act and is evidenced by speaking in tongues as
preaches at a service of God’s grace through which one receives the Spirit gives utterance. John 14:16-17,26;
at the Portland forgiveness for sins and stands before God Acts 1:5-8; 2:1-4.
headquarters church. as though he had never sinned. Romans 5:1; Divine Healing of sickness is provided
2 Corinthians 5:17. through the atonement. James 5:14-16;
1 Peter 2:24.
The Second Coming of Jesus will consist of
two appearances. First, He will come to catch
away His waiting Bride. Matthew 24:40-44;
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. Second, He will
come to execute judgment upon the ungodly.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Jude 14-15.
The Tribulation will occur between Christ’s
coming for His Bride and His return in
judgment. Isaiah 26:20-21;
Revelation 9 and 16.

18 Origin of the Organization

 The Apostolic Faith work
has maintained the
doctrines outlined in the
first editions of the
Apostolic Faith papers
published at
Azusa Street.

Christ’s Millennial Reign will be the 1000 ther person has a right to marry again while the first
years of peaceful reign by Jesus on earth. Isaiah companion lives. Mark 10:6-12; Romans 7:1-3.
11 and 35; Revelation 20:1-6. Restitution is necessary, wherein wrongs
The Great White Throne Judgment will be against others are righted. Ezekiel 33:15; Mat- Above: The first paper
the final judgment when all the wicked dead will thew 5:23-24. printed from Azusa
stand before God. Revelation 20:11-15. Water Baptism is by one immersion “in the Street in Los Angeles
The New Heaven and The New Earth will name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the proclaimed the news
replace the present heaven and earth, which will Holy Ghost.” Matthew 3:16; 28:19. that Pentecost had
be destroyed after the Great White Throne Judg- The Lord’s Supper is an institution ordained come.
ment. 2 Peter 3:12-13; Revelation 21:1-3. by Jesus so that believers might remember His
Eternal Heaven and Eternal Hell are lit- death until He returns. Matthew 26:26-29;
eral places of final and eternal destiny. Matthew 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
25:41-46; Luke 16:22-28. Foot Washing is practiced according to the
Marriage is a covenant between one man and example and commandment Jesus gave. John
one woman that is binding before God for life. Nei- 13:14-15.

Origin of the Organization 19

 The emphasis by the Apostolic Faith ministry
on justification by faith, entire sanctification,
and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a new
message. Clear exposition of the need for three
definite spiritual experiences was a hallmark of
the Azusa movement. Those who gathered there
were holiness people who were saved and sancti-
fied and had not received the baptism. They had
read about it in God’s Word and understood it,
and they came together and prayed specifically
for one thing: that they might receive the baptism
of the Holy Ghost. The fire fell, they received the
promised power, and the Pentecostal movement
in the United States began.
The first paper printed at Azusa Street pro-
claimed: “Justification is that act of God’s free
grace by which we receive remission of sins. Sanc-
tification is the second work of grace by which
He makes us holy. The disciples were sanctified
before the Day of Pentecost. By a careful study
of Scripture, you will find it is so now. . . . Too
many have confused the grace of sanctification
with the enduement of power, or the Baptism
of the Holy Ghost. The Baptism with the Holy
Ghost is a gift of power upon the sanctified life;
and when we receive it we have the same evidence
as the disciples received on the Day of Pentecost,
in speaking in new tongues.”
Over the years since its establishment in
Florence Crawford, founder of the
Portland, Oregon, the Apostolic Faith work has Portland Apostolic Faith work,
maintained the doctrines outlined in the first
papers published at Azusa Street, noting that this received sanctification and the power
is the doctrinal teaching upon which God mani-
fested His seal of approval by pouring out the
of the Holy Spirit at the Azusa revival.

20 Origin of the Organization

 Holy Spirit. The doctrines published are not just
formal statements preserved on paper. Today, in
Raymond Crawford succeeded Apostolic Faith services worldwide, testimonies
his mother as leader of the Apostolic are given by people who have received the three
experiences taught at Azusa and upheld to this
Faith organization. day by the Apostolic Faith organization.

Leadership
Florence Crawford, founder of the Apostolic
Faith work in Portland, Oregon, was among those
who received the experiences of sanctification
and the power of the Holy Spirit in the Azusa
revival. [For more of her story and her personal
recollections about the revival, see the chapter
“Azusa Roots.”] A dynamic woman, she entered
wholeheartedly into the efforts there, assisting
mission leader William J. Seymour. Many in-
quiries had begun coming in from people who
wanted to know more about the Pentecostal
outpouring, so Florence Crawford, with the help
of a woman named Clara Lum and others, began
recording what was being said in the meetings
and putting it into a newspaper format. That
publication was called The Apostolic Faith.
In addition to her efforts in the publishing
work, Florence Crawford felt God’s call to travel
beyond the boundaries of Los Angeles with the
Pentecostal message. In December of 1906, she
made her initial visit to Portland, Oregon, where
she had been invited to preach in an independent
church at Southwest Second and Main Streets.
Subsequently, the pastor of that church offered
her his pulpit permanently, and in 1908, she
moved to Portland.
Florence Crawford continued to teach and
publish the experiences of justification by faith,
entire sanctification, and the baptism of the
Holy Ghost. She took a firm stand against any
compromise of these vital doctrines—and it was
just such a compromise that ultimately divided

Origin of the Organization 21

 his fifty-five years of ministry. He triumphantly
finished his earthly life on June 3, 1965.
In a letter written several months before his
death, Reverend Crawford recommended that at
his passing, Loyce Carver take his place as leader Left: Loyce Carver
followed Raymond
of the Apostolic Faith work. The governing body Crawford as the
of the organization approved that recommenda- organization’s leader.
tion, and on June 4, 1965, Reverend Carver
assumed the leadership responsibility. During Below: Loyce Carver
his tenure, the Apostolic Faith work continued with his successor,
to expand around the world. New churches were Dwight Baltzell,
begun in a number of African nations, enlarg- in 1993.
ing the work on that continent to hundreds of
established churches. Gospel work was begun in
Korea, new areas were opened up in the West
Indies, and additional churches were established

the Azusa ministry. She nurtured the Apostolic

Faith organization for thirty years until her death
in 1936. Following the founder’s decease, lead-
ership of the work was transferred to her son,
Raymond Robert Crawford.
From the time of his conversion, Raymond
Crawford set an example of the joy in giving one’s
life wholeheartedly to the work of the Lord. As an
enthusiastic and Spirit-filled evangelist, he incor-
porated progressive methods into outreach efforts
of the organization, and continued the emphasis
on the publication of printed literature as a pri-
mary means of evangelism. A fearless defender
of the Gospel truths, he faithfully admonished
Christian brethren around the world during

22 Origin of the Organization

 Members from around
the globe stood to
pledge their support of
the transition in
leadership.

in the United States. Reverend Carver super-

vised the construction of the new International
Headquarters Office, as well as a new church
building in Portland.
During the 1993 camp meeting, Reverend
Carver brought before the Board of Trustees
of the church his prayerfully-made decision to
retire from his leadership role. He requested that
Dwight Baltzell be appointed to serve as his suc-
cessor. On July 10, 1993, that recommendation
was made official, and Reverend Baltzell was
installed as the next leader of the organization
with the unanimous backing of the congregation
gathered at the annual camp meeting. Reverend
Baltzell led the work of the Apostolic Faith world- the work. The baton of leadership of the Apostolic
wide for seven years, during which time he toured Faith work was passed to Reverend Lee during the Above: Darrel Lee
many of the foreign branches of the work. annual camp meeting convention in Portland, Or- and Dwight Baltzell
In July of 2000, Reverend Baltzell expressed to egon. In a heart-stirring display of unity, the group pose in front of the
the congregation his intention of stepping aside as of believers, who were gathered on the campground International
the Superintendent General, and recommended from around the globe, stood to pledge their sup- Headquarters.
that Darrel Lee, then serving as pastor of the Port- port of Reverend Lee’s appointment as leader of
land headquarters church, assume leadership of the Apostolic Faith churches worldwide.

Origin of the Organization 23

 Governing Procedure
In order to function and fulfill its mission, a
church must have a certain legal form of govern-
ment with qualified executive officials. The Apos-
tolic Faith organization is incorporated under the
laws of the state of Oregon with the official name,
“Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, Oregon.”
It has written articles of incorporation, which
provide the framework for legal, administrative,
and business decisions. All branches of the
organization, both domestic and international,
are under the leadership and direction of the
organization’s headquarters.
The governing body of the Apostolic Faith
work is a board of five trustees of which the Su-
perintendent General is the chairman. A board
of elders, though not mentioned in the articles
Above: Ministers and pastors gather at a of incorporation and bylaws of the organization,
ministerial training session at the is an informal group that provides a basis of sup-
headquarters church in March of 2005. port in the decision-making for the organization.

24 Origin of the Organization

 Facing page top: A
diagram shows the
current leadership
structure of the Apostolic
Faith organization.

Left: A group of
ministers and workers.
From left: William
Paulson, Charles Rod-
man, Jack Robbins,
John Clasper, Raymond
Crawford, and Harry
Morgan.

Below: Ministers at a
meeting in 2005 enjoy
fellowship before the
session begins.

Generally consisting of United States pastors and

retired pastors, this group also includes ministers
and workers who are asked to participate in any
given organizational decision-making process.
As the worldwide scope of the work expand-
ed, a long-range goal of further distributing the
organization’s leadership load was established.
Directors were appointed to oversee various areas
of the international outreach. District Superin-
tendents supervise the efforts in specific coun-
tries and regions, with the pastors and ministerial
staff working under their direction.
The leaders of the Apostolic Faith work have
always had a sincere desire and prayer that the
organization be led by God. The ministry is sup-
ported in its efforts by thousands of spiritually-
committed believers worldwide, who are united
in a determination to uphold and practice the
teachings of God’s Word, walking in its light to
the best of their knowledge and ability.

Origin of the Organization 25

 Azusa
Roots

The Pentecostal revival of the

twentieth century changed the
world’s religious landscape.

T
hroughout its history, the Church has of Charles Parham. Parham believed that those
experienced numerous revivals and who had been converted and had received the
Above: The house reformation movements. Many of these “second blessing” of sanctification, as taught by
in Los Angeles movements progressively restored to the Church John Wesley and holiness organizations, should
where Florence Biblical truths that had been lost or neglected seek “a baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire.” At
Crawford was during the Middle Ages. One of the most sig- times prior to the twentieth century, God had
converted. nificant of these movements was the Pentecostal poured out His Spirit on individuals here and
Revival of the twentieth century—a revival that there. In 1901, under Parham’s ministry, a stu-
changed the world’s religious landscape and be- dent received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with
came the most vibrant force for evangelization the Biblical evidence of speaking in tongues. The
in that century. concept of seeking for the baptism of the Holy
The roots of that revival are traced to a Bible Spirit spread; interest was heightened by news of
school in Topeka, Kansas, under the leadership the revival taking place in faraway Wales.

26 Azusa Roots
 William Seymour, a young black holiness church where he was assisting rejected that mes-
preacher, was put in touch with Parham, where sage and locked him out of the building, Seymour
he learned of the “third blessing”—the baptism received an invitation to stay at a home where he
of the Holy Spirit. Though Seymour had not was encouraged to hold prayer meetings. He was
personally experienced the Holy Spirit infilling, also invited to prayer meetings held in a home at
he occasionally preached on the subject. 214 Bonnie Brae Street, where a group of people
In early 1906, Seymour was invited to help met to pray for revival. At the end of March,
pastor a holiness church in Los Angeles, where Seymour called for a ten-day tarrying meeting.
he continued to expound upon the Pentecostal On April 9, after ten days of prayer and fasting,
doctrine, using Acts 2:4 as his text. When the several received the Holy Spirit, with the evidence
of speaking in tongues. On April 12, Seymour
also received the baptism. Word spread quickly,
and soon crowds began to gather in the street to
hear Seymour preach from the front porch.
Before long, the crowds became too large
for the home on Bonnie Brae Street, so a
search was made for a suitable building where
the revival meetings could continue. An old
abandoned church was located on Azusa Street.
Though the building had been recently used as

Above left: The house

on Bonnie Brae Street
in Los Angeles as it
appears today.

Left: In April of
1906, the outpour-
ing of the Holy Spirit
began in this home
at 214 Bonnie Brae
Street where prayer
meetings were being
held.

Azusa Roots 27
 Within weeks, a steady
stream of seekers was
coming from every
continent on earth, drawn
by the testimony that the
Holy Spirit’s power was
being poured out.

a warehouse and livery on Azusa Street, fueled

stable, a small band of interest. The written ac-
workers cleaned it, set counts of Frank Bartle-
up seating made from man, a man who had
planks put on top of built a reputation in ho-
empty nail kegs, and liness circles as a prolific
made a pulpit out of reporter, also played a
Above and right: Two
views of the Azusa old shipping crates. key role in describing
mission. Hundreds The building was named the “Apostolic Faith the historic events occurring there.
of people began Mission,” and the first service was held there Almost as amazing as the miracles that were
crowding into the on April 14. Soon, dramatic conversions and as- taking place was the diversity of people who at-
building when word tounding healings were taking place almost daily, tended the meetings. The revival had begun with
spread of the and the revival broke out with such intensity that home meetings attended by a few black men and
dramatic conversions it knew no bounds. Within weeks, a steady stream women, but soon, over twenty nationalities were
and healings that of seekers was coming from every continent on counted in one meeting in the building on Azusa
were taking
earth, drawn by the testimony that the Holy Street. Prominent government officials and busi-
place there.
Spirit’s power was being poured out. Several hun- nessmen sat elbow-to-elbow with vagrants and
dred people would crowd into the whitewashed derelicts. Women from high society were found
40-by-60-foot wooden building, and sometimes prevailing in prayer next to domestic servants
people were forced to stand outside because there and washerwomen. The expansion of the Early
was no more room in the building. Church described in the Book of Acts indicates
Reports in the Los Angeles daily news me- that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit transcends
dia, though ridiculing the events taking place racial and cultural lines, and the Azusa Street

28 Azusa Roots
revival was an illustration of this fundamental From that time on, she longed for something
truth. Bartleman eloquently summarized this in her heart that she did not have. On one occa-
distinctive feature of the revival, writing, “The sion, when a noted infidel was to give a lecture,
‘color line’ was washed away in the blood.” he asked her to sing for his audience as she had
done before. She agreed to do so if she could
Florence Crawford’s Testimony choose the song, and what she selected was,
Florence Crawford was only one of thousands “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” As the strains of her
who went to the revival’s epicenter in Los Angeles song went forth, hearts were melted and tears
during that first decade of the new century, but came to many eyes. The speaker tried to make
she was one who came away a changed woman. excuses, but his lecture fell flat and had little
As a child, Florence Crawford was reared in effect on the crowd who had come to hear him
a home where the works of agnostics and atheists deny God.
were read aloud in the family home in much the In spite of her seeming spiritual sensitivity,
way that the Bible was read in Christian homes. Florence Crawford was not yet a born again
Well-known “free thought” speakers were regu- Christian. As a young woman, she associated
larly entertained. However, the young girl had with a group that frequented theaters, held card
her own ideas about God. As an adult, she would parties, and attended dances. In her testimony,
reminisce about sneaking off to a nearby camp she often would relate the remarkable way that
meeting, where she heard the message of salva- God drew her to Himself. “One night as I was
tion and felt her heart touched through the words dancing in a ballroom I heard a Voice speak out
of the song, “Oh, the Bleeding Lamb.” of Heaven and say, ‘Daughter, give Me thine

Left: Signs at the site

of the Azusa Street
Mission commemorate
the mission’s existence
and the fact that “The
Comforter Has Come.”

Azusa Roots 29
 heart.’ I did not know it was the Voice of God
so I went on dancing. Again the Voice spoke. It
seemed my feet became heavy and the place was
no longer beautiful to me. Again the Voice spoke
much louder, ‘Daughter, give Me thine heart!’
The music died away and I left the ballroom. For
three days and nights I prayed and wept, wrestling
against the powers of atheism and darkness. The
enemy would tell me there was no God and that
the Bible was a myth. I could hardly eat or sleep,
and it seemed there was no hope for me, but I
thought, Why did God speak out of Heaven if
there were no hope?
“At last I remembered a woman who I knew
was a Christian, and I went to her home. When
she opened the door and looked at my face she
said, ‘You want God.’ I said, ‘I want Him more
than anything else in the world.’ Right there I
fell on my knees, and as she prayed with me, God
came into my heart.
“Oh, the rest, the peace, the quietness that
flooded my soul was wonderful! As I wept for joy,
I said, ‘I must go and tell the others.’ I went to
a home where some friends were waiting for me
to join them in a card game. They had cards on
the table and were ready to play, but I told them,
‘No cards for me; I have found Jesus!’ They saw
the light of another world on my face, and the
Right: Clipping from a cards were put away.
Los Angeles newspaper “What a change God made in my heart! Ev-
of 1906 shows the erything I had loved that was of the world was
derisive attitude of the taken out of my heart, but oh how I loved lost
local press toward the souls! Often I wept as I saw those who looked
amazing happenings
that were taking place sad, and many times I would stop and tell them
on Azusa Street. the story of Jesus.”
When Florence Crawford heard that God
could sanctify wholly, she sought that experi-
ence also. She went from place to place where
sanctification was taught, willing to kneel at any
altar, no matter how humble, seeking to find

30 Azusa Roots
 Florence Crawford was
only one of thousands
who went to the revival’s
epicenter, but she was
one who came away a
changed woman.

satisfaction for her hungry soul. She reported, Some time later, this Christian woman came
“When evangelists came to the city, I found a way to Florence Crawford’s home and told her she
to get a private interview with them, if possible, had found a people who preached the whole
and told of my hunger. When they heard how ear- Word of God. When asked, “Where are they?” Above: Florence
nestly I had sought and consecrated my life, they she responded, “Down in the lower section of Los Crawford at about
the time she began
would say, ‘You are sanctified,’ but I knew that I Angeles.” With no hesitation, Florence Crawford seeking God.
was not. There was a hunger, a craving, a thirst told her, “I do not care where the place is, I want
in my heart. While I was living a consecrated life, to go. Take me there!”
the fire had not yet fallen on the sacrifice.” In the very first meeting Florence Crawford
There was a deep longing in her heart to find attended at the ramshackle building on Azusa
someone who preached all the Word of God. Street, she recognized that the people there pos-
One day when a friend was visiting her, they sessed what her spirit was hungering for. “It was
sat with their Bibles in their hands, wondering not a fine hall, but just an old barn-like building
why they could not find anyone who preached with an old board laid on two chairs for an altar.
the Bible in its entirety. They agreed before they The floor was carpeted with sawdust; the walls
parted that if they ever found a people who and beams blackened by smoke. I looked around
preached the Gospel in its fullness, they would to see if anybody saw me go in, but I would not
cast their lot with them. have cared if the whole world saw me go out.

Azusa Roots 31
 The outpouring of the Holy
Spirit transcended racial and
cultural lines. Over twenty
nationalities were counted in
Photo from Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center

one meeting in the building on

Azusa Street.

I had found a people who had the experience I but English began to magnify and praise God in
wanted,” she reported. She determined to seek Chinese. The power of God shook my being, and
Above: William
for the experience that she knew these people rivers of joy and divine love flooded my soul. It
Seymour, leader of
the Azusa Street had found. was wonderful, but the greatest joy to my heart
movement, with “From Monday till Friday I sought God and was that I had received the power to witness to lost
his wife, Jenny. read my Bible at every possible moment between souls so they, too, could find Jesus.” A Chinese
my duties,” she related. “That Friday afternoon man was present, and hearing her speak in his na-
at the mission, the preacher stopped and said, tive tongue, he came and listened in amazement
‘Somebody in this place wants something from and then said, “Chinese white woman!”
God.’ I pushed the chairs away in front of me and
fell at the altar, and there God sanctified me.” Spreading the Message
She later referred to this experience as “the most From that time on, Florence Crawford’s
choice treasure of my life.” burning desire was to spread the message that
Three days later, in another of the Azusa Pentecost—the power and anointing of the Holy
Street meetings, God poured out the Pentecos- Spirit for Christian service—had come. News-
tal experience on her life. “As I sat in my chair in papers commented on a “new sect of fanatics
the mission,” she recounted, “the Holy Ghost fell breaking loose,” and a front-page story in the
from Heaven and a rushing mighty wind filled the Los Angeles Daily Times said, “The devotees of the
room. My tongue that had never spoken a word weird doctrine practice the most fanatical rites,

32 Azusa Roots
 preach the wildest theories, and work themselves in the meetings into a newspaper format. This
into a state of mad excitement in their peculiar publication was called The Apostolic Faith. In Sep-
zeal.” However, the reports did not discourage tember of 1906, 5,000 copies were printed of
Florence Crawford. the first edition and distributed without charge.
Touched by what has been called the greatest Ministers and laymen received copies, and inter-
outpouring of the Holy Spirit in history, this dy- est continued to grow. By 1907, the press run was
namic woman found her energy channeled into 40,000 copies.
Gospel work. She immediately associated herself An article in the first issue of the paper gave
with the Azusa Street organization, and in recog- a picture of those early meetings: “In a short time
nition of her obvious abilities, was soon accepted God began to manifest His power and soon the
by leader William Seymour into the core group building could not contain the people. Proud,
who helped to set policy at the mission. Within well-dressed preachers come in to ‘investigate.’
four months, she became a minister. Soon their high looks are replaced with wonder,
Another of her duties was sending out news then conviction comes, and very often you will
of what was happening at Azusa Street. People find them in a short time wallowing on the dirty
who wanted to know more about the “Latter floor, asking God to forgive them and make
Rain” Gospel were making inquiries, requesting them as little children.” This description and
more information. Combining her efforts with others in later editions illustrate a fundamental
those of Clara Lum, another woman in the Azusa truth about receiving God’s blessing—it must be-
Street meetings, and others, Florence Crawford gin with an attitude of brokenness, repentance,
began putting the record of what was being said and humility.

Left: The Azusa Street

mission leaders. William
Seymour is in the center
front. Florence Crawford
is third from the right
Photo from Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center

in the back row. Clara

Lum, who later came to
Portland to assist in the
work, is seated on the
right in the front row.
Mildred Crawford, Flor-
ence Crawford’s daugh-
ter, is the child in front.

Azusa Roots 33
 Photo courtesy of Oregon Historical Society, #25592

The Opening of New Doors on Azusa Street. Yet, God opened the way, and
Though God was clearly working in the after holding meetings in San Francisco and
Los Angeles area, Florence Crawford had, like Oakland, she boarded a train that was bound
Above: The heart of
so many others, begun to feel God’s call to take northward. In her heart was a prayer that God
downtown Portland
(looking eastward) the Pentecostal message to other areas. At one would meet her every need and open new doors
as it appeared when point she said, “There is no spot on earth so dear for Gospel work.
Florence Crawford to me as this place, but I must go out and tell the Arriving in Salem, Oregon, in mid-
arrived with the story. Souls are perishing far and near. . . . God December of 1906, she visited a holiness group
message that wants us to go out into the highways and hedges whose pastor, M. L. Ryan, had received the Holy
sanctified believers and declare this Gospel.” Ghost at Azusa Street and had subsequently re-
could receive the After doing some itinerant preaching in quested that someone come from Los Angeles
Pentecostal power. California, that call propelled her northward. to help his group. Her arrival was announced in
She began to consecrate and make preparations his publication, Apostolic Light, and the series of
to fulfill her responsibility, although for a time meetings she held there were mightily blessed of
everything seemed to be against her leaving Los God, with many receiving the baptism of the Holy
Angeles. She had become a vital part of the work Ghost. One of those in attendance at the Salem

34 Azusa Roots
 Florence
Crawford
began to
feel God’s
call to
take the
Photo courtesy of Oregon Historical Society, #17571

Pentecostal
message
to other
areas.

meetings was the wife of a Portland pastor. She evangelical Christianity in the northwestern part
invited the woman evangelist to visit Portland and of the United States—the message that the Pen-
hold meetings in her husband’s church on Second tecostal experience of the baptism of the Holy
Above: The Union-
and Main Street. Pastor Glassco’s congregation Ghost could be received by saved and sanctified
Station in Northwest
had been dwindling, and he had been praying for believers in this era. Portland where
something to happen to make a change. Just three hours later, she was in her first Florence Crawford
God heard and answered those prayers. The meeting. The place of worship was far from el- arrived in December
hands of the clock on the railroad station tower egant. The building at Second and Main, once of 1906.
were creeping toward 12:00 noon when a train used as a blacksmith shop, had been cleaned up
pulled slowly into the Portland, Oregon, depot and made into a sanctuary. A few days later, she
at the end of December in 1906. Perhaps the mo- wrote back to Los Angeles: “The power fell before
ment when the travelers disembarked passed into the meeting was half through, and two received
history unnoticed by those going by. However, it Pentecost; at night, two more. . . . The altar is
was a moment not without importance, for Flor- full before the meeting is half over. The house
ence Crawford was one of the passengers. She is just packed. Oh, if we only had a larger hall! I
brought with her a message that was to transform cannot tell how God is working here.”

Azusa Roots 35
 was needed for those interested in hearing the
Word of God. One day a reporter feigned to be
a derelict in order to gain entrance to the service.
With a bottle in his hip pocket, he made his way
to the front and knelt at the place of prayer, hop-
ing for a close-up view of what was happening.
He had intended to write a derogatory report
for the newspaper, but there the hand of God
touched him, convicted him of sin, and saved his
soul. “God is spreading this Gospel in spite of
the devil,” Florence Crawford wrote. “How glad
I am that I ever found my way into the dear old
mission on Azusa Street!”
On January 8, with her initial trip concluded,
Florence Crawford returned to Los Angeles.
However, in April of that same year, she was
on her way back to Portland. The pastor of the
In a letter dated a week later, she again told group that met in the old converted blacksmith
how the crowds were thronging the hall. As the shop had contacted the owners of property at
word got out, people began coming from all over Southeast Twelfth and Division Street in Port-
the area in such numbers that some had to be land, wanting to make arrangements to hold a
Above: Florence turned away. In the first week, thirty-eight re- camp meeting at that location. The owners were
Crawford, around ceived the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and as the initially reluctant, saying that the “tongues of
the time she moved revival fire continued to spread, it began reaching fire” might set the woods ablaze, but they finally
to Portland. the unconverted. One young woman came from consented to let him use the location. Greatly in
Albany, Oregon, and was saved, sanctified, and need of a larger place of worship after the camp
received her baptism, all in one day. meeting, the Portland congregation moved to a
News reporters began to cover the happen- hall at Southwest First and Madison.
ings, although they were not the most welcomed As the Lord continued to bless, the pastor
people at that time because all available space offered to turn his church over to Florence Craw-

36 Azusa Roots
Today, people on every continent are
serving the Lord, rejoicing in the
message that Florence Crawford
brought to Portland a century ago.

ford. It would be her church—the Apostolic Faith the Portland pastorate,

Mission of Portland, Oregon. During a Gospel “Mother” Crawford, as
outreach trip to Minneapolis, God spoke to she came to be known,
her, saying, “If you will go back to Portland, discontinued the cus-
Oregon, and stay there, I will make that place tom of taking collec-
the headquarters of the Apostolic Faith work, tions in the services.
and I will raise up the standard of the Gospel The former pastor was
in that city.” amazed, and asked,
God’s plan was unmistakable, and in 1908, “Who is going to be
Florence Crawford gave up her home in Los responsible for the up-
Angeles and moved to Portland. At that point, keep of this place if no
the Azusa Street ministry turned over two of the collections are taken?”
existing twenty-two copies of the mailing list, and She firmly answered him, “I will be responsible.”
transferred to her the responsibility of publishing From that day to this, no collections have ever
The Apostolic Faith paper. The thirteenth issue of been taken in Apostolic Faith Church services.
the Apostolic Faith paper, which was published Freewill offerings and tithes have met every
in Los Angeles in May of 1908, after Florence need.
Crawford moved to Portland, contained this Just over one year later, on October 12, 1909, Above: The paper
note: “For the next issues of this paper address the Apostolic Faith organization was registered published at the
Azusa Street mission
The Apostolic Faith Campmeeting, Portland, with the State of Oregon. From that simple be-
after Florence Craw-
Oregon.” ginning, a worldwide work sprang. ford moved to Port-
Funds were low, but God spoke definitely Today, Apostolic Faith churches around the land told subscribers
to Florence Crawford, letting her know that He world look back to their roots in a converted to direct further mail
would provide, and experience had taught her blacksmith shop in Portland, Oregon. The litera- to Portland.
that faith plus obedience to the will of God brings ture ministry has expanded and covered the globe
results. With only ten cents in hand, she stepped with Gospel publications produced and offered
out in faith, and in July of 1908, the first paper free of charge in more than seventy languages and
to be issued from Portland was published. dialects. People on every continent are serving
In accordance with her belief that God the Lord, rejoicing in the message that Florence
would provide for the work, after accepting Crawford brought to Portland a century ago.

Azusa Roots 37
 Early Days
in Portland

A
fter Florence Crawford’s arrival in Port- from attending; often, crowds stood out in the
land, an old converted blacksmith shop streets.
at Southwest Second and Main became When an invitation to prayer was given at the
the setting for real revival. It was not an elaborate close of the meetings, so many wanted to pray
Above: The first place—just a rickety old two-story building—but that it was difficult to find room at the altar of
camp meeting in there, Spirit-filled ministers began to preach prayer or elsewhere in the building. Souls under
Portland was held Gospel truths. conviction would rush to the altar area while the
in 1907 on a rent- People came to investigate, and before long, sermon was still being given. Desperate men and
ed campground at the building was crowded to capacity for each women knelt and prayed alongside well-dressed
Southeast Twelfth service; every chair was filled, the aisles packed, society people. It was not uncommon to see
and Division. and the doorway jammed. City officials became a man remove his pipe or cigarettes from his
concerned about safety and began allowing only pocket, throw them aside, and continue praying
a certain number of people into the hall. When until victory came. All available kneeling space
the seats were full, the doors would be closed, was taken, and the doors had to be locked at
and those who were not seated were turned away. times to keep away the crowds who might disturb
However, this did not discourage earnest seekers those seeking God in prayer.

38 Early Days in Portland

 God’s Spirit blessed as
the work in Portland
began to grow.

In the fall of 1907, a move to larger quartersspiritual experiences often prayed until the mid-
was clearly necessary, and a building was rented night hour or later.
at Southwest First and Madison. God’s Spirit People of various nationalities and races at-
continued to bless. In the fall of 1908, after thetended the services, and all worshiped together.
close of the camp meeting, the Apostolic Faith For a time, the Monday night services were de- Above: Workers
secured the large building at the corner of South-voted to German-speaking people and the Satur- unroll a tent canvas
west Front and Burnside for its headquarters. day night meetings were for the Scandinavians. at a post-World War I
Later, the Saturday night service was designated camp meeting.
The Revival Continues as an “all-nations meeting.” The other weeknight
Those were days of sweeping revivals. Three services were conducted in English.
services were held on Sunday—morning, after- The first Apostolic Faith paper printed
noon, and evening. Members brought their in Portland contained a vivid description of
lunches and stayed all day. The prayer meetings what took place in the meetings: “The altar
sometimes lasted from the close of one service was thronged with seekers. They finally had to
to the beginning of the next. At the close of the dismiss the crowd to make room for the altar
evening meeting, those who were seeking deeper service. The hall halfway to the door would be

Early Days in Portland 39

 an altar filled with seekers. . . . Many drunkards a mighty message, which brought forth a hearty
and others in awful lives of sin were saved and response from sinners and backsliders seeking to
Above: Some of the
congregation and are still standing true. Husbands that had been renew their covenant with God.
workers gather outside drunkards returned to their wives and made “Night service was likewise well-attended. I
the mission at Front homes happy. Most of the work in Portland was preached from Genesis 1 and St. John 1, ‘God
and Burnside in the not with those who had been saved already, but said, let there be light, and there was light.’ Sev-
year 1916, one year it was the saving of people right out of the slums eral sinners sought God. And we closed the day
before the “Jesus the and from lives of sin.” with happy hearts seeing what God had done.
Light of the World” A diary entry in the records of Raymond ‘And the Lord added to the Church daily such
sign was erected on Crawford, the founder’s son, contained this ac- as should be saved.’”
top of the building.
count of a typical Sunday in those early days. “A
wonderful Sunday at F & B [Front and Burnside]. Persecution
The crowd at the afternoon meeting was the larg- Serious persecution was a common occur-
est ever witnessed. Every available seat taken and rence in the early days of the Apostolic Faith work,
front of platform filled, showing God still attends because the Pentecostal message was something
His Word with power. Brother Clasper preached new and different. Many of the old-line formal

40 Early Days in Portland

churches of the day were disturbed because revival threw that familiar missile of a mob—a rotten
was sweeping the land and people were getting egg—at the platform. It missed the folks there on Below left: An excerpt
from the diary of
saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Spirit. the platform but struck the organ. The raw egg
Raymond Crawford
They felt these experiences were fanaticism. ran down between the keys into the interior of describing a service at
The free mixing of races scandalized many. the organ and was hard to clean up, but it did not Front and Burnside.
Portland’s Evening Telegram published articles stop the service, nor hinder it in any way.”
mocking the meetings and bringing absurd ac- The first Apostolic Faith paper printed in Below right: Jack
cusations. Many attended the services out of a Portland reported along the same lines: “Persecu- Robbins came into the
sense of curiosity. False rumors were circulated, tions were terrible. They would throw snowballs, work in 1907 during
which only drew more people to attend. bottles, tin cans, and rotten eggs. Every window the first camp meeting,
Sometimes antagonists resorted to violent in the Mission front was broken out and the glass and labored faithfully
as a minister for over
means to disrupt the meetings. A pioneer of in doors and transoms. It was a regular battle-
forty years.
those early days recalled, “One night someone field. They had to board up the windows.”

