ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202
COLLECTION: OGL #1315
DATES: 1914-2000
SIZE: 3.75 linear feet
ACQUISITION: The North Dakota Pentecostal Church Collection was deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Darrin J. Rodgers in Summer 1995 (Acc. #95-2037), on March 9, 1999 (Acc. #99-2276), and September 14, 1999 (Acc. #99-2385).
ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.
Pentecostalism, a Christian pietistic movement, had its origins in a worldwide revival at the turn of the twentieth century. The charismatic movement refers primarily to Pentecostals within mainline denominations and independent churches, a "second wave" of revival beginning in the late 1950s. Pentecostals are defined by the way they practice their faith moreso than by a distinctive theology. "Pentecostal," then, is more of an adjective than a noun. All major Christian traditions have significant elements that are Pentecostal. Indeed, Pentecostals constitute the second largest grouping within Christianity, at 500 million adherents in 2000. Pentecostals tend to accept the contemporary practice of Biblical spiritual gifts (i.e., I Cor. 12, especially speaking in tongues and healing), emphasize a personal relationship with God, and encourage corporate and individual religious experience. They are often noted for fervent spirituality and contemporary church music.
Pentecostal historiography generally identifies two early twentieth-century revivals as defining the movement: Topeka, KS (1901), and Azusa Street, Los Angeles, CA (1906-09). However, recent scholarship has emphasized Pentecostalism's diverse roots, pointing to additional glossolalic (tongues-speaking) revivals in India (1890s), Cleveland, TN (1896), and the Red River Valley of the North (1890s-1900s). The Red River Valley revival occurred primarily among Scandinavians in areas including Grafton, ND, Fosston, MN, Audubon, MN, Moorhead, MN, Greenfield, SD, etc. Leaders in the early Red River revival became leaders in the later Pentecostal movement emanating from Azusa Street, which was likely introduced to North Dakota in 1908 when Andrew H. Argue held services in Bathgate and Glasston, ND.
Most early believers were "Free Pentecostals," existing in networks of independent ministers and churches. Pentecostal denominations were soon formed, however, to provide accountability and mission agencies. The two primary Pentecostal denominations in North Dakota are the General Council of the Assemblies of God (AG), formed in 1914 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) (CG), formed in 1886 in Monroe County, TN. The AG formed the North Central District in 1922 to serve its growing number of affiliated churches in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. Separate state districts were formed in 1936. The German Branch of the Assemblies of God was formed in 1922 for German- language churches in the U.S. About fifteen churches in North Dakota have been affiliated with the German Branch, later renamed the German District. The CG organized its first church in North Dakota in 1919, at Golden Valley. Among the most prolific early church planters in North Dakota were the Blanche Brittain (1890-1952) for the AG and Paul H. Walker (1901-1975) for the CG. In 1990, North Dakota was home to 10,000 AG adherents in 66 churches, and 1,000 CG adherents in 11 churches. Other Pentecostal groups in the state include: Church of God of Prophecy; United Pentecostal Church; International Church of the Foursquare Gospel; Church of God in Christ; Association of Faith Ministries and Churches.
Sources:
Blumhofer, Edith. The Assemblies of God: A Chapter in the Story of American Pentecostalism. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1989.
Conn, Charles W. Like a Mighty Army: A History of the Church of God: Definitive Edition. Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, 1996.
Daffe, Jerald. The Church of God in the Dakotas during the Depression of the 1930's. M.A. thesis, Wheaton College, 1973.
________. North and South Dakota, Church of God, Chronology, 1919-1986. S.l., s.n., 1986?
Dokter, Guy and Hazel Dokter. Let Us Go Forward: History of Northwest Bible College. Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, c. 1970-1977.
Forward After "50": North Dakota District Council, Assemblies of God. Bismarck, ND: North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies of God, 1986.
Hollenweger, Walter J. Pentecostalism: Origins and Developments Worldwide. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997.
Walker, Paul H. Paths of a Pioneer. Cleveland, TN: The Author, 1970.
