Apostolic Gospel Church of Jesus Christ
Apostolic Gospel Church of Jesus Christ is a church in the Oneness Pentecostalism movement that was founded in Bell Gardens, California in 1963 by Donald Abernathy.
| Apostolic Gospel Church of Jesus Christ | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Pentecostal |
| Founder | Donald Abernathy |
| Origin | 1963 Bell Gardens, California |
By 1968, five congregations existed in Abernathy's church in the Los Angeles region of southern California. In 1968, Abernathy reported a series of visions whereby it was shown to him that the west coast of North America would be devastated by a massive earthquake. After one of the pastors in the church reported a confirmatory vision, the church decided to relocate. Abernathy took one congregation to Atlanta, Georgia, while others went to Kennett, Missouri, Independence, Missouri, and Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[1]
Adherents of the Apostolic Gospel Church of Jesus Christ believe in faith healing and do not approve of the use of medicine or physicians. Members are pacifists and there is a strict dress and grooming code for men and women.[1]
The church is led by bishops and deacons and includes in its hierarchy prophets, apostles, evangelists, teachers, and laymen.
References
- Sherry Sherrod DuPree (1996). African-American Holiness Pentecostal Movement: An Annotated Bibliography. Taylor & Francis. p. 247. ISBN 0-8240-1449-9.
Further reading
- J. Gordon Melton (1996, 5th ed.). Encyclopedia of American Religions (Detroit, Mich.: Gale) p. 391