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Azusa Street: They Told Me Their Stories
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- GenresChristian
138 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 2006
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May 17, 2010
Second-hand report of the lives and experiences of young participants in the Azusa Street Revival (1906) from 1970s interviews.
August 12, 2024
This is a book of stories told by Tom Welchel and written by Dr. J. Edward Morris and Cindy McGowan. The storyteller, Tom Welchel, literally sat at the feet of, by that time, elderly people listening to their stories of miracles that happened during the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, circa 1906 - 1910. The elderly people "interviewed" regularly, were only teens and young adults during this revival. They were actively involved in praying for people, during nightly services, and witnessing supernatural miracles, healings, and seeing, basking in, what is referred to as the "shekinah glory. ". This looked like a heavy presence of a blueish cloud which regularly filled the warehouse where hundreds met night after night.
These accounts were compiled into book form some 40 years after the telling of them to Tom Welchel.
I have read other accounts of Azusa, studied it, used it in teaching material, attended the centennial conference, and written papers concerning this move of God. While this book was "folksy" in narration, something seems to be lost in translation, so to speak. That is to say, there are other books on Azusa which, in my opinion, are far more insightful and possibly more correct theologically.
Yet, this book was written to give accounts of young people and their experiences in ministry during the Azusa Street Revival. The revival teens recalled events from some 60 years earlier, being interviewed in their 70s and possibly older. They remembered their excitement and astounding miracles as they prayed for others.
This book is not meant to be an in depth look at the Azusa revival. There are scores of books and articles, research, and opinions on it. One thing is sure, it happened! In fact, people traveled from Europe and other far locations to Los Angeles to be a part of this movement or to investigate it.
The Azusa Street revival was truly astounding in that it was completely integrated at a time when no other public gatherings were. It was, in fact, led by William Seymour, a black minister, and began with a few poor black individuals meeting. When the spiritual explosion took place, black white, Asian, Hispanic, and other ethnicities worshiped freely together. It was said that if Seymour saw certain groups sitting together he would ask for people to move and sit mixed together. Wealthy, poor, and people of moderate means attended. People came from across the ocean and far and wide. Thousands.
Missionaries, pastors, teachers, church planters, and at least two denominations, Assemblies of God, Church of God in Christ, were borne out of this mighty revival. It is more than coincidence that massive revivals were taking place across the globe during this same time period.
One point I took issue with in the book was Welchel's view on the shekinah glory. Shekinah is loosely defined as a weighty presence of God. The author maintains that God chose this humble building to once again dwell among people, just as when Jesus came to earth in a humble stable. (The Azusa warehouse had been used to keep farm animals at one point. ) Jesus plainly told His disciples, right previous to His ascension, that He must go but that He was sending the Comforter, that is His Spirit, or Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Spirit would be with them and in them. Thus, it refutes Scripture to say that the SpIrit came to the warehouse in the form of the glory cloud, haze whatever, as His dwelling place!
In fact, the shekinah glory has been witnessed by thousands over the years, as have other phenomena pertaining to the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. It doesn't mean His dwelling place is in that exact location to the exclusion of others. Perhaps the author. Imply wrote this badly and did not intentionally mean to indicate that. Nevertheless when people are gathered for Worship and seriously giving honor to God, His tangible presence is often felt and sometimes there are supernatural manifestations of His glory. This happens today!
The book is interesting but not outstanding. The accounts are somewhat repetitive.
A good article about Azusa is found at
https://revival-library.org/histories...
The are multiple other sites and books available on the topic of the world impacting revival.
If you are interested in this topic and ever in Los Angeles, visit the Bonnie Brae Museum house where it all began.
Bonnie Brae House Museum
Address: 216 N Bonnie Brae St, Los Angeles
UiDirections:Bonnie Brae House Museum. Downtown. Hollywood Freeway/US 101 exit 4A. Turn south onto Alvarado St., drive two blocks, turn left onto Court St., then make the fourth right onto Bonnie Brae St. The house is on the left, halfway down the block. Over on 312 Azusa St., a plaque marks the site of the now-demolished mission.Hours:Weekends only; visitors must remove shoes. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
These accounts were compiled into book form some 40 years after the telling of them to Tom Welchel.
I have read other accounts of Azusa, studied it, used it in teaching material, attended the centennial conference, and written papers concerning this move of God. While this book was "folksy" in narration, something seems to be lost in translation, so to speak. That is to say, there are other books on Azusa which, in my opinion, are far more insightful and possibly more correct theologically.
Yet, this book was written to give accounts of young people and their experiences in ministry during the Azusa Street Revival. The revival teens recalled events from some 60 years earlier, being interviewed in their 70s and possibly older. They remembered their excitement and astounding miracles as they prayed for others.
