North Dakota Pentecostal Church Collection, 1914-2004

North Dakota Pentecostal Church Collection

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Collection Overview

Title: North Dakota Pentecostal Church Collection, 1914-2004

ID: OGLMC1315

Extent: 4.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/1995. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Religion - Pentecostal Church

Languages: German, English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The North Dakota Pentecostal Church Collection has been divided into three series:

Series 1: Assemblies of God

Series 2: Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee

Series 3: Miscellaneous

Most materials in the collection are photocopies. Most North Central District (AG) original materials are housed at the Minnesota District Council, 1315 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55404, (612) 332- 2409. Most North Dakota District (AG) original materials are housed at the North Dakota District Council, 1724 N. Grandview Ln., Bismarck, ND 58501, (701) 255-2526. Originals of Licht und Leben are archived at the Institute for Regional Studies, NDSU, Fargo, ND, (701) 231- 8914. Most Church of God (Cleveland, TN) original materials are housed at the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center, 260 11th St. NE, Cleveland, TN 37311, (423) 614-8576. Additional materials are located at the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, 1445 Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802, (417) 862-2781.

Collection Historical Note

Pentecostalism, a Christian pietistic movement, had its origins in a worldwide revival at the turn of the twentieth century. The charismatic movement refers primarily to Pentecostals within mainline denominations and independent churches, a "second wave" of revival beginning in the late 1950s. Pentecostals are defined by the way they practice their faith more so than by a distinctive theology. "Pentecostal," then, is more of an adjective than a noun. All major Christian traditions have significant elements that are Pentecostal. Indeed, Pentecostals constitute the second largest grouping within Christianity, at 500 million adherents in 2000. Pentecostals tend to accept the contemporary practice of Biblical spiritual gifts (i.e., I Cor. 12, especially speaking in tongues and healing), emphasize a personal relationship with God, and encourage corporate and individual religious experience. They are often noted for fervent spirituality and contemporary church music.

Pentecostal historiography generally identifies two early twentieth-century revivals as defining the movement: Topeka, KS (1901), and Azusa Street, Los Angeles, CA (1906-09). However, recent scholarship has emphasized Pentecostalism's diverse roots, pointing to additional glossolalic (tongues-speaking) revivals in India (1890s), Cleveland, TN (1896), and the Red River Valley of the North (1890s-1900s). The Red River Valley revival occurred primarily among Scandinavians in areas including Grafton, ND, Fosston, MN, Audubon, MN, Moorhead, MN, Greenfield, SD, etc. Leaders in the early Red River revival became leaders in the later Pentecostal movement emanating from Azusa Street, which was likely introduced to North Dakota in 1908 when Andrew H. Argue held services in Bathgate and Glasston, ND.

Most early believers were "Free Pentecostals," existing in networks of independent ministers and churches. Pentecostal denominations were soon formed, however, to provide accountability and mission agencies. The two primary Pentecostal denominations in North Dakota are the General Council of the Assemblies of God (AG), formed in 1914 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) (CG), formed in 1886 in Monroe County, TN. The AG formed the North Central District in 1922 to serve its growing number of affiliated churches in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. Separate state districts were formed in 1936. The German Branch of the Assemblies of God was formed in 1922 for German- language churches in the U.S. About fifteen churches in North Dakota have been affiliated with the German Branch, later renamed the German District. The CG organized its first church in North Dakota in 1919, at Golden Valley. Among the most prolific early church planters in North Dakota were the Blanche Brittain (1890-1952) for the AG and Paul H. Walker (1901-1975) for the CG. In 1990, North Dakota was home to 10,000 AG adherents in 66 churches, and 1,000 CG adherents in 11 churches. Other Pentecostal groups in the state include: Church of God of Prophecy; United Pentecostal Church; International Church of the Foursquare Gospel; Church of God in Christ; Association of Faith Ministries and Churches.

Sources:

Blumhofer, Edith. The Assemblies of God: A Chapter in the Story of American Pentecostalism. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1989.

Conn, Charles W. Like a Mighty Army: A History of the Church of God: Definitive Edition. Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, 1996.

Daffe, Jerald. "The Church of God in the Dakotas during the Depression of the 1930's." M.A. thesis, Wheaton College, 1973.

________. North and South Dakota, Church of God, Chronology, 1919-1986. S.l., s.n., 1986?

Dokter, Guy and Hazel Dokter. Let Us Go Forward: History of Northwest Bible College. Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, c. 1970-1977.

Forward After "50": North Dakota District Council, Assemblies of God. Bismarck, ND: North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies of God, 1986.

Hollenweger, Walter J. Pentecostalism: Origins and Developments Worldwide. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997.

Walker, Paul H. Paths of a Pioneer. Cleveland, TN: The Author, 1970.

Subject/Index Terms

Religion - Pentecostal Church

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: Additional material was donated by Darrin J. Rodgers on March 9, 1999 (Acc.99-2276), September 14, 1999 (Acc.99-2385) and May 25, 2004 (Acc.2004-2682).