Early Days in Portland 41

 One time, some law enforcement officials service. One night, a man who had contemplated
attended. Because of the stories that had been the murder of a number of people was in a meet-
circulated about the work, they felt it their duty
ing. After arising from prayer, he went outside,
to investigate the happenings at the Apostolic removed the revolver from his pocket and threw it
Faith Mission. After looking over the organiza- into the river. Another person who came into the
tion and observing what was going on there, services was delirious and had to be held down
they began to talk to by the workers until they prayed for him and cast
Florence Crawford. out the demons that had him bound.
They informed her that An early church paper records this account:
they had the papers “A drunkard came one night to the Mission and
with them to arrest her.the Spirit of God got hold of him and convicted
Calmly she said, “You him. The next night he was saved. He was re-
will never do it.” She stored back to his family. He began to sell off
knew she was in God’s his property and make restitution. After all was
will and that nothing straight, he came and sought for a clean heart.
was taking place in . . . He called the saints one day to pray for his
violation of the laws sick child, and the child was instantly healed. He
of God or man. She invited them to come out to dinner the next day.
had an assurance that They came, and after dinner got down to pray.
God had His hand The Lord sanctified him and baptized his wife
over the work that He with the Holy Ghost. That night he came to the
had called her to do. mission and God wonderfully baptized him. He
In time, Portland city has been living this salvation ever since. God has
officials recognized thehealed him of typhoid fever since then. He was
high standard of Chris- deaf in one ear, and God healed that.”
tian living maintained Even the city newspapers occasionally car-
by Apostolic Faith peo- ried accounts of the transforming power of God.
ple. They also noted One article was headlined, “Erstwhile Sinner is
the life-transforming Making Amends.” The article identified the man
effects the meetings and gave his address. Then it went on to tell how
were having on people he “hit the sawdust trail at the Apostolic Faith
previously considered beyond help, and their mission last December and since that day he has
attitude changed to one of respect. been following back another long trail and at
Above: Florence places where he took the wrong turn he is setting
Crawford with her
children, Ray and Changed Lives things right as best he may. He has contributed
Mildred, within a few Some of the early-day converts came in to various conscience funds with the result, he
years of the move to through the services held by Apostolic Faith said last night, of a peace and satisfaction he
Portland. workers on the street corners. Often those who never knew before.”
heard the street meetings followed the Gospel As the new converts were nurtured in the
workers back to the mission building to attend a Gospel, there was an ongoing need for patient

42 Early Days in Portland

teaching, instruction, and correction. When con- our midst. We needed teaching, and she gave it
fusion or differences arose, Florence Crawford to us. As she talked, different ones in the group
dealt with the matter in a straightforward man- spoke up and asked forgiveness of someone else
ner. While still at the Second and Main Street present. This had a wonderful effect on all who
church, the first “saints meeting” was held. After were there. The work then went forward with Above: Florence
the close of a regular service, the members gath- Crawford (front row
more power. The presence of God’s Spirit was
center) with a group
ered with the founder in a second floor hallway. mightily manifested in the meetings, and more of the early workers.
No chairs were there, so the group sat down souls were saved than ever before.” Her son, Raymond
on the floor. Using the Scriptures, she laid out Crawford, is third
before them different attitudes and actions that Evangelistic Zeal from the left in the
could disrupt the unity of the Spirit. From the beginning of Florence Crawford’s back row.
A woman who was present at that meeting walk with God, she wanted to reach out to the
recorded in her personal notes: “I will never lost. Her son, Raymond Crawford, related, “As
forget how that meeting affected us, and how soon as she got saved, she wanted to do some-
we reacted. We were all eager for God to have thing for humanity. She started into rescue work.
His full way in our lives and were willing to yield She used to leave our home in Highland Park and
anything to do His will and to have His Spirit in go down to the city of Los Angeles and look for

Early Days in Portland 43

 Each summer between
1907 and 1919, a
campground was rented
for the annual summer
camp meeting.

men and women who were down in the depths

of sin that she might point them to Jesus and
show them a way out. She went into prison work
and she worked among the prisoners incarcerated
in the jails in Los Angeles.” The spiritual zeal of
the founder—a zeal that blossomed into a life-
Top: The tabernacle on the long passion when Florence Crawford received
Kenton campground in 1918. her sanctification and the infilling of the Holy
Spirit—was an inspiration to the congregation
Above: Children pose for a picture that began to grow in Portland.
on the Kenton campground. Those who made up the congregation in the
early days were true pioneers in Gospel outreach,

44 Early Days in Portland

 prayer, and then separated into groups to go out
on the street corners to tell others about God’s
grace and His power to deliver from sin. The
same street workers came every night; there was
no alternating of groups or times. Their intensive
work of evangelism proved effective, and the
group grew continually.

First Camp Meetings

In the summer of 1907, a camp meeting was
held at Southeast Twelfth and Division. Services
in the mission hall were shut down for the sum-
mer, and everyone who could make arrangements
moved out to the rented campground. The large
tent, seating several hundred people, was often
filled to capacity and many were turned away.
Each summer for the next few years, the
Apostolic Faith workers rented plots of ground
in various areas of the city and held camp meet-
ings. The task of finding a suitable location to
set up a large canvas tabernacle and numerous
family tents was not always easy. One time the
large tent had to be pitched where there were no
trees to give relief from the hot sun, but nothing
deterred the people who eagerly anticipated the
coming camp meeting.
Bible teachings given at these meetings
were especially beneficial to the growing body
and they gave freely of their time and strength. of believers who were pioneering this work of
Few, if any, had what would have been considered evangelism. Messages given on justification,
luxuries in those days. For the most part, the peo- sanctification, the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
ple who attended the mission were of the working Christian living, and the coming of the Lord laid
class. Not many owned their homes. Only a few the foundation of God’s Word deep in hearts
had cars. Workdays were generally nine or ten and enabled the believers to meet the spiritual
hours long, but these evangelistic-minded people challenges of their day.
were eager to participate in any endeavor that had The first church paper printed in Portland
potential to bring souls into the Gospel meetings. reported this about the 1907 camp meeting: “The
Some would rush home from a long day’s labor, camp meeting ran for three months. There was
eat a snack, change clothes, and hurry away to hardly a day but that two or three would get
take part in street meetings. They first went to their baptism. One night the crowd outside

Early Days in Portland 45

 Water baptismal
services were always one
of the highlights of the
camp meetings.

unhooked the curtains of the tabernacle and hundreds were baptized, were held in the Wil-
Above: Workers threw in stones. The altar service went right on. lamette and Columbia Rivers. Members of the
gather to pray by the Reporters came and kept an account of the meet- congregation would gather along the banks to
river bank just before ings in the papers, which, though calculated to watch as the baptismal candidates went down
a water baptismal
oppose the meetings, brought in crowds to hear into the water, where they were immersed by
service.
the truth.” members of the ministerial staff according to
Facing page top: The Many were added to the congregation during instructions given in the Word of God.
riverboat “Blue Bird,” the camp meetings, as people from various walks Transportation to the baptismal services var-
transported people to of life assembled to hear the preaching of the old- ied over the years. In 1909 it took five trips of a
a baptismal service on time religion. Members from nominal churches, large launch to transport about 1,000 persons to
Swan Island in 1920. including deacons, Sunday school teachers, and Swan Island where 219 candidates were baptized.
other Christian workers, became awakened to Other years, fleets of chartered streetcars and
Facing page: Crowds their spiritual needs, sought God at the altars of automo­biles took the members to the banks of
stand along the prayer, found their hearts’ desire, and some chose the rivers.
water’s edge to watch to affiliate with the Apostolic Faith people. Another special event at each camp meeting
the baptismal service. Water baptismal services were always one of was the ordinance service, where the believers
the highlights of the camp meetings, and were shared the emblems representing the Body and
indicative of the many who had been converted Blood of their Savior, and followed that by a foot
during the year. Early baptismal services, where washing service. In her diary, one of the pioneers

46 Early Days in Portland

Early Days in Portland 47
 of the Apostolic Faith work gave an account of those early days in those things that were new to
the first ordinance service held in the Portland us. She leaned hard on God for guidance and
mission: “I had never heard of the practice of on the Word of God for instruction, and always
Washing the Disciples’ Feet, which is one of the showed us on those blessed pages the reasons
ordinances instituted by our Savior and which for everything.”
He commanded us to observe. Sister Crawford
gathered the womenfolk around her, in a part Uncompromising Stand
Above: Workers of the hall set apart . . . for this portion of the In the years that followed the establishing of
prepare to set up the service. The men had a place set apart for them the Apostolic Faith work in Portland, religious
canvas tent that was in another part of the building. She took the ba- leaders in different parts of the country—even
used as a tabernacle sin and the towel and girded herself, meanwhile some who had initially supported the doctrines
during the early
camp meetings. explaining the Scriptures to us who sat in a big preached at Azusa—began presenting what they
circle around her. Then she started to wash our called “new light.” One doctrine promoted the
feet, and we took it up and began to wash the “Jesus Only” belief, which denies that the Father,
feet of others. Oh, how God met with us there as the Son, and the Holy Ghost are united as one in
we observed His Word! . . . I have often thought the Holy Trinity. Another group taught that the
of what a wonderful blessing would be denied second, definite work of sanctification was not a
us today if she had not patiently instructed us in prerequisite for receiving the baptism of the Holy

48 Early Days in Portland

 One man came to
talk to Florence Craw-
ford with the inten-
tion of changing the
mission’s theology. He
claimed that the experi-
ence of sanctification
was wrong. Convinced
that he could change
her mind, he begged
her, “Just give me one
meeting; all I want is
one meeting.” She re-
fused him categori-
cally, saying, “You will
never get your foot in-
side of a meeting that
I have anything to do
with—not even your
foot will ever step in-
side of my place.” She
was adamant about her
Ghost. Some contended that one work of grace theological position. Her experience had been
included both salvation and sanctification. Oth- too hard-sought for her to stray from her original
ers claimed that a person was baptized with the understanding that sanctification was a second
Holy Ghost when he was saved or sanctified. definite work of grace.
Florence Crawford knew that these new be- The body of believers in Los Angeles at the
liefs were contrary to the true teachings of the Azusa Street church was not exempt from the Above: The oldest
Bible and not in accordance with the doctrines influence of false teachings. Before long the and the youngest
embraced at the time of the outpouring of the doctrine of sanctification was questioned there, attendees at the
Kenton camp meeting
Holy Spirit in 1906. Consequently, she took a and the leaders ceased to teach this experience
in 1918.
firm stand against false teachings. Anyone who as a second, definite work of grace.
attempted to present new theories quickly dis- After Raymond Crawford assumed the
covered that the organization’s founder stood leadership role, he expressed his appreciation
steadfastly on the solid foundation of the Word for the founder’s faithfulness to God’s Word
of God and refused to deviate from any of the until her death, commenting, “I am grateful
Bible doctrines. Through the years, many min- for Mother’s bold, uncompromising stand,
isters and religious leaders challenged her and which kept this work uncontaminated from
tried to sway her from her convictions, but she false teachings; it now stands as a monument
stood immovable. to her faithfulness.”

Early Days in Portland 49

 Campground
and Camp
Meetings

practically a little city. Adjacent to the tabernacle,

there would be a restaurant, a grocery store, util-
ity buildings, and scores of family tents. Many
local members would give up their rented houses
or apartments and move onto the grounds for
the duration of the summer meetings, which
continued for three months.
Eventually, the length of the summer meet-
ings was reduced to seven weeks, but the time
element seemed to make little difference in the
number of conversions. An Apostolic Faith pa-

S
ince the beginning of the work in Portland, per published at the close of one of those camp
Top right: The front
the Apostolic Faith organization has held meetings related: “More souls were born into
gate and the large tent
used during the 1920 annual midsummer camp meetings. Over the Kingdom during these seven weeks than
camp meeting, just the years, these conventions have proved to be a in any previous camp meeting. Whole families,
after the Duke Street source of spiritual revival and a valuable means people who were hardened in sin, people from
campground was of evangelism. the better walks of society, professed Christians,
purchased. From 1907 through 1919, camp meetings and even ministers, found salvation at the old,
were held each summer at rented locations in tear-stained altars where hundreds wept their
Above left: Interior of the city. Though there were many hardships in hearts out to God.”
the tent used at the those early-day camp meetings, every effort was In the large tent tabernacles, a sawdust trail
first camp meeting led the way to the place of prayer, and the kneel-
rewarded. Consecrated hands helped in the work
on the campground.
of clearing the grounds and setting up what was ing space around the little pine benches was

50 Campground and Camp Meetings

 Through the years,
camp meetings have
proved to be a source
of spiritual revival and a
valuable means of
evangelism.

carpeted with a thick layer of straw. The can- was an eventful and
vas tabernacle was always well-filled, the long, spiritually blessed ses-
wooden benches usually crowded to capacity, sion. The convicting
and sometimes overflow crowds stood outside. power of God brought
As time passed, larger tabernacles and larger plots many souls into the
had to be secured for the summer meetings. Kingdom.
The 1908 camp meeting, held on Mount The faith of the
Tabor at what was then the outskirts of the city, congregation was tested at that camp meeting
when an epidemic of smallpox broke out and Top left: Workers
threatened to spread throughout the grounds. at one of the early
The people of God went to prayer and prayed camp meetings.
all night. Just as dawn was breaking, one of those
Above: Florence
praying saw a vision of Christ above the taber- Crawford’s well-used
nacle and an angel moving over the tents of the songbook records
camp. God healed those who were sick, and the the numbers of her
disease spread no further. favorite camp meet-
Another trial came when a group of vandals ing songs.
seemed determined to cut down the large tent
where services were held. They had succeeded Left: A hand-drawn
in cutting twenty-two ropes and were in the map of the Duke
Street campground
process of cutting one of the main guy ropes
at the time of
when Florence Crawford, accompanied by a purchase.
young woman, stepped forward and began to

Campground and Camp Meetings 51

 sing an old Gospel hymn. The tumult quieted,
and the troublemakers skulked away in the dark-
ness. God’s hand was clearly over the group—if
the tent had fallen it could have caused a serious
fire, because gasoline torches provided illumina-
tion inside, and sawdust and straw carpeted the
ground. In spite of the disturbance, the Spirit of
God worked unhindered in the hearts of earnest
seekers, and one man even received the baptism
of the Holy Spirit while the commotion was go-
ing on!
The 1909 camp meeting, held in the Mon-
tavilla district of the city, was also remembered
for conversions of a number who became zealous
soldiers of the Cross. There were two Fulton camp
meetings, one held in 1910 and one in 1913. The
camp meeting of 1911 was held at Southeast
Eleventh and Division. The 1912 campaign was
located at Eighteenth Avenue and Holgate Street.
The location of the 1914 camp meeting was in the
Alberta district. The next four camp meetings were

Top: Women wait their

turn to be baptized.

Above: Tents alongside

the river offered a place
for those being baptized
to change into dry
clothes.

Right: Another riverside

baptismal service.

52 Campground and Camp Meetings

held in the Kenton area, and the last camp meeting from the results of a terrible accident, from which
before the Duke Street campground was purchased he had suffered for years. He had to use a cane in
was held in the Rose City section of the city. walking. The Lord healed him at the altar, and Above: An interior
A letter from the Apostolic Faith Mission, now he has thrown aside his cane and is telling view of the taber-
sent out in 1914 after the camp meeting, brought everywhere what God has done for him.” nacle on the Kenton
this report: “The camp meeting closed here Au- campground, where
gust 2. It was the most wonderful camp meeting Outdoor Baptismal Services camp meetings were
held from 1915
we have ever seen . . . A sister from Cincinnati At the close of the annual camp meetings,
through 1918. The
came to the camp meeting sick in body, and the a water baptismal service is held. In the early signs were handmade
Lord touched her and gave her the baptism of days, these services were held outdoors, with by Clara Lum, who
the Holy Ghost; while under the power, she saw the candidates being baptized in the river. came to Portland
Jesus pouring oil into her vessel. A woman from Always a sacred scene, a baptismal service from the Azusa Street
Leavenworth, Washington, was lame and had was especially impressive when scores of can- mission to assist
other diseases, and went home perfectly healed, didates followed the officiating ministers into Florence Crawford.
and is telling all her neighbors and rejoicing as the river’s waters. Members of the congregation
happy as she can be. A man came to the camp stood on the bank and sang familiar Gospel
meeting and was saved and sanctified and healed hymns, including the old favorite, “Shall We

Campground and Camp Meetings 53

 Gather at the River?” Frequently, a group of time, baptismal services have been held in the
musicians would accompany the singing on church during camp meetings and at various
their instruments. other times during the year.
Top left: Laying While most of the baptismal services over
out the rafters for the years were held during summer months, The Duke Street Campground
the tabernacle. one of those not-to-be-forgotten events was held In 1920, an eleven-acre grove of towering fir
on New Year’s Day of 1918. Fifty-seven converts trees at Southeast Fifty-second and Duke was pur-
Top right: joyously went into the river’s cold waters to ob- chased for use as a campground. The acreage was
Construction
of the huge domed serve this ordinance, signifying through water fronted by Duke Street—then a dirt road—and was
structure was an baptism their spiritual burial and resurrection in need of much attention and hard work. One
amazing feat with Christ. pioneer member reminisced, “The grounds had
accomplished mainly As time passed it became more difficult to many bushes and plants, like hazelnut bushes,
by volunteer laborers. find proper locations along the river in the Port- tiger lilies, and poison oak!” Willing workers
land area for the bap­tismal services. In 1929, pitched in to clear the underbrush and beautify
a large baptistery was installed in the present the grounds for the honor and glory of God.
Duke Street tabernacle and scores of converts When the expansive landscaping of the
were baptized there annually. When the church grounds was first started, the founder took an
was built across from the campground, a beau- active role. Florence Crawford had an eye for
tiful baptistery was installed there. Since that beauty, and she would say to her helpers, “Put

54 Campground and Camp Meetings

the begonias here, the fuchsias over there, and was putting into place the huge roof trusses, each
border this winding path with variegated petu- of which weighed several tons, and was secured
nias. We will put the climbing rose bushes along by central bolts weighing 300 pounds each. A
the outside fence.” twenty-foot space between the roof and ceiling
Today, tall trees overshadow an expansive provided coolness on warm days. Seating 1,800 to
lawn. Paths lead in different directions: to the 2,000 people at that time, the sides of the build-
large stone fountain, to a lily pond opposite it, ing were canvas curtains that could be raised or
and to the restaurant and outdoor patios. Choice lowered according to the weather.
shrubs and ornamental trees contribute toward The tabernacle was first used in the camp
making the place a scene of distinctive beauty. meeting of 1921. Initially, services were only
At night the campground does not lose its held in the tabernacle during the summer camp
attraction. Flood­lights point toward the taber- meeting, and the building was boarded up for
nacle, illuminating the words, “Jesus the Light of the remainder of the year. Later, Sunday atten-
the World.” A ten-foot, gold-colored star glistens dance at the church downtown increased to the
above the sign. Decorative lights glow along the point where there was not adequate room for Above: Florence
Sunday school classrooms, and parking became Crawford and a
main path leading from the gated entrance on
a problem. The decision was made to enclose the worker stand below a
Duke Street to the front doors of the taber­nacle. sign announcing the
Of special beauty after dark is the illuminated tabernacle, making it usable year around.
meetings.
fountain which throws rainbow-colored sprays In 1939, the addition of wings to the sides of
into the night sky. the tabernacle added thirty-six feet in width and Below: A wooden
Over the years, many have worked to keep the greatly increased the building’s seating capacity. gate framed the path
grounds in good condition. For several decades, In the fall and winter of 1947, the tabernacle toward the tabernacle
thousands of annuals were grown in a greenhouse was enlarged, enclosed, and insulated. The from Duke Street.
on the property and transplanted into the flower-
beds in the spring. Though the greenhouse is no
longer there, and some of the annuals replaced
with perennials and blooming shrubs, the camp-
ground continues to be well-known as one of
Portland’s beauty spots.

The Tabernacle
Gracing the center of the grounds is the large
domed tabernacle, which was built in 1920-1921.
William “Uncle Bill” Paulson, a man who had
been converted only a few years earlier, designed
the imposing building. Measuring 100 x 125 feet,
with a height of 50 feet, its construction was a
major feat. The task was accom­plished by a
group of volunteer laborers who were not afraid
to undertake difficult projects. One challenge

Campground and Camp Meetings 55

 radiant heating system installed was unique at that
time. Copper tubes were laid five inches apart in
the floor. Warm water flowing through the pipes
gave even heat in the building, not varying more
than two degrees from floor to ceiling.
The remodeling of the tabernacle changed
the appearance of the interior. Sawdust gave way
to a hard-surfaced floor; thick layers of straw on
the area around the altars gave way to carpet;
2,400 modern auditori­um seats replaced long
wooden benches. However, the Spirit present in
the meetings never changed.

Personal Recollections
Those who attended the early camp meetings
have precious memories of times on the “old
campground.” A veteran minister, Norman
Allen, whose parents were baptized in 1918,
spoke of his recollections of the first meetings

Center: A flyer
announces the opening
of the thirty-first
camp meeting.

Top and right: The

tabernacle originally
had canvas sides which
were raised to let the
breeze blow through. The
floors were sawdust, and
seating was on rustic
wooden benches.

56 Campground and Camp Meetings

 Those who attended
the early camp meetings
have precious memories
of times on the
“old campground.”

on the Duke Street grounds. “During camp “In the tabernacle there were benches, sawdust Above: Florence Craw-
meeting, we lived on the campground for seven chips in the congregation area, and straw around ford (right) and workers
weeks during the summer months. Those who the altars. Teachings were at 2:30 in the afternoon, gather in the office tent
rented homes during the year would store their and lasted for two hours, with the majority of the on the campground.
belongings with friends and give up their homes, time given to the teaching itself. Children’s meet- Below: Duke Street was
saving a couple of months’ rent. In our tent we ings were held in the children’s tabernacle [now a still a dirt road in the
had a wood cook stove that Mother cooked on. maintenance facility] in the mornings.” 1920s.
It also kept us warm on rainy days. Children had Among Reverend
to play by their own tents, and weren’t allowed Allen’s memories were
to run about. The wash tent was a busy place—no the duties to be com-
automatic washers in those days! Mother taught pleted every evening
my brother and me how to embroider to keep after the services. He
us quiet. would help pick up the
“There was a very good store, located where songbooks and “roll”
the shower rooms are now. We could buy staples the benches back so
such as eggs, bread, and milk. The store also had the sawdust could be
an excellent meat market. Some campers used ice evened out and sprin-
chests to preserve their food. A man would drive kled with water to con-
through the grounds selling ice. Children would trol the dust before the
follow him around and get ice chips whenever meetings on the follow-
he had to cut a block to size. ing day.

Campground and Camp Meetings 57

 Right: Guests line up outside of the
restaurant in the late 1940s.

Below: Ladies of the congregation

assist in food preparation and cleanup
in the camp restaurant.

Bottom left: An interior view of the

old dining room, with waitresses
serving the guests.

Improvements on the Campground

In 1926, a 250-foot well was drilled on the
campground and its water piped throughout
the area. In 1927, a massive stone fountain was
built in the landscaped area at the front of the
grounds.
Improvements continued as the “little city”
grew. In the 1930s, community kitchenettes were
built at various spots around the grounds. Later,
running water and re­frigeration were added to
them. Around the large cookstoves and long
tables, new friendships were made and old ac-
quaintances renewed.
In 1949, a chapel east of the tabernacle was
built to provide space for the begin­ners’ Sunday
school department. That area is now designated
as the “Quiet Room,” a cool and comfortable
area where visitors to camp meeting can relax,
read, and enjoy the fellowship of other campers
between the services. During camp meeting, the
campground office occupies the front part of
that building.
In 1952, a domed building west of the
tabernacle was constructed. Referred to as the

58 Campground and Camp Meetings

 Left: A 2004 photo of the current
restaurant, which was built in 1962.

Below: Tents lining the main road through

the campground, with the laundry building
to the left.

Bottom right: A view of the store on the

campground where campers could
purchase basic supplies.

West Chapel, this building was initially used for

primary, junior, and intermediate Sunday school
classes. Currently, children’s meetings are held
there during the camp meetings. During the
remainder of the year, the building is used as
an activity center. In 1962, a new restaurant
and snack bar was built for the benefit of the
campers. A shower room replaced the old store
building in 1977.

Housing on the Campground

In the early days, campers were housed in
tents located around the campground. Each
year, hun­dreds of canvases were sorted out, the
right size was found for each wooden tent frame,
and the heavy canvases were tugged into place.
It required many willing hands to accomplish
this task! Usually the job was done on Memo-
rial Day—the day when the congre­gation has
its annual workday and picnic. Brooms, mops,
hammers, saws, shovels, rakes, and paint brushes
are still in action on this date each year, when
preparations are made prior to the the opening
of the summer camp meeting.

Campground and Camp Meetings 59

 Clockwise from top left:
Loading sawdust for
spreading on tent floors.

Looking down the road.

Workers hoisting a tent

canvas onto its frame.

Stuffing straw into ticks.

Ladies sweeping one of

the many tent frames.

60 Campground and Camp Meetings

 Left: During the early years, the camp
office was housed in a tent.

Below: Charles Rodman (left) and another

gentleman visit in front of the office tent.

Bottom: Inside the camp office,

Alice Perry (center) and other workers tend
to the ongoing correspondence ministry.

During the years of 1955-1959, the camp-

ground underwent a change in the type of hous-
ing accommodations. After World War II, canvas
became scarce and expensive, so the decision was
made to replace the tents with cabins. One by
one, the old tent frames came down. Car­penters
went to work, and more than 600 small cabins
were built, making a colorful little cabin city.
Preparing the guest quarters is easier today.
When tents were the “summer homes” for the
campers, sawdust had to be taken to each tent
site for a floor covering. Straw was packed into
ticks for mattresses. Bed frames, tables, and chairs
were moved into the tents, only to be moved out
again at the close of the camp meeting, when
everything had to be stored away until the next
year. Today, the minimal furnishings in the little
cabins are left intact from one year to the next.
Another innovation that has developed in
recent years is the provision for RVs, with hook-
ups for water, electricity, and sewer.

Annual Camp Meeting Conventions

Each summer—and practically overnight—the
campground on Duke Street turns into an active
little community with a population of as many as

Campground and Camp Meetings 61

 2,000 inhabitants. Though the duration of the
annual sessions has been shortened, members
from the United States and foreign countries still
find them a refreshing and spiritually challeng-
ing time. Over the years, these annual gatherings
have established an indescribably precious bond
between members around the world.
Throughout the camp meeting, members
of the Portland congregation work shoulder-
to-shoulder with foreign visitors, pastors, and
workers from branch churches to accomplish
the tasks that keep camp meeting running. For
all the efforts and for all the prayers offered, there
is a worthwhile reward—seeing souls brought to
the Christ of Calvary. Attendees are thrilled as
they witness hundreds of people pressing their
way down the aisles to the place of prayer, just
as they did in years past when people crowded
the “sawdust trails.” At these altars, countless

62 Campground and Camp Meetings

numbers have prayed through to the reality of a to their little cabin “home” for the duration of
genuine experience with God. the convention.
During the two-week sessions, ministers and Although the primary purpose of the camp
laymen from local and branch churches enter meetings is not fellowship, God does add that
into an intensive study of God’s Word and be- joy also. Christian families and friends who have
come better equipped for service, as well as more been laboring in distant fields of service for God
united and strengthened in the faith. meet on the grounds. In fact, each camp meeting
Besides the hundreds who attend these seems to be a grand reunion of the children of
services from points throughout the United God who gather from all parts of the world. Those
States, visitors come every year from countries who come for the first time soon feel that they are
around the world. It requires a real sacrifice for members of this big family too, and all enjoy this
some to make the long journey to Portland, but special time together.
they are soon amply rewarded. Every attempt is
made to ensure that those who attend feel at Daily Activities
home as soon as they come onto the grounds. Each day of a camp meeting is one of con-
At the office, visitors are welcomed and assigned tinual activity. Sun­day is an especially full day,

Facing page top left:

One of the fire crew
explains the alarm
system to a young boy.

Facing page top right:

Ladies at a camp meet-
ing in the late 1940s use
the laundry facilities on
the campground.

Facing page bottom:

Campers come to the
supply cabin for extra
blankets, kerosene
lanterns, and other
necessities.

Left: Children gather in

the children’s tabernacle
for their own meetings in
the early 1950s.

Campground and Camp Meetings 63

 with Sunday school, a morning de­votional ser-
vice, an afternoon youth service, and an evening
evangelistic meeting. Each morning, Tuesday
through Friday, a Bible teaching service is held.
The three foundational spiritual experiences of
justification, sanctification, and the baptism
of the Holy Ghost are emphasized along with
practical Christian living. The challenge to spiri-
Top left: Tent frames tual progress, both personally and as the Body
were replaced with of Christ, is issued repeatedly throughout the
cabins in the 1950s.
services in many different ways.
Top right: The big As each camp meeting goes forward, it is clear
stone fountain. that the words of admonition are taken to heart.
Meeting after meeting, those who were seeking
Above: Trailers line a spiritual experiences when they arrived at the
road in the 1950s. camp meeting stand to their feet and glorify God
for filling their needs. In fact, often so many want
Left: Audrey Wallace to testify that four or five people may be standing
was fire chief for years. at one time,waiting for their turn!

64 Campground and Camp Meetings

Every year, many
willing hands are
required to take care
of running the camp.

Top left: The camp

office, now located in
the front of the East
Chapel, is a scene of
busy activity during
camp meeting.

Above: Veteran ministers

Dick Taylor and John
Friesen baptize a young
boy in the 1980s.

Left: For many years,

baptismal services were
held in the baptistery
located under the
tabernacle platform.

Campground and Camp Meetings 65

 At the close of each service, all are invited to
pray. Many respond to the invitation and make
their way to the front where they kneel in prayer,
some seeking forgiveness for sins, and others pray-
ing for a closer walk with the Lord.

The Role of Music

Those who attend the camp meetings greatly
enjoy the musical portion of the conventions.
The choir and orchestra always begin the first
Sunday morning service with a rousing and jubi-
lant theme, setting the pace for the remainder of
the services. Throughout the camp meeting, the
choir, ensembles, and soloists sing songs that stir
the hearts of the listen­ers. The or­chestra, which
presents varied special selections of sacred music,
also plays during the congregational singing. In

66 Campground and Camp Meetings

these meetings people really sing in heartfelt
praise to God. There are a number of traditional
favorite congregational songs, which are often
sung several times during the camp meeting.
Of special interest to music lovers is the an-
nual midsummer concert, currently given on the
first Monday eve­ning of the convention. Music
lovers in the city of Portland and outlying areas
look forward to this long-standing tradition and
thoroughly enjoy the sacred and classical presen-
tations by the orchestra, choirs, ensembles, and
soloists.

Special Events
Camp meetings are often the setting for spe-
cial workshops held for attendees from the Port-
land congregation and branch churches who are

Facing page top: The

Serenaders delighted
old and young alike as
they strolled through the
campground making
music in the early
1960s.

Facing page bottom: The

congregation inside the
tabernacle during a
camp meeting service in
2003.

Above: Attendees gather

on the tabernacle lawn
for an outdoor evening
of music on the last
Saturday of camp.

