Description
The Apostolic Church (AC) is one of the evangelical churches. From the point of view of faith and practice, it is one of the so-called Pentecostal movements. Within the global context, it is possible to include the origins of this movement in the early years of the twentieth century. The pivotal events that gave rise to Pentecostals took place in 1901 at the Bible School in Topeka (Kansas, USA) and from 1906 to 1913 on Azusa Street in Los Angeles (also usa). Charles F. Parham (1873–1929) and William J. Seymour (1870–1922) were important personalities associated with these moments. In 1914, the Assemblies of God Church was founded in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is currently the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world.
Within the European context, the Norwegian capital Christiania (present-day Oslo) has become an important centre of the Pentecostal movement. Thomas B. Barratt , a preacher of the Episcopal Methodist Church there (1862–1940), became one of the most important pioneers of the emerging Pentecostal movement in Europe. Other important figures of the time include Jonathan A. Paul (1853–1931), Smith Wigglesworth (1859–1947) in England, Lewi Pethrus (1884-1974) in Sweden, and others. Today, most European Pentecostal churches are associated in the Pentecostal European Community (PEF) and form an important part of the continental Christian world.
The first Pentecostal choir in our territory was established in Northern Moravia before 1910. It was founded by events that were not originally related to the development in the emerging Pentecostal world at the time. A group of Christians began to come to study God's word and pray. They pleaded for authority to spiritual service, God subsequently baptized them in the Holy Spirit, and they received the gift of speaking in tongues. It is the emphasis on this experience – the acceptance of baptism in the Holy Spirit with the accompanying phenomenon of speaking in languages – that is one of the fundamental features of the Pentecostal movement. In 1910, the Association of Determined Christians was registered. Gradually, other Pentecostal groups were created outside northern Moravia. Under Nazi rule, however, the activities of the Association of Determined Christians were prohibited.
After World War II, the state allowed pentecostal communities to operate only under the umbrella of churches that were willing to incorporate these communities into their structures. But since the early 1960's, veraary differences have led to Pentecostal Christians seeking permission from their own church. The church's founding conference took place in 1964, but Pentecostals continued to face pressure and repression from the communist regime. 1977 was an important milestone in efforts to legalize the newly formed church, but the final success did not come until twelve years later. On January 25, 1989, the Communist government officially authorized the church's existence.
Rudolf Bubik (1941–2016) became bishop of the newly formed Apostolic Church, which played a key role in the integration of scattered Pentecostal congregations and played a significant role in the process of legalization of the Church. Under these new conditions, the Church began official activities, resulting in a significant increase in the membership base, an intensive process of establishing new congregations, developing missionary activities, establishing its own official educational institution, and consolidating the church overall. Bishop Martin Moldan has led the church since 2008.
Today, nearly 5,000 people subscribe to the Apostolic Church, according to the last census in 2011.
*Information from organization website
Executive Leadership
Bishop Martin Moldan
Apostolic Church
V Zídkách 402
280 02 Kolin 2
CZECH REPUBLIC
+420 321 720 457
[email protected]
https://apostolskacirkev.cz/
Rev. Wayne Alcorn
Dr. David Wells
President Damir Spoljaric
Rvdo. Jeremias Bolaños Anaya
