 Dr. Julie Martinez Dr. Julie Therese Martinez will present the Seventeenth Annual Azusa Lecture on Thursday, November 10, at 7:00 p.m., in the Lee University Chapel. Martinez will present “From Jerusalem to Pyongyang: Local Experiences of the Global Pentecostal Movement.” Following Martinez’s presentation, the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center will honor Dr. Peter Thomas with the Spirit of Azusa Award and a reception for his exemplary leadership in intercultural Pentecostal ministry. Those unable to attend in person may view the lecture and award presentation livestream at leeu.live or facebook.com/dixonprc. Having served on four continents, Martinez brings unique experience and perspective on Kingdom ministry around the world. She is Director of the Intercultural Studies Program and Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at Lee University. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Serving Orphans Worldwide. Martinez began her missionary ministry in 1994 and served for twelve years as a Church of God missionary in Honduras, Chile, and Zambia. Along with other responsibilities, in Honduras she designed a training program for local pastors, in Chile she taught at the Church of God Bible Institute in Santiago and developed a discipleship program for women, and in Zambia she established a school to educate street kids and managed an orphanage. Martinez relocated to Cambodia in 2007 where she worked with People for Care and Learning for eleven years. Her initial responsibility in Cambodia was the development of Common Grounds Café, which provided jobs, job training, and an opportunity to plant a church. Later, she developed Common Grounds Learning Center to provide English language studies. Her vision also led to the development of an international primary school for the children of cross-cultural workers. As country director, she gave oversight to a team passionate about breaking the cycle of poverty. Following her ministry in Cambodia, Martinez served as Transitional Program Director for Serving Orphans Worldwide, where she developed opportunities for orphans who were aging out of traditional orphanages. Martinez earned her Bachelor of Science in History and Bible from Lee University, her Master of Education from Liberty University, and her Doctor of Philosophy in Intercultural Studies from Biola University. She also studied at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.  Dr. Peter Thomas Along with the Azusa Lecture, the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center will present the Spirit of Azusa Award to Dr. Peter A. Thomas and host a reception in his honor. A distinguished global leader, Thomas is Field Director for Church of God World Missions in Africa and Director of World Wide Help Africa. A German citizen, who has served in Africa since 1979 as pastor, teacher, national overseer, regional educational coordinator, regional superintendent, and now field director, Dr. Thomas exemplifies the intercultural nature of the Church of God’s global ministry.
Thomas earned his Bachelor of Arts (equivalent) from European Bible Seminary in Rudersberg, Germany, and his Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry from Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Having taught in Ghana and served as Regional Christian Education Coordinator in Africa, the Church of God Division of Education presented him with their Distinguished Educators Award in 2004. The purpose of the Azusa Lecture is to celebrate the rich heritage of the global Pentecostal Movement. The Dixon Pentecostal Research Center launched the annual lecture in 2006 on the occasion of the centennial of the revival at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles. Church of God Historian Charles W. Conn noted that the Los Angeles revival, which lasted from 1906 to 1909, “is universally regarded as the beginning of the modern Pentecostal Movement.” The Los Angeles revival began when African-American Pastor William Joseph Seymour preached a message of Spirit baptism following salvation and sanctification. What started as a home prayer meeting attracted crowds of seekers and was moved to an abandoned church building at 312 Azusa Street. Hundreds traveled to the Azusa Street Mission, received a personal baptism of the Holy Spirit, and took that message to their homes, churches, and communities. The Pentecostal Movement quickly became a great missionary movement, and the twentieth century came to be called the “Century of the Holy Spirit.” Founded by Charles W. Conn on the campus of Lee University, the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center is one of the world’s significant collections of Pentecostal and Charismatic resources as well as the archives of the Church of God. In addition to students at Lee University and the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, numerous scholars utilize the center’s holdings. The center interprets the Pentecostal Movement through teaching, publications, and historical exhibits and is a resource for Church of God ministries throughout the world. Dr. David G. Roebuck serves as director, and the Reverend David “Gene” Mills, Jr. is archivist. For more information about the Azusa Lecture contact the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center at 423-614-8576 or dixon_research@leeuniversity.edu.
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