The Foursquare Gospel- Jesus as Saviour, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and soon Coming King.

George Jeffreys established an Evangelistic Band and they travelled around the world. People came to Christ, were healed and baptized in the Spirit. George started to refer to this as the Foursquare Gospel- Jesus as Saviour, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and soon Coming King.

Elim have launched a new TV-Video page on there website. Pastor John Glass General Superintendent of the Elim Pentecostal Church, has recored a series of short films on the subject of the Foursquare Gospel.

visit
http://www.elim.org.uk/Groups/149981/ElimTV.aspx
to learn more about Christ and nothing less!

George Jeffreys: Never a man spake like this man

Some books to look out for!

The story of George Jeffreys is told in George Jeffreys — a Ministry of the Miraculous [jpg] by Ernest C.W. Boulton (Elim Publishing Office, 1928), George Jeffreys Man of God — the Story of a Phenomenal Ministry by Albert W. Edsor (Ludgate Press Ltd., 1964) and Set Your House in Order — God’s Call to George Jeffreys as the Founder of the Elim Pentecostal Movement by Albert W. Edsor (New Wine Press, 1989). The split from Elim is the theme of Fight for THe Faith and Freedom by Noel Brooks (The Pattern Bookroom, 1956), and is dealt with at length in Sects and Society by Bryan R. Wilson (William Heinemann Ltd., 1961). The best eye-witness account of George Jeffreys’ ministry and of a personal interview is to be found in God is My Adventure — A Book on Modern Mystics, Masters and Teachers [jpg] by Rom Landau [jpg] (Ivor Nicholson and Watson Limited, 1935) under the chapter “Miracle at the Albert Hall”. Other chapters of the book are devoted to (among others) Rudolf Steiner, Krishnamurti, Frank Buchman, P.D. Ouspensky and Gurdjieff. It is unfortunate that the chapter on George Jeffreys has been omitted from a more recent reprint of Rom Landau’s book.

Short Version of the history of Stephen Jeffreys (1876-1943)

Stephen Jeffreys was born and raised in the valleys of South Wales, in a typical minning home. He went to work in the coal mines at the age of 12. He led a very typical mining lifestyle until 1904 when the great Welsh revival invaded those mines. For several days he was under deep conviction of sin and very sad. Other men working with him had been converted and filled with the joy of the Lord. Finally he came to Christ and became a totally changed man, he was aged 28. That year Wales was filled with the glory of God and new converts. Immediately he joined himself to Gods people, attending all prayer meetings and especially all open air meetings. He soon started preaching in the open air with great fire and passion. He continued working in the mines for some years as he became a witness and testimony to all. This is how God prepared His servant.

As far as Pentecostal things go, he had no time for them and even for a time preached against 'tongues'. But later being convinced this outpouring was of God he himself sought the same blessing of God. It was during special meetings, that he received his Baptism in the Holy Ghost accompanied with tongues. He had a mighty experience, and this made the difference in his life as a witness, he considered it an epoch in his life. He was invited a second time to hold a three day Gospel campaign near Swansea in 1913. When he was leaving the mine to go preach he turned to a friend and said, "Well, Billy, if God blesses me this time, I shall never return to the coal-mine." God did bless, these meetings continued for several weeks, with about 145 souls turning to Christ, bodies healed and a number of believers who had spoken in tongues. During these beginnings his brother George was found by his side in ministry. This was just the beginning of pioneer evangelism for him, he would enter towns where only a few people would turn up, but would pray, preach and persevere until a break came. In the early days he had prayed for the sick but seen few healed. But that changed the day a young girl diseased in both feet who was under threat of amputation sent for him to come pray. He anointed her with oil and laid hands on her in the name of Jesus, instantly she was healed and that night testified in the meeting. Great faith came into his heart to believe God for greater things still.

In 1913 men like Cecil Polhill and A.A.Boddy hearing about these early campaigns came to see for themselves. While talking personally with Boddy, these two Brothers made known their passion and burden to see the ministry of the Evangelist raised up in the young Pentecostal movement and to see it grow by soul winning. As a result the testimonies of the meetings were reported in such publications as Confidence and of course invitations came to preach elsewhere. Stephen's great burden was Wales, after holding a campaign in Llanelli, he decided to settle there, raise up a work and use it for a base for the next seven years. During that time he would head of on short trips, often to struggling missions to help break ground. Shortly after he came to Llanelli, on a Sunday night in July 1914 as he preached, there appeared on the wall behind him as it were a vision, all could see it, only when Stephen finished preaching did he go and sit down and also saw it. First it was a picture of a lamb which then turned to the appearance of the face of Christ as the man of sorrows. This lasted for about six hours with many hundreds being witness to it. Those who were at first sceptics tried everything to explain it but finally had to confess it was God. Two weeks later he preached on Christ as the "Man of sorrows", that week the First World War broke out lasting for the next five years.

In 1919 a powerful move of God took place under his ministry in Aberaman, when he arrived it was a fellowship of nine believers, when he left it had over 300 believers. Then to London at the invitation of Polhill and again God bore witness to His word with mighty conversions and miracles. In 1922 he joined the Elim Pentecostal Alliance and pastured their first Church in Britain. Together with his brother they filled the largest and most famous halls in the land. In 1924 He was in Canada and America for several months of ministry with his brother, then back to Britain. In about 1926 He left Elim and became the pioneer evangelist for the young AoG, holding mighty campaigns throughout Britain establishing this new movement and giving it an evangelistic thrust. When he visited Parr’s Church, 50 believeers sat in a 600 seater building, when he left it was bunged. He then took a world tour covering New Zealand, Austraila, south Africa and America arriving back in 1931. At this time his son who had travelled and ministered with him in the 20's, came to the fore in the 30's with the same ministry. In 1933 he had the great privilege to minister in Sweden at Lewi Pethrus’s Church and in Norway at T.B.Barratt’s Church.

