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What is the Assemblies of God?
Founded in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1914, the Assemblies of God emerged from the early Pentecostal revival that swept through American Christianity in the early 20th century — most famously at Azusa Street in Los Angeles (1906). The AG is a trinitarian, evangelical, Pentecostal denomination that affirms all the classic doctrines of Protestant Christianity while placing special emphasis on the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, including the spiritual gifts described in 1 Corinthians 12 and Acts 2.
The AG is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, and operates as one of the most globally influential Christian organizations in the world — with over 67 million members worldwide across 212 countries, making it one of the largest Protestant denominations on earth.
Core beliefs of the Assemblies of God
The AG holds to 16 Fundamental Truths — a doctrinal statement covering the full range of Christian theology. The distinctive Pentecostal emphases include:
- Salvation by grace through faith. Like all evangelical churches, the AG teaches that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Personal conversion — being "born again" — is emphasized in preaching and evangelism.
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The AG's most distinctive doctrine: that after conversion, believers can receive a "baptism in the Holy Spirit" — a subsequent, distinct experience of the Holy Spirit's power. The AG teaches that the initial physical evidence of this baptism is speaking in other tongues (glossolalia), as described in Acts 2, 10, and 19.
- Divine healing. Physical healing is included in the atonement — Christ's death provides not only forgiveness of sin but healing for the body. AG churches regularly pray for the sick and expect God to heal.
- The Second Coming of Christ. The AG holds to a premillennial, pretribulational eschatology — the imminent, literal return of Jesus Christ before a thousand-year reign on earth.
- The gifts of the Spirit. All nine gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 — including prophecy, tongues, interpretation, and healing — are understood to be available and active in the church today. This is what makes the AG "charismatic" in the broad sense.
What to expect at an Assemblies of God service
- Expressive worship. AG worship is participatory and emotionally engaged. Raised hands, verbal affirmations, and physical movement during worship are common and welcomed. Services often begin with 20–30 minutes of contemporary praise music.
- Prayer for healing. Many AG services include a time of prayer for healing — either at an altar at the front of the sanctuary, or through trained prayer teams who pray with individuals after the service.
- Speaking in tongues. In an AG service, you may hear an individual speak aloud in tongues — a phenomenon understood as a spiritual language given by the Holy Spirit. In a corporate setting, this is expected to be followed by interpretation (1 Corinthians 14). First-time visitors can feel at ease — participation is not expected or required.
- Evangelistic preaching. AG preaching tends to be energetic, application-oriented, and evangelistically urgent. Altar calls — invitations for people to come forward to receive Christ or seek prayer — are common.
- Strong missions culture. The AG is one of the largest missionary-sending organizations in the world. Missions giving and world evangelism are priorities in most AG churches.
Notable Assemblies of God churches and figures
Several of the most well-known evangelical churches and figures in America have AG roots or affiliations:
- First Assembly of God, Phoenix — one of the largest AG congregations in the U.S.
- Brownsville Assembly of God, Pensacola — site of the Brownsville Revival (1995–2000), one of the most significant Pentecostal revivals of the 20th century
- Jimmy Swaggart Ministries — Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, LA
- Oral Roberts — one of the most influential Pentecostal preachers of the 20th century; AG-affiliated
- Hillsong Church — while Australian and independent, Hillsong's founders came from AG roots
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to speak in tongues to attend an Assemblies of God church?
No. Visitors and members who have never spoken in tongues are fully welcome. The AG teaches that tongues is the "initial evidence" of Spirit baptism for those who receive it, but membership and participation are not conditioned on the experience. Many people attend AG churches their whole lives without speaking in tongues.
Is the Assemblies of God the same as Pentecostal?
The AG is a Pentecostal denomination — it shares the core Pentecostal beliefs in Spirit baptism and the ongoing gifts of the Spirit. But "Pentecostal" is a broader category that includes many independent churches and other denominations (Church of God in Christ, Church of God Cleveland, United Pentecostal Church, etc.). Not all Pentecostal churches are Assemblies of God.
What is the AG's stance on the Bible?
The Assemblies of God holds to biblical inerrancy — the belief that the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is without error in all that it affirms. Scripture is the supreme authority for faith and practice. The AG is evangelical in its approach to the Bible and rejects liberal higher-critical approaches that undermine biblical authority.