Left: Jim Maxwell leads

the choir and orchestra
in a number, featuring
Butch Carey as soloist.

Campground and Camp Meetings 67

 Right: The earliest
picture of the
Apostolic Faith
orchestra; the photo
was taken in 1918.

Below: Roberta
Oyler, longtime
principal organist, at
the keyboard of the
large pipe organ in
the tabernacle.

Facing page top: An

octet performs a vocal
selection in 2003.
involved in Sunday school, music departments,
Facing page bottom: or other phases of outreach activities. Sometimes
Africa District during the camp meeting, representatives from
Superintendent Paul international branches of the work, or those who
Akazue, and his wife, have visited a foreign branch church, give pre-
Jane, pose in front of sentations telling what God has done in distant
the tabernacle at the places. These sessions are always an inspiration
2002 camp meeting to those who attend.
with Superintendent
General Darrel Lee, On the final Saturday morning of the camp
and his wife, Debbie. meeting, an ordinance service is held. This spe-
cial time always concludes with many hugs and
tears, as the Spirit confirms the unity and har-
mony among people of diverse race, culture, and
nationality. In the afternoon of that same day,
a water baptismal serv­ice is held in the church
sanctuary across Duke Street. Each year, many
converts, young and old, are immersed.

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

During a recent camp meeting, a singer
from one of the organization’s branch churches

68 Campground and Camp Meetings

 At the close of each
camp meeting, those who
attended look back on
the time with gratitude for
the spiritual ground that
was gained.

mentioned that when he was just a child, his

parents had told him that someday, when they
had enough money, they would go to the camp
meeting in Portland. That day came.
Many years later, he commented, “This is
my anniversary. I am thankful that fifty years
ago, we came to Portland, Oregon. I came on
the grounds and I said, ‘This is like Heaven on
earth.’ Do you know why? Well, the beautiful
flowers, the beautiful trees, the beautiful sing-
ing, the beautiful music. I noticed how pure
the air was—like heavenly air. Oh, there were so
many wonderful things! No one was swearing,
no one was smoking, no one was getting drunk,
and the Blood-washed throng was there. What
a wonderful thing! I received the baptism of the
Holy Ghost that year! And every time I come on look back on the time with gratitude for the
the campground, I still think it is like a little bit spiritual ground that was gained. And they look
of Heaven on earth.” ahead with anticipation to the continued bless-
Many would echo that sentiment. At the ing and presence of God as they return with new
close of each camp meeting, those who attended spiritual vigor to their post of duty.

Campground and Camp Meetings 69

 Portland
Headquarters
Church

T
he Portland church is the headquarters of Southwest First and Madison, was rented. Ac-
the international Apostolic Faith organi- commodations in those early day mission halls
zation. Currently, it is located at 5601 SE were humble, but this did not hinder God’s
Above: In 1908, the Duke Street, in the Woodstock area of Portland. work. Services were always conducted in a spirit
organization obtained
However, since the organization first began in of enthusiasm and confidence, and God contin-
a headquarters
building at Southwest Portland in 1907, the headquarters church has ued to bless His people.
Front and Burnside occupied buildings in several locations. After the close of the Mount Tabor camp
that became known meeting in 1908, the Apostolic Faith organiza-
as “The Gospel Early Locations tion obtained the large building at the corner
Lighthouse by the The renovated blacksmith shop where Flor- of Southwest Front and Burnside for its head-
Bridge.” ence Crawford preached her first sermon in quarters. In 1917, the first electric sign bearing
Portland was located at Southwest Second and the message “Jesus the Light of the World” was
Main. In the fall of 1907, at the close of the first erected on top of that building.
Apostolic Faith camp meeting held at Southeast The congregation grew steadily and the
Twelfth and Division, a larger hall, located at auditorium at Front and Burnside, which

70 Portland Headquarters Church

 The mission at Front and
Burnside was the spiritual
birthplace of many souls.

Top left: Interior of the

originally seated only 150, had to be enlarged. mission at Front and
One remodeling project included the removal Burnside after it was
of a wall and middle partition, giving the church enlarged.
the use of the full width of the building and
providing a seating capacity of about 400. The Left: After his daughter
children used a downstairs chapel for some of was miraculously healed,
their services. The lower floor also accommo- John Clasper came with
dated the printing and publishing departments. his wife to a service at
Old-fashioned coal stoves furnished heat for Front and Burnside.
Though a church-goer,
the building.
God dealt with him
Known as “The Gospel Lighthouse by the about his hypocritical
Bridge,” the mission at Front and Burnside was life. He prayed through
the spiritual birthplace of many souls. Since it to salvation and became
was situated at the west end of the Burnside a minister and faithful
Bridge, people walking across the span some- servant of God.

Portland Headquarters Church 71

 The property at Northwest
Sixth and Burnside,
between the uptown
business section and the
skid row district, was an
ideal site on which to
build a mission.

times were attracted by the sound of singing

coming from the open windows. Some came
into a Gospel meeting, and more than one was
Above: In 1922, work saved as a result.
began on a new In a letter from the Apostolic Faith head-
headquarters building. quarters office, dated September 3, 1914, this
Clearing the lot of account was given of a Thursday night service:
existing buldings was “That night at the mission, there was a most
the first step. Then the wonderful prayer service and then the testimony
construction work began. meeting began. Some young converts testified,
and one of them was shouting the praises of God
Right: Raymond
with uplifted hands. It melted everyone and all
Crawford lays the first
brick of the headquarters rejoiced and praised God. Then the song was
building at Northwest sung again and again: ‘Jesus’ love is deeper, richer,
Sixth and Burnside fuller, sweeter, Sweeter as the years roll by.’ The
Street. At left in the power fell on the people and for a long time no
photo is Newt Lesher, a one could testify, nothing could be heard but
bricklayer and an early the praises of God, and many were standing
convert who came into with uplifted hands. A minister arose with
the Gospel in Oakland, Bible in hand and started to read the second
California.
chapter of Acts, where it reads, ‘They were all
with one accord in one place.’ And the power
from Heaven so fell on the place that nothing

72 Portland Headquarters Church

could be heard but a call to prayer, and the location. However, the church people wanted to
altar was at once filled and also many rows of stay in the downtown area and there did not seem
chairs, and the power continued falling. A boy to be any place to rent. Florence Crawford told
who had come in just as the power began fall- them, “We will have to be sure that we know the
ing—a backslider—rushed to the altar and was mind of God in this. Do pray—fast and pray—that
saved; other sinners were saved. There was such we will move according to the will of God.” Their
a wonderful spirit of unity and Heaven that no prayers were answered, and after much investiga- Below: Much of the
one wanted to leave.” tion, a promising solution was found. work on the new
In the downtown district of Portland, an old building was
Sixth and Burnside Building pioneer’s estate was for sale—a quarter of a city accomplished by
volunteers who were
In the year 1922, after holding services for block, at the intersection of Northwest Sixth members of the
fourteen years in the building at Front and Burn- Avenue and Burnside Street. It was an ideal congregation.
side, there was again a need for larger quarters location, halfway between the uptown business
to accommodate the growing congregation. That section and the skid row district, a good site on
same year, the city began considering plans for which to build a mission.
a new Burnside bridge, which eventually would The price of the property alone was $150,000,
necessitate tearing down the Front and Burnside and construction costs for the new headquarters
mission. It became imperative to secure another building would be added to that. This was not a

Portland Headquarters Church 73

 small financial undertaking, and would have been ings formerly used as saloons, theaters, and cheap
staggering to the small and comparatively poor rooming houses. Within two months, the plot
congregation had they not been rich in faith. had been cleared, the basement excavated, and
Before the new site could be procured, the foundation poured. Tradesmen in the congre-
Below: The newly members made donations totaling over $8,000 gation did most of the construction work. Some
completed headquar- as a token of their faith. Some pledged to pay a of the men worked all day; others came after their
ters bulding, with certain amount each month to help finance the day’s work elsewhere and helped in the evening.
the “Jesus the Light project. Others offered time and labor to the One of the members—a retired businessman and
of the World” sign building project. structural engineer—supervised the project.
above it.
Once the property purchase was finalized, the The building began to take on a finished
corner at Sixth and Burnside became a beehive appearance when bricklayers put up the exte-
of activity. On the last day of February, 1922, rior face of the building. Raymond Crawford
workmen began tearing down the frame build- remarked, “It brought joy to my heart when on

74 Portland Headquarters Church

 On August 27,
1922, the new head-
quarters was dedicat-
ed. The auditorium,
with a seating capac-
ity of 1,000, appeared
spacious compared to
the former places of
worship. In spite of its
size, 200 extra chairs
had to be brought in
at the opening service
to accommodate the
overflow crowd.
The already well-
known sign, “Jesus the
Light of the World,”
May 1, 1922, at 8 o’clock in the morning, I was was moved from the Front and Burnside mis-
privileged to lay the first brick. Forty days later, sion to its new location at Sixth and Burnside.
June 9, Mother laid the last brick. That was truly a Shining fifty feet above the building, and topped
time of thanksgiving! The ministry and workmen by a brilliant star, the sign blazed forth its mes-
together bowed their heads and Mother prayed sage from the heart of the city for more than
that a soul would be saved for every brick laid.” sixty years.
The women of the church also contributed, One time, a reporter from a local newspaper
preparing and serving meals to the workers in an asked if anyone had ever been converted because
old frame building at the rear of the lot. Often of the sign. The answer was affirmative. Over the
they served as many as seventy-five or eighty work- years, people who became born-again Christians
men at one meal. after they “followed” that star have given testi-
After six months of intensive labor, the work monies in Apostolic Faith services.
was finished and passed inspection by the city offi- One man wrote from North Carolina that Above: The interior
cials. The attractive new headquarters church was when he visited Portland, he had observed the of the headquarters
a two-story 100 by 100 foot building. The exterior sign, and had asked a police officer, “What is building at Sixth
of the building was of red brick with trim of white under that sign?” The officer told him, “Oh, it and Burnside before
brick. The first floor included ten rental spaces is a church group. I think they publish a little the wall was moved
that were initially occupied by shops, offices, and paper.” The man came down the street to the in 1930.
restaurants. Other rooms on the ground floor church, found the literature rack near the front
were designated as the headquarters office, the door, and took a copy of the paper. He went back
mailing and printing departments, and a prayer to his home in North Carolina, and the next
chapel. On the second floor was the spacious Sunday, he gave his life to the Lord as a result of
church auditorium with a platform at one end. what he read in that “little” Gospel paper.

Portland Headquarters Church 75

 Moving the wall was deemed impossible, but
William Paulson, who had supervised the building’s
construction, came up with an ingenious plan.

For many years, a “traveling” sign with mov-

ing words traversing a framework fifty feet in
length was also on top of the building, and it
delivered short Gospel messages to the city below.
Due to a slight curve in Sixth Avenue, from the
downtown section of the city the church ap-
peared to sit squarely in the middle of the street.
The “Jesus sign,” with the star above it, and the
traveling sign below it, became a well-known
landmark in the city sky.

Moving the Wall

Five years after the dedication of the new
headquarters, more space was needed. A wooden
building on an adjoining lot was purchased in
1927. Then, in 1930, the City of Portland chose
to widen Burnside Street. Since the church was
situated on Burnside, twenty feet would need to
be taken off the south side of the building. This
meant that the rented spaces would have to be
reconstructed, the building entrance changed,
the seating arrangement altered, and a balcony
added to compensate for the loss of seating
space. Still, these alterations were minor when
compared with the problem of tearing down and
rebuilding the exterior brick wall.
No duplicate brick was available, and a sub-
stitute would give the exterior of the building a
patchy look. Then, out of the dilemma came an
idea—that of separating the wall from the body of

76 Portland Headquarters Church

the building, demolishing the required 20 feet, jacks. Volunteer workers operating the jacks were Facing page: A view
and then moving the wall across the space and mainly members of the music organization of the from Sixth Avenue of
reattaching it to the main part of the structure. church, and their sense of rhythm was advanta- the scaffolding in place
The wall was 100 feet long, 12 inches thick, geous. Synchronizing their efforts and cued by prior to the move.
44 feet high, and stood 12 feet above the sidewalk electric, colored lights, the operators rhythmically
level over plate glass windows. City engineers said turned every jack at a given signal. Above left: William
it could not be moved successfully. However, a The moving of the wall began at 8 o’clock in Paulson and two work-
member of the church—William Paulson, the the evening and was completed around 5 o’clock ers look at the scaffold-
man who had supervised the construction of the next morning. Some members spent the night ing on the wall facing
Burnside Street.
the building—drew up an ingenious system for at the scene watching and praying, while others
accomplishing this seemingly impossible task. were praying at home. When the job was finished, Above right: A news
A track was constructed on heavy timbers, with the wall had been placed within one-sixteenth of article announced
steel rollers placed under the sections of the wall. an inch of the exact position desired. With God’s that meetings would
The actual moving was accomplished by means of help, the seemingly impossible task had been resume.

Portland Headquarters Church 77

 accomplished.
The location at Sixth and Burnside was
a soul-saving station in downtown Portland
for nearly sixty years. Many pioneer members
lived to see their children, grandchildren, and
great-grandchildren pray at the altars where they
themselves had been saved. The building was ex-
panded several times, until all available space on
the ground floor was utilized to accommodate
the office, printing plant, and storage areas.
Sunday services were transfered to the tab-
ernacle on the campground in the late 1940s
because of parking problems and the growing
numbers attending the Sunday services. Then,
beginning in June of 1976, weeknight church
services were also moved to that location. The
headquarters office and printing plant continued
to be housed in the Sixth and Burnside facility
until 1980, when the move was made to a new
office building across Fifty-Second Avenue from

Above: Replacing the

star on top of the sign
after a huge wind-
storm blew it down in
October of 1962.

Right:The traveling
sign on top of the
headquarters building
announces the coming
camp meeting.

78 Portland Headquarters Church

the campground. Ashwell, a woman who had worked for more
Last Service at Sixth and Burnside than thirty years in the headquarters office be-
On Friday night, May 23, 1980, a farewell low the sanctuary, summarized in her testimony
service was held at the Northwest Sixth and the feelings of many, saying, “When we were Above: The last
Burnside location, commemorating the many packing for this move, many memories crowded meeting at the
blessings God had given to His people there. in—memories of spiritual battles fought and won Northwest Sixth and
Visitors came from branch churches to join the here.” Other testimonies included that of a man Burnside church was
Portland congregation one last time in the famil- who had been brought to the building many years held on May 23,
iar old building before the property was turned earlier when he was a seaman. A young woman 1980.
over to the new owners. There were even some who was one of the last people saved at the Sixth
present who had worked on the construction of and Burnside building told how God had drawn
the building fifty-eight years earlier. her to Himself at that very spot.
Old-time Gospel hymns provided a musical In the closing message, Loyce Carver
background for the events of the evening. Ruth commented that those present had the ad-

Portland Headquarters Church 79

 vantage of having attended services at the before man to live up to what we have heard.”
Top left: Many hours building at Sixth and Burnside. “We are an ad- When the time came to transfer ownership of
were spent on the vantaged people—we have heard many sermons the building, Bob Green, a church member who
blueprints for the new
church building. which told us that the answer for sin, the key had helped with maintenance on the building
to the door of salvation, was repentance. They since he was a teenager, told of handing over the
Above left: An artist’s made it very clear what repentance means—to turn keys to the new owners. “After we sold the build-
rendition of the away from sin, leave it behind, and never touch ing, the new owner wanted his maintenance man
building’s exterior. it again. When we do that, it gives us faith in the to get together with the church’s maintenance
Gospel of Jesus Christ, which has the same power man. That was me, so we walked through the
Above right: Elmer it had in Jesus’ day and the same it had fifty-eight building together and I showed him the electri-
Luka (left) and Loyce years ago [when the Sixth and Burnside building cal, the plumbing, and other items regarding the
Carver at the ground- was dedicated]. . . . We who have passed by this structure. Then he had to hurry off, and he told
breaking ceremony.
‘Lighthouse’ have a responsibility before God and me, ‘You lock up the building.’ I stood there

80 Portland Headquarters Church

 A groundbreaking ceremony on
July 4, 1982, initiated the construction
of a new headquarters church in
southeast Portland.

in the Sixth and Burnside auditorium, and I church in southeast Portland. The site for the
new building was a four-acre piece of ground that
thought, This is the end of an era. I am the last
Above left: Elmer
one to leave. I went down to a chair where the had formerly been used as a parking lot across Luka, who supervised
Lord had saved my soul, and knelt down. There, Duke Street from the campground. the construction proj-
all alone, in the place where the Lord redeemed A brass ensemble stood on a temporary ect, spent countless
me and wrote my name in Heaven, I prayed the wooden platform in the center of the lot, and hours on the site.
last prayer prayed at Sixth and Burnside.” played, “How Firm a Foundation” and “Move
Forward.” A male quartet sang, “Be Strong , O Above right: Pouring
New Church in Southeast Portland Men, Be Strong.” Those who had participated concrete into forms
After much prayer, and months of exploring in the design and planning phases were recog- for the massive pillars
which support the
options, drawing plans, and obtaining permits, nized. Elmer Luka, a pastor with construction
structure.
a groundbreaking ceremony on July 4, 1982, ini- experience who had been asked to supervise
tiated the construction of a new headquarters the project, spoke at the groundbreaking cere-

Portland Headquarters Church 81

 Above and right: mony. He commented, “We can put the boards
Three shots of the together, drive the nails, mix the concrete, and
church construction in lay the stones, but we are looking for something
progress. Gradually, the
greater than that. We are looking for God to
project moved through
the various phases, with come down and put His seal of approval and
much of the labor blessing upon it.”
being donated by Actual work began on August 1 of that year.
church members. Dust was thick as the digging began. Over one-
thousand yards of concrete went into the founda-
tion for the structure, and eight huge pillars were
poured to anchor the main framework of the
building. Fall came and went, and winter rains
began. Then, instead of dust there was mud—and
plenty of it! Day after day, the workmen slogged

82 Portland Headquarters Church

through it, undeterred by physical discomfort. ren parking lot was the setting for a beautiful
With the placement of the structural beams new headquarters church for the Apostolic Faith
and the completion of the roof, working condi- organization.
tions began to improve. Gradually, the project
moved through the various phases of construc- Dedication of New Church Below: The new
tion, much of the labor being donated. Walls The long-awaited dedication service took church building
went up, wiring and plumbing were installed, place on May 27, 1984, a beautiful, warm Sun- was completed and
sheetrock applied, and cabinets built and put in day afternoon. Flowers were blooming around dedicated in May of
1984.
place. Workmen from the Portland congregation the perimeter of the building, and water spray-
and many of the organization’s branch churches ing from the brick fountain in front glistened
worked side by side, completing exterior brick- in the sunshine. The sanctuary filled rapidly,
work, painting walls, crafting interior railings, as visitors from branch churches and foreign
laying carpet, and installing pews. By the spring countries gathered with the Portland congrega-
of 1984, the ground that had once been a bar- tion for the momentous occasion. There was a

Portland Headquarters Church 83

 sacred hush as the orchestra began to play softly, ings were read from Apostolic Faith congrega-
and then the choir sang, “Surely the Presence of tions around the world. Those who participated
the Lord Is in This Place.” After the welcoming in the building project were recognized. Elmer
Above: A view of announcements, the congregation sang a hymn Luka, the construction foreman, said, “I am sure
the platform in the of dedication: “Within these walls today we meet, some of those here today can point to a brick or a
new church, at the to praise our God for blessing given, For grace door or a ceiling or a light that he or she worked
dedication service.
that saves from sin and death. . . . Thy power on. But some of this work was done at the altar
alone can sanctify, enabling us to holy be; . . . Oh, of prayer or in homes where people prayed. They
grant to us our hearts’ desire, baptize with Holy were laborers together with us in this building
Ghost and fire.” Those words summarized the where Jesus will be glorified and His name lifted
determination of the assembled group to hold up. Heaven itself is going to be the reward of
high the doctrinal standard of God’s Word that those who gave diligent service.”
had been entrusted to them. A veteran minister, Norman Allen, read
Following a choir anthem of dedication, the account of Solomon’s dedication of Israel’s
“Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation,” greet- Temple. In his sermon, he reminisced about the

84 Portland Headquarters Church

difficulties faced by those who established the building, so that all who would enter in the days
Apostolic Faith work. “They stood for what the to come would know that it indeed is a house of
Lord had given them and kept the faith.” He chal- prayer, dedicated for worship and for the win-
lenged his listeners, “May we do the same! We ning of souls. Below: The view
appreciate our new church, and we dedicate it to from the balcony of
the service of the Lord, but of greater importance The Completed Structure the church, taken
is our individual personal dedication. What kind The 53,000 square foot building houses a during a midsummer
of house will we build? Is it a spiritual house? God main sanctuary with seating for approximately concert.
can use anyone who will dedicate himself.” 1,000 people. Inside the front door, a narthex
At the close of the sermon, another veteran provides a place to welcome visitors. Display racks
minister, John Friesen, prayed the closing prayer. on both sides of the area feature a selection of
He asked for God’s Spirit to pervade the new the religious publications printed by the organiza-

Portland Headquarters Church 85

 the sanctuary on the main floor.
tion. Sunday school classrooms, an activity area,
a kitchen, music room, nursery, and library are Message on the Steeple
all accessible from the hallway that encircles the Gracing the top of the building is an eight-
sanctuary. On the east side of the building, a sided, 120-foot, lighted steeple that was designed
smaller chapel constructed with the same shape and crafted by members of the Portland con-
Above: A view of the gregation. The eight illuminated panels depict
and roofline as the main structure provides a
church from the west
side of the entrance. facility for youth services. Covered drive-through important tenets of Bible doctrine.
areas extend into the parking lot on each side of Panel One – The sun, clouds, and a rainbow
the building, offering a sheltered area for cars to represent God’s creation of the world. “In the
stop and unload passengers. beginning God created the heaven and the earth”
The Beginners’ Sunday School Department (Genesis 1:1).
is located on the west side of the building. The Panel Two – The cross represents Calvary.
Primary Department is on the second floor, Jesus died on the cross for the salvation of man-
along with the Junior Department. Eighth grade, kind. Because He died, it is possible for every
high school, college age, and adult Sunday school person to be born again.
classes are held in the classrooms surrounding Panel Three – The heart, with a crimson

86 Portland Headquarters Church

stream flowing behind it, stands for the heart
purity that is obtained at sanctification, the sec-
ond definite work of grace.
Panel Four – The white dove represents the
baptism of the Holy Spirit, when the Third Per-
son of the Trinity comes to abide in the sanctified
heart, bringing power for service.
Panel Five – The open Bible depicts the im-
portance and infallibility of the inspired Word
of God, which is the basis for all doctrine.
Panel Six – A golden torch with a flame
arising from it stands for the torch of truth. It
represents the goal of teaching and living the
truths of the Bible.
Panel Seven – The cross, encircled by a
crown, illustrates the fact that each Christian
must take up the cross of Jesus Christ in order
to receive a crown of life in eternity.
Panel Eight – An angelic messenger sound-
ing a trumpet represents the Second Coming of
Jesus Christ, when He returns to this earth for
those who have prepared their hearts. “Unto
them that look for him shall he appear the sec-
ond time . . .” (Hebrews 9:28).

Above: A closeup of
the steeple, show-
ing the illuminated
panels that depict
the organization’s
doctrinal beliefs.

Left: Sunday school

during camp meet-
ing convenes in the
Portland church
sanctuary.

Portland Headquarters Church 87

 Church
Services

A
veteran minister of the Gospel, George essential that every service we hold is completely
Hughes, wrote this compelling descrip- successful from start to finish. . . . The songs,
tion of the goal of Apostolic Faith church selection of music, testimonies, and above all,
services: “The great aim of all our work, either the sermon, should be so inspiring and inspired
Above: A view of the
inside or outside, in our own church buildings or that every unbeliever will receive the impetus he
congregation gathered
in the tabernacle in rented facilities at a neighboring community, is needs to start him on his way to God.”
during a service at a the salvation of souls. . . . There are many factors Based on these principles, most of the ser-
camp meeting in the that contribute to the success of our efforts, but vices held by the Apostolic Faith organization
early 1960s. the greatest of these is the leading of the Spirit are evangelistic in nature. Those who attend the
of God, and therefore, we must strive to see that meetings are encouraged to pray through to a
this holy Guest is always present to do His office born-again experience that enables them to live
work in our services. a life of victory over sin.
“When people attend our services for the
first time, the impression they receive sometimes What Is Different?
determines their permanent attitude toward the Services in the Apostolic Faith churches
Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this reason, it is vitally are conducted in a simple manner. The church

88 Church Services
 Those who attend
Apostolic Faith services
around the world are
encouraged to pray
through to a born-again
experience that enables
them to live a life of
victory over sin.

avoids formal practices. Ministers do not wear living established in God’s Word, and meet the
clergy vestments. Although prayer books are not qualifications outlined in Titus 1:5-9 and other
used, Bibles are available in many Apostolic Faith Scriptures for those who are in leadership roles
churches so the congregation can follow along in the church.
with Scripture readings. Sermons are delivered Above: Bob Downey,
The organization does not keep a formal
Director of North
extemporaneously rather than being read. membership roll, focusing instead on encourag- America Work for the
The pastors and ministers of the Apostolic ing those who attend to make sure their names organization, preaches
Faith churches are encouraged to attend the are written in Heaven. For reference and legal at an annual camp
regular ministerial training sessions held sev- purposes, a record is kept of those who are bap- meeting in the
eral times each year at the headquarters. The tized in water. An address and phone list of those Midwest.
organization has developed its own Bible study who currently attend is kept primarily so those
series and training materials. Emphasis is placed individuals can be notified of upcoming events
on the spiritual qualification of the ministers and of changes in the regular schedule.
themselves; they must practice as well as preach Throughout its history, the Apostolic Faith
the Bible doctrines taught by the organization, work has been supported financially by tithes and
align their lives to the Biblical standards of holy ­offerings. No solicitations are made of the public,

Church Services 89
 nor are collections taken in any of the services. and the salvation of others are read aloud and
In fact, the church has been referred to as “the then brought before the Lord in prayer.
church without a collection plate.” There are of- At the close of each service, those present are
fering boxes in each church in which tithes and invited to come to the altars of prayer. Spiritu-
freewill offerings may be placed. When church ally hungry seekers and Gospel workers kneel at
expansion projects or outreach endeavors are con- benches lining the front of the sanctuary and in
sidered, the premise is that the organization will the pews. This focus on prayer is based on Isaiah
move ahead with the projects as the Lord makes 56:7 and Mark 11:17. During the prayer time at
resources available. This method of financing the the close of the service, ministers also pray for the
Gospel work is based on Genesis 28:22; Malachi sick or afflicted who wish to be anointed with oil
3:8-10; and 2 Corinthians 9:7. and prayed for as directed in James 5:14-15.
An outstanding aspect of Apostolic Faith
churches worldwide is a focus on prayer. Before Order of Services
each service, workers gather in a room separate Although the people involved and the size
from the sanctuary to pray for God’s blessing of the congregations vary from location to loca-
upon the meeting. Written requests for healing, tion, certain aspects of Apostolic Faith services
deliverance from problems, spiritual guidance, are consistent around the world.

Right: An outstanding
aspect of all Apostolic
Faith church services are
the altar services that
conclude each meeting.
Here, seekers gather
around the altar benches
that line the front of
the tabernacle.

90 Church Services
 Often, the worshipful tones of the organ
resound throughout the sanctuary as the con-
gregation gathers. A musical prelude opens most A special part of most Apostolic
of the services. There may be presentations by a
soloist, instrumental or vocal ensembles, or the
Faith services is the time given to
entire orchestra and choir. After a welcome by testimonies—spontaneous accounts
the minister leading the service, the orchestra or
instrumentalists accompany congregational sing- by people whose lives have been
ing of old-time hymns and familiar choruses, an
important aspect of the public worship of God.
changed by the power of God.
A prayer invoking God’s blessing upon the ser-
vice follows. Then announcements are made of
upcoming services and events.
A special part of most Apostolic Faith servic-
es is the time given to testimonies—spontaneous
accounts by those whose lives have been changed
by the power of God. Nothing convinces of the
power of God to transform a life like a Spirit-
anointed account by a person who has been de-
livered from a life of sin to a walk of godliness!
The importance of telling what God has done
is taught in Psalm 107:2 and Revelation 12:11.
In accord with those Scriptures, miraculous ac-
counts of conversion, healing, protection, and
guidance are shared in the services. Choruses or
single verses of songs are interspersed with these Left: Sam Ajayi, who
personal testimonies. was converted in
In the Sunday morning service, a Scripture Nigeria, testifies during
reading often takes the place of the testimony a camp meeting service.
service. In every service, a special song selection
precedes the message from God’s Word.
Sermons in Apostolic Faith services are based
upon passages from the Bible. In these passages
are found challenge and demand, hope and as-
surance, promise and comfort, life and death,
reproof and exhortation. The ministers who
expound the Word are men and women of God
whose lives support their spoken testimony and
preaching. They not only know the Word, but
they also know the One who gave the Word!

Church Services 91
 Above: The orchestra A Personal Account “When the preacher came to the pulpit, the
in the early 1930s. A spiritually hungry Eskimo man who trav- service started. Then came testimony time, and
eled from northern Alaska to the city of Seattle many people got up (sometimes five stood at
Facing page top: Paul in 1913 told of coming into an Apostolic Faith once!) and told what God had done for them.
Patkotak, the Eskimo service, after being pointed toward the church One sister said that she thanked God for saving
who came into a by a man on a street corner. He said, “As soon her soul, and that she was glad He doesn’t look
service in Seattle. as I opened the door and stepped inside, I felt as on the color of the skin, but looks right down
though someone said to me, ‘These are the people into a person’s heart. Something began to move
Facing page bottom:
you are looking for.’ I glanced around and saw a in my heart, and I felt condemned for the sins I
The Morning Star
quartet of the 1940s. long bench below the pulpit; nobody sat on it, had committed against God. I was surely under
Clockwise from top left: and I wondered what it was for. Each person who conviction! I felt such a hunger for what I heard,
George Hughes, Art came into the church went to his seat, but knelt to and I wanted the preacher to stop preaching so
Hiatt, Walt Reid, and pray before sitting down. I watched them closely, I could pray and call on God to have mercy and
Raymond Crawford. and said to myself, ‘There is something to that.’ take the sin out of my heart.

92 Church Services
 Most Apostolic Faith services
are evangelistic in nature,
and one outstanding aspect is
the focus on prayer.

“At the altar call, I went forward and knelt at

the long bench that I had wondered about. With
a cry in my heart, I asked God to forgive me of
my sins. God heard my prayer and forgave me.
I faced the people of the congregation and told
them I had found Jesus!”

The Ministry of Music

God talks to the hearts of many through the
medium of music, and for that reason, music has
long been a part of the Apostolic Faith work.
Through the years, an interesting feature of the
musical organization has been that the members
are volunteers and are born-again Christians.

Church Services 93
 They have been chosen to fill a place because of History of the Music Organization
their willingness of heart and consecrated lives At the start of the Apostolic Faith work in
as well as for their musical talent. Portland, a small reed organ was the only instru-
Many of the musicians who participate in mental music in the converted blacksmith shop
the music department of this church felt the that served as a church. When the congregation
call of God early in life. Some are still playing grew in number and moved to a larger building at
Top left: The tallest
and the shortest their instruments and using their voices in God’s the corner of Front and Burnside, a concert grand
pipes of the service after a number of decades. The compel- piano was added to assist in the congregational sing-
Wicks pipe organ. ling force that binds these musicians together is ing. Next came stringed instruments (a mandolin
their oneness of purpose to give of themselves and guitar), and later, brass instruments became
Top right: The Wicks and their talent to God through the ministry part of the growing ensemble.
organ being delivered of music. A reoccurring theme often expressed In 1918, the first Apostolic Faith orchestra
to the campground is that it is a privilege and a joy to be able to was pioneered by thirty members, organized and
tabernacle in 1950. “make music” for the Lord. They unanimously directed by Raymond Crawford. Within the next
declare that it is a thrill to be able to be a part few years, the orchestra began to be shaped by
of something that speaks to hearts regardless of the standard symphonic instrumentation, which
age or language. it has maintained to this day: complete string,

94 Church Services
woodwind, brass, and percussion sections. Early
on, a choir also became part of the music minis-
try, growing from a twelve-voice ensemble at its
Left: Three vocal soloists
outset to the large concert choir at present.
who gave of their
In 1950, a four-manual Wicks pipe organ was musical talent to the
installed in the tabernacle on the campground. It Lord for many years.
was moved to its present location in the Portland From top are Ray
church when that building was completed. The Kaady, Agnes Osten-
2,189 pipes of this organ, ranging in size from 16 dorf, and Sylvia Nees.
feet long to the size of a lead pencil, are housed
in a chamber behind the platform. Below left: Lena
Wallace was the
Annual Concerts and Other Efforts principal organist for
many years.
An annual Apostolic Faith midsummer
concert is given in the month of July, during Below: Wanda Day at
the two-week camp meeting convention. Music the harp in the 1940s.
lovers in the Portland area anticipate this event,
which is always well-attended. Interspersed with
selections presented by the full orchestra, choir,
and organ are renditions by smaller ensembles
and instrumental and vocal soloists. At times,

Church Services 95
 members of the regular choir, the young people’s miles, presenting the account of Christ’s birth
choir, and musicians and singers from branch in music and song to residents of rest homes,
Below: The choir and churches perform together, accompanied by the correctional institutions, and retirement centers.
orchestra on the orchestra and pipe organ. The Spirit of God has The staff and guests of these facilities eagerly an-
platform in Portland used these anthems of praise offered from conse- ticipate these annual musical presentations.
at the midsummer crated hearts, and souls have been led to Christ
concert in 2003. as a result of attending the concerts. Youth Involvement in Music
A midwinter concert is presented during the The young people of the Apostolic Faith
Christmas season. In addition, concerts featuring Church are given an opportunity to become
individual musicians, occasional youth concerts, actively involved in the musical efforts of the or-
and informal nights of music are a part of the ganization at an early age. Children are encour-
musical events presented each year. During De- aged to obtain musical training, with the goal of
cember, Apostolic Faith musicians travel many eventually becoming a part of the adult orchestra

96 Church Services
and choir. Over the years, youthful musicians
develop their skills and then begin to give their
talent back to God.
Young musicians participate in various musi- Top left: A ladies
cal groups, including a junior orchestra, youth quartet sings during
orchestra, children’s choirs, youth choir, and vari- one of the services
ous musical and instrumental ensembles. These in camp meeting of
groups perform in the young adult and children’s 2005.
church services. They also are encouraged to take
part in youth musical recitals. When the junior Top right: Don Wolfe
members are sufficiently prepared musically, and directed the Portland
spiritually qualified, they are invited to take part church orchestra and
choir for more than
in the senior orchestra and choir.
forty years.
The compelling cause that unites these musi-
cians, young and old, is a oneness of purpose to Left: A choir of tiny
give their best in praise and honor unto God. angels participates in
a Christmas Sunday
Hymn Composers school program.
Over the years, members of the Apostolic
Faith organization have composed hymns that are
sung from time to time in church services. The
first book of 100 well-loved hymns composed by

Church Services 97
 The compelling cause
that unites these
musicians, young and
old, is a purpose to give
their best in praise and
honor unto God.

Right: A children’s choir singing

enthusiastically in a children’s
meeting in 2003.

Below: Shawn Worthington is

currently the principal organist at
the Portland church.

these songwriters was published and copyrighted

in 1939. Another songbook, Sing Praises Unto Our
King, was produced in 1973.
The church founder, Florence Crawford, was
a songwriter. One of her well-loved hymns was
composed shortly after she had established the
headquarters work in Portland. Under the inspi-
ration of the Spirit, in a time of trial, she put to
music the craving of her soul: “The Heart’s Cry.”
Another beautiful song, “Jesus Reigns Supreme,”
was put in verse after the midnight hour when she
was awakened and inspired to write on the theme
of the coming of the Lord.
Her son, Raymond Crawford inherited his
mother’s love of music, and also composed a
number of Gospel songs. Once, a special burden
came upon his heart to write a hymn that would

98 Church Services
give admonition to prayer, and the Lord gave him
the words of the soul-stirring hymn, “Prevailing Top left: Phil Brown,
Prayer.” Another song he wrote dwelt on the a prolific hymn writer
heart’s devotion: “He Made Me What I Am.” for several decades, looks
Through the years, Phil Brown, Clifford Balt- over a piece of music
zell, Ted Friesen, Dixie Matthews, and other mu- with Lena Wallace in
sicians in the congregation, both in Portland and the 1950s.
in branch church locations, have written songs
of praise that have welled up in their hearts. The Top right: A group of
young violinists playing
choir or special vocal ensembles sometimes sing in a youth service.
these compositions in church services.
Those who attend the organization’s branch Left: Janice Calhoun is
churches around the world also find the focus principal pianist at the
on music in Apostolic Faith services an enjoyable Portland headquarters
and inspirational feature. Many hearts have been church.
touched by the Gospel message as it is presented
in this manner.

Church Services 99
 Expansion
in the
United States
The Pentecostal
message spread, and
soon branch churches
were established.

T
he Apostolic Faith work has grown Not only are all Apostolic Faith branches one
steadily since its founding, and over the in doctrine, but they are also one in purpose
years has established branch churches in and in spirit with the headquarters church. The
Above: The Apostolic various areas of the United States. All of these believers who form the organization all have been
Faith branch church in churches are under the leadership of the Portland born again, and as such, they enjoy fellowship
San Francisco featured
a sign proclaiming headquarters and are independent of any other as brethren in the Lord. Many representatives
“Jesus the Light of the religious group. Their distinguishing feature is from branch churches attend the annual sum-
World” in 1928. that they hold to the Bible doctrines as originally mer conventions, studying the truths of God’s
taught by the Azusa ministry in 1906 at the time Word together with those of the headquar-
of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. ters congregation. These annual events have

100 Expansion in the United States

strengthened the warm and supportive bond that The flame that had been kindled on Azusa
exists between the headquarters church and its Street was a fire that could not be extinguished.
affiliate churches. People in the Portland congregation were excited
about what God was doing in their midst. Those Below: Workers
The Pentecostal Message Spreads who had been filled with the Holy Ghost testi- from the Dallas and
Evangelism is a thread that has run through fied about it. Those accounts continued to be Albany, Oregon,
the history of the Apostolic Faith work since its transcribed and relayed through the Apostolic groups used a Gospel
beginning. Florence Crawford came to the city Faith paper, along with reports of evangelistic wagon with a large
of Portland with a strong sense of purpose, and efforts being made in various areas. signboard to attract
a deep determination to spread the Pentecostal The paper’s reports attracted those who people to their street
meetings.
message by any method and in every direction read them, whetting the spiritual appetites of
open to her. In spite of challenges to her theol- people worldwide. People sought God as they
ogy and her leadership, she continued to stay had never done before. Hundreds were convicted
focused on her call. and came to Christ, and a widespread movement

Expansion in the United States 101

 was launched to reach out to lost and hurting
people around the country and the world.

Branches Established on the West Coast

In 1906, a man who had a mission in Oak-
land, California, heard of the power falling at
Azusa Street in Los Angeles. He had been preach-
ing that the baptism was received at sanctifica-
tion, but became convinced he was in error. So
he wrote to the Azusa ministry, asking them to
send someone to fill in for him while he came
to Azusa to seek for the Pentecostal experience.
Florence Crawford and a team of workers were
sent to Oakland to take charge of the meetings
during the pastor’s absence. After a time he re-
turned to his post, not having received the experi-
ence. However, shortly afterward, while Florence
Crawford was still there, he received it.
While in Oakland, Florence Crawford looked
up some people in San Francisco who had writ-
ten to the correspondence office to inquire of
the work there in Los Angeles. She arranged to
hold cottage meetings in San Francisco, and this
became the first mission she established.
Meetings were marked by the power of God,
and many souls were converted and became
strong pillars in the Gospel work. Among these
was a young bricklayer, Newt Lesher, who had
come out west after the great earthquake in San
Above: An early Francisco, planning to help in the rebuilding
Apostolic Faith mission of the city. On a street corner in Oakland, he
located above a heard workers singing, “I’ve anchored my soul
pawnbroker shop. in the Haven of Rest.” The song so captured
his attention that he felt as if he were riveted to
Right: A 1924 the sidewalk. He followed the workers to their
baptismal service held place of worship, and there he was saved and
in Clark’s Creek near delivered from sin. Today, his son, and some
Puyallup, Washington, of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren
by an early group are members of the headquarters church in
of believers. Portland.

102 Expansion in the United States

 Gospel workers had a
determination to spread
the Pentecostal message,
and branch churches
sprang up around the
United States as a result
of their efforts.

In 1907, the Oakland group lost their lease The woman went, felt the Spirit on what Flor-
on the building where they had been meeting and ence Crawford preached, and after returning to
moved into a canvas tabernacle. There were some Chehalis, she told her pastor, “I am with Flor-
doctrinal divisions, moves to various locations, ence Crawford.” This statement had impact, and
and different ministers sent to lead the group. shortly thereafter, the Chehalis church became Above: Members of
When the group moved to Harrison Street, they affiliated with the Apostolic Faith work. the congregation in
renamed themselves the Apostolic Faith Rescue Just prior to Florence Crawford’s arrival in Dallas, Oregon,
Mission. In 1914, the Oakland work was moved Portland after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit gather for the laying
to San Francisco where Allen Crabtree assumed in Los Angeles, she participated in some services of the first brick of
the leadership. This congregation moved to sev- their new church.
in Salem, Oregon. A group of believers in nearby
The building was
eral other San Francisco locations over the years, Dallas, Oregon, had been meeting for prayer. A dedicated in 1928.
the last one being on Sutter Street. In 1995, the large delegation of them went to Salem to hear
congregation again relocated, this time to the east Florence Crawford preach. They returned home
side of the bay, in the Richmond area. and told the others about the meetings.
One of the earliest official branch churches of In 1909, an interdenominational tent meet-
the Apostolic Faith work in the northwest part of ing was held in a grain field near Dallas. After-
the United States was in Chehalis, Washington. ward, those who attended continued to meet in
A member of a church in Chehalis was going to homes as they sought the Lord for the deeper
Portland in 1907 to attend that organization’s spiritual experiences. Later in the year, some of
camp meeting. On the train she met someone these people rented a hall on Mill Street, called
who told her about the Apostolic Faith camp it the Apostolic Faith, and connected with the
meeting in Portland and invited her to attend. Apostolic Faith headquarters in Portland.

Expansion in the United States 103

 Right: The Los
Angeles Apostolic Faith
Church congregation
in 1939.

Below: Raymond
Crawford breaks ground
in 1953 for a new church
in Chehalis, Washington.

The Lord worked and quite a number

were saved. Some were sanctified and received
the baptism of the Holy Ghost, but soon after
that, there was a doctrinal division in the group.
Some decided that it was not necessary to preach
sanctification as a second, definite work of grace
and a prerequisite for receiving the baptism of
the Holy Ghost. Florence Crawford was asked to
come to Dallas to settle the matter, which she did
in May of 1910. She challenged the group to make
a choice. About nineteen or twenty of the Dallas
group determined to uphold the original teachings
from Azusa Street, and committed to stand with
the teachings of the Apostolic Faith organization
in Portland. The Dallas group grew, and in 1928,
they dedicated their own church building.

Evangelistic Efforts in Southern Oregon

In the winter of 1911, Clarence Frost, a log-
ging contractor in southern Oregon, rented a
building in Ashland, Oregon, and opened a

104 Expansion in the United States

 bowling preaching, and in 1919, he was appointed pastor
alley. A of the Medford Apostolic Faith branch church.
g ro u p o f Clarence Frost was very evangelistic minded.
Christian people in the area had hoped to ob- He went into communities where he had lived, Above left:
Clarence Frost,
tain the building he had rented and use it for a and many people who remembered his youthful
evangelist to the
mission. Without ever meeting him, they began days there as a sinner came to the meetings and southern Oregon
praying for the “bowling alley man.” One night were saved. He held a series of meetings in Dor- area.
God led him to their meeting, dealt with his ris, California, where people had known him as
heart, and saved his soul. What rejoicing broke a drunken logger. More than sixty people were Above right:
out when the people praying with him found that converted in those meetings. Reverend Frost took Reverend Frost (cen-
he was the man who owned the bowling alley! He his evangelistic meetings wherever he found a ter) and a group of
soon helped them transform the building into a building that could be used for a temporary workers in front of a
mission hall. church. Meetings were held and souls converted. bus used for evange-
listic work.
The camp meeting of 1913 found Clarence By the time his ministry in Medford ended (in
Frost in Portland, where he remained for a few 1955), that church had become one of the largest
years. However, he carried on his heart a burden branch churches of the Apostolic Faith work in
for the people of southern Oregon. He began the United States.

Expansion in the United States 105

 Outreach in the Midwest The Damrons went to Portland, where they
The Apostolic Faith work spread into the remained for about a year, and then they felt that
midwestern United States through a number the Lord was calling them to take the Gospel
of different avenues. Many of the early contacts to the Midwest. Florence Crawford encouraged
were results of the literature ministry. them with the words, “There is not a tremor in
In 1910, tent meetings were held in Vancou- my soul but that you will remain true.” They
ver, B.C., Canada, by workers from Portland. A settled for a time in Batesville, Arkansas, where
minister and his wife who were affiliated with they opened a Gospel hall. They put up a sign,
a holiness church in the State of Washington, “The Apostolic Faith Rescue Mission.” However,
James and Edna Damron, attended the services. it seemed there was little interest in the Gospel
They had been seeking a people who preached in that area, so they wrote to Florence Crawford,
all of the Bible doctrines, and the Spirit of God who directed them to relocate to Kansas City,
witnessed to them that the Apostolic Faith people Missouri. All they knew of Kansas City was what
were sound in doctrine. they had observed as they passed through on the

Right: Workers from

the Kansas City
mission prepare to
hold a street meeting
in 1918. The old
1913 Cadillac was
rebuilt by the Kansas
City members.

106 Expansion in the United States

 A number of
mission-type churches
were maintained in
rented locations
throughout the Midwest.

train. The depot was in the slum district, and were held in the surrounding towns. In some
coal soot covered everything. Edna Damron felt locations they held brush arbor meetings. The
she could not take her little children to that Gospel was taken to various locations in Kansas,
dirty city, but her husband said, “Of course we Iowa, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. People who re-
are going.” The first Sunday in Kansas City, his ceived the literature in these and other outreach
wife prayed until the Lord put such a love in endeavors in the Midwest were pointed to the Above: Kansas City
her heart for that place that she loved it for the Kansas City church. At times, the workers went workers preparing
rest of her life. to other locations to hold meetings, and more to go out for a street
In 1912, they rented a little hall, holding their souls were saved. meeting. James
Damron is in the
first meeting on a Saturday night. That night, a An Apostolic Faith work began in the area
driver’s seat; his wife,
drunkard who had terribly opposed his Christian of St. Louis, Missouri, through the efforts of a Edna, is second from
wife, came to the meeting and was saved. They woman who went from the headquarters church the right on the
felt it was a confirmation that the Lord wanted to Illinois to distribute literature and to hold front row.
them there. The Lord blessed, and many were tent meetings in Murphysboro. A family was
saved that first winter. saved, and through their efforts and the support
They bought a secondhand Cadillac, length- of workers from Kansas City and other places, an
ened the chassis, and built a Gospel car to carry Apostolic Faith work was begun. In 1916, most of
twelve workers and a street organ. Street meetings the families moved to St. Louis and established a

Expansion in the United States 107

 church there. During In August of 1961, the first Midwest Apostolic
World War I, several Faith camp meeting was held on a rented camp-
families moved from St. ground in Edwardsville, Illinois. In the summer
Louis to Portland, but of 1969, the yearly gathering was relocated to a
a mission-type church campground in Murphysboro, Illinois. Currently,
was maint ained in the annual event is held near Fredericktown, Mis-
Top left: The va rio u s re n te d lo ca tio n s in d own town souri, and is attended by visitors from all parts
tabernacle in St. Louis for many years. In 1953, a church build- of the United States.
Edwardsville, ing was purchased in a residential area, and the
Illinois. group was happy to have their own facility. In Beginnings of the Southern Work
September of 1995, the congregation relocated In the early years of the development of the
Top right: Loyce Carver once again to a new building on Kerth Road. Apostolic Faith headquarters work in Portland,
and his wife, Mary, in In all parts of the Midwest, there were fami- God was using men who had been impacted
the cafeteria line at a lies who loved the doctrines and standards of the by William Seymour and the Azusa revival to
Midwest camp eeting.
Apostolic Faith, and longed for a branch church pioneer Gospel work in the southland. Two
Above: The children’s to be established near them. There were frequent of these were young ministers who had been
choir at a recent requests for workers to come and hold meetings saved in the early 1900s—Cato Bush of Carlton,
Midwest camp meeting. in various localities. Over the years, some of these Alabama, and Hugh C. White of Rocky Mount,
small groups became official branch churches of North Carolina. These men had never met nor
the Apostolic Faith organization. corresponded with each other, but their efforts

108 Expansion in the United States

 Left: The “sawdust trail”
tent church in Century,
Florida, which was the
first meeting place of the
Apostolic Faith Church
there.

Bottom left: Pearl Lock-

ett Sr., Cato Bush, and
Richard Barney making
plans for the Century
campground.

Below: Cato Bush (right)

and Richard Barney (left)
with Raymond Crawford
at a camp meeting in
Portland.

eventually resulted in many people uniting under

the umbrella of the Apostolic Faith work.
Another leader was Richard Barney, a man
who was entering the world of professional box-
ing when he received an Apostolic Faith paper
and was converted. Reverend Barney and Rev-
erend Bush eventually met in Century, Florida,
and though they worked in different parts of
Alabama, they would occasionally get together

Expansion in the United States 109

 with others for meetings in Century, Florida, or land on Saturday. There they received a warm
nearby Flomaton, Alabama. welcome from Florence Crawford and others at
Reverend Barney had continued to get lit- the camp meeting.
Above: The group erature from the Apostolic Faith organization in The following year, Reverend Barney felt
that gathered for Portland, and in 1934, a group decided to visit led to Anniston, Alabama, where he started an
the Century camp the Portland camp meeting. They started out in Apostolic Faith Church, faithfully serving as pas-
meeting in 1955. their Model T Ford on a Tuesday. The trip was tor there for fifty-five years. During that time, he
very difficult—before they had gone fifty miles of visited emerging churches in Birmingham and
the 3000-mile trip, they had five flat tires—but Talladega, Alabama; Atlanta and Columbus,
the Lord blessed them, and they arrived in Port- Georgia; and several others.

110 Expansion in the United States

 Florida Work Reverend Bush made a trip to Portland in
Cato Bush had begun preaching in 1924, go- 1944, and was encouraged by the ministry there
ing from house to house telling the Good News to work closely with Reverend Barney and to stay
of salvation through Jesus Christ. After living for in fellowship with Portland. It was his desire to
a time in Mobile, Alabama, he began extensive do this, so he and the other individuals with
travels in Alabama and Florida. By 1930, he had the same purpose of heart began to hold meet-
received an Apostolic Faith paper, and had met ings in various homes.
with others who had received the papers as well. Finally, one home—an
Among these was Richard Barney. old unpainted house
Reverend Bush moved to Century, Florida, that was leaning to one
in January of 1940, to join with a group who side—was given over as
had also sprung from the Azusa revival, and a meeting place.
had called themselves “Apostolic.” When his Then the Lord
co-workers turned away from the leadership opened up the way for
in Portland, it was a matter of great concern to the group to acquire
Reverend Bush. After much prayer and fasting, an acre of land direct-
it was decided by the majority of the ministers ly across the highway
and membership that they wanted to keep the from one of the early
connection with the Apostolic Faith work in members. This was a
Portland, so they separated themselves from the big step of faith because
remainder of the group. there was little money

Above: Richard Barney

and Walter Moore in
front of the old wooden
cafeteria on the Century
campground.

Left: The first Apostolic

Faith Church in
Century, Florida.

Expansion in the United States 111

 in the church treasury, but the Lord provided the concrete blocks were made, the saints would
the finances. The plot was filled with trees and pray over them. As I recall, all services, activities,
Above left: bushes and the people could not afford to or work was preceded by prayer. Our small ‘tent
A group of ministers hire someone to clear the land, so they did it top church’ [a temporary church consisting of a
from some of the themselves. Plans were drawn for a new church used army tent that fit over a wooden frame] was
southern churches
gather in front of the building that would be constructed of concrete filled to capacity. However, it was a place where
tabernacle on the blocks. They purchased two machines to make souls were saved, and many lives were dedicated
Portland campground. the blocks, and learned how to produce them. to the service of the Lord.” The new place of
Dedicated workers labored all day at the sawmill, worship was dedicated in 1946.
Above right: then came to make blocks at the church ground From 1946 through 1950, there was tremen-
W. T. Thomas and in the evenings and on Saturdays. dous growth in the Century church. News about
the Pensacola group An account written by the son of one of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Century began
who affiliated with those early pioneers contained this report of to spread near and far. Outreach efforts by the
the Apostolic Faith the building project: “1945 was a year of great members of the congregation had extended into
work in 1959.
excitement. World War II was coming to a slow hospitals and prisons in the region, as well as in
close, we were enjoying our ‘sawdust trail’ church, many outlying areas. They held cottage meetings
and we were very excited about the work on our wherever there was an open door, and handed
first church building. It was hard, but we did out many Gospel papers and tracts to people who
not seem to mind it. Everyone was happy as we gladly received them. Many souls were added to
eagerly anticipated having our own church. As the church.

112 Expansion in the United States

 Other pastors and their members found their to contact the church in Century. He went, and
way to the Century, Florida, Apostolic Faith Mis- soon made known his desire to become part of
sion. They began having annual revival services, the work. In October of 1959, Reverend Bush
and this brought numbers of those who had officially established the Pensacola church as a
gone a different direction back together again. branch of the Apostolic Faith organization.
Eventually, Century was established as the head- Below left: The
quarters church for the southern branches of the Churches in Texas congregation gathers
Apostolic Faith work. Cato Bush was a man with an evangelist’s outside one of the
Another branch of the Apostolic Faith work heart, and he did much traveling because of his churches in Houston,
in Florida was established in the year 1959, when insatiable desire to spread the Gospel. His travels Texas.
a group in Pensacola that had been worshiping took him through many cities, towns, and the
together since 1955 expressed their desire to “backwoods.” Houston, Texas, was among the Below right: The
first Apostolic Faith
affiliate with the organization. One of the mem- southwest locales where he conducted revivals and
Church in Atlanta,
bers from the Century church had relocated to established churches. A work had developed in the Georgia.
Pensacola and visited the small church. Through northern part of that city, but Reverend Bush felt
her, the pastor learned about the Apostolic Faith there was a need for another church in Houston.
organization and began corresponding with the After receiving permission from the Portland
headquarters church in Portland. He was advised headquarters, in October of 1950, he moved

Expansion in the United States 113

 Dedicated men and
women of God invested
their lives in the spread
of the Gospel in various
parts of the United States.

from Century to Houston, bringing six young to be used for His glory. Later, an adjacent lot
men with him. This group began to hold church was purchased, allowing for expansion of the
services in a home on the south side of the city. church facilities.
Then a piece of property was located. Since the
group was new to the city and had little money Work Emerges in the Carolinas
and no references, it was only through prayer About the same time that Cato Bush was be-
Above: The and persistence that the lumber and other sup- ginning to preach in Alabama, God called Hugh
congregation gathers plies were obtained to build the church. The new C. White. By 1927, Reverend White was holding
in front of one of
building was dedicated in January of 1952. In cottage meetings and having services under big
the early southern
churches. later years, this church was relocated to another oak trees. He was a poor man. During his travels
site with a better parking situation. he often could not afford to buy lunch, so he
In 1976, some of the Houston congregation would pick wild blackberries, pray over them,
became interested in starting a church in a dif- eat them, and keep on traveling and preaching
ferent part of the city. They began to hold prayer the Gospel. By 1934, he had traveled through
meetings and services in a room behind the home Florence and Kingstree, South Carolina, and
of one of the members. In fact, it was the same had seen a good response to the preaching of the
prayer room in which Reverend Bush had begun Gospel. On one of his trips to Kingstree, he con-
holding services in 1950. In September of 1977, ducted services in a schoolhouse, where a num-
Reverend Bush dedicated that building to God ber of people were saved. In 1937, he acquired a

114 Expansion in the United States

 lot for a churchtook place on June 3, 1953, when she opened
in Rocky her home and invited friends to join together for
Mount, North a time of worship and fellowship. On March 1, Top left: Mary Kelly
Carolina, and 1964, property was purchased with the anticipa- was founder of the
a building was tion of building a church. The adjacent lot with a Apostolic Faith Church
constructed. house was purchased in 1972, and meetings were in Washington D.C.
Although he pastored the Rocky Mount church, held in the house until 1978. That year, the house
Lower left: Leon
Reverend White continued to travel. He estab- was torn down and the church was built. While
Dicks, a pioneer of the
lished a church in Florence, South Carolina, and construction was in progress, meetings were held Apostolic Faith work
appointed a pastor. It was in Florence that those in a rented house around the corner on Florida on the East Coast.
under his leadership eventually met to have their Avenue. The new church was dedicated in the
annual “General Assembly” gatherings. fall of 1978 by Loyce Carver, General Overseer Top right: The new
of the Apostolic Faith organization. church in Washington
In the East In the early summer of 2005, the Washington D.C. was dedicated in
Like many others, Mary G. Kelly was intro- D.C. congregation moved into a newly acquired May of 2005.
duced to the Apostolic Faith organization through church building at 1325 Southeast Branch Av-
the papers sent out from Portland. The beginning enue, off of Pennsylvania Avenue and just a short
of the Apostolic Faith work in Washington D.C. distance from the White House.

Expansion in the United States 115

 In 1953, the same year that the work began in the endeavor, making plans for the first camp
the nation’s capital, Leon C. Dicks, who also had meeting to be held in October of 1958.
received an Apostolic Faith paper, established an Small tents were sent by truck from the
Apostolic Faith church in Brooklyn, New York. headquarters in Portland to be used as sleep-
Reverend Dicks was District Overseer of the Ap- ing quarters, and space was made behind the
ostolic Faith churches on the East Coast for many cafeteria and church to pitch two rows of tents.
years until his death on March 17, 1989. One tent was situated at the gate, and this be-
came the campground office. A big Gospel tent
First Florida Camp Meeting was brought to Century from Atlanta, Georgia,
Top left: The In October of 1956, the eastern Apostolic and was situated on the east side of the church.
campground at Faith churches joined the southern churches at Reverend Crawford from Portland preached the
Century, Florida. the annual revival meetings held in Century, first sermon. A written account of that first camp
Florida. The following year, the General Overseer meeting describes it: “What a time we had! The
Top right: The of the Apostolic Faith work, Raymond Crawford, power and glory of God came down and set His
congregation at the and a team of workers visited Century. approval on the meetings.”
Century camp meeting In July of 1957, a veteran of the southern After a while, the property next to the church
in 2003. work, Pearl Lockett Sr. (then pastor of the Cen- became available, and the ministry decided to
tury congregation) and other southern ministers, purchase it for a campground. It was not easily
Above: William
asked Reverend Crawford what he thought about acquired, and many prayers went up before the
McClary, pastor in
Kingstree, South organizing a camp meeting for the southern land came into ownership of the Apostolic Faith
Carolina, gives a churches. The response was, “That would be organization. Much preparation was necessary to
message at the 2003 wonderful, and Century would be the place for make the grounds suitable for a camp meeting.
camp meeting. it.” The prospect was brought before the ministry, One member used his farm tractor to level the
and all agreed and pledged their full support of land to be used as streets, parking lots, and the

116 Expansion in the United States

tent area. A large tent was set up for the meetings,
electric lines run for the lights, and a platform
built for the ministers and choir. In 1966, the
tabernacle was completed, though many improve-
ments have been made on it since that time.

At the Present
Over the years, some Apostolic Faith congre-
gations have diminished, as faithful pioneers of
the work have gone home to Heaven and younger
people have moved elsewhere. Other branches
have grown, and have needed to acquire larger
facilities to house their expanding congregations.
Some branches have closed, with their congrega-
tions relocating to be near other Apostolic Faith
churches. In other areas, new works have begun.
The newest domestic branch churches of the or-
ganization are located in Paterson, New Jersey,
and Orlando, Florida. At present there are forty-
nine branch churches in the United States.

Above: Darrel Lee

preaches at the Apostolic
Faith Church in the
Bronx, New York. The
church congregation is
mainly Spanish-speak-
ing. Interpreting is John
Richardson, the pastor.

Far left: Robert Moore,

District Superintendent
for the southern and
eastern branch churches,
gives his testimony.

Left: One of the

newest Apostolic Faith
churches is located in
Richmond, Virginia. It
was dedicated in 2004.

Expansion in the United States 117

 Expansion
Worldwide

S
ince the establishment of its headquarters contacts, holding meetings, and aiding in the
in Portland, the Apostolic Faith Church establishment of affiliate churches.
Above: A group has branched out into the international Today, Apostolic Faith branch churches
of Gospel workers community. Literature mailed from the church are sprinkled across six continents. One of the
gather on a street to foreign countries made many initial contacts. unique characteristics of the Apostolic Faith or-
corner in Vancouver, In countries around the globe, spiritually hungry ganization is its global unity and consistent man-
British Columbia, people who read the Gospel truths published ner of worldwide operation. Those who travel
Canada, to hold a by this organization gathered in groups to wor- to branch churches throughout the world feel
service and invite ship God, and many of them later came under at home spiritually, even though surroundings,
listeners to church. languages, and cultures may be vastly different.
the leadership of the Portland headquarters. At
times, ministers and workers from Apostolic Visitors who come to Portland for the annual
Faith churches in the United States have traveled camp meeting conventions feel the same special
to other countries, meeting with the literature sense of unity.

118 Expansion Worldwide

 In countries around the globe,
spiritually hungry people gather to
worship God and spread the
Gospel message.

Canada People who received the literature began

According to reports in early papers printed meeting in small groups here and there through-
on Azusa Street, Florence Crawford made trips out the country. In September of 1945, a band
to Canada, visiting Vancouver, British Columbia, of believers who had been gathering in Calgary,
and Winnipeg, Manitoba, while she was still with Alberta, moved to Vancouver, to start a church Above: The
the Azusa mission. She maintained connections current Apostolic
in that city. Cottage meetings were held at first,
Faith Church in
with individuals and groups across Canada after until the crowd became too large for the home. Langley, British
the work was established in Portland. In 1910, A remodeled house was the next facility. A Columbia, Canada.
tent meetings were held in Vancouver by workers few years later, the city wanted to purchase that
from Portland. In a personal letter dated Febru- property for a new roadway, so arrangements
ary 24, 1917, Florence Crawford wrote of leaving were made to trade it for a lot at Kingsway and
for Toronto and Winnipeg for an evangelistic Rupert. The congregation worked diligently for
tour that was to last “a few weeks.” many months constructing a church building on

Expansion Worldwide 119

 Clockwise from top left:
Stanley Hancock,
pioneer of the Gospel
work in Newfoundland.

Gideon and Grace

Hancock. He received
the church paper that led
to the connection with
headquarters in 1942.

Dolly Walker led the

Newfoundland work from
1978 until her death
in 1988.

Enjoying a game of
volleyball at a recent
Newfoundland
the new site. At this same time, the missionary
youth camp.
vessel, Lower Light, was making its annual trip up
Apostolic Faith young the West Coast to Alaska. Upon the vessel’s re-
people in front of the turn, the new building was complete enough for
chapel at a recent the crew to stop in the port city of Vancouver and
youth camp. assist with the dedication of the new church.
In 1945, a sign was erected proclaiming,
In 1967, young people “Jesus the Light of the World.” This colorful sign
welcome the Carvers to drew lost souls into the Light of the Gospel. It
Newfoundland.
was used as a landmark for many to find their
The church in Hooping way into the city of Vancouver and also into the
Harbor, Newfoundland. arms of the Savior. After the church building was
sold and the congregation relocated, this sign was

120 Expansion Worldwide

donated to the Vancouver museum for display building was dedicated,
with other collectable neon signs. There, the mes- and this became the
sage, “Jesus the Light of the World,” continues headquarters of a work
to be proclaimed. that has branched out
Across the continent on Canada’s eastern into a number of other
seaboard, a single Gospel paper from Portland locations in Newfound-
was the starting point for another branch of the land. In July of 1989,
Apostolic Faith work. In Newfoundland, a post- the first Apostolic
mistress gave an unaddressed Apostolic Faith pa- Faith youth camp was
per to a man she knew had an interest in religion. held in that province. Currently, approximately Above: The Newfound-
That man, Gideon Hancock, was so impressed one hundred teenagers attend the one-week ses- land headquarters
by the doctrines that he retained the publica- sion held each summer. church in Roddickton.
tion, even though he was at that time actively A snowstorm in April of 1981 prevented a
involved with another religious organization. minister of the Apostolic Faith work in New- Below left: Rene
Two years later, when he and others were locked foundland from returning home after a business Cassell, District Super-
out of their church because of their belief in the trip to Goose Bay, Labrador. While waiting out intendent for Eastern
Canada.
baptism of the Holy Spirit, he remembered that the storm at a hotel, he was met by two men
paper, and the little group contacted Portland. who already knew of the Apostolic Faith work Below right: Ministers
That was in November of 1942. In 1943, the first and wanted to be affiliated with it. That Sunday in Eastern Canada,
Apostolic Faith cottage meetings were held in evening, a service was held in a house basement with representatives
Roddickton, Newfoundland. In 1949, a church with about twenty people present. Subsequent from headquarters.