This book is not meant to be an in depth look at the Azusa revival. There are scores of books and articles, research, and opinions on it. One thing is sure, it happened! In fact, people traveled from Europe and other far locations to Los Angeles to be a part of this movement or to investigate it.
The Azusa Street revival was truly astounding in that it was completely integrated at a time when no other public gatherings were. It was, in fact, led by William Seymour, a black minister, and began with a few poor black individuals meeting. When the spiritual explosion took place, black white, Asian, Hispanic, and other ethnicities worshiped freely together. It was said that if Seymour saw certain groups sitting together he would ask for people to move and sit mixed together. Wealthy, poor, and people of moderate means attended. People came from across the ocean and far and wide. Thousands.
Missionaries, pastors, teachers, church planters, and at least two denominations, Assemblies of God, Church of God in Christ, were borne out of this mighty revival. It is more than coincidence that massive revivals were taking place across the globe during this same time period.
One point I took issue with in the book was Welchel's view on the shekinah glory. Shekinah is loosely defined as a weighty presence of God. The author maintains that God chose this humble building to once again dwell among people, just as when Jesus came to earth in a humble stable. (The Azusa warehouse had been used to keep farm animals at one point. ) Jesus plainly told His disciples, right previous to His ascension, that He must go but that He was sending the Comforter, that is His Spirit, or Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Spirit would be with them and in them. Thus, it refutes Scripture to say that the SpIrit came to the warehouse in the form of the glory cloud, haze whatever, as His dwelling place!
In fact, the shekinah glory has been witnessed by thousands over the years, as have other phenomena pertaining to the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. It doesn't mean His dwelling place is in that exact location to the exclusion of others. Perhaps the author. Imply wrote this badly and did not intentionally mean to indicate that. Nevertheless when people are gathered for Worship and seriously giving honor to God, His tangible presence is often felt and sometimes there are supernatural manifestations of His glory. This happens today!
The book is interesting but not outstanding. The accounts are somewhat repetitive.
A good article about Azusa is found at
https://revival-library.org/histories...
The are multiple other sites and books available on the topic of the world impacting revival.
If you are interested in this topic and ever in Los Angeles, visit the Bonnie Brae Museum house where it all began.
Bonnie Brae House Museum
Address: 216 N Bonnie Brae St, Los Angeles
UiDirections:Bonnie Brae House Museum. Downtown. Hollywood Freeway/US 101 exit 4A. Turn south onto Alvarado St., drive two blocks, turn left onto Court St., then make the fourth right onto Bonnie Brae St. The house is on the left, halfway down the block. Over on 312 Azusa St., a plaque marks the site of the now-demolished mission.Hours:Weekends only; visitors must remove shoes. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
April 19, 2020
Wow Christians one powerful book
May 5, 2023
First person accounts of the Azusa Street Revival. Stunning.
June 26, 2014
First, it's not a polished ghost-written story. It is told as if you were sitting at an elder's feet, eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking milk, listening to his personal recollections.
For me, this is not inspiring in a "that must be neat" kind of way, but - especially as I got toward the end of the book - because, in a manner of speaking, I've been there. When I became born-again and joined a local church, the miracles which are depicted here are very much like what was happening in that church! The biggest exception is that the roof of my church didn't appear as if on fire, and there was no visible, almost tangible appearance of the Shekinah during the services. Lame walked, growths fell off, deaf heard, and folks were delivered from different forms of oppression. This book served to inspire me by reminding me that if one is seeking God and not His benefits, seeking to submit to His Word with all your heart, He hears you. And if two or more like that are gathered together, look out! We've begun seeing the beginning of miracles again, and this book bolstered my expectation that more will come!
For me, this is not inspiring in a "that must be neat" kind of way, but - especially as I got toward the end of the book - because, in a manner of speaking, I've been there. When I became born-again and joined a local church, the miracles which are depicted here are very much like what was happening in that church! The biggest exception is that the roof of my church didn't appear as if on fire, and there was no visible, almost tangible appearance of the Shekinah during the services. Lame walked, growths fell off, deaf heard, and folks were delivered from different forms of oppression. This book served to inspire me by reminding me that if one is seeking God and not His benefits, seeking to submit to His Word with all your heart, He hears you. And if two or more like that are gathered together, look out! We've begun seeing the beginning of miracles again, and this book bolstered my expectation that more will come!
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August 5, 2011Great stories and it is a fast, easy read! Stories from a revival 100 years ago and the amazing things God did! How churches got started and miracles happened...just shows you that God can do anything and everything!
November 11, 2013
What a compelling book. I am a revivalist at heart, and I long for God to pour out His Spirit. This book pulled me in and kept me locked in from start to finish. Thanks to Brother Tommy for sharing this wonderful experience with the world.
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March 29, 2013Tommy Welchel made an audio book too, but it is no longer available.
October 18, 2013
awesome!!
April 6, 2017
very inspirational
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews