North Dakota Pentecostal Church Collection, 1914-2004
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
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
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
- Folder 1: Constitution and By-laws of the North Dakota District Council of the Assemblies of God (1997 revised edition)
- 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
- Folder 1: North Dakota District Echoes (Bismarck, N.D.), 1973 - 1974
- 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
- Folder 1: Licht und Leben (Cleveland, Oh.), 1953
- Box 1
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Assemblies of God],
[Series 2: Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) ],
[Series 3: Miscellaneous],
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