Mississippi Church of God History

The international movement known today as the Church of God is one of the fastest growing churches in the world. With international offices in Cleveland, Tennessee, and more than six million members represented in 150 nations around the globe, this church is one of the oldest Pentecostal denominations in North America.

Originally organized as the Christian Union on August 19, 1886, this fellowship of eight charter members met in the Barney Creek Meeting House near Coker Creek (Monroe County), Tennessee, under the leadership of Elder Richard Spurling and his son, R. G. Spurling. Reverend Spurling, a Baptist minister of the Landmark tradition, formed this union of Christians in an effort to restore what he believed to be true New Testament Christianity to the Body of Christ. The younger Spurling was ordained by his father and traveled throughout the mountainous regions of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina planting numerous other congregations, which were also referred to as Christian Union. During the mid-1890s the Baptist deacon William F. Bryant began holding prayer meetings in his home near Camp Creek (Cherokee County), North Carolina. R.G. Spurling and W.F. Bryant formed a bond of friendship that soon proved providential.

In 1896 four preachers, consisting of one Methodist (William Martin) and three Baptists (William Hamby, Elias Milton McNabb, and Joe M. Tipton) conducted a meeting at the Shearer Schoolhouse in the Camp Creek community. During this meeting numerous individuals experienced personal, spiritual revival, in which some participants also received miraculous healings and others spoke in languages of which they had no previous understanding. After searching the Scriptures, they understood that they were experiencing a manifestation and spiritual gift exercised by the early Apostles in the New Testament. Ultimately, this revival established the young church in the belief of sanctification as a second definite work of grace and aligned them with the Holiness movement. This revival also merged the remnant of the Christian Union with those attending Bryant's prayer meetings. Moreover, it brought together the foundation upon which the Church of God would ultimately be organized.

Following the revival, the Holiness believers endured much persecution from without and fanaticism within. As a result, the group realized the need for more formal organization and met together on May 15, 1902. Seeing themselves as a continuation of the Christian Union organized in 1886, the group held their meeting, which was most probably loosely moderated by R.G. Spurling, in the home of William F. and Nettie Bryant at Camp Creek, North Carolina. R.G. Spurling was selected as pastor, and the congregation also adopted the name The Holiness Church at Camp Creek at this meeting. This localized name for the group at Camp Creek reflected the fact that the other Christian Union churches begun by Spurling were loosely connected to the Camp Creek congregation.

For some time the group had been in contact with Ambrose Jesup Tomlinson, a Quaker from Indiana who was traveling through the mountains as a missionary and Bible salesman. Spurling and Bryant discussed the Scriptures with Tomlinson on various occasions, seeking to enlighten him on the restoration of the New Testament Church. On June 13, 1903, Tomlinson submitted himself to a time of personal prayer and reflection in the woods near Bryant's Camp Creek home. It was there that Tomlinson became convinced within his own heart and accepted the vision. He then decided to unite with the young church if in fact they would declare themselves to be the "Church of God of the Bible." With Spurling and Bryant affirming the declaration, Tomlinson joined the Holiness Church at Camp Creek and was ordained as pastor. As a result of the visionary Tomlinson, the message of the young church would ultimately expand from its place of origin in the mountains and be heralded throughout the world.

In November 1904, A.J. Tomlinson moved with his family to Cleveland (Bradley County), Tennessee, which offered his children the advantage of more formal education and allowed him to be nearer to the railroad for his missionary journeys throughout the Southeast. Tomlinson continued to travel to Camp Creek and pastor the local congregation there as well.

However, by 1906 other churches had been established in addition to the congregation at Camp Creek (and those previously established by Spurling throughout the region). Realizing a need for closer fellowship and counsel, a call was given for the churches to gather together to discuss church business and interpret Scripture. Some of the churches accepted the call while others rejected the notion of being united under an Assembly. From the congregations willing to assemble, a total of 21 delegates met in a "General Assembly" on January 26 and 27, 1906, in the home of J.C. and Mellissa Murphy at Camp Creek. A.J. Tomlinson served as the moderator for the meeting. (Those who rejected the idea of the General Assembly ultimately became disconnected with the movement that became known as the Church of God. However, it is believed that Spurling continued to fellowship and minister for them for many years. It is believed that one of these congregations remains in existence at the present as an independent community church.)

Later in 1906, a Holiness congregation was organized in Cleveland, Tennessee, as a number of the members of the Camp Creek congregation had followed Tomlinson in relocating there. Tomlinson began serving as pastor of this congregation, which included the Bryant family, M.S. Lemons and Melissa Murphy. Spurling remained in the mountains to labor among those with whom the movement had its beginning.

