(GLORY!!!!!)5/13/05LOS ANGELES, Calif.--More than 600 pastors, church administrators and special guests from dozens of denominations and organizations gathered for a luncheon at the historic downtown Millennium Biltmore Hotel on Tuesday, May 10. The purpose of the meeting was to inform them of the upcoming Azusa Street Centennial Celebration set to take place on April 25-29, 2006 in Los Angeles. More than 600 attended the Centennial Fellowship luncheon. The group received welcoming remarks from Bishop Charles Blake, pastor of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ and a top leader in the denomination who noted the historic significance of the centennial, marking 100 years since the power of the Holy Spirit fell upon a band of believers in the city. Theologians believe from that event, the Pentecostal movement was launched which today numbers more than 600 million worldwide. During the luncheon, which was held in the Crystal Ballroom, site of previous Academy Award ceremonies, prayers were offered up for scriptural unity and the centennial itself that it would be the event to signal the second century of Pentecost. Professional actors Sy Richardson and Karen Heimbuch portrayed early Pentecostal pioneers William Seymour and Aimee Semple McPherson respectively in short vignettes. Jack Hayford, president of the International Church of the Four Square Gospel also addressed the body on the significance of the upcoming Centennial. He introduced the featured speaker, Jim Reeve, pastor of Faith Community Church in West Covina, Calif. Reeve challenged the pastors in attendance to support the Centennial by encouraging their congregations to attend and to make financial commitments based on the number of members of their churches. Actress Karen Heimbuch portrayed Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson during the event. During Reeve's presentation he called upon Kenneth Copeland who also challenged the room packed with church leaders. "This is going to be one of the most exciting and significant events of our lifetime," Copeland remarked. Copeland, along with his wife Gloria, host the television ministry, Believer's Voice of Victory. Robert Fisher is a direct descendant of one of the pastors of the Azusa Street Mission. It is Fisher's vision which has spawned the momentum toward celebration of an Azusa Street Centennial. He is executive director of the Center for Spiritual Renewal in Cleveland, Tenn. "There are millions around the globe who trace their spiritual roots back to the revival at Azusa Street in 1906," Fisher stated. "From that significant event, hundreds of streams of Pentecost exist today. The Azusa Street Centennial Celebration will bring all of these streams back together in the city where they originated in a mighty move of scriptural and corporate unity." To obtain complete details about the Azusa Street Centennial Celebration, including registration information, history of the Azusa Street Revival, program schedule and accommodations in the Los Angeles area, visit www.azusastreet100.net.
