The Azusa Street Revival and Its Spiritual Atmosphere
Julia W. Hutchins was the pastor of a Holiness church in Los Angeles, California, which was affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, founded by Phineas Bresee. This church was formed in the spring of 1905 after Julia and eight African-American families were asked to leave Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles, an AfricanAmerican church, for “professing holiness doctrine.” Julia was the ostracized group’s leader. After their expulsion, the group held effective public services at 214 Bonnie Brae Street, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Asberry. Then they leased a mission hall at 9th and Santa Fe.
The Invitation to Seymour
In the meantime, after a short time attending Parham’s Bible Training School, Brother Seymour received a letter from Mrs. Neely Terry, who was living in Los Angeles, California, asking him to consider becoming pastor of a Nazarene group led by Mrs. Julia W. Hutchins. She explained that this was a small black group of about 20 believers who gathered together in worship. Brother Seymour agreed and arrived in Los Angeles on February 22, 1906. Upon arriving, Seymour found the families meeting at 9th and Santa Fe Streets, a facility rented by Hutchins because of the increasing number of participants.
A New Teaching
Brother Seymour was well received and often preached on the topics of holiness and divine healing. In March 1906, shortly after arriving, Seymour began to preach about the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. At the time, he had not yet experienced this baptism himself, but, nevertheless, he preached fervently on the subject, expecting the gift to be released in his newfound church. However, this new teaching totally shocked the congregation, and Seymour found himself in the middle of an uproar.
Locked Out
One Sunday evening, Brother Seymour discovered the door to the church tightly closed and locked with a large silver padlock. A fearful Julia Hutchins had locked out the new pastor, and Seymour was marooned on the street with no place to go. By the grace of God, however, the Lee family, former attendants of the Santa Fe meetings, reached out and gave him a place to stay in their home. Although the relationship between Sister Hutchins and Brother Seymour did not get off to a very good start, something happened as the Azusa Revival gained momentum.
Tale Tuesday 033
Date: 28th March 2023
Title: The women of Azusa-Introduction
Source: The Azusa Street Revival
Author: Roberts Liardon
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