At the second Assembly held at the Union Grove Church in Bradley County, Tennessee in 1907, the name of the young church was changed to the Church of God, which well reflected the view of these early believers who saw themselves as being the vessel through which God was restoring the apostolic ministry to the Church and gathering the fold into one body.

At the close of the General Assembly in 1908, Gaston B. Cashwell was invited to preach at the North Cleveland Church of God, pastored by Tomlinson. Cashwell had recently attended the Gospel Mission at 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California, where a spiritual outpouring was occurring. Like many others who traveled from all over the world to attend these meetings at Azusa Street, Cashwell experienced a deepening in his spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ accompanied by speaking in a language which he did not understand. (Although there are accounts of various individuals receiving this same experience throughout history, this 20th century phenomenon later became widely accepted as the New Testament description of the "Bible evidence" of receiving the "baptism of the Holy Spirit." This was the experience revealed in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit first filled the early Apostles on the Day of Pentecost following Christ's resurrection from the dead and ascension into Heaven. Consequently, those who received this experience at the turn of the 20th century became known as "Pentecostals.") For some these strange utterances were indeed actual languages, for others it was a language only to be understood between them and God. While some in the Church of God had experienced this same manifestation during the revival at Camp Creek in the 1890s, it is most probable that the young church viewed this as only one of many spiritual expressions among Christians--and not necessarily something experienced by all. For example, A.J. Tomlinson, pastor of the local church and probably the most prominent minister within the group, did not receive this experience until the middle of Cashwell's sermon at the Cleveland church in 1908.

The Azusa Street outpouring popularized the teaching that the Bible evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit was when the Holy Spirit gave an an individual the ability to speak in languages unknown to him or her (often referred to as speaking in "other" or "unknown" tongues). According to A.J. Tomlinson's account of his spiritual infilling during the preaching of Cashwell, he was able to speak in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave him the utterance. Following Tomlinson's receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he became charged with a new zeal and an even greater desire to be an instrument of God in building His Kingdom. Fully embracing the "pentecostal" doctrine, Tomlinson led the Church of God to more fully embrace the teaching as well.

In 1909 A.J. Tomlinson was elected to serve as the General Overseer of the churches and ministers for the Church of God. Quickly the young church began to expand its ministries and experience tremendous growth. The international missions efforts of the Church of God had its start in November 1909, publication of the Church of God Evangel began in 1910; a Bible training school (now a 4-year Christian liberal arts institution known as Lee University) opened in 1918; and a consistent orphanage program was instituted in 1920.

Evangelism was at the core of the ministry of the young church. They wanted all to experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, be set apart for His service, and to be filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit (enabling the believer to live a lifestyle of consecrated holiness and to witness to others of God's great love). As a result, the Church of God message began to sweep across the United States, particularly in the Southeast--making its way into Mississippi in the Spring of 1909.

In the community of Cascilla (Tallahatchie County), Mississippi, there existed an independent church proclaiming sanctification as a second work of grace which, when experienced, allowed the Christian to live above sin. (In essence, the bondage to sin would no longer have a stronghold on the believer.) This congregation met in what was known as the Stonefield Holiness Tabernacle. The Reverend L.P. Adams of Memphis, Tennessee, began a revival in the holiness tabernacle on April 25, 1909. He had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in May 1907 under the preaching of G.B. Cashwell upon Cashwell's return from the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles. Thereafter, Adams, a former lawyer, became affiliated with Reverend A.J. Tomlinson, who in 1909 became the general overseer of the Church of God. (Reverend Adams also led his Memphis congregation into the Church of God but later withdrew from the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) to accept broader fellowship among the Church of God in Christ before becoming independent. In the late 1940s, Adams was again ordained with the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) and remained a member until his death.)

At Cascilla, Reverend Adams testified of his experience and preached this "new" doctrine as the Holy Spirit began to shine new light upon the minds of those who heard the Word. Convinced that it was indeed biblical, the people began to hunger spiritually for this "blessing" of the Holy Ghost baptism. They met early in prayer before the services and often fasted for days while tarrying for this promise and command for all believers.

The revival continued for many weeks, and on May 10, 1909, the tabernacle was crowded with earnest seekers of the Holy Ghost as the service began. Clara McHann Allison, who was a member of the Stonefield Holiness Church, entered the service with her husband and four daughters. Finding no place in which to sit, they made their way to the altar and sat while listening to Brother Adams preach.