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Darrin J. Rodgers

Acquisition Method: Donation; Acc.95-2037

Related Publications: Northern harvest: Pentecostalism in North Dakota by Darrin J. Rodgers. Bismarck, ND: North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies of God, 2003.

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). North Dakota Pentecostal Church Collection. OGLMC 1315, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in September 2014.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Assemblies of God],
[Series 2: Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) ],
[Series 3: Miscellaneous],
[All]

Series 1: Assemblies of God

The first series contains Assemblies of God material. This series is filed chronologically by district and includes: Constitution and By-laws of the North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies of God (1997 revised edition); periodicals published by the North Central District; minutes from the Assembly of the State Convention for North Dakota (1933-1936); minutes of the North Dakota District Council and District Presbyter meetings (1936-1944); True Conversions: Living Testimonies, by students of the North Central Bible Institute, Minneapolis, Minn. [1932]; a collection of papers on women ministers in North Dakota; periodicals published by both the North Dakota District Council and the German Branch; and articles from Assemblies of God Heritage concerning North Dakota.

Box 1

Folder 1: Constitution and By-laws of the North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies of God (1997 revised edition)
Folder 2: Gospel Herald (Minneapolis, Minn.) Jan. 1927, May-Aug. 1929
Folder 3: Full Gospel Broadcast (Sherburn, Minn.) Nov. 1929
Folder 4: Gospel Broadcast (Sherburn, Minn.) Nov. 1929 - Dec. 1930
Folder 5: Gospel Broadcast (Sherburn, Minn.) Jan. 1931 - Sept. 1932 Gospel Broadcast (Minneapolis, Minn.) Oct. 1932 - Jul. 1933
Folder 6: Minutes from the Assembly of the State Convention for North Dakota (1933-1936) and from the North Dakota District Council and District Presbyterian meetings (1936-1944)
Folder 7: True Conversions: Living Testimonies by students of the North Central Bible Institute, Minneapolis, Minn. [1932]. Includes table of contents by Joyce Lee
Folder 8: Papers on women Pentecostal ministers in North Dakota. Includes applications for ordination and missionary appointment, biographies, and flyers. Women include: Florence Elvina Hildegard Anderson; Blanche Elizabeth Brittain; Adele Francis Carmichael; Mary Elizabeth Chase; Susan A. Covel; Sarah Caroline Doty; Florence S. A. Engstrand; Christine Gottwald; Christine Doris Johnson; Hulda R. Kuppe; Irene Esther H. Larson; Rose Monogian; Helen H. Olsen; Olga V. Olsson; Ettie Elizabeth Reckley; Ida W. Sande; Mrs. Wycliffe M. Smith; Mary C. Sorg; Mabel E. Stake; and Lillian Steffens
Folder 9: The Prairie Fire: The North Dakota District of the Assemblies of God, 1938 (Official organ of the North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies of God)
Folder 10: North Dakota District Echoes (Williston, N.D.), 1938-1939 (Continuation of Prairie Fire)
Folder 11: North Dakota District Echoes (Williston, N.D.), Jan. 1940 - Sept. 1941 North Dakota District Echoes (Hettinger, N.D.), Nov. 1941 - Dec. 1941
Folder 12: North Dakota District Echoes (Hettinger, N.D.), 1942
Folder 13: North Dakota District Echoes (Hettinger, N.D.), 1943-1944
Folder 14: North Dakota District Echoes (Hettinger, N.D.), Jan. 1945 ? June 1946 North Dakota District Echoes (Powers Lake, N.D.), Sept. 1946 North Dakota District Echoes (Grenora, N.D.), Oct. 1946
Folder 15: North Dakota District Echoes (Grenora, N.D.), Jan. 1947-Aug. 1947 North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador (Grenora, N.D.), Sept. 1947-Dec. 1947 North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador (Devils Lake, N.D.), Sept. 1948-Oct. 1948
Folder 16: North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1949-1950
Folder 17: North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1951-1952
Folder 18: North Dakota District Echoes and Ambassador (Devils Lake, N.D.), Jan. 1953 - June 1953 North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), July 1953 - Dec. 1954
Folder 19: North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1955 - 1956
Folder 20: North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1957 - 1958
Folder 21: North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1959 - 1960
Folder 22: North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1961 - 1962
Folder 23: North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1963 - 1964
Folder 24: North Dakota District Echoes (Devils Lake, N.D.), 1965 North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1965 - 1966
Folder 25: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1967 - 1968
Folder 26: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1969 - 1970
Folder 27: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1971 - 1972