Expansion Worldwide 121

 cottage meetings were blessed by God, and in the purchase when He led the owners to reduce
1982, a building was renovated to become a the asking price by nearly thirty percent to accept
church. Though the group there is not large in the purchase price offered.
number, God continues to bless with His sweet
presence. The Work in Scandinavia
Above left: The choir In 1913, a woman in New Brunswick was The first Apostolic Faith missionaries to leave
singing at a service in healed of tuberculosis of the spine when a prayer the Portland headquarters for foreign lands went
the Kitchenener, request was sent to the Apostolic Faith Church in to Scandinavia in the spring of 1911. Marking the
Ontario, Apostolic Portland, Oregon. Later, that woman’s daughter trail ahead of them was the literature printed in
Faith Church. attended the Apostolic Faith camp meeting in the Portland, which entered those northern lands in
United States. Visitors then traveled to the fam- the early part of the twentieth century. Many in
Above right: George ily’s home in Fredericton to hold cottage meet- that area became hungry for the deeper spiritual
Burton, pastor of the
Kitchener church, ings. In 1979, a couple from Vancouver came to experiences they had read about in the literature,
enjoys a visit with that location and started a church. Assisted by and a few years later, when personal missionaries
Bob Downey, members of the churches in Newfoundland, a arrived, they warmly welcomed them.
Director of North place of worship was constructed. Then a Norwegian man and his wife felt the
America Work for In the 1990s, workers began praying that a call to go to their native land and preach the
the Apostolic Faith door would open for the establishment of an Gospel. In 1913, others took leave for Norway.
organization. Apostolic Faith Church somewhere between The newly arrived group from Portland, together
Vancouver, British Columbia, and Fredericton, with the workers who had gone before, joined in
New Brunswick. In 1992, a work was begun in holding meetings in Stavanger. They experienced
Kitchener, Ontario, in a rented building, and the much opposition in preaching the fullness of the
Lord blessed. A church building became available Gospel, but the revival fires continued to burn.
in 1995, and God put His seal of approval upon Souls were saved, sanctified, and baptized with

122 Expansion Worldwide

the Holy Spirit. The revival spread, and in time, fluential citizens who tried to have it torn down,
groups of believers were meeting in several loca- but it became a symbol of Stavanger. When the Below left: Some of
tions. The Apostolic Faith currently has churches building was sold in 1993, and a new building those gathered at
in Stavanger and Tromsø, as well as a small group constructed in a residential area, the sign was the camp meeting in
that meets in Silsand, south of Tromsø. declared a historical landmark by the local gov- Stavanger, Norway, in
Norwegian tracts and papers were printed ernment. It has been restored and connected to 1945.
in Portland by the thousands and distributed the streetlights, and the municipality pays for
throughout the country. Later, a printing plant the upkeep! Below right: Raymond
Crawford (right),
was set up in the Stavanger church, and tracts A work among children has been a successful
Overseer of the
and papers were produced there. The number outreach effort by the Stavanger congregation. Apostolic Faith work,
of subscribers increased from 400 to more than After moving to the new church location, they and Olaf Tonning
20,000 in twenty years. were situated much closer to where children (left), board a plane
The headquarters church for the Scandina- lived. They currently hold weekly children’s meet- for Norway.
vian work was established in Stavanger in 1925. ings, where Bible stories, crafts, and refreshments
Atop the building an electric sign was erected, are part of the activities
proclaiming in the Norwegian language, “Jesus for various age groups.
verdens lys,” the same message as the “Jesus the A number of Muslim
Light of the World” sign on the Portland head- children attend these
quarters church. There was opposition from in- meetings, and some-

Expansion Worldwide 123

 times accept the invitation to the services on
Sundays. At times, they have over sixty children
in attendance.
A work among the people of Denmark was
also begun through the distribution of literature.
A Norwegian woman gave some tracts to a Dan-
Top left: The facility where the Scandinavian ish blacksmith in 1926. This man was a Christian
camp meeting is currently held. who longed for more of God, and in the tracts
he read about the deeper spiritual experiences
Top right: LeRoy Tonning, District his soul craved. He wrote to the Scandinavian
Superintendent of Scandinavia Work, preaches headquarters in Stavanger, and soon Christian
at a recent camp meeting in Norway. workers came to his hometown and held evan-
gelistic services. People from surrounding areas
Above: The sign from the Stavanger attended the meetings, and before long, a branch
Apostolic Faith Church, which is now a
of the Apostolic Faith work was established in
historical landmark.
Horsens, Denmark. Later, two Danish sisters
who had been saved in the meetings in Horsens

124 Expansion Worldwide

 Workers in Scandinavia
were diligent in printing
and distributing Gospel
literature.

were the starting point for another Denmark erature mailed. A large
branch, this one in the city of Copenhagen. For correspondence work
many years, a small printing plant at the Horsens among the Finnish
church published a Danish Apostolic Faith paper people soon developed.
and other Gospel tracts. Thousands of pieces of Cottage prayer meetings were begun in different
literature were distributed throughout the coun- localities. A group in Vaasa was established as an Top left: Lari Lepisto,
try of Denmark through this means. Apostolic Faith branch church, and from this long-time leader of
The Apostolic Faith in Finland also began group, workers went to other areas distributing the work in Finland,
visited Portland with
in the early part of the twentieth century when the literature and spreading the Gospel truths. his wife, Karina.
many people in that country were hungering In time, other churches were established in dif-
for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and began ferent parts of Finland. Above: Henry and
seeking for more light on deeper spiritual truths. As the years have come and gone, Gospel Bitte Sorensen, who
By the year 1910, Apostolic Faith papers in the outreach in the Scandinavian countries has were key to the devel-
Finnish language were being mailed from mem- become more difficult. Old-timers in the Scan- opment of the work
bers of the Portland congregation to friends and dinavian work have passed on, and much of the in Denmark.
relatives in Finland. These people in turn sent society now seems uninterested in the Gospel,
in names of others to whom they wished the lit- being firmly entrenched in formal religious

Expansion Worldwide 125

 practice. However, the Light continues to shine
out. A camp meeting convention is held each
year in Stavanger, Norway, and the people of
God scattered throughout the Scandinavian
countries come together and worship with other
believers there. In recent years, delegates have
also attended this camp meeting from Apostolic
Faith churches in the United States, the United
Kingdom, and other parts of the world.

United Kingdom and Europe

The motto of the Apostolic Faith Mission in
the United Kingdom is “Win Europe back for
Christ.” The energetic believers there are doing
all they can to turn that vision into a reality.
The work, initially begun through the efforts of
Top left: Isaac Adigun, leader of the work Nigerian students in the London area, is progress-
in the United Kingdom, with his wife, Stella,
ing, and the past few years have been fruitful in
at the 2005 camp meeting.
the work of the Lord. In the United Kingdom,
Top right: Congregation at the there are now established Apostolic Faith groups
2001 camp meeting. in Bolton, Birmingham, Norwich, Leicester, and
Sheffield, and in Aberdeen, Scotland. In main-
Above: Ministers at the 2001 camp meeting. land Europe, there are groups gathering in Italy,

126 Expansion Worldwide

France, and Holland; one is also beginning in continually inviting people to their services and
the Republic of Ireland. Groups of workers go giving out tracts in buses, trains, and market
regularly from the London headquarters church places. A regular outreach among the homeless
to lend support to these groups. During the vis- began in January of 2002; volunteers go out with
its, evangelism and literature distribution form tea, coffee, sandwiches, and bundles of literature
the major thrust of the outreach efforts. to share the Gospel with the people living mainly
The first annual United Kingdom camp in the city center under the bridges and in some
meeting was held in 2001 at a rented campsite. of the rougher areas of London.
At the camp meeting in 2004, representatives Sunday school classes at the London Apos-
from eleven countries were present, as well as tolic Faith Church continue to grow. Closely
from sixteen cities within the U.K. The camp- connected with the Sunday school work is the
ground that year was Cefn Lea Park, a Christian Sunday afternoon Youth Club for Christ (YCC),
Conference center in Newtown, Wales. By the which God has blessed abundantly over the years.
end of the week, the location was dubbed the Nearly every Sunday there are new faces in at-
“Valley of Blessings” as God poured out abun- tendance at the services, and God continues to
dant spiritual blessings on the campers. satisfy hungry hearts with salvation.
The London congregation owns a church
property in Peckham, but the expanding group Outreach Into Romania
has outgrown those facilities, and they are cur- Opportunities have opened up for the spread
rently looking for a larger place. The church of the Gospel in Romania. In 1929, a family there
members are active in their evangelistic efforts, received a package wrapped in a Czechoslovakian

Left: The first official

Apostolic Faith Church
in Romania, located in
Sampetru-German.

Expansion Worldwide 127

 Apostolic Faith paper. Someone in the town
Above: Children listen could read Czech and translated the paper into
eagerly in the Bulgarus Romanian, and then shared it with his family
Sunday school.
and friends. As a result, the people there started
Top right: Sunday praying for the Holy Ghost and the Latter Rain
school students hold began to fall in that part of Romania.
up copies of Apostolic About fifty years later, Romanian families
Faith Sunday school began immigrating to the United States. A num- and converted into an Apostolic Faith Sunday
materials printed in ber of these families chose Portland as their new school in August of 2000. The Sunday school
the Romanian home because they had seen pictures in those booklet, Sacred Stories for Children, was translated
language. old papers of the “Jesus the Light of the World” and printed in Romania and presently is used in
sign in that city. a number of Sunday schools there.
Bottom right: John
In recent years, ministers and workers from The first Romanian Apostolic Faith branch
Musgrave (right),
Director of Romania the United States have made regular trips to Ro- church was dedicated in the town of Sampetru-
Work, preaches at a mania to support an emerging Apostolic Faith German on May 12, 2002. There are now four
service in Teremia work in that country. Feeling the presence of official branches of the organization in that coun-
Mica, with Ben the Holy Spirit, and seeing “Isus Lumina Lu- try. A new headquarters church for the work is
Marincus interpreting. mii” (Jesus the Light of the World), made the scheduled to be dedicated early in 2006.
workers feel right at home. Following the first In October 2001, a piece of ground was
few visits, a small house in Lovrin was acquired purchased for a possible camp meeting site from

128 Expansion Worldwide

the son of the man who had received that first
paper in 1929. In July of 2003, a group of work-
ers from the United States assisted the leaders
in Romania in holding their first youth camp
convention. The camp was made up of tents,
and the only running water was the small river
that goes through the property. In spite of the
somewhat rustic conditions, a number of young
people received spiritual experiences, and the
nearby towns were affected by the week-long
evangelistic effort. The leaders requested an
expanded format, so in 2004, the convention
was stretched over a two-Sunday period and was
recognized as their first camp meeting.
A number of Apostolic Faith publications
have been translated into the Romanian lan-
guage, including the Higher Way magazine, the
booklets A Glimpse into the Future and 30 Days
on the Road to Eternity, doctrinal booklets, as well
as the Sunday school curriculum, Discovery. The
work has expanded rapidly due to the influence
of the publications.

Japan
The Apostolic Faith work in Asia was preced-
ed by home missionary work among the seafaring
men at the headquarters church in Portland. In
1950, a group of workers visiting the ships in the
harbor met the first Japanese merchant ship to ar-
rive on the West Coast of the United States after
World War II. Fifty-two men who were invited family moved to Japan to pioneer an Apostolic
to attend church came to the service their first Faith work in that country. Reverend Allen be-
night in port. In the years immediately following, gan holding services in quarters provided by the Above: Raymond
Crawford with
thousands of Japanese seafaring men visited the government for Japanese seamen; cottage meet- Arthur and Miriam
Portland church. ings were also started in the city of Kawasaki. Allen, who spent over
A burden for the spiritual welfare of these In 1954, a church was dedicated in Tokyo; this nine years in Japan
people lay upon the hearts of some of the work- property was later sold. Then, in 1962, a church as missionaries.
ers, and in 1952, a journey was made to Japan to was dedicated in Kawasaki.
investigate the possibility of establishing a work In 1968, Loyce Carver, leader of the Apos-
there. In February of 1953, Arthur Allen and his tolic Faith work worldwide, visited Japan. At

Expansion Worldwide 129

 that time, he ordained Hidehiro Ouchi, and come a more difficult field to work. However, the
Reverend Ouchi still leads the Japanese work. A believers in the city of Kawasaki have an evangelis-
new church building was dedicated in Kawasaki tic spirit and have devoted themselves to various
in 1971. types of outreach in the surrounding area.
When Reverend Allen passed away, the
Japanese congregation received a monetary gift Korea
in his memory. They decided that they would The Apostolic Faith work in Korea also had
use the money to print evangelistic papers, “to its roots in the ministry to the seafaring men who
follow Brother Allen’s will to spread the Gospel.” came into the Portland harbor. Harold and Sally
They printed the first paper in October 1986 Barrett, members of the Portland congregation,
and have printed more than eighty editions since were among the Apostolic Faith workers who
then, distributing by hand thousands of copies visited the ships to invite the men to church
annually. Souls have services. They made many friends among the
been saved as a result, Korean crewmen, and entertained hundreds of
and they now have a them in their home.
mailing list of contacts In 1966, the couple traveled to Korea as
who regularly receive guests of the Korean government, and spent seven
the paper. months visiting churches and the families of the
Japan is another Korean crewmen they had become acquainted
area of the world that, with. Shortly after their return to Portland, the
in recent years, has be- General Overseer, Loyce Carver, asked the couple

Above: Bill McKibben,

Director of Asia Work
for the Apostolic Faith,
with Hidehiro Ouchi,
Kawasaki church pastor.

Right: The Kawasaki

congregation in 2003.

130 Expansion Worldwide

 Top left: Harold and
if they would like to return to Korea as missionar- Sally Barrett depart for
ies. There was no doubt in their minds that this Korea in 1966 on board
was the leading of the Holy Spirit, and they gladly the S.S. Su Hae.
accepted the challenge. Within a short time, they
transferred their business to their son, rented Top right: Believers
join in singing a Gospel
out their home, packed their belongings, and hymn in the “Upper
boarded the ship that would take them across Room Church.”
the Pacific to Korea.
On their arrival, the Barretts rented a house Left: One of the early
in Pusan and soon began holding services in the converts in Korea is
upper room of their home. Since the house was baptized in water by the
near the dock facilities, some of the seafaring missionary.
men visited their services when they were in
Pusan. Others who were away at sea instructed
their families to attend. The very first service

Expansion Worldwide 131

 started with just three visitors, but the attendance
quickly grew. The lady who delivered water to
homes in the area was invited in to have some
Top left: The power refreshments and was told about the Lord and
of prayer was a key His love. She wept her way through to an expe-
concept taught and
rience of salvation. Her husband had been an
modeled by the
missionaries. alcoholic for thirty years, but he found the Lord
when he was at the point of death. The niece
Top right: The Barretts of a seafaring man was miraculously healed of
visit some elderly folks tuberculosis through the prayers of the Apostolic
in a country village. Faith people, and she eventually moved to Pusan
and lived in the Barretts’ home. One by one, lives
Right: General were touched by the power of God, and the work
Overseer Loyce Carver in Korea grew.
and his wife, Mary, One year after the first services were held
were presented with
gifts and Korean tradi- in Pusan, the group had definitely outgrown
tional dress when they the “Upper Room Church,” and a building was
visited Korea in 1986. rented. Two years later, increasing numbers ne-
cessitated the move to an even larger facility. A
Sunday school was started and soon more than

132 Expansion Worldwide

 Far left: Park Young Keun
with his wife, after he was
installed as Seoul church
pastor.

Left: The Apostolic Faith

Church in Seoul, Korea.

Below: Some of the

Korean Apostolic Faith
ministers in 2003, with
Al Friesen (center back)
from headquarters.

300 children were attending. Street meetings In 1973, when the

would draw 250 or more people who would Barretts returned to
crowd around to hear what was being said and Portland for a time,
to receive the literature being handed out. The their beloved “chil-
Barretts also ministered in the prisons, army and dren” who they left
naval bases, shipping companies, and hospitals. behind in Korea were
Early converts became established in their Chris- heartbroken, wonder-
tian walks, and began assisting in the services and ing how they could
various outreach efforts. go on. They turned
In 1972, construction began on the first to the Lord in earnest
permanent church building; the new place of prayer, and the Holy
worship was dedicated in Pusan on August 6, Spirit began to rain
1972. The work continued to expand. Many down among them in
contacts were made through Gospel literature. a prayer meeting that
Thousands of Gospel papers and tracts in the lasted three days and nights. More than sixty-five
Korean language were shipped to Korea from people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
the Portland headquarters, and the country and many believers were grounded in the faith.
was blanketed with literature that impacted Today, there are second and even third genera-
many lives and brought whole families into the tion Apostolics taking part in the work in that
Korean churches. country.

Expansion Worldwide 133

 several small groups who had a desire to go
deeper with the Lord, and he reported: “They
gathered in a place of worship between two
houses. A few boards over the top and a little
Top left: Harold Barrett galvanized sheet metal over that for a roof, and a
and Bill McKibben dirt floor—just a humble place—but we could feel
from the United States, the presence of God. As the Word went forth, the
and Park Young Keun people began to weep. Their hearts were open,
from Korea install and God began to work in their lives. They asked
Zenaida Ruiz as that we might work together for the honor and
Philippines District glory of God.”
Superintendent. In 1976, Loyce Carver stopped in the Phil-
ippines on a two-month trip through several
Top right: Observing the
ordinance of foot washing. countries in Asia. In a report home, he wrote:
“We held a service in a barrio on Saturday eve-
Right: Bill McKibben, ning. It was dark when we pulled up in front of
Director of Asia work, the farmhouse. A little candle was burning in
shares a moment of their sitting area and another light in a room
fellowship with one of above. Soon, down the road came someone with
the Philippine pastors. a beaming light that they tied to a rafter, light-
ing up the whole courtyard. Several boys came
The Philippines along with an accordion and guitars; they put
While living as a missionary in Japan, mis- benches out under the mango trees and chairs
sionary Arthur Allen made initial outreach next to the house. Then the service began. People
efforts into the Philippines on behalf of the Ap- came—farmers with their wives, young men, old
ostolic Faith work. He traveled to Manila, where men, and the children. The faces of the people
he contacted those who had corresponded with revealed their deep hunger for the Word, a very
the headquarters church in Portland. He found touching scene.”

134 Expansion Worldwide

 Headquarters for the work in the Philippines
was established at the Bagong Sikat church in
1982. That small group of about ten families grew Left: Philippine District
to more than 300 souls in eleven years. Students Superintendent Zenaida
Ruiz preaches at the
from the nearby Central Luzon State University
headquarters church in
attend the church, and upon graduation, many Bagong Sikat.
have taken the Gospel message to their own areas
of the Philippines. Below left: Visitors from
During the 1980s and 1990s, the Harold United States churches
Barretts, Bill McKibben, and others from the are welcomed to the
United States made a number of trips to the branch church in Simim-
Philippines, and were always thrilled by how the baan, Philippines.
work was expanding. As the congregation grew,
Below right: The Harold
they undertook outreach efforts in neighbor-
Barretts with the Miguel
ing locales, willingly dedicating their time and Carganilla family. He
sacrificial efforts to reach others. One branch is a former seaman who
church began with a crusade on the high school visited Apostolic Faith
grounds, which was attended by hundreds of churches on the West
people. At the conclusion of this crusade, forty Coast and was saved.
were baptized in water. He is now a pastor.

Expansion Worldwide 135

 the Philippines, located in Ambatali, was dedi-
cated early in 2005, making a total of twelve
Apostolic Faith churches in that country.

Growth in the West Indies

The Apostolic Faith work in the West Indies
began with the literature that gained entrance
there around 1920. The initial leaders of the
Branch churches established throughout the West Indies Apostolic Faith work, Clifford
Philippines are similar in appearance so they Austin and his wife, lived in Havana, Cuba. In
Above: Forrest and
Sally Damron, can be readily recognized. Beautiful vegetation 1928, they began making tours to neighboring
missionaries to the decorates each yard, and on the front of each islands, visiting groups of believers and holding
West Indies. building are the words, “Jesus the Light of the evangelistic services.
World.” Summer camps are held annually, and In the winter of 1956-57, the Portland head-
Top right: A church year-end consecration services have also become quarters sent a group of four missionaries to the
under construction in a tradition. Choirs, musicians, and soloists from islands: Forrest and Sally Damron, and Melvin
Samana, Dominican the different churches participate. and Lorena Frost. They spent several months
Republic. In 1984, Zenaida Ruiz was ordained and there, visiting fifty-two different locations on
established as the leader of the Apostolic Faith fifteen islands of the West Indies and British
work in the Philippines. The newest church in Guiana, South America. Within a period of

136 Expansion Worldwide

106 days, they held 114 meetings. The people Their efforts were not without opposition. Mr.
were overjoyed to have personal contact with Scott preached the true Gospel of Christ and
representatives from the headquarters. It was upheld the doctrine of holiness, and as a result
thrilling to the missionaries to observe the high he suffered some persecution. Other religious
standard of Christian living among those who groups were also opposed by the government
had previously been guided only through the and were forbidden to have public meetings.
Gospel literature and correspondence. Since During this time, Mr. Scott identified himself
that time, ministers and workers representing as an affiliate of the Apostolic Faith Church with
headquarters have made periodic trips, holding headquarters in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. As evi-
meetings in thatch-roofed buildings, in homes, dence, he showed a copy of an Apostolic Faith
in churches, in schoolhouses, and under impro- publication, the magazine now called Higher Way,
vised shelters. which he carried with him. Once this distinction
The history of the work on the island of was made, he was granted liberty to continue his
St. Vincent dates back to 1925, and was pio- public ministry. Over the years, the work there
neered by Theophilus Scott and his wife. In 1928, has grown.
their first church was built of sticks and mud, In the early 1950s, Forrest Damron and a
and had a thatched roof. People throughout the team of workers were on a missionary trip to
island began responding to the Gospel message, the West Indies. While flying over St. Lucia, the
and groups were established in other locations. plane developed engine trouble and was forced

Above: Dick Taylor

has been making trips
to the West Indies
since 1963.

Left: A water
baptismal service in
Jamaica.

Expansion Worldwide 137

 to land at an airport on that island. While wait- In February of 2005, the Dominican Repub-
ing to continue their trip, the team distributed lic work celebrated their seventy-fifth anniversary
Gospel literature. It was through that contact with a celebration at the La Romana headquar-
that the work began on the island. ters church. The event was attended by a delega-
The work in the Dominican Republic is the tion from headquarters including Dwight Baltzell
largest in the islands. Seventy-five years ago, a lady and Dick Taylor, both of whom have made many
in that Spanish-speaking country found an Eng- trips to the islands. A stadium seating 4,000 had
lish tract in the dirt beside the road and shared it been rented, and by the time the service began,
with a friend. What they read rang true in their almost all the seats were filled. After special music
hearts. They wrote to the Apostolic and a short video on the history of the Apostolic
Faith Church, asking for more instruc- Faith Church, three pastors spoke. Those present
tion and guidance. The organization were encouraged as they rehearsed the amazing
contacted a missionary who was in results that came as a result of one person letting
Haiti, and he went to the Dominican faith take hold in her heart.
Republic to meet these ladies. It was The work on the island of St. Thomas origi-
then that they prayed through to sal- nated through the efforts of Algernon Blyden,
vation. From this humble beginning, a man who had been saved as a young man
the Apostolic Faith Church work in when the Lord dealt with his heart. He was not
the Dominican Republic has grown, connected to any church, and the Bible became
and today there are more than sixty his “lamp.” Often he would read until the early
churches in that country. hours of the morning by lamplight. After receiv-

Above: Hugo Sams, one

of a succession of
faithful Dominican
Republic overseers, had
a profound influence on
the young people there.

Right: Island overseers

in 2003 with representa-
tives from headquarters.
From left: Christopher
King, Clyde Penn,
Dwight Baltzell, Calvin
Palmer, Dick Taylor,
Albert Smith, Law-
rence Parsad, and Ivon
Wilson.

138 Expansion Worldwide

ing sanctification and the baptism other locations, and property has
of the Holy Spirit, he began leading been purchased for two additional
others to God and holding services branch church locations, so there Above left: One of
in his home. The group grew, and is good potential for an expanding the newest Apostolic
Faith churches in the
their meeting place became too work in that area.
West Indies is this
small. Various churches asked Souls in the islands are con- beautiful sanctuary
him to become their leader, but tinuing to pray their way through located in Haiti. It
after examining their doctrines to a knowledge of salvation and was built largely by
and finding that they were not many are receiving the fullness of volunteers.
according to the Word of God, he God’s blessings. Today, there are
refused, desiring a pure doctrine. over one hundred Apostolic Faith Left: Roland Deler,
In 1958, he came in contact with churches scattered throughout the pastor on the island
the Apostolic Faith and the Spirit greater Caribbean area on eleven of St. Maarten, led
the construction of
witnessed to his heart that this was the group he islands, with five appointed district superinten-
the Haiti church.
should affiliate with. The Lord prospered, and dents in charge of the various islands. The con-
currently there are three Apostolic Faith churches gregations speak six different languages—English, Above right: A
on the island of St. Thomas. Spanish, French, Dutch, Hindi, and Patois—and male quartet sings a
One of the newest Apostolic Faith churches have six different monetary systems. special number at a
in the Caribbean is in Haiti. This country has In 1996, work began at the headquarters service in Charlotte
suffered much hardship, both economically office on translating a four-year Sunday school Amalie, headquar-
and spiritually. For a number of years, there has curriculum into the Spanish language. This ters church on the
been little or no church activity in that region, has proved to be of great value to the Spanish- island of St. Thomas,
but through the efforts and financial assistance speaking churches in the Caribbean. After the U.S.V.I.
of workers from a sister congregation on St. first quarter of usage, the Sunday schools in the
Maarten, a church was built. It was dedicated in Dominican Republic experienced a twenty-five
February of 2003. Groups are meeting in several percent gain in their enrollment.

Expansion Worldwide 139

 Advances in Africa
The work in Africa is the largest portion of
the Apostolic Faith organization. Twenty-four
countries on that continent have Apostolic
Top left: George Hughes Faith churches. The largest work is in Nigeria,
welcomes Timothy where there are more than six hundred branches,
Oshokoya to his first many of them with congregations numbering in
camp meeting.
the thousands.
Top right: An outdoor The outreach efforts of the Apostolic Faith
Sunday school class in Church on the continent of Africa originated
Lagos, Nigeria, during more than eighty years ago. A missionary in
the 1950s. Liberia received tracts and distributed them in
that area. A man by the name of Frank Hein also
Right: Raymond received Gospel tracts from the Apostolic Faith
Crawford with Peter Church while he was a missionary in the Repub-
Van der Puije during lic of the Sudan and Nigeria. Upon returning to
his visit to Portland.
the United States, he wanted to meet the people
who published those tracts. He agreed with and
loved what he found in Portland, and the Lord
laid it on his heart to stay and work in the church
printing plant. Translating the Apostolic Faith
literature into the Hausa language of northern
Nigeria was one of the projects he undertook.

140 Expansion Worldwide

This literature was sent to various areas of Africa was made of “The Apostolic Faith Mission at
where the local people translated the material into Johannesburg” and of two missionaries in that
other dialects and returned it to Portland. It was area; there were extensive reports of miracles
then printed, mailed back to Africa, and was the happening in their midst.
means of many being saved on that continent. A man in Gold Coast (now Ghana) by the Top left: The first
As early as the November-December 1909 name of Peter van der Puije received some Gospel church in Lagos,
edition of the Apostolic Faith paper, mention tracts from the Apostolic Faith organization. He Nigeria. This picture
was taken in 1950.
sought for and received
the deeper spiritual Top right: A team
experiences, and began of Gospel workers
establishing Apostolic prepare to set out to a
Faith churches in that meeting.
country. In 1948, he
attended the Apostolic Left: An early
Faith Church camp orchestra in the
meeting convention Lagos church.
in Portland, where he
learned more about the
church’s doctrines and
practices. While there,
he presented the needs
of the African people,
pleading, trusting, and

Expansion Worldwide 141

 believing that God would send someone to help
the believers in his country.
During that convention, George Hughes,
a minister at the Portland headquarters, made
a definite dedication to the Lord. Noted in his
diary under the date of July 3, 1948, were these
words: “Volunteered for service in Africa—or
anywhere in the world.”
Reverend Hughes’ offer was accepted, and
on October 10, 1948, he departed for a seven-
month trip that began in Accra, Ghana. This trip
was in answer to the call of thousands, not only
in Ghana, but in other parts of Africa as well.
During this first trip, he toured the branches in
Ghana, and also traveled through Togo, Benin,
and Nigeria, doing evangelistic work among
Christians, pagans, and fetish worshipers. Ser-
vices were held in mud-walled, thatch-roofed
Above: Children in churches, in a chief’s home, and wherever else
Lagos, Nigeria, line up an opportunity arose.
in front of the bus that A minister in Lagos, Nigeria, Timothy
brought them to the ser- Oshokoya, had received some Apostolic Faith
vices. This picture was literature. In it, he found the answer to the long-
taken in the late 1950s. ings of his heart for holiness and the baptism of
the Holy Spirit. He steadfastly upheld the doc-
Right: On his second
trip to Africa, George trines of the Bible as preached by the Apostolic
Hughes greets a pastor. Faith, and he moved aggressively and selflessly
to distribute the papers and establish a place of
worship. He organized the first camp meeting
in Lagos, held in 1949, and visited the Portland
camp meeting in 1951.
Other groups had also received literature
from Portland and expressed their desire to
affiliate with the Apostolic Faith work. On his
initial trip to Africa, Reverend Hughes met with
a number of these leaders and helped to organize
some of the groups into churches. Hearts were
established in the faith and many of the African
Christians became missionaries among their
own people.

142 Expansion Worldwide

 Four years later, Reverend Hughes returned
to Africa. Especially on his heart was a congre-
gation of six hundred in Ikot Enwang, Nigeria,
with whom he had stayed less than two hours on
his first trip. For years, the believers there had
prayed for someone to come and help them, feel-
ing they needed more guidance. (Fifty years later,
that church is currently building a new facility
that will seat 18,000 people.)
After going back to Nigeria, Reverend Hughes
and local leaders took a small bus and camping
equipment, and made a six-week journey through Top left: Josiah Soyinka led the Nigerian work from 1983
hazardous territory. Visitations were made to nu- until his death in 1999.
merous churches. In one central Apostolic Faith
Church, leaders gathered from twenty stations Top right: Ruth Ashwell wrote thousands of letters to Africa
and received much spiritual admonition from from her desk at the headquarters office. She was lovingly
this missionary. After six months of constant called “Mother Ruth” by her many spiritual children in Africa.
activity, Reverend Hughes accomplished his mis-
sion. He prepared his final report to give to the Above: Gospel literature printed at headquarters and shipped
to Nigeria is unloaded by volunteers in 1999.
overseer on his return to headquarters. Just before

Expansion Worldwide 143

 taking off from Africa, printing plant established, and construction was
he wrote, “Hope the begun on a tabernacle in Lagos. The vision of
next journey is Heaven- “Africa for Christ” began to grow in his heart, and
ward—with the Bride of in 1956 he made visits to the eastern, midwest,
Top left: Paul Akazue Christ.” As his flight began, he became ill. The and mid-belt regions of Nigeria. The work in that
following his installa- airplane landed in Liberia and he was taken to country continued to expand.
tion as Africa District the hospital, but he died very soon afterward. Literature received in other sections of Africa
Superintendent. He was laid to rest in his beloved Africa, at a influenced more people to turn to Christ. In time,
cemetery in Harbel, Liberia. the Gospel light spread to hungry souls in south-
Above: Superintendent Responsibility for the huge volume of corre- ern and central Africa who also had a craving for
General Darrel Lee spondence coming from Africa to the Portland a deeper knowledge of Christ. In 1955, Timothy
being welcomed to headquarters was then assigned to Ruth Ashwell, Oshokoya had been asked by the headquarters
Nigeria in 2002.
whose letters to hundreds of people on that con- church to travel to South Africa and Southern
Top right: Visitors from tinent over the next nearly fifty years earned her Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) with the purpose of
headquarters are taken the affectionate title, “Mother Ruth.” meeting people who had been corresponding
on a tour of the Reverend Oshokoya visited Portland again in with headquarters. Morgan Sengwayo, a man
Lagos church and the 1956, and was greatly impacted by his trip. Upon who had already been saved, was one of them.
surrounding grounds. his return to Nigeria, an orchestra was formed, a Upon receiving instruction in the deeper expe-

144 Expansion Worldwide

 Clockwise from lower left:

The annual concert in Lagos is a nation-

ally known event and attended by more
than 20,000 people.