The North Dakota Pentecostal Church Collection consists of three series: I. Assemblies of God materials. II. Church of God (Cleveland, TN) materials. III. Miscellaneous materials. Assemblies of God materials are filed chronologically by district and include: Constitution and By-laws of the North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies of God (1997 revised edition); periodicals published by the North Central District (Gospel Herald, 1927, 1929; Full Gospel Broadcast, 1929; Gospel Broadcast, 1929-1933); minutes from the Assembly of the State Convention for North Dakota (1933-1936); minutes of the North Dakota District Council and District Presbyter meetings (1936-1944); True Conversions: Living Testimonies, by students of the North Central Bible Institute, Minneapolis, Minn. [1932]; collection of papers on women ministers in North Dakota, including applications for ordination and missionary appointment, biographies, and flyers; periodicals published by the North Dakota District Council (The Prairie Fire, 1938; North Dakota District Echoes, 1938-1947; North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador, 1947-1953; North Dakota District Echoes, 1953-2000); periodicals published by the German Branch (Licht und Leben, 1942-1971; C.A. Witness, 1944-1945); articles from Assemblies of God Heritage concerning North Dakota.
Church of God (Cleveland, TN) materials are filed chronologically and include: periodicals published by the Church of God regional office for North Dakota and South Dakota (Church of God Informer, 1938; Church of God Promoter of the Dakotas, 1946, 1948; Dakota News, 1956- 1969); Baptism with the Holy Ghost and the Evidence by Paul Haven Walker; biographical materials on Paul Haven Walker. Miscellaneous materials include: testimonies of early Pentecostalism in North Dakota; "Pentecostal Conversion in a North Dakota Church of the Brethren Community" by Darrin J. Rodgers; "North Dakota Pentecostal Churches: Chronologies with Ministerial Lists and Bibliographic References" by Darrin J. Rodgers.
Most materials are photocopies. Most North Central District (AG) original materials are housed at the Minnesota District Council, 1315 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55404, (612) 332- 2409. Most North Dakota District (AG) original materials are housed at the North Dakota District Council, 1724 N. Grandview Ln., Bismarck, ND 58501, (701) 255-2526. Originals of Licht und Leben are archived at the Institute for Regional Studies, NDSU, Fargo, ND, (701) 231- 8914. Most Church of God (Cleveland, TN) original materials are housed at the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center, 260 11th St. NE, Cleveland, TN 37311, (423) 614-8576. Additional materials are located at the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, 1445 Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802, (417) 862-2781.
Folder 1. Constitution and By-laws of the North Dakota District Council of the
Assemblies of God (1997 revised edition)
2. Gospel Herald (Minneapolis, Minn.) Jan. 1927, May-Aug. 1929
3. Full Gospel Broadcast (Sherburn, Minn.) Nov. 1929
4. Gospel Broadcast (Sherburn, Minn.) Nov. 1929 - Dec. 1930
5. Gospel Broadcast (Sherburn, Minn.) Jan. 1931 - Sept. 1932 Gospel
Broadcast (Minneapolis, Minn.) Oct. 1932 - Jul. 1933
6. Minutes from the Assembly of the State Convention for North Dakota
(1933-1936) and from the North Dakota District Council and District Presbyter
meetings (1936-1944)
7. True Conversions: Living Testimonies by students of the North Central
Bible Institute, Minneapolis, Minn. [1932]. Includes table of contents by
Joyce Lee
8. Papers on women Pentecostal ministers in North Dakota. Includes
applications for ordination and missionary appointment, biographies, and flyers
Florence Elvina Hildegard Anderson
Blanche Elizabeth Brittain
Adele Francis Carmichael
Mary Elizabeth Chase
Susan A. Covel
Sarah Caroline Doty
Florence S. A. Engstrand
Christine Gottwald
Christine Doris Johnson
Hulda R. Kuppe
Irene Esther H. Larson
Rose Monogian
Helen H. Olsen
Olga V. Olsson
Ettie Elizabeth Reckley
Ida W. Sande
Mrs. Wycliffe M. Smith
Mary C. Sorg
Mabel E. Stake
Lillian Steffens
9. The Prairie Fire: The North Dakota District of the Assemblies of God,
1938 (Official organ of the North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies of
God)
10. North Dakota District Echoes (Williston, N.D.), 1938-1939 (Continuation
of Prairie Fire)
11. North Dakota District Echoes (Williston, N.D.), Jan. 1940 - Sept. 1941
North Dakota District Echoes (Hettinger, N.D.), Nov. 1941 - Dec. 1941
12. North Dakota District Echoes (Hettinger, N.D.), 1942
13. North Dakota District Echoes (Hettinger, N.D.), 1943-1944
14. North Dakota District Echoes (Hettinger, N.D.), Jan. 1945 ? June 1946
North Dakota District Echoes (Powers Lake, N.D.), Sept. 1946
North Dakota District Echoes (Grenora, N.D.), Oct. 1946
15. North Dakota District Echoes (Grenora, N.D.), Jan. 1947-Aug. 1947
North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador (Grenora, N.D.), Sept. 1947-
Dec. 1947
North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador (Devils Lake, N.D.), Sept. 1948-
Oct. 1948
16. North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1949-1950
17. North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1951-1952
18. North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador (Devils Lake, N.D.),
Jan. 1953 - June 1953
North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), July 1953 - Dec. 1954
19. North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1955 - 1956
20. North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1957 - 1958
21. North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1959 - 1960
22. North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1961 - 1962
23. North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1963 - 1964
24. North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1965
North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1965 - 1966
25. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1967 - 1968
26. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1969 - 1970
27. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1971 - 1972
Folder 1. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1973 - 1974
2. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1975 - 1976
3. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1977 - 1978
4. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1979 - 1980
5. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1981 - 1982
6. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1983 - 1984
7. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Jan. 1985 - Nov. 1986
8. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Dec. 1986 - Nov. 1989
(v. 50 - 52)
9. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Dec. 1989 - Nov. 1992
(v. 53 - 55)
10. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Dec. 1992 - Nov. 1995
(v. 56 - 58)
11. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Dec. 1995 - Nov. 1998
(v. 59 - 61)
12. North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Dec. 1998 (v. 62-63)
13. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1942 (Official organ of the German
Branch of the Assemblies of God, including information on German-language
congregations in North Dakota. Published in German.)
14. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1943
15. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1944
16. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1945
17. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1946
18. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1947
19. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1948
20. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1949
21. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1950
22. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1951
23. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1952
Folder 1. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1953
2. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1954
3. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1955
4. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1956
5. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1957
6. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1958
7. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1959
8. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1960
9. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1961
10. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1962
11. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1963
12. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1964
13. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1965
14. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1966
15. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1967
16. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1968
17. Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), Jan. 1969 - Sept. 1969 Licht und Leben
(East Detroit, Mich.), Oct. 1969 - Dec. 1969
18. Licht und Leben (East Detroit, Mich.), 1970
19. Licht und Leben (East Detroit, Mich.), 1971
20. The C.A. Witness (Scottsbluff, Neb.), 1944 - 1945
(Official organ of the Christ?s Ambassadors [youth organization] of the
German Branch of the Assemblies of God, including information on German-language
congregations in North Dakota. Published in English.)
21. Articles concerning North Dakota from Assemblies of God Heritage, the
quarterly historical journal of the Assemblies of God Archives (Springfield, Mo.).
G. Raymond Carlson, “When Pentecost Came to the Upper Midwest” (Spring 1984).
Fred G. Frank, “A Revival that Closed the Country Schools” (Spring 1988).
Concerns the 1921 revival in Regan and Wilton, North Dakota.
Glenn Gohr, “A Harvest in Minnesota: The Story of A/G Pioneer Frank J.
Lindquist” (Spring 1990). Lindquist pastored the Minot (N.D.) Assembly of God
in 1923, founded North Central Bible Institute in 1930, and served as District
Superintendent of the North Central District from 1923 - 1945.
Fannie Mae Hall, “G. Raymond Carlson: The Early Years in the Upper Midwest”
(Summer 1993). Carlson (1918 - 1999) , a native of Crosby, N.D., served as
General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God (1986 - 1993).
Darrin J. Rodgers, “German is Food for the Soul: George Rueb,
German-American Pentecostal Pioneer” (Fall-Winter 1999-2000). Rueb was a leader
in the German language District of the Assemblies of God.
22. Church of God Informer, Aug. 10, 1938 (Official organ of the Church of God
State Office for North and South Dakota)
23. Church of God Promoter of the Dakotas (Mobridge, S.D.), March 1946
Church of God Promoter of the Dakotas (Lemmon, S.D.), Nov. 1948
(Official organ of the Church of God State Office for North and South
Dakota)
24. Dakota News (Minot, N.D.), 1956 - 1969
(Official organ of the Church of God State Office for North and South
Dakota)
25. Paul Haven Walker, Baptism with the Holy Ghost and the Evidence (Cleveland,
Tenn.: Church of God Publishing House, n.d.)
26. Biographical materials on Paul Haven Walker.
27. Testimonies of early Pentecostalism in North Dakota.
28. Darrin J. Rodgers, “Pentecostal Conversion in a North Dakota Church of the
Brethren Community.” Concerns the Church of the Brethren and Assembly of God
congregations in Cando and Egeland, North Dakota.
29. Darrin J. Rodgers, “North Dakotan Pentecostal Churches: Chronologies with
Ministerial Lists and Bibliographic References.”
| Original Donation | First Addition: 2004 |
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