Can someone please tell me...?!

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Barb

I am almost 56 years old and was brought to the house of God and dedicated when I was a month old. So, though I have not always lived the saved and sanctified life, I am not a novice to the Apostolic Church.

In my youth, I learned about the Church and it's birth on the Day of Pentecost. They taught me about Topeka, Kansas, and the Azuza Revival. I knew about the withdrawl from the AG in 1916 and the formation of the different Apostolic organizations. I knew that the UPCI was the result of a merger in 1945...the complete details I did not know until recent years, but the merger I was aware of.

I grew up hearing and knowing the names of Brothers Goss, Vouga, Haywood, Urshan, Witherspoon, Cook, Ewart, Durham, Parham, Seymour. They were as familiar to me as my own name.

But can someone tell me WHY I never heard of the men listed below who ALSO were pioneers of the gospel?!

Brother WM Greer

Brother Earl L. Jacques

Brother EP Wickens

Brother John H. Dearing

Brother Wynn T. Stairs

Brother Raymond Beesley

I have read countless books on this subject...so why are their names foreign to me?! What impact did they have on this gospel message being spread in the last century?! How come important details and names were omitted from my Apostolic education?!

Or am I the only ignorant soul in the bunch?!

When I was granted a Local License in the UPC back in the 20th Century, it was required that all prospective ministers read and go through that big 3-Ring Binder called Pentecostal Home Study Course. This contained about 250 Lessons - the last 50 or so were by John Dearing, though he wasn't named on the cover of the book.

I think your whole question relates to the old PCI versus PAJC divide that still exists within the UPC. If I didn't know better I'd say that you were bringing it up intentionally. Just mentioning the book Christianity Without the Cross here may cause some problems; but that's where a good part of your answer is to be found.

The PCI (the men you mention above) were considered "weak on doctrine..." by the the more "doctrinally solid" men in the PAJC. It's a fascinating area of study that is mostly forbidden by HQ.