A new tabernacle being built at the

campground in Igbesa will seat 100,000.

riences, Reverend Sengwayo was sanctified and

filled with the Holy Ghost. After much prayer, his
group sought affiliation with the Apostolic Faith Above: The Lagos
organization. A revival sprang forth in Bulawayo, orchestra and choir
Rhodesia, and Apostolic Faith branch churches performing during 2005.
were established. Gospel teams from Rhodesia Their annual concert is
attended by more than
went to South Africa in 1961, and hundreds of
20,000 people.
souls were saved. Today in this region there are
branch churches in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Left: Morgan Sengwayo
Africa, Angola, Malawi, Botswana, the Congo, (on the right) was a key
Tanzania, Mozambique, and Namibia. figure in establishing the
Following the death of Reverend Oshokoya Apostolic Faith work in
in Nigeria, leadership of that work was assumed Rhodesia (now Zimba-
by Josiah Soyinka, who guided the organization bwe). Here, he visits a
forward in a rapid multiplication of branch group in Zambia. This
picture was taken in
churches. On October 3, 1999, after Reverend
1971.
Soyinka’s passing, the leadership role was as-
sumed by Paul Akazue.

Expansion Worldwide 145

 The motto of the African
Apostolic Faith churches
continues to be
“Africa for Christ,” and
God is abundantly
blessing their efforts to
win souls for Him.

During the 2002 camp meeting in Portland,

Oregon, Reverend Akazue gave a report about
the growth of the Apostolic Faith work in his
homeland of Nigeria. At that time, there were
seventeen major projects underway to build
churches that would each seat 10,000 or more
people. Several camp meetings are held annually
in various regions of Nigeria, and each of these is
attended by many thougsands of people. A taber-
nacle that will seat 100,000 is under construction
at the new campground at Igbesa, not far from
the headquarters church in Lagos. A university,
Above: A baptismal service held named “Crawford University,” opened in the
outdoors on the construction site fall of 2005.
in Lusaka, Zambia. The literature ministry in Nigeria continues
to be very effective. Government officials often
Top right and inset: Two views of the request copies of the Higher Way magazine when
tabernacle under construction in Accra, church vehicles are stopped at security points
the headquarters church for Ghana. within the country, for the magazine has become
a common household item in that county.

146 Expansion Worldwide

 Since Reverend Hughes’ trips, representa-
tives of the headquarters church in Portland
have made many visits to various parts of Africa.
Darrel Lee, the current Superintendent General,
made his first visit to Nigeria and Ghana in the
early part of 2002, and was impressed and de-
lighted with the progress being made in those
areas of Africa and the dedication and zeal of
the Gospel workers there.
In the past few years, outreach efforts have
moved into several new areas in Africa, and the
Gospel literature has played a large part in the
forward movement. The organization currently Top left: A group gathers in front of the Zambia
prints and stocks publications in nineteen Afri- headquarters church in Lusaka.
can languages or dialects. Much of the printing
for Western Africa is done in Lagos. Top right: Children in Botswana wave a welcome to
The motto of the African Apostolic Faith visitors from headquarters.
churches continues to be “Africa for Christ,” and
God is abundantly blessing their efforts to win Above: The headquarters church for South Africa is
souls for Him. located in Johannesburg.

Expansion Worldwide 147

 Outreach
Efforts

T
hose who are committed to the Gospel of Literature Outreach
Above left: A young Christ feel an urgent need to share it with The distribution of Gospel literature is an
man reads a Gospel others. In the history of the Apostolic outreach method in which many in the organiza-
paper in his native Faith work, many different approaches have been tion participate on an ongoing basis. Free tracts,
language of Korean. taken to present the message of truth. magazines, and invitational flyers are available in
Indicative of the importance placed upon all Apostolic Faith churches, and the congrega-
Above right: Since this responsibility, the first paper printed in tions are encouraged to take a supply with them
1913, workers have Portland carried this account: “The saints have to hand out whenever they have an opportunity.
delivered religious
literature to men on been praying for the sick, visiting the hospitals, Old and young alike avail themselves of these
board the ships. Poor Farm, preaching in the jail and on the publications for personal evangelism. A survey
streets, a continuous round of work. The Mis- taken in 2001 showed that over eighty percent of
sion has never been closed, except during the the Portland congregation had personally given
camp meetings, and meetings afternoons and out Gospel literature. On occasion, teams from
evenings never have stopped.” the church have done neighborhood canvassing.

148 Outreach Efforts

Literature is also regularly distributed in conjunc-Tulsa, Oklahoma, I spent five months in train-
tion with other types of outreach ministries. ing. Upon completing the course, I be­came a
licensed pilot.
Aerial Evangelism “In February 1920, the plane was flown
In the early part of the twentieth century, homeward to spread the Gospel message in a
the Apostolic Faith Church pioneered the field greater and more distinctive way. This was the Below: Raymond
of aerial evangelism and became known as the first cross-country flight ever made from Tulsa Crawford obtained
first religious organization to use an airplane to Oregon. It was still winter, and storms were his pilot’s license so
he could take the
exclusively for spreading the Gospel. in the mountain area, but God’s hand protected Gospel to remote
Raymond Crawford, who piloted the early us in a wondrous way. areas. He also used
Apostolic Faith planes, gave this account: “Our “The Sky Pilot was used here in the North- the plane as a pulpit
first plane, The Sky Pilot, a 3-passenger Curtiss west for distributing literature from the air. to preach to the
Oriole, was purchased in 1919, and I accepted Printed announcements, inviting people to the crowds who gathered
the responsibility of learning to fly it. Enrolling services, accompanied the literature dropped to listen.
in the School of Aeronautics, conducted by from the plane. Thousands of Gospel messages
the Curtiss Southwest Airplane Company at drifted down through the air to many in various

Outreach Efforts 149

 localities. As a result “In 1930, about eight years after we had sold
of this method of dis- The Sky Pilot, another plane was purchased. Its
tribution, letters came name, The Wings of the Morning, was taken from
into our Portland of­ Psalm 139:9-10. This plane was used to carry
fice from remote ar- loads of printed publications from the Apostolic
eas expressing their Faith headquarters to branch churches and in
gratitude for having transporting ministers to other cities to fill ap-
received a little Gospel of John or some Apostolic pointments in various pul­pits.”
Faith publication from the sky, and through this Small aircrafts of those days were not depend-
Top left: The first method, souls were brought into the Gospel. able, and the few landing fields available were not
Apostolic Faith
airplane comes in “As an itinerant evangelist, I made numbers in proper condition, so this phase of outreach
for a landing. of evangelistic tours visiting small communities work was discontinued for a number of years, and
and towns throughout the Northwest, taking the organization concentrated on other methods
Top right: Raymond other workers with me at times. When the plane of evangelism. As the years passed, however, the
Crawford in the would spiral down toward a town and land in outlook changed. The services of a consecrat­ed
cockpit. a field, people from every quarter would come airplane pilot and a co-pilot became available and
to investigate. They were always eager to inspect everything pointed favorably toward resuming
Above: Raymond the plane. When a good crowd had gathered, I aerial evangelism. The third aircraft acquired for
Crawford’s aviation would give a Gospel message to them right from Gospel work, also named The Wings of the Morn-
license.
the cockpit. Much literature would be distrib­uted ing, was purchased in 1960 and proved valuable
when these landings were made. in transporting ministers and Gospel workers to
“When The Sky Pilot fulfilled its mission, and various evangelistic fields.
restric­tions were made prohibiting the dropping On its initial missionary flight, The Wings of
of literature from the air, the plane was sold. the Morning carried some of the ministers and

150 Outreach Efforts

support staff from Portland to aid in the dedica- ing workers, and in the late 1960s, The Wings of
tion service of a new branch church in Denver, the Morning was sold.
Colorado. In the spring of 1964, the plane made
its first transcontinental evangelistic flight. On Harbor Ministry
that trip, the overseer and a team of workers Bringing the Gospel to those who “go down
visited branch churches in the Midwest and on to the sea in ships” (Psalm 107:23) has been
the Atlantic Coast. an outreach of the Apostolic Faith Church for Above: Pilot Silas
Apostolic Faith branch churches were appre- decades. This method of evangelism started in Ashwell and co-pilot
Walt Robanske stand
ciative of the assistance that the use of a Gospel 1913 when a lone man made his way on foot by the plane, The
airplane offered them. A system was devised for along the waterfront in Portland, visiting the old Wings of the Morning,
an occasional weekend exchange of ministers in windjammers tied up there, and inviting the men just before a flight with
the pulpits of the branch churches throughout on board to attend the services. Since then, work- Raymond Crawford
the North­west. This always proved to be a suc- ers have brought thousands of merchant seamen, and his wife, Edna.
cessful stimulus to the work of evangelism in representing over seventy nationalities, into the
various locations. church services. This ministry takes place not
Over a period of time, commercial flying be- only at the Portland headquarters church, but
came a more cost-effective method of transport- also in branch churches along the West Coast.

Outreach Efforts 151

 Seafaring men attending the Apostolic Faith
churches are given a warm welcome. Sometimes
men of several nations have been in the services
at the same time. Though many do not under-
Above left: Gospel stand English, they understand the language of
workers board a vessel sacred music and Christian love, and they also
to distribute religious
literature. recognize the presence of the Spirit of God. A
Japanese officer said, “We feel the Spirit in our
Above right: The heart.” Some from distant lands, who had once
Morning Star II was bowed before images and idols, have knelt before
one of several small the true God at an altar of prayer and have found
boats used in the harbor peace they never knew existed in this life.
ministry. The largest total attendance of merchant
seamen in a single Apostolic Faith service in
Right: It took a brave Portland was recorded shortly after World
man to climb a
War II, when 126 were present­­—113 of them from
ladder with a briefcase
full of literature in hand! Japan. Annual attendance of men from the ships
has been as high as 4,000.
In addition to personal visitation on the
ships, the organization used another effec-
tual method of evangelism in the harbor work.

152 Outreach Efforts

 Far left: Heave-ho!
A “Gospel grenade” of
religious literature is
tossed on board a ship.

Left: The Vigilance,

another of the small
boats used in harbor
outreach, approaches a
large vessel tied up in
the port.

Below: After the close of

World War II, hundreds
of Japanese seamen were
brought into the church
services.
Between 1921 and 1953, a ministry was carried on
by the means of small boats that cruised the har-
bor. In 1921, the first boat, the Morning Star, was
purchased. This 28-foot motorboat was manned
by a group of enthusiastic Christian young men
who carried on a “life-saving” missionary work
in the harbor every Sunday afternoon. With a
cargo of Christian literature in various languages,
the workers were well equipped to present the
news of salvation to seafaring men aboard foreign
ships. After deciding to visit a certain ship, they
would pull in as close as possible and extend a
ladder up the side of the ship. Then two of the
members would climb this ladder to leave church
papers for the men to read.
If ships in the harbor could not be boarded,
Gospel literature distribution still took place.
Workers would cruise by a large vessel and throw
onto its deck waterproof packets of papers and
tracts in the language of the men on that ship.
Sometimes a ship they wanted to visit was already

Outreach Efforts 153

 on its way out of the harbor and the little cruiser
would accelerate to full speed to catch up with
the ship. Then the workers would throw aboard
the literature packets, sometimes called “Gospel
grenades.”
In 1924, the first outreach boat was replaced
with a larger one, the Morning Star II, a cruiser
type. It was equipped with living accommoda-
tions for a group of workers, and being a larger
boat, it was used to carry on a more extensive
work. With it the workers cruised farther down
the Columbia River toward the Pacific Ocean
and reached more ships. Occasionally they would
visit small towns, villages, lumber camps, and
some places accessible at that time only by water.
The Morning Star II was used until World War II
restrictions limited the harbor work.
After the close of World War II, the harbor
work was resumed as soon as restrictions were
lifted. In 1945, a 28-foot cruiser, the Vigilance,
was purchased, and it was in active service until
1953.
Over the years, Christian workers with a
“missionary heart” have done more than simply
bring the men into church services. Thousands
of men from the ships have been entertained in
the homes of congregation members. Countless
trips have been taken to scenic spots near the
port cities, resulting in warm friendships that
have opened doors for sharing the message of
salvation. This loving and gracious hospitality
has had a profound impact, and bonds have been
established that transcend national or cultural
boundaries.
Some of the visitors from afar return to the
church services each time their ship docks. Crew
members who are welcomed to church in one
port are told of other port cities where they can
attend Apostolic Faith services. At times, workers
who arrive at the docks prior to church time have

154 Outreach Efforts

found a group of men already waiting, saying, the Apostolic Faith work in Korea, which now
“We knew you would come!” includes six established congregations. Seafaring Facing page: Bob
The effect of their visits extends far beyond men and members of their families are still active Green, who was head
the contacts made on board ship. Many of these workers in these churches. Miguel Carganilla, a of the Portland sea-
men take Gospel literature to their families. They Philippine seaman who was saved while at sea was man work for many
later sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit in years, boards a ship in
are also encouraged to leave names of family and
the Portland harbor.
friends, and letters are written to them. As a re- his visits to Apostolic Faith churches along the
sult, thousands are presented with the message West Coast and is now a pastor of an Apostolic Above left: Don Morse
of salvation. Faith branch church in the Philippines. Don (right), once a seaman
Though access to the ships was curtailed as a Morse, a man from the headquarters church in himself, is happy for
result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Portland who regularly visits the ships and invites every opportunity to
in the United States, the results extend around men to church, was himself a seafaring man who invite men to church.
the world today. In the 1960s, because of an in- came to the Lord as a result of this ministry. To-
terest in the work among seafaring men, Harold day, he often testifies, “Now I love to tell others Above right: Two
about Jesus! It is a joy to visit the ships that dock seamen from opposite
Barrett and his wife Sally made a trip to Korea
sides of the globe point
to meet the families of friends they had made in our harbor, inviting others to attend church.
out their homelands.
on the ships. That trip was the starting point for After all, someone invited me!”

Outreach Efforts 155

 Mission Work in camps, paper mill towns, and places inaccessible
Alaskan Waters by auto or railroad. The crew found that spiritual
The Spirit’s call to darkness still existed in some localities and they
present the Gospel to took advantage of every opportunity to let the
people in small towns Gospel light shine forth.
and villages along the When preparing for evangelistic services,
inland waters of Brit- the workers went ashore into the towns putting
ish Columbia, Canada, up posters announcing the meetings and giving
and southeastern Alaska, prompted the members out invitations. Announcements were also made
Top: The Lower of the Apostolic Faith to an outreach ministry in from the boat’s loudspeaker. Whenever possible,
Light made many that area. In 1949, a 104-foot motor vessel was street meetings were held. The crowds gave rapt
missionary trips to purchased. Christened the Lower Light, the boat attention, and much literature was given out
Alaska and Canada. carried a crew of Gospel workers and a cargo at such times. In some places almost everyone
of literature on annual missionary voyages to from the large fish canneries would turn out for
Above: The Lower the services; fishermen were known to postpone
points as far north as Skagway and west to Sitka,
Light captain was
Raymond Crawford. Alaska. Evangelistic services were held in little their boats’ departure in order to stay ashore long
cities, fishing villages, cannery localities, lumber enough to attend church services.

156 Outreach Efforts

Alaskan trappers, fishermen, and
loggers gave rapt attention to the
Gospel message brought to them by
the Lower Light crew.

Seasonal workers by the hundreds came each branch church there,

year to some of these localities for employment, and in nearby commu-
and they had a wonderful opportunity to hear the nities of Neah Bay and
Gospel story. Trappers, fishermen, and loggers Sequim, Washington.
especially enjoyed the singing of spirituals and From time to time,
other well-loved hymns. trips were also made
In localities where the Lower Light could not to Vancouver, B.C., Canada, to conduct special Top left: The Lower
stop for an evangelistic campaign, the Gospel was meetings. Light tied up at a
presented at times from the ship’s loudspeaker. After more than ten years of carrying the village in Alaska.
On the docks, crowds would gather to listen to Gospel to many hundreds of people along the
the beautiful music and the message from God’s coasts of British Columbia, Canada, and the Top right: Reuel
Word, and afterward some would come aboard inland waters of Alaska, it seemed the call in Green doing repairs
on the prop.
ship to pray. that area had been fulfilled and God directed to
Shorter cruises were also made each year. other fields of missionary endeavor. In 1960, the Above: Ivon Wilson
Several times the Lower Light entered the Straits organization found a buyer for the Lower Light, attends to tasks in the
of Juan de Fuca and tied up at Port Angeles, and proceeded with plans for other evangelistic engine room.
Washington. Special meetings were held in the ventures.

Outreach Efforts 157

 Road Trips matic tires—was also purchased for Gospel
In 1912, four years after the establish- work.
ment of the headquarters in Portland, The next vehicle was a seven-passenger
the organization purchased a Federal Oldsmobile, purchased in 1915. Mechanics in
truck with hard rubber tires. Detach- the church converted it into a Gospel car by
able seats were installed so the truck placing long seats on each side. A similar car,
could be used by workers for holding the Pathfinder, was purchased and it, too, was
street meetings. In the fall of that year, equipped for Gospel use. Each of these cars car-
Top: The Gospel car, this vehicle was used for a missionary trip to the ried twelve workers who would sing and testify
The Evangel, with north. As the workers passed through villages and from a built-in platform at the rear of the vehicle.
some of the workers
by country homes, they made announcements Loaded with workers, the vehicles were quickly
who traveled in it.
through a megaphone, inviting people to come recognized in the city of Portland as the Apostolic
Above: Allen and receive an Apostolic Faith paper. Men would Faith Gospel cars.
Crabtree, beloved leave their farms or places of business and run to In 1915, a coast-to-coast evangelistic trip was
itinerant evangelist. get the Gospel literature. Some time afterward, a made by four workers, and meetings were held
Lippert-Steward car—the first car with pneu- in New York, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago,

158 Outreach Efforts

St. Louis, Kansas City, and also in the states of
Oklahoma and Virginia. Results were rewarding;
among the converts was a tobacco-grower whose
home was completely transformed when he came
in contact with the message of salvation.
Ever interested in expanding and improving
outreach efforts that had proved successful, in
1927, the Apostolic Faith organization obtained a
beautiful Mack bus, which they named The Evan-
gel. After a bit of remodeling work, this 21-passen-
ger coach provided cooking facilities and sleeping
quarters for a party of eight workers. Equipped
with a public-address system, The Evangel became
a “home away from home” for a crew of ministers,
a male quartet, and other Christian workers. It
was literally a church on wheels.
Trips were made up and down the coast with
this bus, where stops were made in small com- doors. Gospel messages were also given from the
munities. Often immense crowds gathered where bus through the loudspeaker. In one place the
meetings were conducted. Sometimes the services workers were told that they never should have
were held in auditoriums, at other times, out-of- come, that no one would be out to hear them, but
the first night almost
the whole community
turned out.
Some years later,
a similar large bus,
which became known Above: The Evangel
as a “Drive-in Church,” on board a ferry.
was used by the Med-
ford, Oregon, branch Left: The Evangel took
church. The mission- workers into remote
ary-minded minister in regions, where they dis-
charge of the Southern tributed literature and
held church services.
Oregon work, Clarence
Frost, lost no opportu-
nity in using the bus
for evangelistic pur-
poses. Meetings were
held in mountain areas
throughout southern

Outreach Efforts 159

 Oregon and also down into California. Every ef-
fort put forth was rewarded, and numbers of men
and women were brought into the Gospel.

Open-Air Meetings
In 1907, Florence Crawford felt led to utilize
a horse-drawn express wagon to take the Gospel
out on the streets of Portland. For many years,
open-air meetings were an important evangelis-
tic feature of the Apostolic Faith organization.
Gospel street meetings were regularly held in
many cities, with most of these open-air services
being conducted just prior to the regular church
Top left: Florence Crawford (in white) services.
preaching at an open-air meeting. In Portland, workers would gather to pray in
the chapel at the headquarters building before
Above: The first Gospel meeting the different teams went to their assigned loca-
in Portland held from a car. tions. Often a group would walk to a nearby cor-
ner where they would gather around a portable
Top right: A meeting held in a
organ and hold a simple Gospel meeting with
hop yard near Dallas, Oregon.
music, testimonies, and a short message. People
Facing page: Three carloads of Gospel who were passing by would stop and listen. Oth-
workers head out to hold open-air services. ers, in saloons or hotels nearby, would hear the
music through the open windows and would

160 Outreach Efforts

walk over to investigate. Following the short idea of going inside a church, but God touched
service, Gospel literature was given out and an their lives through the Gospel presentation on
invitation was extended to attend the regular the streets.
church services. In a workers’ meeting held in 1956, Raymond
Sometimes services were scheduled in plazas Crawford reminisced about the impact of the
or park areas. These meetings were especially well street meetings. “I can remember in the early
attended during the years of the Great Depres- days on Second and Third Streets and around
sion of the 1930s, when many were out of work Burnside Street, in front of Erickson’s Hotel
and tended to congregate in such areas. Gospel where we stood on those corners and preached
wagons and cars were utilized to transport the the truth of this Gospel. We have seen hardened
teams of workers to the designated locations. criminals transformed in heart and soul right on
Over the years, God spoke to many hearts at the sidewalks when the Spirit of God dealt with
those humble meetings on the street corners of their hearts. It was just going through my mind
the city. Men who lived on the skid row heard today about a poor emaciated dope fiend who
of a way out of the trouble they were in, and pre- stood there on the street listening to the street
cious souls were salvaged from the environments meeting. Finally his legs buckled beneath him
of sin. Most of them would have scoffed at the and he fell right between the spokes of the wheels

Outreach Efforts 161

 of the old Gospel wagon. They drug him out and
asked him if he wanted to pray. He said, ‘Yes, I
do.’ And right there on those cobblestones, he
lifted up his heart to God, and God marvelously
transformed his life.”
Many of the organization’s branch churches
began as missions, and this was often one of the
outreach methods used to evangelize an area.

Prison Work
In 1907, shortly after Florence Crawford
moved to Portland, she visited the sheriff at
the Multnomah County Jail and asked permis-
sion to hold services there. He told her, “You
do not know what you are asking. We have at
least twelve murderers behind bars here.” She
answered, “I do know what I am talking about.
I have conducted meetings in the Los Angeles
County Jail where there were twenty-five or thirty
murderers at a time behind the bars. You can call
the sheriff in Los Angeles if you wish.” He said,

162 Outreach Efforts

 Facing page top left: Gospel cars with their
drivers in the 1940s.

Facing page lower left: A street meeting in Portland

in the 1960s, in front of the old Erickson’s Hotel.

Center: Cars gather around the Gospel bus at an

open air meeting held in southern Oregon in the
early 1950s.

Below: Gospel services have been held in jails

since 1907.

“You go upstairs and make arrangements with

the jailer for some meetings.” Since that time,
church members have regularly held services
in correctional institutions, at times contacting
over 500 inmates in one day through the prison
meetings.
Selected groups who visit these institutions
include a minister, musicians, and other Chris-
tian workers. Each service is a musical program
interspersed with personal testimonies telling
of the deliverance the workers found when they
surrendered their lives to God. The service ends
with a brief message from the Word of God, and
then inmates have an opportunity to give prayer
requests. These are brought to the church mem-
bers who gather for prayer before every service.
Over the years, prison officials around the
country have expressed their appreciation for
the efforts made by the Apostolic Faith organi-
zation for the prisoners in their care. One time
when the visitation team apologized for taking a

Outreach Efforts 163

 warden away from his meal, he told them, “I
would gladly give up a meal to help you out
because of the good that you people are doing
here.”
These prison outreach efforts have been re-
warding. Men and women have been saved and
truly delivered from evil habits and behaviors that
had bound them for years. On several occasions,
the message of hope brought to men behind bars
resulted in the conversion of notorious prisoners
who were awaiting execution. While on death

164 Outreach Efforts

row, they were truly converted and wrote wonder- with a portable keyboard or other musical in-
ful letters telling of the marvelous transformation struments, the workers present the Words of
in their lives, and their readiness to step into Life in music and song as well as by testimony.
eternity to meet their Maker. Converted prison- Each month they make dozens of visitations to
ers live clean and honest lives, and are witnesses hospitals, convalescent homes, and retirement Facing page top: A
centers. The programs are graciously received meeting held in the
before their fellow prisoners of the change that Rocky Butte Jail in
has taken place within their souls. and genuinely appreciated by attendants and
Portland in 1957.
superintendents, as well as by the guests.
Juvenile Detention Homes The visitation workers always distribute Facing page bottom:
Workers from Apostolic Faith churches also papers and tracts to the residents of the homes A Gospel team arriv-
hold services similar to the ones held in the adult and hospitals they visit. One time, when an ing for a service at the
detention at juvenile correctional institutions. Apostolic Faith paper was handed to a patient, Multnomah County
For example, in Portland groups of two to four she exclaimed, “Oh, l have been waiting for an- Jail in the 1950s.
adults hold informal group discussions each other one of these papers!” The one she had—a
Below: A youth
month with youths ranging in age from nine to treasured possession, which she had found on a
visitation member
seventeen. Sometimes several meetings are held highway—was worn with age. encourages a shut-in
at each visit, reaching many young people at a “No privilege could be greater than to visit veteran of the Gospel,
time. Topics ranging from God’s love to the Great the aged people, feeble and sick, sad and lonely. Virgil Hodson.
Tribulation are discussed. Often, one or two of They look forward to our visitations and never
the youths want some one-on-one talk time, or tire of hearing the singing,” was the summation
indicate their desire to pray. The session is closed of a report given by a former director of the hos-
with prayer, but before workers leave, tracts and
Gospel magazines are distributed to those who
are interested. Most of these troubled young
people ask to be remembered in prayer.

Visitation Ministry
The founder of the Apostolic Faith instituted
a visitation ministry in the early days of her Chris-
tian life when she visited hospitals in Los Ange-
les, California. Florence Crawford gave untiringly
of her strength to this work, singing in hospital
corridors and pointing the lost and dying to the
Christ who had saved her soul. After establishing
the Apostolic Faith headquarters in Portland,
that outreach ministry was continued.
Motivated by the love of God, teams of
musicians and singers have been carrying the
Gospel to the shut-in and afflicted throughout
the United States for many decades. Equipped

Outreach Efforts 165

 pital and retirement home visitations. She told of homes, where they sing, read a Scripture, and
Above left: Workers many opportunities to pray with elderly persons share their testimonies. Often, the Holy Spirit
in the 1940s sort who had gone through life neglecting their souls’ comes down and blesses hearts in a special way
through food, cloth- salvation, and were about to pass from time into as young and old join together in prayer. These
ing, and household eternity. In their last hours, as they offered God a afternoons are greatly anticipated by those vis-
supplies donated for a spent and wasted life, the peace of another world ited, and they are a blessing to the participating
relief effort in post- flooded their souls. young people as well.
war Germany. The ministerial staff also has the pleasant
and rewarding ministry of visiting the elderly and Benevolent Outreach
Above right: Valeska shut-in members of the congregation. These ol- Members of the Portland church participate
Paulsen with a bag of der people look forward with anticipation to the in an ongoing benevolent outreach by collecting
groceries. Food sup- visits, which are a time of blessing to both the and distributing food and household supplies
plies and Christmas shut-ins and the ministers themselves. to needy families. A list of suggested supplies is
gifts are collected and Another aspect of the Apostolic Faith visita- posted on bulletin boards around the church,
distributed to needy tion ministry is the teams of young people who and people make donations as they feel led, leav-
families during the make monthly visits to elderly folks who are una- ing them at a designated drop-off point at the
holiday season. ble to be out to the weekly services. Van loads of church. Some years during the Christmas holiday
high school students go to various facilities and season, a Giving Tree has provided an opportu-

166 Outreach Efforts

nity for church members to anonymously provide
Christmas gifts for children in need. Hundreds
of children have benefited through this program
since its inception.

Youth Ministry
Knowing that many future workers, teachers,
and ministers are being trained and motivated
by these efforts, evangelism among children and
young people has long been considered one of
the most important outreach efforts of the Ap-
ostolic Faith organization. Ecclesiastes 12:1 says,
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy Above: Many special friendships have been forged
youth,” and encouraging young people to do this over the years at youth camps.
is the reason for the organization’s emphasis on
youth-oriented activities. Below left: Jim Seely supervises the flag lowering
In Portland, several times each month, the ceremony at a youth camp in the 1960s.
young people hold youth services. Youth choirs
and orchestras participate in these services, and Below right: Josh Habre leads a Bible study
youthful musicians present the special vocal session for the young men in his cabin in 2003.

Outreach Efforts 167

 Right: Retreats for high
school students have
proved to be of great
spiritual value. Many
young people have given
their lives to the Lord
and received deeper expe-
riences at these events.

Below: High school boys

arrive at a retreat
held at Mossyrock,
Washington, in 2004.

and instrumental numbers. Testimonies given

by young people witness to the reality they have
found in Christ and the satisfaction they feel
in the service of the Lord. One youth minister
leads the service, and another brings the mes-
sage that targets the concerns and interests of
this age group.
Sometimes the prayer meetings following the
youth services continue for hours, and seeking
hearts are rewarded for their perseverance. Over
the years, countless children and teenagers have
been saved and have received their deeper spiri-
tual experiences in these services.
Children’s church services are also held on
a regular basis for the youngest members of the
church family. Designed for children preschool
and grade-school ages, the music and messages
are age-appropriate.
Every summer since the mid-1950s, the Ap-
ostolic Faith organization has held youth camps
in various locations around the United States for
young people from fourth grade through high
school. Away from their normal environment,

168 Outreach Efforts

they eat, play, and worship together, and as a are scheduled at vari-
result, the hearts of many have been changed. ous times throughout
Games, swimming, sport competitions, and lots the year. These include
of energy-demanding activities are a part of each overnight youth re-
day. There are also daily chapel services, Bible treats; activity nights featuring films, musical recit-
learning activities, evening programs, and cabin als, skits, and other types of entertainment; prayer
devotional times. Counselors become personally and Bible study breakfasts; Sunday school class Top left: Two young
acquainted with the young people in their charge, and department outings; and trips to neighboring attendees show their
allowing them to identify and minister to the branch churches for services. The activity center Vacation Bible
School crafts.
spiritual needs of each camper. on the campground is also open for activities at
Outings and activities for the young people various times. Top right: Junior
high and high school
Sunday School students help out
For decades, students from all ages have met at Vacation Bible
together in Apostolic Faith Sunday school classes School.
around the world to be informed, encouraged,
and inspired by studying the Bible. Classes and Left: Though
curriculum are tailored for the needs of students recently adopted
from Korea, Aaron
of every age group, with an emphasis on the life-
Parker had no trou-
changing power in Jesus Christ. ble understanding
For many years, two Sunday school sessions the VBS language
were held each Sunday on the Apostolic Faith of fun.
campground in Portland—one in the morning

Outreach Efforts 169

 Right: For many
years, the Portland
church sent buses
into outlying areas
to bring children to
an afternoon Sunday
school session.