During the service a peculiar, yet wonderful, feeling came over Sister Allison. As she worshipped the Lord, she began to speak in a language unknown to her. It was then that she realized what was taking place. In her willingness to yield to the Lord and her deep desire to receive the Holy Ghost, He came in and spoke for Himself as she listened to the Word and yielded her tongue to Him. The people in the church had never before seen anyone receive the Holy Ghost baptism and called for the area doctor. Upon the physician's arrival he asked Sister Allison how she felt, to which she replied, "Doctor Franklin, I never have been so happy in my life!" She then began speaking in tongues and shouted all over the church as she worshiped in the Spirit and praised the Lord. The doctor then explained to the congregation that Clara simply had "a case of old-time religion." That day the Lord used Sister Allison for about 4 hours in the Spirit.

Soon afterward the revival closed. During the first service after Brother Adams returned to Memphis, the meeting at Cascilla began as usual with prayer, singing and testifying. However, when it came time for the message the sanctified pastor shared that he would not preach anymore until he had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It was then that the congregation called upon Sister Clara to preach. Although unprepared, she made her way to the pulpit and read for her text Revelation 22:17: "The Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him athirst, come and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." She then began to preach and a great anointing rested upon her. She preached mightily as she brought forth the Word of God. When she came to herself, almost everyone in the house was experiencing some manifestation as a result of the presence of God. People were laying prostrate on the floor as in a spiritual trance (typically referred to in Pentecostal churches as being "slain in the Spirit"), some were shouting, running, dancing in the Holy Spirit, and many had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and were speaking in other tongues. Among those who received the Holy Spirit baptism were Sister Allison's husband, Monroe, and Etta and Hal Pressgrove, who would alter become a prominent state overseer. That morning service did not conclude until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon as the power of God moved upon the worshipers in a mighty way.

Although the Church of God message had indeed made its way into Mississippi, the people at Stonefield were reluctant to unite with any denomination and chose to remain an independent congregaton. However, they did change the name of their fellowship to the Stonefield Pentecostal Holiness Church to reflect the new experience and lifestyle that they had received. (Research concludes that this congregation was not a member of the Pentecostal Holiness denomination, although the name suggests that idea.)

Following the great Stonefield outpouring, members of the Hyde family, who were relatives of Clara Allison, petitioned Reverend A.J. Tomlinson to conduct a revival in northern Mississippi. To their dismay and for reasons uncertain, he was unable to grant their request in 1909. However, by October 1910 Tomlinson accepted a second invitation of the Hyde family. While on his way to Reverend L.P. Adams' Memphis Camp Meeting, Brother Tomlinson visited northern Mississippi and stayed in the home of Tom Morgan near Cleveland--on whose property Tomlinson conducted a few services.

Assisted by "some of the saints from Cascilla" whose "prayers and testimonies were a great stimulant to the work," Brother Tomlinson reported that some professions were made, others sanctified, quite a number of seekers of the Holy Ghost, and six baptized in water as a result of the brief revival held at what would become known as the Friendship Tabernacle. Communion and feet washing, which some had never before practiced, were also observed during this meeting with a special move of the Holy Spirit during that service. When Tomlinson closed the revival and boarded the train for Memphis, he was satisfied that the church had "made many warm friends, and [was] sure that good seed fell in some true and honest hearts."

Following this revival, The Evening Light and Church of God Evangel began to be more widely circulated throughout the area. It served as a link to the Pentecostal movement for some of the Spirit-filled believers--encouraging them in their new lifestyle. This is evident by a letter published in the Evangel on December 15, 1910, and written by Virgie Pritchard of Holcomb (located near Cascilla). She, along with her husband John, received the Holy Spirit baptism shortly after her cousin Clara Allison. It is said that John Pritchard was praying and praising the Lord while plowing in the field when suddenly the power of God came upon him and he fell to the ground. He then received the Holy Ghost and began speaking in other tongues. When he "came to himself" he found his mule grazing along the fence row. And the joy of his infilling was just as real to him a year and one-half later when his wife corresponded with the Church of God periodical. She wrote, "...Since the Comforter has come He has taken the place of loved ones [four children who had passed away], dried the falling tears away, turned my sorrow into laughter, turned my nighttime into day. O how I praise Him for the blessed Holy Ghost. How the dove of peace sings in my soul this morning as we read of the wonderful works of God that are being manifested in different places, and the wonderful testimonies in the last 'Evening Light' as we read them the power fell upon us and we were made to rejoice. O how I praise the Lord for what He has done at this place...." Indeed God was moving mightily by His Spirit throughout the world. And for a group of Spirit-filled believers in northern Mississippi, they were one step closer to uniting with the Church of God movement.

