History

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.

Our Story

What is the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World About (Our Preamble)

The "Pentecostal Assemblies of the World" is the continuation of the great revival that began at Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, A.D. 33, and is founded upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ, Himself being the Chief Cornerstone. (Acts 2:1-12; Eph. 2:19, 20) Although the true followers have been little known, yet from that time until now, there have always been earnest contenders for the "faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

At various intervals, throughout the past centuries, the followers of the Apostolic Faith and Doctrine have become prominent through great revivals that have appeared in Great Britain, the United States, and Canada.

In the days of Tertulian (A.D. 207), Chryostom (4th Century), Christians of the 13th Century, the early Quakers, Wesley, Whitefield and Irving, the gifts and manifestations of the Apostolic Church were much in evidence as the revival spirit swept over the country.

In Kansas (1901) the revival broke forth and moved southward to Texas, being known locally only, but finally reached Los Angeles, California (1906), from whence it spread throughout the whole earth, entering into every nation under heaven, penetrating the heathen darkness of India, China, Africa, and the Isles of the Sea fulfilling the commission of our Lord, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15-20; Matthew 28:18, 19; Luke 24:47-49; Acts 1:4-11), and proclaiming the soon coming of the Lord.

So great was the awakening, that in a few years in nearly every town of any size whatever, there were witnesses to the Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit, (Luke 24:28; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4), and soon there began to appear in different localities, places of worship wherein the gifts of the Spirit were manifested, designating themselves by such names as: "The Apostolic Faith Mission, Pentecostal Mission, Apostolic Faith Assembly, Full Gospel Assembly or Mission, Assembly of God," etc., their own common aim being to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" in the days of the Apostles, taking the Bible as their creed, discipline, and rule of order and charter.

Our Mission

Our chief aim is to glorify our Savior, even Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; that we should show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; and that we may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we shine as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide their feet into the way of peace. (See Titus 2:13, 14; I Peter 2:9; Philippians 2:15, 16; Luke 1:79).
Our Duty
Our duty is to lift the fallen; visit the sick; strengthen the weak; encourage the faint-hearted; comfort the feeble-minded; point the lost to the way of salvation and urge all believers to seek a spirit-filled life (Eph. 5:18; Acts 19:1-6) and prepare for the coming of the Lord. (James 1:27; I Thess. 5:4; Mark 16:15-18; Matthew 25:1-13).

Conclusion

Moreover it is our indispensable duty, as partakers of the "royal priesthood" (I Peter 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10), to offer supplications, prayer, intercessions, and giving thanks for all men; for kings, presidents, governors, magistrates, and all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all Godliness and honesty; (I Timothy 2:14; Romans 13:1-14) and to submit ourselves "to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake", whether it be king, as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the punishment of the evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well, so long as these ordinances do not infringe upon the liberty of service towards God according to the dictation of the heart or conscience. (See I Peter 2:13-17; Titus 3:1-12; Matthew 22:21)

Source: www.pawinc.org/pages/aboutus.htm

West Virginia & East Tennessee Council
Episcopal District 23 of the PAW, Inc.

In 1930, The Apostolic Temple, Gary, West Virginia resigned from the Emmanuel Tabernacle organization, Bishop M. R. Gregory, Overseer: The Church was affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World in the year of 1932.

There were only two churches in the District, namely, Gary, West Virginia and Huntington, West Virginia. Bishop Samuel Joshua Grimes served as the pastor at Gary, and organized our first council in 1933.

The Apostolic Temple Church at Gary, West Virginia became the Council Headquarters. Later as churches were added, such as Grace Temple Church, Johnson City, Tennessee, added in 1939, the Council became the West Virginia and East Tennessee Council.

In the 1960's, Suffragan Bishop Booker T. Jones was elevated to the Bishopric and was installed Diocesan to District #23, and The Council Headquarters was moved from Gary, West Virginia to Midway Shiloh Temple Church, Keystone, West Virginia where this continued until the passing of our Dearly Beloved Bishop Booker T. Jones, then 94 years old.

In August, 1997, District Elder Aaron H. Redd, Sr. was elevated to the Office of Bishop and installed Diocesan of District #23 by the then Presiding Bishop Paul A. Bowers and after being installed, and by permission and ratified by the voting members of the Council, the Headquarters Office was moved to Grace Temple Church, Eternal Life Center, 208 Garden Drive, Johnson City, Tennessee 37605 which was completed and dedicated by the assisting Presiding Bishop, Wesley Thomas Weeks, Sr. of Wilmington, Delaware, September 1998.

The relocation of the council office to Johnson City, Tennessee was followed by an extensive "honeymoon" for Bishop Aaron Redd. Our bishop utilized the "hiatus" to intimately commune with God and to vehemently discover His mind. God, in turn, gave him "a wise and an understanding heart" - an essential for directing the August and diverse sheep of the West Virginia and East Tennessee Council.

Since Bishop Redd accepted the charge of Diocesan of the West Virginia and East Tennessee Council, he has nurtured, strengthened, and expanded the flock.

Passionate for the care of laity, he has installed eight pastors:

Pastor Nolan Wolfe............Antioch Greater Love Ministries, Marion, VA
Pastor Rosetta Robinson...................Everflowing Well Church, Bristol, TN
Pastor Willie Schofield..............Grace & Mercy Apostolic Church, Parkersburg, WV
Pastor Verna Fullen.............................King's Chapel Church, Abingdon, VA
Pastor James McMillian.....................Kingdom Life Ministries, Bristol, TN
Pastor Theodosia McMillian...........Kingdom Life Ministries, Bristol, TN
Pastor Levi Turner, Jr.........................Mt. Calvary Apostolic, Wytheville, VA
Pastor Robyn Turner................Mt. Zion Temple Family Worship Center, Marion, VA
Elder Arthur Brown, Jr...........Grace & Mercy Apostolic Church, Parkersburg, WV
District Elder Joe Hairston, Jr............Everflowing Well Church, Bristol, TN

Zealous for the Kingdom of God, Bishop Redd has dedicated two churches (Grace and Mercy Church and Antioch Grater Love Ministries) and added one church (Pentecostal Power). Effective at developing the strengths of others, he has consecrated four Suffragan Bishops and five male District Elders. As a trailblazer in the move of God, Bishop Redd was one of the first to consecrate a female District Elder (Robyn Turner).

The Bishop's Cabinet of the West Virginia and East Tennessee Council consist of the following members:

Suffragan Bishop Joe A. Hairston, Sr.
Suffragan Bishop Willie Schofield, Jr.
Suffragan Bishop Kelvin Cash
Suffragan Bishop Samuel R. Moore
District Elder Joe Hairston, Jr.
District Elder Timothy Schofield
District Elder Thomas Moore
District Elder Robyn Turner
District Elder Delores Hubbard

Both the significant progress and formidable unity of the individual pastors of the West Virginia and East Tennessee Council elate Bishop Redd. When each individual pastor seeks the mind of God for his/her work, the Kingdom of God multiplies exponentially.

In April of 2009, Bishop Aaron H. Redd, D Div., announced his retirement by letter of resignation to West Virginia and East Tennessee Council as Diocesan and now serves as Emeritus. We thank Bishop Redd for all his hard work and dedication, his work is not in vain.

Source: Bishop Aaron H. Redd, Sr., The West Virginia & East Tennessee Council, Inc. of the Apostolic Faith, Inc., Directory 2nd Printing 2005.