Below: Edna Schmick

was one of hundreds
of dedicated teachers
who have invested
countless hours in
studying and teaching
the Word of God to
little ones.

and another in the afternoon. For the afternoon

session, six large buses would travel the length of
the city to transport hundreds of children from
far-distant neighborhoods.
The Sunday school setting provides an oppor-
tunity for children and young people to use their
musical talents, and special performances have
been the means of encouraging many parents to
come to events at the church. The first annual
Sunday School Christmas Program in Portland
was held in December of 1947, and featured a
Sunday school orchestra, songs by several choirs,
and a number of recitations. Dedicated teachers
have spent countless hours producing pageants,
programs, and other special events every year
since then.
In Portland, Sunday school sessions be-
gin in the main sanctuary, where the various
departments meet together for an opening as-
sembly. Following prayer and singing, children

170 Outreach Efforts

representing the Sunday school departments teacher. She had given all of us in the class her
present vocal or instrumental numbers. Then phone number, telling us to contact her if we ever
the students are dismissed to their department wanted to come to church. That night, the Lord
locations, where each group enjoys more songs, put it in my mind to call her and see if I could
class time, and other Bible-learning activities. go with her. How thankful I am that I made that Below: Grade school
Sunday school teachers make a commitment phone call! My teacher was happy to come and children listen
to the personal encouragement of their students. get me, and I went to church, not knowing that intently to a Bible
story at Vacation
The wife of one Apostolic Faith pastor testi- the events of the evening were all planned.” That
Bible School in
fies that the one-on-one interest of her Sunday night, God saved her soul, and His peace flooded 2003.
school teacher played an important role in her her troubled heart.
salvation. Her parents did not attend the church, Sunday school teachers meet on a regular
but she came to Sunday school on the Sunday basis to study upcoming lessons, share ideas for
school bus. When she was in eighth grade, God teaching resources, and learn new presentation
began to show her that her life was not pleasing techniques. The curriculum materials used in
to Him. “I didn’t know that the heavy feeling the Sunday school were written and printed by
in my heart was God’s conviction for sin—I just Apostolic Faith members. Sunday school steer-
knew I was miserable,” she reminisces. “One ing committees have been in place for more than
night my thoughts turned to my Sunday school fifty years, writing and rewriting, designing and

Outreach Efforts 171

 redesigning, in order to keep curriculum materi-
als up-to-date and attractive.
Teachers in Apostolic Faith churches make
Top left: Members of
the children’s orchestra an effort to involve themselves in their students’
gather outside the West lives for more than just one hour a week. Class
Chapel in the 1950s. outings and group activities are a regular part of
their time investment. High school students enjoy
Top right: A group prayer breakfasts, gym nights, and retreats at vari-
of children from the ous times during the year, as well as involvement
Beginner’s Sunday in church services and outreach endeavors.
school department sing a In 2002, Portland Sunday school teachers
special number on participated in coordinating a Block Party for
Thanksgiving Sunday.
the neighborhood around the church. The eye-
Upper and lower right: catching banners and activities provided a great
A young violinist and deal of “eye-appeal” on Duke Street, and those
flautist participate in passing by were encouraged to come into the
the music at a parking lot and join in the fun. More than 300
Midwest Camp. welcome bags were handed out, and neighbor-
hood children were offered a “tour” of the Sun-
day school facilities, with the hope of enrolling
new families. Branch churches have held similar
functions, with good results.
An annual event tied to Sunday school
outreach is that of Vacation Bible School. The
first session was held at the Portland church in

172 Outreach Efforts

August of 2001. Each year’s weeklong program young people from other cultures, joining in
has a Biblical theme, which is presented by a the outreach efforts in far-distant places, and
crew of enthusiastic volunteers ranging from sharing precious spiritual fellowship around the Below: A group of
high school age young people through grand- altars of prayer has been a tremendous blessing eight young people
mothers. They spread the Gospel in a setting to both the visitors and to the people at the from Apostolic Faith
complete with games, skits, crafts, music, and locations visited. churches in the
life-changing Bible stories. Year by year, the As a result of years of nurturing and sup- United States made
numbers attending this neighborhood outreach porting the youth of the organization, many a trip to the Philip-
have increased. Several branch churches also in the ranks of Apostolic Faith workers are the pines in December
host similar annual events. third, fourth, and fifth generations of families of 2004. They were
accompanied by Bill
A recent opportunity for young people of who have been longtime participants in the
McKibben, Director
the Apostolic Faith organization has been that ongoing efforts of the church. of Asia Work, and
of short-term mission trips. Groups of young his wife, Lori. In this
people representing several of the branch Moving Forward picture, they were
churches have made trips to Mexico, Korea, While methods of evangelical outreach joined by Jung Hyen-
Romania, the Dominican Republic, and most change from decade to decade and era to era, Kyeng from Korea,
recently, the Philippines. The participants in the commitment to reach the lost with the mes- and several from the
the trips have enthusiastically expressed their sage of Christ remains the same. The Apostolic Philippine churches.
appreciation for the opportunity and have Faith Church continues to explore ways to reach
found the experience to be both eye opening today’s world with the life-changing message
and spiritually challenging. Getting to know with which it has been entrusted.

Outreach Efforts 173

 Headquarters
Office
Publication
Ministry

O
ne of the most effective phases of evan- has been instrumental in establishing church
gelistic work carried on by the Apos- congregations around the world.
tolic Faith Church since its inception
Above: Florence
has been printing and distributing Christian Roots of the Publication Ministry
Crawford at her desk.
The correspondence literature. Over the years, hundreds of millions The publishing ministry of the Apostolic
ministry was dear of copies of Gospel papers and tracts have been Faith work had a humble but significant be-
to her heart, and distributed free of charge from this organization ginning. In the city of Los Angeles, soon after
she took a personal to people all over the world. the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 1906, the
interest in those who In the teeming cities of India, in tribal Azusa Street leaders made the decision to print
wrote, carrying a villages of Africa, in remote settlements of a newspaper to inform people about the Lat-
burden for their Myanmar, up in the northlands of Labrador ter Rain outpouring. Without mention to the
spiritual welfare. and Scandinavia, and in distant places where public of the much-needed finances, and with
it would be difficult for missionaries to go, the no funds to launch a publication work, Flor-
literature has led souls to the Savior. It also ence Crawford and other Christian workers at

174 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

 In distant places where
it would be difficult
for missionaries to go,
Gospel literature has led
souls to the Savior.

the revival’s epicenter went to prayer and asked A quotation in that first paper read: “We
God to send the means. Though entirely unso- earnestly invoke God to manage the publication
licited, contributions began coming in through of this sheet [paper] . . . We wish no human
Above: A page from
the mail, and soon the production of the paper writer to receive any honor, but that it might all
the printing record
was underway. be done to the glory of God, that it may voice the book in 1922/23.
In one upstairs corner of the old church power and presence of the Almighty God who Cliff Baltzell, long-
building at Azusa Street, space was made for an is moving on the people in Los Angeles and all time plant manager,
office. Boxes were used for chairs, and boards over the world.” kept these handwrit-
across boxes became worktables. Equipment ten accounts of the
consisted of one old typewriter and a mimeo- Publishing Begins at Portland numbers of tracts
graph machine. It was a red­-letter day for those After Florence Crawford moved to Portland, and papers printed.
early workers when, in September of 1906, five a notice was published in issue 13 of the paper say-
thousand copies of the first Apos­tolic Faith paper ing, “For the next issue of this paper address The
were ready for distribution. Apostolic Faith Campmeeting, Portland Oregon.”

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 175

 The first Apostolic Faith paper to be issued Raymond Crawford, who served as the sec-
from the Portland headquarters was published ond General Overseer of the organization, gave
in 1908, during the Mount Tabor camp meeting. this account: “In 1908 we acquired the Front
Above: Raymond Assisting Florence Crawford with the production and Burnside church location, and from there
Crawford, General of the paper was Clara Lum, who previously had began mailing our literature into all parts of the
Overseer, converses
helped with the publication work in Los Angeles. world. Because we had no printing equipment
with Alice Perry, in
February of 1934. A comment in the second Portland edition car- of our own at that time, our publications had to
She worked in the ried this report: “The last paper, which was the be printed in a commercial plant, after which
headquarters office first to be published in Portland, was wonderfully they were returned to our headquarters office
for more than forty blessed of God. There were 80,000 papers of the where they were folded and wrapped by hand
years, serving as two issues printed at one time. . . . He provided for mailing. Millions of pieces of liter­ature were
office manager for a large tent on the campground in which to do taken care of in this manner during the nine-
twenty-one years. the work. It was a very sacred place. The Spirit year period prior to the installation of printing
would not suffer anyone to fold papers if they equipment.”
were not right with God, and everyone felt it a In 1917, the first pieces of printing equip­
privilege to work for the Lord on the papers.” ment were purchased, and the organization began

176 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

to do some of their own printing. In 1919, a larger and other pieces of equipment were transported
press was purchased that allowed workers to print to the new building, and the workers continued
the paper, The Apostolic Faith, in their own plant. to send out the Good News of salvation from
Within a short time additional languages were there.
added to the list of foreign publications. A variety For seventeen years, the printing work con-
of special editions for targeted audiences came tinued at the Sixth and Burnside location. Then,
next: The Morning Star, The Children’s Paper, The in 1939, the equipment was moved into a newly
Armour Bearer, and The Prisoner’s Hope. constructed building
at Northeast Sixth
Various Locations Avenue and Hassalo
The last printing job to be done at the Front Street, in Portland.
and Burnside location was completed on July 22, After the plant had
1922. By that time, the headquarters building at operated in that build-
Northwest Sixth and Burnside had been built. ing for sixteen years,
On July 29, the equipment was loaded onto a the property was sold
horse-drawn transfer wagon backed up to the because of a commer-
old Gospel Lighthouse. The heavy printing press cial project taking over

Above: The printing

plant on Northeast
Sixth and Hassalo,
where Gospel literature
was published from
1939 to 1955.

Left: Inside the mail

room at Northwest Sixth
and Burnside, workers
prepare literature for
mailing.

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 177

 the immediate area. In June of 1955, the printing
establishment was relocated back at the head­
quarters at Sixth and Burnside, where extensive
remodeling had taken place on a vacated annex
to make room for the presses and related equip-
ment. Publishing continued at that location
until 1980.

Construction of the Current Office Building

Fifty-seven years after members of the Apos-
tolic Faith had worked together to construct an
office building in the heart of downtown Port-
land, their children and grandchildren worked
side by side with other laborers to build a new
international headquarters office building in
Southeast Portland.

178 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

 On July 20, 1979, during the annual camp electricians, plumbers, painters, brick masons,
meeting convention, a groundbreaking ceremony and other skilled craftsmen from Portland and
was held at the building site located across Fifty- a number of the organization’s branch churches.
second Avenue from the campground. “The func- Moving day took place on May 19, 1980, just ten
tion of this office,” said the General Overseer months after the project had begun.
Loyce Carver, “is to send out to the whole world The brick exterior of the attractive 20,000
the product of meetings held here—sermons that square foot building features tall, narrow win-
are preached and testimonies that are given—that dows and is accented by metal trim. The printing
God’s name might be glorified. These are typed department occupies the south end of the build-
and edited, printed, and then distributed into ing in a one-story area with a high ceiling that
all the world, free of charge. It’s the same Gos- allows for maneuvering forklifts and heavy equip-
pel that you hear when you come to a meeting, ment, as well as providing space for storing rolls
but we try to put ‘wings’ to it so that it will go of paper. The north end of the building is two
everywhere.” stories tall, and houses the correspondence office
From the first shovel of dirt, members of the and distribution department, along with huge
local congregation invested long hours of labor in banks of floor-to-ceiling storage for printed items.
the effort, moving the project through the vari- A chapel, south of the entrance foyer, provides
ous phases of construction. Supervised by Elmer a place where the staff meets each noon hour to
Luka, a branch church pastor with construction pray for the many prayer requests that come in
experience, the crew also included carpenters, daily through the mail, email, or by phone.

Facing page, clockwise

from upper left:
Loyce Carver and his
wife, Mary, at the 1979
groundbreaking for the
new office building.

Mark Zetter, a brick-

mason in the Portland
congregation, works on the
brick pillars.

A sheet metal crew puts

on the mansard.

Left: The current

headquarters office
building, located across
52nd Avenue from the
campground.

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 179

 Inside the building, a staff of more than
Above left: Cliff eighty full-time, part-time, and volunteer work-
Baltzell, who began ers handles the publishing, correspondence,
working at the plant editorial work, pre-press tasks, and other duties.
when he was fifteen, Methods have changed, but the message they
was plant manager send out is still the same as it was in the begin-
for many years. ning: God offers salvation, peace, and hope to
all people everywhere.
Above right: The print
room at the Northwest Printing and Distribution Departments
Sixth and Burnside
Today, computers, an image setter, and
facility.
high-speed presses have replaced the antiquated
Right: Walter Frymire means of publishing used in 1908. The old Chan-
trimming sheets of paper dler and Price job press that printed the early
at the paper cutter Apostolic Faith editions at Front and Burnside has
in 1949. been refurbished and retired to a place of honor
in the foyer of the office building. Now, the main
piece of equipment in the printing department

180 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

 Left: Frank Hein, a
missionary to Africa,
found great joy in
printing Gospel tracts
for distribution on that
continent.

Below: Twin brothers

Reuel (left) and Bob
Green (right), along with
the General Overseer,
Loyce Carver, look over
the first publication
off the new Cottrell
high-speed press.

is a high speed Cottrell web press, which can run

at speeds up to 15,000 impressions an hour. The
organization utilizes approximately eighty-two
tons of paper per year, purchased by the ton in
carload lots; the paper rolls are stored around
the perimeter of the printing department. Two
folding machines occupy the center of the plant,
and a long Mueller Martini saddle stitcher, which
collates, staples, trims, and batches the finished
products, is located on the west wall of the 4,209
square foot area.
In a nearby area of the headquarters office
building, the distribution department handles
the products produced by the printing depart-
ment. There, bundles of literature are boxed for
international distribution, bagged for domestic
mailing, or shrink-wrapped for storage. Aspects of
this operation have changed over the years also. In

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 181

 1908, one cent would send four papers anywhere The Higher Way Magazine
in the world. Today, a single domestic copy of The Higher Way, a magazine designed to
the Higher Way magazine costs fourteen cents to encourage Christian growth, is the flagship pub-
mail. Internationally, the cost averages forty-eight lication of the organization. Initially called The
cents per copy. A bar-coded inventory system now Apostolic Faith, the name was changed in 1981
helps the department staff keep exact records of to The Light of Hope. Renamed Higher Way in
what is in stock and helps them determine which 1995, this quarterly magazine is one of the key
publications should be reprinted next. publications at the headquarters building, with
Volunteers, ranging in age from young to old, an annual output of about 2.5 million copies in
play a vital role in this department. A group of the English language.
Top left: Gary Wolfe, retirees regularly assists with processing the Higher Articles published in the magazine are often
printing department Way for mailing. Several times a year, teenagers adapted from sermons that have been given in the
manager, looks over from the Portland congregation come to help out services. There are also testimonies given by indi-
the first magazine in mailing various publications. viduals from different walks of life, and inspira-
edition with A computer database is the hub of the organi- tional articles targeting various age groups. Each
Loyce Carver. zation’s record-keeping system. Currently holding edition also contains a list of Bible doctrines as
about 190,000 entries, the number grows every taught by the organization—the same doctrines
Above: David day. Included in the database is each individual that were initially published in the papers printed
Maynard (left) and on the mailing list, addresses of contacts made at Azusa Street in 1906.
Larry Truax shrink
through various outreach endeavors, and each After the material to be printed in the maga-
wrap copies of Higher
Way in 2004. branch church and other institution that receives zine has been selected, it is prayerfully prepared
the printed literature. for publication by the editorial and proofing

182 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

staff. A Higher Way steering committee meets to
title the articles slotted for the upcoming issue,
and to finalize graphic ideas. Staff photographers
take many of the photos used for illustrating
the articles and testimonies; the layout of each
publication is also done in-house. The final pub-
lication is imaged onto negatives, the negatives
burned onto printing plates, and then the actual
printing and assembly process takes place.
People in over 120 countries are on the
mailing list, and subscribers continually send in
names of other individuals whom they wish to
receive the literature. Beginning in 1961, sample
copies were mailed to box holders in various
states, a project that increased the size of the
mailing list considerably.

Center: Rick Olson

operates the high-speed
press at the current
location.

Above: In July of 2002,

the organization began
publishing the Higher
Way magazine
in Braille.

Left: The Higher Way

steering committee plans
an upcoming edition.

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 183

 In June of 2002, the organization produced Light of Hope, which is designed for evangelistic
the first issues of Higher Way magazine in Braille.
use. Each edition is based on a personal testi-
These publications received a warm response mony, and accompanied by short supplementary
from individuals and from organizations for the articles explaining how to find God.
visually impaired. Some organizations offered to Along with these publications, the organi-
advertise the magazine free of charge in their own
zation prints tracts, Sunday school curriculum
Below: A view of the publications. A number of libraries for Braille materials, booklets, invitational flyers, posters,
correspondence office
readers now receive the regular editions. In 2005,
calendars, and stationery for various office and
at the Northwest
Sixth and Burnside several tracts were also produced in Braille. mailing needs. Each year nearly four million
location, taken during pieces of printed matter are produced.
the 1940s. Other Current Publications These magazines and tracts sent out into all
In addition to the Higher Way magazine, the parts of the world do an effectual work. As “silent
organization also prints a smaller magazine, the missionaries,” this Gospel literature speaks to

184 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

 story twice, thrice, or more times . . . They are,
in short: vehicles of Truth, teachers of all classes,
and the benefactors of all lands.”
Distribution does not occur only in remote
areas of the world. In the United States also,
publications go into diverse places. In public
libraries, hospitals, and rest homes, spiritually
interested readers are happy to learn that Christ
gives peace to troubled hearts. Lonely merchant
seamen have been given the literature, have read
the words of eternal life aboard ship, and then
have carried the message back to their homeland.
Men and women behind bars have experienced
the life-transforming power of Jesus Christ after
reading a Gospel tract. Many a defeated derelict,
standing idly on the street corner, has accepted
a paper from the workers, and after reading it,
has sought and received power to “go, and sin
no more” (John 8:11).

Literature Into the Prisons

New areas of literature outreach are continu-
ally researched and moved into, as the Lord leads.
One such outreach occurred in the mid-1990s,
when literature samples were mailed into all the
federal and state correctional institutions in the
United States and Canada. God blessed this proj-
the hearts of the readers when a person might ect, and the positive response was widespread.
be unable to do so. They can be sent into homes, Letters from chaplains continue to come in Left: Ray Scholz,
prisons, and other institutions where a personal regularly with requests for increased and ongoing who distributed
visitation might not be possible. They can go into supplies of literature. One of the chaplains who many tracts and
disease-infested areas without any ill effect and wrote to express his gratitude said, “We note papers as part of
are never hindered by weariness or sickness. your extensive work; certainly a worthy ministry the outreach to the
A correspondent in India sent in the fol­ in a neglected area. We surely thank God for seafaring men, looks
lowing summary: “Tracts can go everywhere . . . organizations like yours that have this concern over the tract rack in
They never tire, and like angels of God, bless all, on their hearts.” the Portland church
narthex to make a
give to all, and ask no gift in return. They talk to Upon reading the literature, many prisoners
selection.
one as well as to the multitude, . . . take no note write to request a personal subscription for them-
of scoffs, jeers, or taunts. None can betray them selves, as well as for members of their families.
into making hasty expressions. They will tell their They also send prayer requests and seek spiritual

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 185

 counsel. One man wrote, “All who know me say Way, I was convicted by the Spirit. I realized that I
I am a ‘hopeless case,’ but I would like to get in had put freedom on the throne of my life instead
Above left: Roy contact with God to know if He thinks the same. of Jesus. I hit my knees on the concrete floor and
Frymire, a veteran I am not an infidel, just a sin-wrecked human be- truly surrendered myself to Him. I asked Him
minister and retired ing. I would be so glad to know if there is a chance to take the fear, the worry, the anxiety, and the
pastor, assists with for a person like me. Would you remember me in loneliness away from me. I gave Him control of
answering mail. prayer and instruct me in spiritual things?” my release, control of everything in my life. I
Correspondents reply to pleas such as these asked Him to take it all off of my shoulders, and
Above right: Copies with words of encouragement, assuring the writ- to work this situation toward good in my life. He
of the Higher Way ers of God’s gracious love for the sinner and His set me free! He took down the prison bars of fear
magazine waiting
wil­lingness to redeem. To aid in the spiritual and worry from my heart and set me free. I am
to be distributed
around the world. growth of inmates, letters and tracts are sent so relieved now that it does not matter what hap-
to all prisoners periodically. At Christmas time pens in my life. I have given it to the Lord.”
small calendars, along with a Christmas letter, Another man told of receiving a copy of the
are mailed to each correspondent. Apostolic Faith booklet, A Glimpse Into the Future,
After receiving the Higher Way magazine, one from another inmate. He wrote, “As I read the
inmate wrote, “After reading an article in Higher first line of the booklet, I realized that I hadn’t

186 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

given very much thought to exactly what the fu-
ture held in direct relationship to me. So I kept
reading. Every word seemed to come alive and
I trembled as I continued to read. By the time I
finished the booklet, I knew what it means to fear
the Lord and I wanted to be saved.” He went on
to describe how for two days, he struggled with
conviction. Finally he broke down and prayed,
and God made a wonderful change in his heart.
He concluded his letter by saying, “I can’t really
explain how, but this week has been different
than all the weeks of my past. I don’t know a lot
about how to pray, but I feel God’s presence and
I believe that He is listening. I can’t be the only
person who was touched by your booklet, but I
want to thank you for touching me.”
Over the years of correspondence with in-
mates, many requests for prayer have come from
men on death row. Those who have not already
sought God’s pardon are encouraged to do so
immediately. And those who have been forgiven
are urged to hold fast to the only One who is to provide a structure for Bible study in a Sunday
able to deliver and to keep them living victori- school setting.
ously unto the end. One inmate was converted A preface to one of the study booklets
while on death row, and his execution was stayed expresses the principle behind all of the cur-
for a time. He lived an exemplary Christian riculum publishing projects: “We trust that the Above: The Sunday
life in prison, corresponding regularly with the reader may be inspired to seek and receive all the school committee of
Apostolic Faith ministry. When his time came fullness of God’s blessing, find the pathway to the 1950s produced
to pay the death penalty for the crime he had greater victorious Christian living, and become the first full course of
curriculum materials,
committed, he turned to the witnesses and said, more firmly established upon the fundamental
a 36-volume set.
“Good-day, I am prepared to go.” doctrines of the Word of God. In these days just
prior to the coming of the Lord, we realize the
Materials for Bible Study urgent need for a careful walk, day by day; and
Over many years of Gospel literature produc- in these teachings are found numerous admoni-
tion, writers and editors of the Apostolic Faith tions concerning the standard of Christianity as
Church have prepared a variety of study materials taught in the Bible.”
designed to further the understanding of God’s In the 1940s, a group of ministers and work-
Word. Convinced that systematic study will result ers spent a number of years compiling a nine-year
in spiritual discoveries for those who engage in it, course of study entitled Studies in the Scriptures. A
several types of curriculums have been produced later curriculum, with separate study booklets for

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 187

 Right: Pages of the
Daybreak devotionals
and companion
Discovery Sunday
school booklets, which
will ultimately cover
the whole Bible.

primary (Primary Pals), junior (Answer), and adult lessons built upon the same book of the Bible
levels (Search), covered the same Bible truths in that is being studied in the Daybreak daily devo-
an updated format that involved the readers in tionals. Reviewing in a group setting what has
a more hands-on approach. been learned in personal study gives readers the
In 2001, work began on a commentary style opportunity to reinforce key points.
through-the-Bible curriculum featuring a selected The daily devotionals and Sunday school
Scripture text for each day, a daily devotional, lessons are both available free of charge on the
background on the selected text, and additional organization’s website at www.apostolicfaith.org.
study materials. In this series, titled Daybreak,
books of the Bible are studied in a chronologi- Foreign Publications
cal sequence. The coverage of each book of the The first foreign publications produced by
Bible includes an overview, historical timeline, the Apostolic Faith work after the move to Port-
background data, and outline of the book, as well land were newspapers in the Norwegian and Ger-
as related maps, charts, timelines, etc. Ultimately, man languages. These were printed in October
the completed program will help readers explore of 1908, just a few months after the first English
the entire Bible in a three-year time frame. edition, and were soon followed by others.
Discovery, a companion publication for use In the early days of the work, many immi-
in the Sunday school setting, provides weekly grants to the United States still spoke their na-

188 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

tive tongue. People attending the services who translation work is done through the internet,
spoke a language other than English were able with documents needing translation and proof-
to assist in the translation and proofreading of ing being transmitted across the world in a matter
materials for their homelands. This was a great of seconds. The most recently added translations
help in producing a variety of foreign language are some of the dialects of India and Myanmar.
materials. These people also often had contacts The production of a four-year Sunday school
with family and friends in their native lands, curriculum in the Spanish language is another
and this provided a ready-made base of contacts recent venture—one that utilized help from Span-
for initial distribution of the Gospel in those ish-speaking individu-
areas. Over the years, Gospel literature has been als in several countries,
printed by the Apostolic Faith organization in as well as several states
more than seventy languages and dialects, with in the United States.
translation and proofing assistance often given The value of the
by members of the Apostolic Faith organization literature to readers
around the world. around the world is
Working with translators and foreign lan- impossible to fully
guage proofreaders became much easier with calculate. One wrote
the advent of the internet. Today, most of the from a missionar y

Above: General Overseer

Loyce Carver looks over
the first Korean language
paper with longtime
pressman, Harry Nelson.

Left: Ladies of the Mail-

ing Department wrap
papers for distribution in
the late 1940s.

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 189

 Much of the translation
work is done via the
internet, with documents
being transmitted across
the world in a matter
of seconds.

training school in believe it for a while, and I got worse and worse.
Indonesia, a country Finally, my wife sent for an anointed handker­
with a large Muslim chief. About the time the handkerchief was
population:“ They prayed over in Portland, I was instantly healed,
throng our office with sound and well, as you see me today.” Shortly
re­quests for literature.
after his healing, the family moved to Port­land.
Please continue to sendThey prayed through to salvation and dedicated
us more. They will be their lives to God. In time, several in the family
placed in every house in the districts we work. became full-time workers in God’s service and
Not a single tract will be wasted. . . . We have con-
faithfully served Him until they went home to
fidence in the sound and pure doctrines of the Heaven.
Apostolic Faith and assure you that everything Letters that come into the headquarters of-
Above right: Some of
the team that helps you send will be used to the glory of God.” fice often bring accounts “stranger than fiction”
with translation into of the different ways and places an Apostolic
the Spanish language. Far-Reaching Results Faith paper or tract was found. One man in the
At times, a single tract or paper has a far- interior of British Guiana (now Guyana), South
Above left: reaching impact on a whole family. For example, America, was out searching for diamonds when
Valeska Paulsen and one family in the state of Virginia received an he found one of the pa­pers. He wrote, saying
Claudia Hanson Apos­tolic Faith paper many years ago. The father, that through reading the paper he found the
review Spanish who had suffered from cancer for over seventeen “Pearl of Greatest Price.” Some individuals have
documents. years, read in the paper that anointed handker- brought food home from the market wrapped in
chiefs were prayed over and mailed to the sick an Apostolic Faith paper, and discovered food for
and that they were healed. He said, “I did not their hungry souls. One prisoner wrote of sitting

190 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

in the prison yard when a gust of wind blew a have heard the truth and have been con­verted.
page of the paper his way. Out of idle curiosity, The man who received the tract sought God
he picked it up and found a message of hope that for his deeper spiritual experiences, and after
impacted his life. receiving them, aided in es­tablishing numbers
Many accounts are given of times when a of Apostolic Faith churches in Ghana.
Gospel tract or paper came at a crisis point in In the Dominican Republic, an Apostolic
an individual’s life. In South Korea, one of the Faith paper found in the dirt beside the road
many tracts that flooded that country fell into was the beginning of a work in that area which
the hands of a man who was about to commit sui- recently celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary
cide. He found new hope, contacted the church and continues to grow.
in Korea, was saved, and later became a minister The Apostolic Faith work in Nigeria began
and pastor in the Apostolic Faith organization. in 1942 when a parcel of Gospel tracts came into
At times, an individual’s response to a tract the hands of the son of a tribal chief. This man
or paper has been just the starting point of wide- began to distribute the tracts and to evangelize.
spread blessing to many hearts. One young min- On November 8, 1944, the first service of the
ister in the Portland church tells how a paper his Apostolic Faith Church in Lagos was held, with
grandfather received was influential in the start eight people present. Now the work there has
of the Apostolic Faith work in Newfoundland. grown to many hundreds of churches; more than
From a single tract that fell into the hands of 21,000 people attended the opening Sunday of
a man in Ghana, West Africa, literally thousands a recent camp meeting.

Left: A correspondent
in India hands out
Apostolic Faith tracts.

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 191

 She loved all national­ities, and as a “mother”
she wrote to those in other countries, sometimes
beginning her response with the words, “My
dear children across the sea.” Her letters, filled
with words of encouragement, admonition,
and instruction, afford­ed spiritual guidance to
many. Typical of her messages sent to the sick
and discouraged is the following excerpt: “Take
new hope and courage . . . Look forward to the
coming of the Lord, which will do more for you
than anything else. I have prayed for you, suf-
fered with you, and believe that God is going
to raise you up and that you will yet be able to
work for the Master and have some sheaves to
lay at His feet.” God answered prayer and raised
up the recipient of this letter, who was enabled
to give more than twenty-five years of service in
the harvest field of the Lord.

Current Mail Volume

The many letters and testimonials that ar-
rive daily at the headquarters office show that
God’s blessing continues to rest on the Apostolic
Faith literature ministry. The work of handling
responses is much more extensive now than it
Correspondence Ministry was in the early 1900s. Mail volume fluctuates,
Over the years, the literature sent into the far but in recent years, a total of between 15,000 to
Above right: One of corners of the world has resulted in many thou- 20,000 pieces of mail are received annually from
the newest foreign sands of letters from people who have received 120-130 foreign countries. Various factors affect
language publica-
a Gospel paper or tract. In the early days, there the volume of incoming mail from each area,
tions, a Chinese
language version of was only a small group of workers to handle such as political stability of the nation, recent
the Light of Hope. the mail that began to arrive in response to the mailings from headquarters, and changes in
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The publishing local cost of living or postage. From a war-torn
Above left: A sample of the Apostolic Faith literature had just been country, perhaps only one or two pieces of mail a
of the mail received launched, and as the distribution of the literature year will reach the Apostolic Faith headquarters;
from around the in­creased, so did the incoming mail. if postage costs suddenly jump forty percent in a
world. This letter is The worldwide correspondence lay heavily developing country, fewer people are able to send
from Hong Kong. upon Florence Crawford’s heart, and she took a letters due to financial hardship.
personal interest in those who wrote, carrying a About half of the letters received are from
burden for their afflictions and spiritual welfare. foreign countries, with as many as twenty-nine

192 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

 Church prays, the leaders bring forth the Word of
God both in services and in various publications
that are being distributed all over the world. By
this action and the working of the Holy Spirit,
you have been mailing me your magazine, Higher
Way, for the last twenty years.”
Recently, the organization has established
distribution stations in several areas of India,
where the Gospel tracts are printed in the native
dialect and distributed locally. This has proved
to be a highly cost-effective means of blanketing
the area with Christian literature. Currently, Left: Edna Janzen
tracts are produced in nine Indian languages. In was headquarters
many of the letters that come back in response, office manager for
recipients plead for someone to come and teach many years.
them the truth that they read about in the tracts
and the Higher Way magazine. Below: A team of
nations represented in one day’s mail delivery. One man wrote from India: “I would like volunteer readers re-
views a stack of mail
In one month alone, 3,900 letters were received to express my hearty happiness in my letter. Re-
in the 1940s.
from the continent of Africa. Many letters are cently I listened to an aged man talk to a group
written in languages other than English, necessi- of young men in a railway station. He was telling
tating translation before they can be answered.
The mail from India and its neighboring
countries of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Pakistan,
dramatically increased in the early 2000s. The
governments in these countries attempt to
discourage or eliminate Christianity in various
ways, but the message of hope brought through
the literature has touched thousands of lives. At
times, letters to correspondents must be sent in
plain envelopes to reduce the possibility of nega-
tive consequences to the recipients because they
received Christian reading material.
Typical of the mail received from that area of
the world was this letter that recently came from
Malaysia. “I thank you very sincerely for your let-
ter and especially for the three key words in the
bottom letter heading—Pray, Preach, Publish. These
three words spell out clearly the work of the Holy
Spirit in the Holy Bible. As the Apostolic Faith

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 193

 Above: Workers load about Jesus Christ. After a few minutes, he dis- simple with a cotton bag on his shoulder full of
a truck with mailbags tributed some tracts and also a leaflet named, 30 tracts, but I thank God because he showed the
of Gospel literature Days on the Road to Eternity. The next morning, I way to salvation through your Bible tracts.”
ready to be taken to began to read the booklet. When I completed it,
the Post Office. I felt ashamed of my past life. I began to repent. A Vital Ministry
I asked Jesus with shedding tears for forgiveness The correspondence work is a vital ministry
Facing page: Some of
the ladies who helped of my sins. Through your booklet, I understood that varies from letter to letter. Most of the let-
with the office work in how to get salvation through Jesus Christ. Im- ters that come to the headquarters office bring
the mid-1940s. mediately I thought of that man who distributed sincere questions regarding spiritual matters;
your tracts in the railway station. He looks very prayer requests including spiritual, physical,

194 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

and financial needs; Higher Way subscriptions;
literature requests; questions about the locations Those who handle the correspondence
consider it a privilege to share the
of churches; and queries about upcoming church
events all over the world. Some of the correspon-
dents are simply looking for a friend to write to
them, and those who answer the letters are glad
message of the Gospel with so many.
to be that friend.
Many hours are logged each week in the
correspondence efforts. Volunteers assist the
full-time staff in reading and answering letters
and entering data into the computer system.
As news trickles in of needs around the world,
and accounts are received of victories won, cor-
respondents are able to travel by proxy to destina-
tions around the globe. As they read and answer
the letters, they pray for the difficult situations
described in those letters, and establish a caring
and personal connection with individuals who
write on a regular basis.
In addition to answering incoming mail, the
organization also sends out general letters from
time to time. A newsletter of the past month’s
happenings of interest is sent monthly to a
specific group of subscribers. Several times each
year, a letter just to keep in touch is sent to all the
prisoners on the mailing list, along with one or
two tracts, with the goal of providing a spiritual
uplift between Higher Way editions.
Each time a mailing goes out, whether of
magazines, tracts, or letters, there is a resulting
surge in the volume of mail. People who may
otherwise not have thought to respond may
be inspired by a sermon or article and write a
note thanking the staff, requesting prayer, or
sending additional names for the subscription
list. The message of salvation and a victorious
Christian life is a personal theme in the life
of each worker, and those who handle the cor-
respondence view it as a privilege to share the
Gospel with so many.