Each year following the Stonefiled outpouring and the subsequent meeting at Friendship, Church of God ministers held protracted meetings at each location. During a meeting at Stonefield in 1911, the first Church of God ministers in Mississippi were set forth into ministry. On August 28, 1911, D.W. Dollahite was commissioned as an Evangelist and E.K. Simpson was set forth as a Deacon in the Church of God. Consequently, those two men played a vital role in establishing the Church of God in Mississippi-- Dollahite at Friendship and Simpson at Cascilla.

In August 1912 Brother Tomlinson received the Friendship church into the Church of God. The 20-member congregation became the first Mississippi church to officially unite with the Church of God. By 1914 the congregation had grown to almost 60 members, and D.W. Dollahite organized a Sunday School averaging 40 in attendance. During this same time Dollahite wrote to the Church of God Evangel in which he shared from his heart and the Word, "Praise God. How we should praise Him for everything, and not mention others' faults, but get the beams out of our own eyes. Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or tinkling cymbal. Praise God, this way just suits me. I will lift up mine eyes to the hills whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth. Praise God for these last days when things long hidden from the wise and prudent are being revealed to babes in Christ." An earlier correspondence by D.W. Dollahite expressed his zeal for the Lord, "...Thank God for these last days when He is pouring out the Spirit on the children of men. This way is just like heaven to me. When the battle is fought and the smoke clears away I will be found on the battle field. We are looking for the gifts to be given to the church here at Friendship. Pray that we may come to the Bible standard. We are looking for the coming of the King."

By January 1913 a second Church of God congregation had been organized in Mississippi. The Pilgrim's Rest church (located near the town of Doddsville) was established through the efforts of Reverend D.W. Dollahite of Cascilla.

The summer of 1913 brought the anticipated annual camp meeting at the Stonefiled Camp Ground. As Reverend M.S. Lemons preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, several members of the Stonefield congregation "caught a vision" of the Church of God and were finally ready to unite with the denomination. However, they understood themselves to be joining a movement free from man-made creeds with the New Testament as their only rule of faith and practice as the Holy Spirit directed their conscience. With not every member of the Stonefiled church yet ready to make such a commitment, this small group, most of whom lived near the town of Holcomb, organized the Turkey Foot Fork Church of God at Holcomb. These new members held services on alternate Sundays from the Stonefield church in order to also participate in those services. Among the charter members of the Turkey Foot Fork church were John and Virgie Pritchard and recently widowed Clara Allison (who later married Reverend James Thomas Priest and assisted him in more than 40 years of ministry in the Church of God and Church of God of Prophecy). The church at Holcomb served as an active congregation until reuniting with the Stonefield church in January 1914.

On Christmas morning 1913 as the snow was falling, Reverend M.S. Lemons arrived by train in Cascilla where he was scheduled to conduct a meeting. He, along with the State Overseer M.S. Haynes, stayed in the home of Reverend and Mrs. E.K. Simpson. The first service began on Christmas night and a wonderful time of refreshing followed. The meeting continued into the new year--and what a fruitful year 1914 would be for the Church of God in Mississippi. This began when the Stonefield congregation united with the Church of God on January 5, 1914. The 30-member church also commissioned their pastor, Reverend J.W. Mullen, who received his credential as an Evangelist on the same day.

Following this revival, the Lemons and Haynes families conducted a meeting at Friendship. The church seemed strong in unity and joyful with spiritual victory. Two deacons were also accepted into the Church of God during this meeting, Jim Allen Bell and Tom Morgan. The group then traveled to the City of Charleston where they found favor with the sheriff who allowed them to use the courthouse, furnished with fuel and light. Interest grew as large crowds gathered for these services in which two received the Holy Ghost baptism.

It would not be long until the Church of God was established in the [North] Shady Grove community near Cascilla after a 13-day revival in which 80 people accepted the grace of God in salvation, 40 were baptized in the Holy Spirit and 81 united with the Church of God. Also, the Tilghman's Chapel congregation would soon be established near Hardy, Mississippi, following the dynamic Spirit-baptism of Lillie Tilghman. After receiving the Holy Ghost she was excluded from her local Baptist church and then had a Pentecostal church constructed near her home, which quickly united with the Church of God. And after the Church of God message was brought into southern Mississippi by Reverend Warren Evans in 1915, the Church of God rapidly spread throughout all of Mississippi--reaping a great harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God.