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| Assyrian Pentecostal Church | |
|---|---|
| Type | Eastern Reformed Christian |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Pentecostal |
| Distinct fellowships | World Assemblies of God Fellowship |
| Region | Australia,Canada,United States,Iran,Iraq,Turkey,Syria |
| Members | 15,000-20,000[citation needed] |
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TheAssyrian Pentecostal Church (Syriac:ܥܕܬܐ ܕܐܚܘܢܘ̈ܬܐ ܦܢܛܩܘܣܛܝ̈ܐ ܐܬܘܪ̈ܝܐ,‘Ittā d-Akhonāwāthā Pēnṭēqosṭāyē Ātūrāyē;Persian:کلیسای پنطیکاستی آشوری), is aReformed Eastern Christian denomination that began in ethnicallyAssyrian villages across theUrmia region in northwesternIran, spreading to theAssyrians living in the adjacent cities, and from there to indigenous Assyrian communities in theAssyrian Homeland, northernIraq, southeasternTurkey and northeasternSyria.
Theindigenous Assyrian people of ancientAssyria andUpper Mesopotamia had adopted Christianity in the 1st century AD, founding theChurch of the East inAssyria andOsroene (see also:Assyria,Assyrian people andAssyrian continuity). Those who converted to the Pentecostal Church (as well as theAssyrian Evangelical Church) in the 20th century were initially all members of theAssyrian Church of the East or its later 18th century AD offshoot, theChaldean Catholic Church, whilst others had been members of theSyriac Orthodox Church orAncient Church of the East (a 20th-century offshoot of the Assyrian Church). The vast majority of modern-day ethnic Assyrians remain adherents of these ancient indigenousEastern Rite churches.
The current church's doctrine and tradition is a continuation of the spiritual revival movements that took place in Western Iran during the 1930s. In 1940, with great diligence and personal sacrifice a young Assyrian pastor, named Tooma Nasseri[1] began his evangelical ministry throughout Western Iran and built churches and established congregations in villages, towns, and major metropolitan cities in Iran. With the seed ofProtestant Christianity planted, the Assyrian Protestant churches began to emerge throughout greater Iran in the 1950s.[2] Currently, the Assyrian Pentecostal Church has several congregations in California, Illinois, Canada, Australia, Austria, and Iran.[3] The Church is an affiliate with theAssemblies of God.[4] Today, the church may have from 12 to 20 thousand adherents.[citation needed]
The termPentecostal is derived fromPentecost, or the JewishFeast of Weeks, which commemorates the descent of theHoly Spirit upon the followers ofJesus Christ (Esho Mshexa in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic) as described in theBook of Acts, Chapter2. Thus, the Church's name originates from the biblical passages contained within theActs of the Apostles which refers to theday of Pentecost.
The Bible is the inspired Word of God.(2 Timothy 3:16)
Our God is one, but manifested in three persons, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.(John 16: 13-15)
Through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world.(Romans 5:12-21)
Through Jesus' death and resurrection, righteousness comes to all who believe.(John 3:3-5)
Baptism in water, by immersion.(Matthew 28:16)
The baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God.(Matthew 3:11,Acts 1:8, Acts 2: 1-4)
It is provided in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of every member of the church today.(James 5: 14-15, Mark 16:18, Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:17)
His coming is imminent. The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we that are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.(I Thess 4: 16-17, Acts 1:11)[5]
Theliturgical language spoken by the members, church choir, and the pastors isAssyrian Neo-Aramaic, a language descended from theMesopotamianAramaic introduced into theAssyrian Empire during the 8th century BC. Prayers and scripture are read and recited from a Syriac Aramaic Bible.[6]
The adherents of the Assyrian Pentecostal Church observe the following holidays:
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)| Catholic Church | |
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| Oriental Orthodoxy | |
| Church of the East | |
| Protestantism | |
| Missionaries | |
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Ethno-linguistic group(s) indigenous to theMiddle East; also known as Syriac-Arameans or Chaldeans | |||||||||
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| Syriac Christianity |
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