Cross Denominational Mission
A Welsh Congregational evangelist,
George Jeffreys (1889–1962), founded the Elim Pentecostal Church
in Monaghan, Ireland in 1915. He became Christian at age of 15
during the Welsh Revival of 1904. Rev. Alexander Boddy, Vicar of All
Saints Monkwearmouth, Sunderland invited him to preach at his
International Pentecostal Convention in Sunderland in May 1913. This
was the start of a period of extremely active evangelism which lasted
until 1934, and Jeffreys preached to large crowds throughout the United
Kingdom and Ireland. The Elim church was brought together, first as the
Elim Evangelistic Band, but this was changed to Elim Foursquare Gospel
Alliance when the Deed Poll (the legal instrument of registration) was
registered in April 1934. The name 'Elim' was taken from the book of
Exodus, chapter 15, verse 27, where the Israelites, leaving the bondage
of Egypt under the leadership of Moses, found an oasis called Elim:
"Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and
seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters." This
represented a hospitable place in the aridity of the desert:
refreshing, renewing , and welcome. This symbolism was thought
appropriate for the newly created revival movement.
Jeffreys
withdrew from the Elim Pentecostal Church in 1939 after disagreements
on administration and church government. The presidency of Elim then
passed to George Kingston, a wealthy businessman who had founded many
of the Elim congregations in Essex. Since the beginning Elim has
experienced steady growth and now numbers over 500 churches in the UK
and almost 9000 worldwide. Kensington Temple of London is the largest
church in the denomination and claims to reach over 15,000 people
weekly. The church operates Regents Theological College in Nantwich,
Cheshire. In addition to its work with churches, the International
Mission Board operates hospitals, orphanages, and schools in 35
countries. On the night
of June 23, 1978, eight British missionaries and four young children
connected with the Elim Mission in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) were murdered.
The authority of the church is rested in
the annual Conference. Guidance of the denomination is placed in the
National Leadership Team and the General Superintendent between
sessions. John Glass has served as General Superintendent since 2000.
The Elim Church headquarters is in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. Elim became a
founding member of the Pentecostal Churches of the United Kingdom in
1998 and it has been a member of the Evangelical Alliance for many years. Though
the local congregations are commonly and popularly known as Elim
Pentecostal Churches, the legal name of the denomination is still Elim
Foursquare Gospel Alliance, which is based on the church's stand for
four fundamental truths - "Jesus Christ as the Saviour, Healer,
Baptiser in the Holy Spirit, and Coming King."
Elim
beliefs include: the Bible as divinely inspired; the triune nature of
the Godhead; the divinity, virgin birth, humanity, sinless life,
substitutionary atonement; bodily resurrection, present intercession,
and second coming of Jesus; the universal sinfulness of mankind; the
work of the Holy Spirit in conviction, repentance, regeneration and
sanctification; the baptism of the Holy Spirit "with signs following";
that salvation is received by faith alone and evidenced by the fruits
of the Spirit. The baptism of believers by immersion and Communion are
held to be ordinances.
Links
The Elim Church
Elim Ministries - Ireland
Elim Church in Ireland
Elim Church in New Zealand
Elim Lutheran Church