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. 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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In November, the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center honored Dr. Estrelda Y. Alexander with the Spirit of Azusa Award. The Research Center presented the award during its Sixteenth Annual Azusa Lecture held at North Cleveland Church of God’s Dixon Chapel. Both the presentation of the Spirit of Azusa Award and the Azusa Lecture highlighted the significance of ethnic minorities in the Pentecostal Movement. The Research Center presents the Spirit of Azusa Award in recognition of a person whose lifetime of ministry reflects the Pentecostal Movement’s spirit of renewal. Together, the Azusa Lecture and Spirit of Azusa Award celebrate the rich heritage of the global Pentecostal movement. In honoring Alexander, Dixon Pentecostal Research Center Director David G. Roebuck began his comments, “First, and foremost, Dr. Alexander is a preacher of the Gospel. The Church of God has recognized the call of God on her life and has ordained her as a minister. She has served as pastor of congregations in Virginia and Maryland. She is a God-called preacher who has persevered in a world that too often closes rather than opens doors for women and for people of color. Yet, when doors were closed, God opened other doors.” Roebuck described Alexander as a champion for minority voices; a leader among scholars, having served as president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies and having received the society’s Lifetime Achievement Award; and, an entrepreneur serving small businesses and non-profit organizations. Roebuck also highlighted Alexander’s attention to preserving historical and cultural documents, records, and artifacts of the Pentecostal Movement through the Seymour Pan-African Pentecostal Archives as well as her developing opportunities for Pentecostal scholars to publish through her establishment of Seymour Press and the forthcoming Journal of Pan-African Pentecostalism. Dr. David E. Ramírez, third assistant general overseer of the Church of God and liaison to Church of God educational ministries, also applauded Dr. Alexander’s life and ministry during the Spirit of Azusa Award presentation. “I commend you for your extraordinary effort and personal sacrifices to earn a superlative education,” Dr Ramirez stated, referring to her degrees from Howard University, Columbia University (New York), Wesley Theological Seminary, and The Catholic University of America. Ramírez pointed to Alexander’s numerous publications including Women of Azusa Street, Dictionary of Pan-African Pentecostalism, The Letter to the Seven Churches, Black Fire: 100 Years of African American Pentecostalism, which won the Society for Pentecostal Studies Book of the Year Award, and Black Fire Reader: African American Pentecostal History in their Own Voice. Ramírez emphasized Alexander’s service to the academy as a Professor of Theology at Regent University and adjunct professor at numerous universities and seminaries such as Virginia Union University, Seattle Pacific University, Wesley Theological Seminary, Trinity College, and Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee. He also underscored her commitment to provide educational opportunities to underserved communities as president of the William Joseph Seymour Foundation. Finally, he thanked Alexander for her service as a member of the Church of God General Board of Education. Prior to the Spirit of Azusa Award presentation, Dr. Dale M. Coulter presented “The Azusa Street Revival and William Seymour’s Pentecostal Vision” as the Sixteenth Annual Azusa Lecture. Coulter’s lecture focused on the theological development and vision of William Joseph Seymour, pastor of the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles where many see a revival lasting from 1906 to 1909 as the beginning of the contemporary Pentecostal Movement. Coulter traced the historical and theological journey of Seymour from his native Louisiana to Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Houston, and Los Angeles. Along the way, the holiness preacher transformed into a Pentecostal pioneer with an emphasis on love transcending racial divisions and barriers. Crucial to the history of the Church of God, is the account of G. B. Cashwell, who traveled to Los Angeles and later preached the Pentecostal Message at North Cleveland Church of God. During Cashwell’s ministry at North Cleveland, A. J. Tomlinson, pastor and soon-to-be Church of God general overseer, received his Baptism with the Holy Spirit. In introducing Coulter, Assistant General Overseer Dr. J. David Stephens noted his years as an educator at Lee University, Regent University, and Pentecostal Theological Seminary, where he now serves as Professor of Historical Theology. At both Lee University and Regent University, Coulter received the Excellence in Scholarship Award. A prolific author, Coulter published Holiness: The Beauty of Perfection, and he co-edited The Spirit, the Affections, and the Christian Tradition and Trinity and Creation. In addition to serving as president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Coulter was co-editor of Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies. With numerous articles in popular and academic journals, he contributes regularly to the online publications First Things and Firebrand Magazine. Coulter is an ordained bishop in the Church of God. The Azusa Lecture program included worship led by Lee University’s Evangelistic Singers and a benediction by Church of God Intercultural Advancement Ministries Director Bishop Doyle P. Scott. Roebuck also acknowledged the generosity of contributors who made the lecture and award presentation possible, particularly the Lead Sponsor, Pastor Niko Njotorahardjo and the Gereja Bethel Indonesia “Jalan Gatot Subroto” congregation in Jakarta. Founded in 1988, today this ministry includes 300,000 members, 8,200 Community of Love groups, and 1,200 branch congregations in 19 nations. The Dixon Pentecostal Research Center launched the annual lecture and award in 2006 on the centennial of the renowned Azusa Street revival in Lost Angeles. What started as a home prayer meeting attracted throngs of seekers as hundreds traveled to the Azusa Street Mission, received a personal baptism with 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 as a research library by Charles W. Conn on the campus of Lee University, the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center is one of the world’s premier collections of Pentecostal resources as well as the archives of the Church of God. Numerous students and scholars use the center’s holdings related to the Pentecostal-Charismatic Movement. Roebuck serves as director, and the Reverend David “Gene” Mills, Jr. is archivist. |
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