Azusa Street and Beyond

By Arnaldo Mejias

Dr. Grant McClung and Bridge-Logos Publishing have announced the revised edition of McClung’s Azusa Street and Beyond: 100 Years of Commentary on the Global Pentecostal/ Charismatic Movement. The book has been released in time for the upcoming Azusa Street Centennial scheduled for April 25-29, 2006 in Los Angeles.

The book is endorsed by the Center for Spiritual Renewal (www.spiritualrenewal.net) one of the principal organizers of the Azusa Street Centennial. (www.azusastreet.com).

Shortly before his untimely death on September 28, 2005, former Executive Director of the Center, Dr. Robert Fisher noted: "We think the republication of Azusa Street and Beyond is of particular importance to the body of Christ in general especially on the occasion of the Centennial. It should be of great interest to thousands of people attending the Centennial meetings in Los Angeles."

In its original 1986 version, Azusa Street and Beyond was one of the earliest forerunners of the emerging academic field of "pentecostal missiology." The new edition, revised and expanded, is an insightful and prophetic collection of essays and observations from Pentecostal and Charismatic missionaries, evangelists, pastors, laity, educators, missiologists, sociologists, social activists, historians, missions executives, and missions mobilizers. Each of the four main sections (history, theology, strategy, future trends) is introduced with an overview introduction by McClung.

Grant McClung holds the Doctor of Missiology degree from the Fuller Theological Seminary School of Intercultural Studies where he was awarded the David Yonggi Cho Church Growth Award in 1985 for his research on pentecostal missions. He is currently an international missions leader with Church of God World Missions (www.cogwm.org and www.cogeurope.org).

As well as numerous articles on Pentecostal/ Charismatic missions for leading missiological journals, McClung has also contributed the pentecostal viewpoint on missions to such publications as Pentecostals From The Inside Out (Christianity Today 1990), The Globalization of Pentecostalism: A Religion Made to Travel (Regnum Books 1999) and the International Dictionary of The Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (Zondervan Publishing 2001).

Initial reviews and endorsements for the revised Azusa Street and Beyond indicate that the book will be useful for a wide spectrum of readers. Allan Anderson, Professor of Global Pentecostal Studies at the University of Birmingham (England) refers to it as, "a handbook on Pentecostal missions," calling it, "easily accessible and readable." What others are saying:

"Azusa Street and Beyond is an invaluable source for knowing the roots of this movement. There are very few good textbooks having to do with Pentecostal missiology in general. This is one of the foundational works." –Charles Van Engen, Professor of Biblical Theology of Missions, Fuller Seminary School of Intercultural Studies and President of Latin American Christian Ministries

"For two decades now, Azusa Street and Beyond has been a durable classic, a pioneer publication in the field of Pentecostal missiology. It well deserves revised republication. I strongly support the reissuance of Grant McClung’s significant book on Pentecostal missiology." –Russell P. Spittler Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Vanguard University Costa Mesa, California

"The revised edition of Azusa Street and Beyond is a worthwhile project. The 100 year anniversary of the Azusa Street awakening is an appropriate time to reissue this significant volume in an expanded and updated form." –Byron D. Klaus, President Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Springfield, Missouri

"On the eve of the 100 year celebration of the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, Grant McClung has presented the world with a masterful compilation of writings along with his insightful overview as a resourceful gift in the study of Pentecostal missiology." –Mike Larkin, Vice President of Global Operations and Director of Missions, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel

"The book will be a welcomed and good tool for missionaries, Bible college teachers and students, and all believers as well as to all those who want to know about Pentecostalism." –Arto Hamalainen, Chairman of Pentecostal European Mission, Chairman of the Mission Commission of the Pentecostal World Fellowship

"An excellent collection that helps the reader grasp the strategic work of the Holy Spirit in different locations of the world." –Miguel Alvarez, Vice President, Asian Center for Missions

"The title is the theme for the American Society of Missiology meeting in June 2006. I am very pleased to endorse the project." — Kenneth D. Gill, Associate Director, Billy Graham Center, Wheaton, Illinois

Azusa Street and Beyond is designed to be used in the academy (seminaries, Bible colleges, universities) as well as the assembly (local church pastors, laity, missions leaders). It carries the unique blend of well-documented scholarship with the evangelistic passion characteristic of the global Pentecostal/ Charismatic missionary expansion.

Ordering information can be found at: www.bridgelogos.com, www.pathwaybookstore.com, and www.azusastreetandbeyond.com.

To read more about the Church of God in Europe, log on to www.cogeurope.org.

3 Comments

  1. Hi all! I have a chapter in this book on Latina Pentecostal women and their work in NYC based on a reworking of my chapter in Latino Religions and Civic Activism in the United States. I’m honored to have been asked to be a part of it!

  2. So this is the book you mentioned to me! Tell us more, why don’t you submit a post regarding this?

  3. Hi Dave, actually instead of a post, those who want to can read the entire book via PDF version. All I ask is that they write about it on their blogs (as per Publisher). They can get it from my http://www.cefl.org site under “articles by Rev. Liz”.

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