The 

Azusa Street Revival was a historic series of revival meetings that

took place in Los Angeles, California.[1] It was led by William J. Seymour,
an African-American preacher. The revival began on April 9, 1906, and
continued until roughly 1915. On the night of April 9, 1906, Seymour and
seven men were waiting on God on Bonnie Brae Street, "when suddenly,
as though hit by a bolt of lightning, they were knocked from their chairs to
the floor," and the other seven men began to speak in tongues and shout
out loud praising God. The news quickly spread; the city was stirred;
crowds gathered; services were moved outside to accommodate the
crowds who came from all around; people fell down as they approached,
and attributed it to God; people were baptized in the Holy Spirit and the sick
were said to be healed.[2] The testimony of those who attended the Azusa
Street Revival was "I am saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost"
in reference to the three works of grace of Holiness Pentecostals, the
original branch of Pentecostalism.[3] To further accommodate the crowds,
an old dilapidated, two-story frame building at 312 Azusa Street in the
industrial section of the city was secured. This building, originally built for
an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church, had more recently been
used as a livery stable, storage building and tenement house. In this
humble Azusa Street mission, a continuous three-year revival occurred and
became known around the world. Stanley H. Frodsham, in his book, With
Signs Following, quotes an eye-witness description of the scene: The
revival was characterized by spiritual experiences accompanied with
testimonies of physical healing miracles,[4] worship services, and speaking
in tongues. The participants were criticized by some secular media
and Christian theologians for behaviors considered to be outrageous and
unorthodox, especially at the time. Today, the revival is considered by
historians to be the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the
20th century. The Azusa Street Revival was a historic series of revival meetings that took place
in Los Angeles, California.[1] It was led by William J. Seymour, an African-American preacher. The
revival began on April 9, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915. On the night of April 9, 1906,
Seymour and seven men were waiting on God on Bonnie Brae Street, "when suddenly, as though hit
by a bolt of lightning, they were knocked from their chairs to the floor," and the other seven men
began to speak in tongues and shout out loud praising God. The news quickly spread; the city was
stirred; crowds gathered; services were moved outside to accommodate the crowds who came from
all around; people fell down as they approached, and attributed it to God; people were baptized in
the Holy Spirit and the sick were said to be healed.[2] The testimony of those who attended the Azusa
Street Revival was "I am saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost" in reference to the three
works of grace of Holiness Pentecostals, the original branch of Pentecostalism.[3] To further
accommodate the crowds, an old dilapidated, two-story frame building at 312 Azusa Street in the
industrial section of the city was secured. This building, originally built for an African Methodist
Episcopal (AME) church, had more recently been used as a livery stable, storage building and
tenement house. In this humble Azusa Street mission, a continuous three-year revival occurred and
became known around the world. Stanley H. Frodsham, in his book, With Signs Following, quotes an
eye-witness description of the scene: The revival was characterized by spiritual experiences
accompanied with testimonies of physical healing miracles,[4] worship services, and speaking in
tongues. The participants were criticized by some secular media and Christian theologians for
behaviors considered to be outrageous and unorthodox, especially at the time. Today, the revival is
considered by historians to be the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th
century.