The History of
Our Church

Our church had its beginning in the early part of the twentieth century during a worldwide spiritual awakening. Christian workers and religious leaders were praying earnestly for greater spiritual power that they might serve the Lord more effectively. Their prayers were answered when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came, as promised in Joel 2:28,29. Many were empowered for service, and a missionary fervor extended around the world. In 1906, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon a group of sanctified people in Los Angeles.

Florence L. Crawford, our founder, was one of those who went to the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, and she came away a changed woman. There, she received her sanctification, and then the power of the Holy Spirit. On Christmas Day in 1906, she traveled to Portland, Oregon, bringing with her the message that the Pentecostal experience could be received by saved and sanctified believers in this era.

From its simple beginning in a converted blacksmith shop on Second and Main Street in Portland, the Apostolic Faith work grew rapidly. It was not long before a number of branch churches were added along the Pacific Coast and in the Midwest. Our first camp meeting was held in 1907, and yearly camp meetings continue to be a special time of spiritual renewal and evangelism.

An evangelistic message has always been the thrust of outreach endeavors in our church. In addition to a worldwide literature ministry, many innovative methods have been used over the years to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Among these were open-air meetings, services held in correctional institutions, hospitals, and retirement homes, outreach to seafaring men, aerial evangelism where literature was dropped from airplanes into remote areas, and a boat ministry where the Gospel was taken to areas inaccessible except by water. The expansion of the Apostolic Faith work, both in the United States and in foreign lands, is a testimony to the life-changing truths that are taught here.

To view a selection of historical photos, see the links here.