Box 2

Folder 1: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1973 - 1974
Folder 2: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1975 - 1976
Folder 3: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1977 - 1978
Folder 4: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1979 - 1980
Folder 5: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1981 - 1982
Folder 6: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1983 - 1984
Folder 7: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Jan. 1985 - Nov. 1986
Folder 8: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Dec. 1986 - Nov. 1989 (v. 50 - 52)
Folder 9: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Dec. 1989 - Nov. 1992 (v. 53 - 55)
Folder 10: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Dec. 1992 - Nov. 1995 (v. 56 - 58)
Folder 11: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Dec. 1995 - Nov. 1998 (v. 59 - 61)
Folder 12: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), Dec. 1998 (v. 62-63)
Folder 13: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1942 (Official organ of the German Branch of the Assemblies of God, including information on German-language congregations in North Dakota. Published in German.)
Folder 14: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1943
Folder 15: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1944
Folder 16: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1945
Folder 17: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1946
Folder 18: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1947
Folder 19: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1948
Folder 20: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1949
Folder 21: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1950
Folder 22: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1951
Folder 23: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1952

Box 3

Folder 1: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1953
Folder 2: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1954
Folder 3: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1955
Folder 4: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1956
Folder 5: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1957
Folder 6: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1958
Folder 7: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1959
Folder 8: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1960
Folder 9: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1961
Folder 10: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1962
Folder 11: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1963
Folder 12: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1964
Folder 13: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1965
Folder 14: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1966
Folder 15: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1967
Folder 16: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1968
Folder 17: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), Jan. 1969 - Sept. 1969 Licht und Leben (East Detroit, Mich.), Oct. 1969 - Dec. 1969
Folder 18: Licht und Leben (East Detroit, Mich.), 1970
Folder 19: Licht und Leben (East Detroit, Mich.), 1971
Folder 20: The C.A. Witness (Scottsbluff, Neb.), 1944 - 1945 (Official organ of the Christ's Ambassadors [youth organization] of the German Branch of the Assemblies of God, including information on German-language congregations in North Dakota. Published in English.)
Folder 21: Articles concerning North Dakota from Assemblies of God Heritage, the quarterly historical journal of the Assemblies of God Archives (Springfield, Mo.). G. Raymond Carlson, “When Pentecost Came to the Upper Midwest” (Spring 1984). Fred G. Frank, “A Revival that Closed the Country Schools” (Spring 1988). Concerns the 1921 revival in Regan and Wilton, North Dakota. Glenn Gohr, “A Harvest in Minnesota: The Story of A/G Pioneer Frank J. Lindquist” (Spring 1990). Lindquist pastored the Minot (N.D.) Assembly of God in 1923, founded North Central Bible Institute in 1930, and served as District Superintendent of the North Central District from 1923 - 1945. Fannie Mae Hall, “G. Raymond Carlson: The Early Years in the Upper Midwest”(Summer 1993). Carlson (1918 - 1999) , a native of Crosby, N.D., served as General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God (1986 - 1993). Darrin J. Rodgers, “German is Food for the Soul: George Rueb, German-American Pentecostal Pioneer” (Fall-Winter 1999-2000). Rueb was a leader in the German language District of the Assemblies of God

Series 2: Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)

The second series regards the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee. The materials are filed chronologically and include: periodicals published by the Church of God regional office for North Dakota and South Dakota; Baptism with the Holy Ghost and the Evidence by Paul Haven Walker; and biographical materials on Paul Haven Walker.

Box 3

Folder 22: Church of God Informer, Aug. 10, 1938 (Official organ of the Church of God State Office for North and South Dakota)
Folder 23: Church of God Promoter of the Dakotas (Mobridge, S.D.), March 1946 Church of God Promoter of the Dakotas (Lemmon, S.D.), Nov. 1948 (Official organ of the Church of God State Office for North and South Dakota)
Folder 24: Dakota News (Minot, N.D.), 1956 - 1969 (Official organ of the Church of God State Office for North and South Dakota)
Folder 25: Paul Haven Walker, Baptism with the Holy Ghost and the Evidence (Cleveland, Tenn.: Church of God Publishing House, n.d.)
Folder 26: Biographical materials on Paul Haven Walker.

Series 3: Miscellaneous

The third and final series includes testimonies of early Pentecostalism in North Dakota, as well as various articles written by Darrin J. Rodgers.

Box 3

Folder 27: Testimonies of early Pentecostalism in North Dakota.
Folder 28: Darrin J. Rodgers, “Pentecostal Conversion in a North Dakota Church of the Brethren Community.” Concerns the Church of the Brethren and Assembly of God congregations in Cando and Egeland, North Dakota.
Folder 29: Darrin J. Rodgers, “North Dakotan Pentecostal Churches: Chronologies with Ministerial Lists and Bibliographic References.”
Folder 30: Rediscovering Our Diverse Roots: Pentecostal Origins in Scandinavian Pietism in Minnesota and the Dakotas," by Darrin J. Rodgers, 33^rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, March 2004

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Assemblies of God],
[Series 2: Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) ],
[Series 3: Miscellaneous],
[All]

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