The Pentecostal ChurchThe Pentecostal Religion was founded in 1901 by Charles Fox Pariah and William J Seymour. It has roots in Methodism and started in Topeka, Kansas. There have not been many changes in the church since began. Everyone is still welcome with no prejudice such as race. The Holy sprit is still very important to the members church services are still up beat and happy. The music is uplifting and free. In Newfoundland however there are a few changes. The majority of the members are older because of the out migration of the members of this church, as well as other churches. Also there seems to be a lack of concerns for the things of God among young people.
There has not been any real changes in the beliefs
of the Pentecostal since it was first formed. The basic doctrines
remain the same. The religions that are similar to the Pentecostal
religion are Methodist , Missionary, Christian Alliance and the Church
of the Nazarene
The lay people of this church play a great role
in the church. The lay people make up the governing body that runs
the affairs of the church. They are voted in by congregation for
a two year term. They also fill in for the pastor when he is away
and handle the song services. The lay people have also lead
the congregation in prayer. These people also visit the sick at home
and in hospital. The lay people have always played an important role in
the church and have always been very active but the lay people are becoming
more active in the community in the recent years.
There are 130 dioceses of the Pentecostal church
in NF and Labrador. There are three classifications for clergy. They
are ordained, Favorably considered and Probationer. Ordained is when a
minister has completed all the required courses. Favorably considered is
the classification given when one enters Full-time ministry without the
required courses. Probationer is the people who have all the courses
completed, but do not have their two year term in full time ministry completed.
In the summer of 1961 Pastor RW. Langdon moved
from Victoria to Carbonear. People who were going to the Pentecostal
church in Victoria that were from Carbonear started to attend services
in the Pastors house. The house was purchase by the Pentecostal Assemblies
of NF for the new Pastors to live in. Right away plans were made
to construct a church on the land of the Pastors home. The new church
was finished in less than a year. A new home was built for the pastor
in 1966. Brother Harry Hiscock was the carpenter who construct the
church and Parsonage. The church is called the Calvary Pentecostal
Church
Pastors of the Calvary Pentecostal Church
1961-1962 R.W. Langdon
1963-1964 E.P. Milley
1965-1967 R.E. Osmand
1967-1969 B.Q. Grimes
1969-1970 J.M. Mullrooney
1970-1974 R.E. and Mrs. Burden
1974-1975 E.G. Snow
1975-1978 R.E. Tetford
1978-1979 D.Thorn
1979-1986 E. Grey and Althea Hillier
1986-1988 E.H.K and Mrs. Jenkins
1988-1993 V.G. Bessy
1993-1997 Victor and Colleen Rowsell
1997-1998 Mike and
Pauleen Winsor
1998-2000 David J. Crane
2000-present Dale C. Mercer
The church was renovated and extended under Pastor
Burden. More construction was done under Pastor Tetford. A
brick basement was put in youth auditorium, Sunday school classrooms, and
new washrooms were done. The altar was reconstructed and a baptistery
was installed. There was a mortgage burning ceremony for the first
church held on Nov. 2nd 1980.
By 1990 the church needed Major repairs, but it
was decided it would be cheaper to build a new church than to repair the
old one. A brand new beautiful church was opened and dedicated on
January 21st, 1991. This church is on LeMarchant street, Carbonear.
The Pentecostal Church offers many types of counseling
such as Marriage, spiritual, and addiction counseling the members of the
church visit people senior citizens homes and schools. Grocery and
cloths hampers are collected by the congregation for poor families.
At Christmas time families do up a shoe box of gifts to send over-seas.
This is called “Operation Christmas Child.”
Some beliefs of Pentecostal are:
That the bible is the inspired word of God.
That there is one God, in three persons: God the
father God the Son and God the Holy spirit.
In the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in this virgin
birth, in his sinless life, in his Miracles, in his death, in his resurrection
and his personnel future return to this earth in power and glory to rule.
In the Blessed Hope- the rapture of the church
at Christ's coming.
That the only means of being cleansed from sin
is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ.
That regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely
essential for personal salvation.
In water Baptism by immersion according to Matthew 22:19.
In the observance of the Lord supper in remembrance of
the death of our Lord.
That the redemptive work of Christ on the cross
provides healing of the human body.
In the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to
Acts 2:4
In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit enables
Christians to live a holy life.
In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the
one to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting damnation.