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 195

 Right: Ladies file
responses to
correspondents during
the early 1960s at the
Northwest Sixth and
Burnside location.

Below: In 2002, Reuel

Green and Dan
Magel review what
tracts should be enclosed
with a letter.

Prayer Requests Often, a follow-up letter comes with words

The mail brings in such as these: “Since I wrote you asking prayer
prayer requests for all for my husband who was a drunkard, he has quit
kinds of dis­tresses. Ur- drinking and is now working and supporting the
gent needs are written family.”
on the prayer chapel “My delinquent teenage boy who left home
board where workers has returned and is going to school and taking
gather each day for an interest in the better things of life.”
prayer. Many of the A daughter wrote concerning her sick moth-
requests are posted on er: “My mother was very ill for a long time with a
the Apostolic Faith serious type of anemia. The doctor said her case
website, so people was hopeless, that he knew of only two other
around the world can cases like hers, and both had died. If Mother did
join in immediate live, he said that she would have to take shots
prayer for others. Ev- every day of her life. However, your prayers have
ery staff member who been answered. She is healed and does not take
helps with answering any shots at all.”
mail is accustomed to spending time in prayer One of the letter readers who currently
over his or her response to a particular letter, works in the Apostolic Faith office recently re­
sometimes temporarily setting the letter aside marked,“You can never be the same after reading
until the right answer is clear. God so graciously some of the mail that comes to our office.” How
provides the guidance and strength necessary to marvelous it is that God answers prayer for so
successfully carry out this ministry. many people!

196 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

 As workers read and
answer the letters, they
establish a caring and
personal connection with
individuals who write on
a regular basis.

Electronic Mail it marked a new begin-

A practical new method of communica- ning in my life. After
tion—electronic mail (email)—became available reading a particular
to the correspondence staff during the 1990s article, ‘Born Alive!’
and quickly caught on with staff members, the testimony touched
often replacing other forms of correspondence me deeply inside my
because of its speed, economy, and ease of use. heart, and after crying,
The volume of email subscriptions, questions, I made a final deci-
and prayer requests has dramatically increased, sion to give my life to
rapidly rising from very few in the year 2000, Christ. He forgave me
to a total greater than all the other combined all my sins; I am now born again. Yes, I have that Above left: Charles
responses within four years. These emails arrive blessed assurance that I am no longer a sinner. I Rodman dictating a
from all over the world, and writers can receive now see myself preaching to my friends. Please, response to a letter in
almost instant answers. the 1940s.
my brethren, send me the magazine that changed
A recent email that commented on the im- my life and any other edifying books, tracts, and Above right: Ivon
pact of a Higher Way magazine is representative of magazines. Thank you for publishing a magazine Wilson answering
many other similar emails. This correspondent like Higher Way. It must have changed many mail at the office in
wrote, “I read your magazine, Higher Way, and people’s lives.” 2005.

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 197

 Far right: Karen
Barrett is the current
headquarters office
manager.

Right: Veteran pastor

Earl Phillips answers
many email letters.

Below: Sam Ajayi

handles much of the
mail that comes
from Africa.

Organization’s Website an article that clearly explains the way to find

In the 1990s, the Apostolic salvation in Jesus Christ. A daily devotional can
Faith Church stepped into a new also be accessed from the homepage. Differ-
method of evangelistic outreach ent areas of the site target seekers investigating
with the launching of a church Christianity, new believers, youth, maturing
website at www.apostolicfaith.org. believers, married couples and parents, children,
From its inception, the primary and teachers. A news section provides links to
purpose of the website was to lift up current news articles, the latest edition of the
and glorify Jesus Christ and to lead Portland church’s In One Accord newsletter, a list
people from all around the world of upcoming events in Apostolic Faith churches
to a personal knowledge of Him. worldwide, and a news archive section.
In our technologically advanced Viewers can submit prayer requests and view
age the website provides a way for the list of needs that others have submitted. A
the organization to reach the online link to the online version of the magazine, Higher
community, some who could not be contacted Way, is also available from the homepage. Other
personally or through printed literature. resources included are the current week’s Sunday
The lead article on the homepage changes school lesson, Christian book reviews, a complete
regularly between personal accounts of people list of the organization’s free printed publications
who have found God and in-depth perspectives and a publication order form, a link to resources
on topics related to Christian growth and com- provided in several foreign languages, and various
mitment. Prominent on the page is a link to other items of interest.

198 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

The corporate website at
www.apostolicfaith.org
reaches into the online
community to present the
message of Jesus Christ.

In 2004, the website was expanded to include

separate areas for young adults and children.
These areas have a different look from the rest
of the site, and offer content of special interest to
youth. Another recent addition to the website are
three foreign language pages, where articles and
testimonies are posted in Spanish, Portuguese,
and French.
Since going “live,” the website has had mil-
lions of hits. People from about 200 countries
around the globe have visited the site and ben-
efited by the spiritual content that fills its pages.
Sister sites have been developed by numbers of
branch churches, including sites featuring the
Nigerian and Korean branches of the work. folded, wrapped, and stamped ready for mail-
ing, the workers would gather around the piles Above: The home­page
Literature Prayed Over or sacks of papers and lay their hands on them of the organization’s
Praying over the mail is a long-standing tradi- and pray. We prayed that Jesus would accompany website at
tion at the headquarters office. The second paper every paper and enter every home in every land, www.apostolicfaith.org.
printed in Portland carried an account of this and that the Holy Ghost would come upon the
practice: “After they [the Gospel papers] were readers as they received and read the papers.

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 199

 How truly the prayers were answered is witnessed ing out the Gospel message is prayer. Ministers
by the letters we have received. Many times we and staff workers gather around the boxes and
Below: From the were melted as we prayed, and the papers were mailbags that are ready to be loaded into the
beginning it has watered with tears.” waiting truck. Others lay hands on the stacks of
been a policy for the Before sending out any literature, the sacks, personal letters ready to go to correspondents.
ministers and boxes, and pallets of mail are stacked in the dis- Together those present pray over all the literature
workers to pray over
tribution department. Every week, prayer time is and letters before they are mailed or shipped.
all the outgoing
mail and literature announced over the speaker system at the head- They ask for God’s divine blessing and power to
before it leaves the quarters office. Work is laid aside, conversations accompany the mail, for souls to be saved and
headquarters are stilled, and chairs are pushed back. One by sick bodies healed, and that God’s will might be
building. one, from every part of the office, come those done in the lives of the recipients of each piece
who realize that the most important part of send- of literature and every letter.

200 Headquarters Office Publication Ministry

 “I thank God that He has
counted me worthy to
have a part in sending
the Gospel into all the
world.”

Many of those who assist in the work at the miles from here. God spoke to me through that Left: Apostolic Faith
headquarters office have a deep, personal ap- church paper that came to our mailbox. It seemed tracts being distributed
preciation for the literature ministry, and relate to me that it fairly glowed with the Word of God in India.
how members of their families received a paper and what He was doing. It brought conviction to
or tract in days gone by. A mailing supervisor my heart when I read its pages. I repented before Above: Children in
of early days commented, “When I see the God, and living streams of salvation came into the Dominican
mail piled high, ready to be prayed over, I have my soul. I thank Him that He has counted me Republic display Sun-
a thanksgiving in my heart that one of these worthy to have a part in sending the Gospel into day school pamphlets
in their own language.
Apostolic Faith papers ever reached me 2,000 all the world.”

Headquarters Office Publication Ministry 201

 A Closing Challenge

202 A Closing Challenge

A
century has come and gone since Flor- Rain Gospel from Florence Crawford and the
ence Crawford stepped off the train in dedicated men and women of God who came
Portland, bearing the message that Pen- after her. These words that Paul addressed to
tecost had come. No historian will ever number Timothy could have been written to us from
the hungry souls who were drawn to 312 Azusa those who have gone on before.
Street. No theologian will ever calculate the im- To serve the next generation, we must stay
pact of the thousands who were baptized by the true to the principles that the veterans of the
power of the Holy Ghost and then scattered to faith so compellingly taught. That will not hap-
the ends of the earth. However, as we trace the pen without effort. In Hebrews 2:1 we read a
way God used one woman who received that warning, “Therefore we ought to give the more
experience and followed where God led, we are earnest heed to the things which we have heard,
assured that the Pentecostal fire ignited just after lest at any time we should let them slip.” The
the turn of the century in Los Angeles is still word slip is a nautical term that suggests “drift-
burning today. ing away.” Drifting does not happen obviously
The images and accounts on the pages of or abruptly. It is subtle. It happens a little at a
this book are the threads that, woven together, time.
form the history of the Apostolic Faith work. That is why Jude exhorted his readers to
The band of zealous believers who gathered with “earnestly contend for the faith which was once
Florence Crawford in the mission hall at Front delivered unto the saints.” It will take effort! We
and Burnside, and the faithful saints of God must challenge ourselves to look back to what was
who followed after them, were instrumental in taught when the old-timers received the Pente-
shaping a God-given message into a worldwide costal blessing, and set forth with a message that
ministry. These Gospel pioneers determined to would change the world. Then we must earnestly
proclaim without fear or compromise God’s contend for those same beliefs.
power to save the repentant heart, sanctify the We do not need to reevaluate what was
converted soul, and pour out the Holy Spirit on taught back then. We do not need to revise it or
sanctified believers. adapt it for today’s society. We must learn what it
It is with this same purpose that we, as today’s was and then hold to it! If every generation does Facing page:
generation, continue the work that was started in so, we will have landmarks that are intact. Evangelist Allen
1906. We are charged in God’s Word to preserve Let us determine to cherish and preserve our Crabtree gives the
our spiritual landmarks. In 2 Timothy 3:14, we spiritual heritage. And let us all pray that the love, closing prayer follow-
read Paul’s words to Timothy, “But continue ing a camp meeting
humility, tears, hunger, and dynamic Pentecostal service in the
thou in the things which thou hast learned and power that were the spirit of Azusa will continue mid-1960s.
hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou to be with us. Our churches, our nation, and our
hast learned them.” We learned of this Latter world still need Holy Ghost revival!

A Closing Challenge 203

 Pensacola, Florida 112–113
Index B Richmond, Virginia 117
Baltzell, Cliff 99, 175, 180 Rocky Mount, North Carolina 115
Baltzell, Dwight 22–23, 138 Roseburg, Oregon 7–8
Page numbers in italics refer San Francisco, California 100, 102–103
Baptismal services 46–47, 52–54, 65, 102,
to illustrations Seattle, Washington 92
131, 137, 146
Baptism of the Holy Spirit, doctrine of 17–18, St. Louis, Missouri 107–108
Talladega, Alabama 110
20
Washington D.C 115
example of power falling 26–27, 32, 35,
outside of United States
A 133
Barney, Richard 109–111
Accra, Ghana 142, 146
Ambatali, Philippines 136
Adigun, Isaac and Stella 126 Barrett, Harold 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135,
Bagong Sikat, Philippines 135
Aerial evangelism 149, 150, 151 155
Botswana 145, 147
Africa for Christ 144, 147 Barrett, Karen 9, 198 Bulgarus, Romania 128
Africa work 22, 140–147 Barrett, Sally 130, 131, 132, 133 Copenhagen, Denmark 125
Airplanes 149–151 Bartleman, Frank 28–29 Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada 122
Ajayi, Sam 91, 198 Benevolent outreach 166–167 Goose Bay, Labrador 121–122
Akazue, Jane 69 Blacksmith shop 21, 35–37, 38, 70. See Haiti 139
Akazue, Paul 69, 144–145 also Second and Main, mission at Hooping Harbor, Newfoundland, Canada
Allen, Arthur 129–130, 134 Blue Bird 46–47 120
Allen, Miriam 129 Blyden, Algernon 138–139 Horsens, Denmark 124–125
Allen, Norman 56–57, 84–85 Board of Elders 24–25 Ikot Enwang, Nigeria 143
Altars 39–40, 50–51, 62–63, 90, 202 Board of Trustees 23–24 Johannesburg, South Africa 147
Answer curriculum 188 Bonnie Brae Street, house on 27 Kawasaki, Japan 129–130
Apostolic Faith paper, The 12, 19, 21, 37, 75, Botswana work 145, 147 Kitchener, Ontario, Canada 122
101, 111 Braille publications 183–184 Lagos, Nigeria 141, 142, 144–145
account of drunkard’s conversion 42 Branch churches 100–117 Langley, British Columbia, Canada 119
account of early persecution 41 in United States London, England 127
begins in Portland 175–177 Albany, Oregon 101 Lusaka, Zambia 146–147
description of early camp meetings 45–46, Anniston, Alabama 110 Pusan, Korea 131–133
50 Atlanta, Georgia 110, 113 Roddickton, Newfoundland, Canada 121
description of early outeach work 148 Birmingham, Alabama 110 Samana, Dominican Republic 136
description of meetings 33, 39–40 Bronx, New York 117 Sampetru-German, Romania 127–128
doctrinal statement 16 Brooklyn, New York 116 Seoul, Korea 133
impact on one family 190 Century, Florida 109–113, 111 Silsand, Norway 123
production of first paper at Azusa 174–175 Chehalis, Washington 103–104 Simimbaan, Philippines 135
Ashwell, Ruth 79, 143–144 Columbus, Georgia 110 St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 138–139
Dallas, Oregon 101, 103, 160 Stavanger, Norway 122, 123, 124
Ashwell, Silas 151
Florence, South Carolina, 114–115 Teremia Mica, Romania 128
Austin, Clifford 136
Houston, Texas 113 Tromsø, Norway 123
Azusa doctrines 16, 20, 26–27
Kansas City, Missouri 106–107 Vaasa, Finland 125
Azusa mission 11, 27–33, 28, 29, 174–175
Kingstree, South Carolina 114–115 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
workers 33
Los Angeles, California 104 118–119
Azusa papers 12, 16, 19, 21, 37 Zadarin, Romania 15
Medford, Oregon 105, 159
Azusa revival 11–12, 19, 27–33, 203 Oakland, California 102–103 Brown, Phil 99
description in Apostolic Faith paper 33 Orlando, Florida 117 Burton, George 122
Florence Crawford’s description of 31–32 Paterson, New Jersey 117 Bush, Cato 108–109, 111, 113–114

204 Index
 Camp office 57, 65
C Carey, Butch 67 D
Calhoun, Janice 99 Carganilla, Miguel 135, 155 Damron, Edna 106–107
Campground, Portland 54–61 Carver, Loyce 18, 22–23, 79, 80, 108, 115, Damron, Forrest 136–137
cabins 61, 64 120, 129–130, 132, 134, 178, 179, 181, Damron, James 106–107
camp office 57, 61, 65 182, 189 Damron, Sally 136–137
children’s tabernacle 63 Carver, Mary 108, 132, 178 Day, Wanda 95
fire prevention 62, 64 Cassell, Rene 121 Daybreak curriculum 188
fountain 64 Century, Florida camp meeting 110–111, Deler, Roland 139
housing 59–61 116–117 Denmark work 124–125
laundry 59, 62 Children’s meetings 57, 63 Dicks, Leon 115–116
map of 51 Choir 66–67, 95–97, 96, 122, 145 Discovery curriculum 188
restaurant 58–59 Clasper, John 25, 71 Doctrinal beliefs 16–19, 48–49
store 57, 59 Collections, none taken 37, 89–90 Doctrinal teaching 13, 20, 64
supply cabin 62 Concerts 67, 85, 95–96, 145 Doctrines 16–19
tabernacle. See Tabernacle, Portland Congregations 15, 17, 66, 88, 103, 104, 113, Baptism of the Holy Spirit 17–18
tents 38, 39, 59, 60, 61, 64 114, 126, 130 Divine Healing 18
tent tabernacle 48, 50 Cornerstone 12 Divine Trinity 18
trailers 64 Correspondence ministry 174, 184, 186, Eternal Heaven and Hell 19
West Chapel, 58–59 192–197, 193, 196, 197, 198 Foot Washing 19
Camp meetings, outside of United States Crabtree, Allen 103, 158, 202–203 Great White Throne Judgment 19
Nigeria 146, 191 Crawford, Edna 151 Lord’s Supper 19
Norway 123, 124 Crawford, Florence 8, 12, 20, 21–22, 31, 33, Marriage 19
Romania 129 36, 38, 42–43, 48–49, 54, 55, 57, 70, Millennial Reign 19
United Kingdom 126–127 73, 75, 102–104, 106, 110, 119, 160, New Heaven and New Earth 19
Camp meetings, Portland 174–175, 176, 192, 203 Repentance 18
Alberta district 52 begins jail ministry 162–163 Restitution 19
description of 61–69 evangelistic zeal 43–44, 101 Salvation (Justification) 17–18
description of early camp meetings 45–48, house where converted 26 Sanctification 17–18
50–53 hymn writer 98 Second Coming of Jesus 18
Duke Street 50–51, 54–69 instituted a visitation ministry 165 Tribulation 18
Eighteenth Avenue and Holgate Street. 52 instruction of believers 43, 48 Water Baptism 19
Eleventh and Division 52, 54–69 testimony of 29–37 Dominican Republic work 136, 138, 191, 201
Fulton 52 uncompromising stand 49 Downey, Bob 89, 122
Kenton 44–45, 49, 53 Crawford, Mildred 33, 42
Montavilla 52 Crawford, Raymond 21–22, 25, 42, 43, 49,
Mount Tabor 51–52, 70 72, 74–75, 93, 94, 104, 109, 123, 129,
newspaper announcement of 56 140, 149, 150, 151, 156, 176 E
personal recollections of 56–57, 68–69 aviation license 150 Edwardsville, Illinois camp meeting 108
Rose City 53 excerpt from diary 40–41 Entire sanctification. See Sanctification
Twelfth and Division 36, 38, 45–46, 70 hymn writer 98–99 European work 126–127
Camp meetings, United States tells of street meeting 161–162 Evangel 158–159
Century, Florida 110–111, 116–117 Crawford University 146 Evangelism 12–13, 101–102, 104–105, 127
Edwardsville, Illinois 108 aerial evangelism 149, 150, 151
Fredericktown, Missouri 108 harbor ministry 151, 152, 153, 154, 155
Midwest 89, 108 in Alaskan waters 156–157
Murphysboro, Illinois 108 in juvenile detention homes 165
Index 205
 in southern Oregon 104–105 Hancock, Stanley 120
open-air meetings 160, 161, 162 Hanson, Claudia 190 K
prison work 162, 163, 164, 165 Harbor ministry 129–131, 148, 151, 152, 153, Kaady, Ray 95
road trips 158–159 154, 155 Kelly, Mary G. 115
through literature 174 Hassalo printing plant 177 Kenton camp meeting 44–45, 49, 53
Headquarters church. See Portland church, King, Christopher 138
current; See also Portland church, vari- Korea work 22, 130, 131, 132, 133, 148, 155,
ous locations
F Headquarters office, current
189, 191

False teachings, stand against 48–49 construction of 178–179

Finland work 125 distribution department 181–183, 194
First and Madison, mission at 36, 39 praying over mail at 200 L
Foot washing, doctrine of 19 printing department 180–182 Leadership, of organization 21–25
observance of 48, 134 Headquarters office, various locations Organizational Structure Chart 24
Friesen, Al 133 Front and Burnside 176–177 Lee, Darrel 7–8, 23, 69, 117, 144, 147
Friesen, John 65, 85 Hassalo printing plant 177 Lee, Debbie 69
Friesen, Ted 99 Sixth and Burnside 177–178, 180–181 Lepisto, Lari and Karina 125
Front and Burnside, mission at 14, 39, 40, 41, Healing, Divine, doctrine of 18 Lesher, Newt 72, 102
70, 71, 72, 73, 176–177 Heaven, Eternal, doctrine of 19 Lighthouse by the Bridge. See Front and Burn-
description of service at 72–73 Hein, Frank 140–141, 181 side, mission at
Frost, Clarence 104–105, 159 Hell, Eternal, doctrine of 19 Light of Hope publication 182, 184, 192
Frost, Mel and Lorena 136 Hiatt, Art 93 Literature ministry 37, 118, 122–123, 127–
Frymire, Roy 186 Higher Way magazine 12, 129, 137, 146, 182, 128, 129, 130, 133, 136, 148, 165, 185
Frymire, Walter 180 183, 184, 186, 197 begins in Portland 175–177
Hodson, Virgil 165 foreign publications 128–129, 148, 188–
House, Florence Crawford converted in 26 190, 192, 201
House, on Bonnie Brae Street 27
G Hughes, George 88, 93, 140, 142–144, 147
impact in Africa 140–143
into the prisons 185–187
Ghana work 141–142, 146–147, 191 Hymn composers 97–99 response in India 185, 191, 193–194, 201
Glassco, Pastor 35 Lockett, Pearl Sr, 109
Gospel bus 105, 142, 162–163, 170 Logo 14–16
Gospel cars 106, 107, 160, 161, 162
Gospel teams 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165,
I Lord’s Supper, doctrine of 19
Lower Light 120, 156–157
166. India 185, 191, 193–194, 201 Luka, Elmer 80–81, 84, 179
See also Literature ministry Lum, Clara 21, 33, 53, 176
Government, of organization 24–25
Great White Throne Judgment, doctrine of 19
Green, Bob 80–81, 154–155, 181
J
Green, Reuel 157, 181, 196 Jamaica work 137 M
Janzen, Edna 193 Magel, Dan 196
Japan work 129–130 Mailing department 177, 189
Jesus the Light of the World sign 14, 15, 16,
H 55, 70, 74, 75, 76, 78, 100, 120–121,
Mailing list 37
Marincus, Ben 128
Habre, Josh 167 123–124, 128, 136, 139 Marriage, doctrine of 19
Haiti work 139 Jude 3 11–12 Matthews, Dixie 99
Hancock, Gideon and Grace 120–121 Juvenile detention homes, ministry in 165 Maxwell, Jim 67

206 Index
Maynard, David 182 Ordinance service 46, 48, 50. See also Lord’s Prayer 13, 46, 50–51, 62–63, 90, 132, 134,
McClary, William 116 Supper, doctrine of; See also Foot 200, 202
McKibben, Bill 130, 134, 135, 173 washing, doctrine of Primary Pals curriculum 188, 201
Midwest camp meeting 108 Organ 68, 91, 94–95, 98 Prison work 44, 162, 163, 164, 165, 185–187
Millennial Reign, doctrine of 19 Organization Publications 16, 182–185
Ministers 24, 25, 89, 112, 121, 126, 133, 138 chart 24
Mission statement 12–13 registered with State of Oregon 37
Moore, Robert 117 structure 24–25
Moore, Walter 111 Oshokoya, Timothy 140, 142, 144, 145 R
Morgan, Harry 25 Ostendorf, Agnes 95 Reid, Walt 93
Morning Star 153 Ouchi, Hidehiro 130 Repentance, doctrine of 18
Morning Star II 152, 154 Oyler, Roberta 68 Restitution, doctrine of 19
Morse, Don 155 Richardson, John 117
Motto 11–12 Robanske, Walt 151
Musgrave, John 128
Music 66–67. See also Choir; See also Or- P Robbins, Jack 25, 41
Rodman, Charles 25, 61, 197
chestra Palmer, Calvin 138 Romania work 15, 127, 128, 129
Concerts 67, 85, 95–96, 145 Parham, Charles 26–27 Ruiz, Zenaida 134, 135, 136
description of ministry 93–99 Park, Young Keun 133, 134 Ryan, M. L. 34
history of music organization 94–95 Parker, Aaron 169
hymn composers 97–99 Parsad, Lawrence 138
pipe organ 68, 91, 94–95, 98 Pastors 24–25, 89
vocal and instrumental groups 66, 69, 93, Patkotak, Paul 92–93 S
97, 139 Paulsen, Valeska 166, 190 Saints’ meeting 43
youth involvement 96, 97, 98, 99, 108, 172 Paulson, William 25, 55, 76–77 Salvation (justification), doctrine of 17–18, 20
Penn, Clyde 138 Sams, Hugo 138
Perry, Alice 61, 176 Sanctification, doctrine of 17–18, 20
N Persecution 40–42, 51–52
Philippine work 134, 135, 136, 173
Scandinavia work 122, 123, 124, 125, 126
Schmick, Edna 170
Nees, Sylvia 95 Phillips, Earl 198 Scholz, Ray 185
Nelson, Harry 189 Portland, Oregon, City of 34–35 Scott, Theophilus 137
Newspapers, secular Portland church, current Seaman work. See Harbor ministry
account of conversion 42 building description 85–87 Search curriculum 188
deriding Azusa happenings 30, 32–33 construction of 80, 81, 82, 83 Second and Main, mission at 21, 35, 38
meetings resume 77 cornerstone 12 saints meeting at 43
mocking Portland meetings 36, 41 dedication service 83, 84, 85 Second Coming of Jesus, doctrine of 18
reporter converted 36 exterior view 83, 86 Seely, Jim 167
New Heaven and New Earth, doctrine of 19 interior view 84, 85, 87 Sengwayo, Morgan 144–145
Nigeria 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 191 plans for 80 Serenaders 66
Norway work 122, 123, 124 steeple 86–87 Services
Portland church, various locations goal of 88
First and Madison, mission at 36, 39, 70 order of 90–91
Front and Burnside. See Front and Burnside,
O mission at
personal account of Paul Patkotak 92–93
Seymour, Jenny 32
Olson, Rick 182–183 Second and Main 21, 35, 38, 70 Seymour, William 21, 27, 32–33, 108
Open-air meetings. See Street meetings Sixth and Burnside. See Sixth and Burnside Sign. See Jesus the Light of the World sign
Orchestra 66, 67, 68, 92, 94–95, 96, 141, 145 headquarters Sign, at Azusa site 29
Index 207
 Sign, corner of campground 14 Traveling sign 76, 78
Sixth and Burnside headquarters 14–15 Tribulation, doctrine of 18 Y
construction of 72, 73, 74, 75 Trinity, Divine, doctrine of 18 Youth camp 120, 129, 167, 168, 169
exterior of 15, 74, 78 Truax, Larry 182 Youth ministry 63, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171,
interior of 17, 75, 79, 196 172, 173
last service at 79–81 Youth outreach 165–166
mailing department 189
moving the wall 76–77 U Youth services 63, 98–99, 108, 167–168

printing plant 177–178, 180 Union Station, Portland 35

sign 15, 78. See also Jesus the Light of the United Kingdom camp meeting 126–127
World sign United Kingdom work 126–127 Z
Sky Pilot 149–150 Zetter, Mark 178–179
Smith, Albert 138
Songbook 51
Sorensen, Henry and Bitte 125 V
South Africa work 141, 145, 147 Vacation Bible School 169, 171–173
Soyinka, Josiah 143, 145 Van der Puije, Peter 140–142
St. Lucia 137–138 Vigilance 153
St. Maarten 139 Visitation ministry 165–166
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 138–139
St. Vincent 137
Steeple, Portland church 86–87
Street meetings 42, 106–107, 118, 160, 161, W
162
Wales. See Welsh revival
Sunday school 87, 128, 139, 140, 169, 170,
Walker, Dolly 120
171, 172
Wallace, Audrey 64
curriculum 128, 187–188, 201
Wallace, Lena 95, 99
example of conversion through 171
Water baptism, doctrine of 19
programs 97, 170
Water baptismal services 46–47, 52–54, 65,
Sunday school committee 187
102, 131, 137, 146
Superintendent General 24–25
Website 198–199
Welsh revival 8, 10–11, 26
West Chapel 59–60, 172
T West Indies work 136, 137, 138, 139
White, Hugh C. 108, 114–115
Tabernacle, Portland 15–16, 54–56 Wilson, Ivon 138, 157, 197
exterior view 54, 55, 57, 69, 92 Wings of the Morning 150–151
interior view 56, 66, 88, 90, 202 Wolfe, Don 97
Taylor, Dick 65, 137–138 Wolfe, Gary 182
Tents 38, 39, 59, 60, 61, 64 Workers 40, 43, 46, 51, 101, 104, 105, 106,
Testimonies 17, 21, 64, 91 107, 141, 158, 160–161, 164, 166, 177,
Thomas, W. T. 112 195, 200
Tithing, doctrine of 37, 89–90 Worthington, Shawn 98
Tonning, LeRoy 124
Tonning, Olaf 123
Tracts 184, 185, 191, 193. See Literature
ministry

208 Index
To learn more about our organization or
to purchase additional copies of this book,
please contact us at:

Apostolic Faith Church

International Headquarters
6615 S.E. 52nd Avenue
Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.
97206-7660

Phone: (503) 777-1741

Fax: (503) 777-1743
Email: [email protected]

We invite you to visit our website at

www.apostolicfaith.org. You will find a
variety of inspirational reading material
including:
• News and events from around the world
• A daily devotional and Bible study
• Sunday school curriculum
• Current issue of Higher Way magazine
• Insightful sermons from God’s Word
• Special youth and children’s pages
 The Apostolic Faith ~ History, Doctrine, and Purpose
A
century has come and gone since Florence
Crawford stepped off the train in Portland, Oregon,
bearing the message that Pentecost had come. The
images and accounts on the pages of this book are

The Apostolic Faith

the threads that, woven together, form the history of the
Apostolic Faith work which originated that day in 1906.
The band of zealous believers who gathered with Florence
Crawford in the mission hall at Front and Burnside, and the
faithful saints of God who followed them, were instrumental in
History, Doctrine, and Purpose shaping a God-given message into a worldwide ministry. These
Gospel pioneers proclaimed without fear or compromise God’s
power to save the repentant heart, sanctify the converted soul,
and pour out the Holy Spirit on sanctified believers.
The Apostolic Faith Church is pleased to present this
keepsake book chronicling its 100-year history. In words and
To learn more about our organization or images, it portrays the organization’s journey from a
to purchase additional copies of this book, ramshackle wooden building on Azusa Street in Los Angeles to
please contact us at: an international ministry that spans six continents.
As you retrace the events that shaped the Apostolic Faith
work and review its method of operation today, we pray that
Apostolic Faith Church reading about God’s guidance of this organization will create
International Headquarters a hunger in your heart. May you be inspired, challenged to
6615 S.E. 52nd Avenue a deeper walk of holiness, and motivated to seek God for a
greater anointing of the Pentecostal fire that blazed on Azusa
Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. Street in 1906.
97206-7660

Phone: (503) 777-1741

Fax: (503) 777-1743
Email: [email protected]

We invite you to visit our website at

www.apostolicfaith.org. You will find a
variety of inspirational reading material
including:
• News and events from around the world
• A daily devotional and Bible study
• Sunday school curriculum ISBN 1-59725-040-6

• Current issue of Higher Way magazine

• Insightful sermons from God’s Word
• Special youth and children’s pages

9 781597 250405

$29.00