This fearless and tireless, rugged preacher who was often said to be like one of the Old Testament Prophets, had worn himself out in abundant labours. Quite suddenly he came to a standstill with failing health. Crippled with arthritis he spent his last days in his beloved Wales, preaching his last message just one month before he died in 1943. In those last days, friends and family stood grieved as they looked upon his form, frail and bent and hands twisted by arthritis which once were laid boldly on the sick. Truly he was known as 'The beloved Evangelist'.

The Mighty Move of God’s Spirit in Southampton.

News of what God was doing in 1926 was becoming known elsewhere. At the beginning of the year there had
been a great time of blessing in the campaign at Plymouth and this was followed by a short campaign at St.
Peter Port, Guernsey. The Bournemouth campaign started in July and people flocked to the meetings by bus
and tram. The following year George Jeffreys came to Southampton and held a great campaign. After the
initial meeting at which a number of people were saved and several healed, the meetings grew in size as
people gathered at the Central Hall to hear this powerful evangelist who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ –
the Saviour, Healer, Baptiser and Coming King. As they came, people accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour
and as the healing lines took place, wonderful miracles were effected by the power of God. A number of
remarkable miracles were recorded during that campaign. One was Miss Florence Munday, who had been an
invalid for about fifteen years and had to be wheeled about in a bath chair. Her knee was completely
destroyed and in splints. The doctors had told her that she would never walk again, but after prayer she was
able to walk across the hall, healed by the power of God. My mother had fallen down some steps at
Winchester and had become paralysed. She could not look after a small boy and so I had to live with my aunt
across the road. My father was in business and one of his customers, Mr. Frank Hurst of Awbridge, told him
of the meetings in Southampton. We lived at Romsey, but he decided to go and laid my mother across the
back seat of a taxi. On arrival at the meeting she was laid on the platform and when George Jeffreys prayed
for her, she was completely healed and went home on the bus! Many other healings took place during those
meetings and almost a thousand souls came to know the Lord as their Saviour.
The Formation of Pentecostal Churches in the Area.
A phrase which came into existence in those days was: ‘George Jeffreys always pens his sheep.’ This was
true, as after every campaign a church was established in the area. The Southampton church was opened at
Park Road, Freemantle and another was opened by Miss Munday at St. Monica Road, Sholing. On returning
to Romsey my mother and father were instrumental in the formation of an Elim church in that town. Another
church was soon to be established in Eastleigh and before long the Pentecostal message took root in Andover.
In the years which followed, Mr. Wellstead of Totton obtained a piece of ground at the top end of Water Lane
and a church was eventually opened, although at the time of its commencement it was independent. Other
believers who had been moved by the power of God in the Southampton meetings started a work on the
Western side of Southampton Water, meeting at Dibden Purlieu and finally at Hardley Green. Many other
churches were affected by the Pentecostal message, but not all moved on in the blessing. One notable
exception was The Gospel Hall at Canada Road, West Wellow, which joined the Elim movement as an affiliated
church and is still in operation today.
Little is known of the history of the small assembly which had originally existed in the town, but it must have
joined the number of autonomous churches which became known as Assemblies of God in Great Britain and
Ireland after its formation in 1924, Mr. Tilling becoming Missionary Secretary-Treasurer in 1929. Its work
continued throughout the years. Meanwhile the Elim work in Freemantle continued apace and there was a
rich variety of ministry both from Pastor Trevor who was the first minister after the formation of the church
and those who followed in the general turn-round of pastors in the Elim churches. Many missionaries
regularly visited the port of Southampton on their way to the mission field and on their return for a time of
furlough. Often they would be present for a meeting and would share their experiences.

The Great Southampton Campaign in 1937.
In the early part of the year news filtered through that Principal George Jeffreys was planning to hold another
campaign in Southampton and it took place in the Summer of that year. There was a large open space in
Commercial Road at the back of some shops on the corner of Morris Road and here a huge tent was erected
to house the ‘Revival and Divine Healing Campaign.’ George Jeffreys and his Revival Party arrived and the
meetings commenced with hearty Pentecostal singing led by Mr. R. E. Darragh with Mr. A. W. Edsor at the
piano. Crowds gathered nightly to those meetings and many young people attended to hear the message.

The Pentecostal Work in Southampton.
Night after night the Gospel went forth in the Holy Spirit power and anointing and there were meetings in the
afternoons. Once again people were born again of the Spirit of God and many healings took place. Although
we do not have the actual numbers it is known that God moved in a mighty way to save and heal and many
nominal Christians returned to faith in Jesus Christ. God had moved again in revival power in Southampton
and the intense longing of many people for more of the Holy Spirit was satisfied as they began to speak in
tongues and manifest the gifts of the Spirit. Revival was in the air and the Gospel was proclaimed on the
trams and buses and in the open air, particularly every Sunday afternoon outside the Cowherds Inn on
Southampton Common. At the close of the campaign the meetings continued in the Elim Church at Park
Road, Freemantle under the ministry of Pastor Lemuel Morris. Many new faces were to be seen in the
meetings and the church was packed to capacity. One of the new converts was a man who had been a
‘blackshirt,’ a follower of the radical political group led by Sir Oswald Mosley. He was fearless in the open air
meetings which were common in those days. The theatres did not open on Sundays at that time and because
the meetings were so packed with people, often on Sunday evenings they were held in the Grand Theatre,
which was near the bus station opposite the Civic Centre, or in the Palace Theatre in Above Bar.

The Pentecostal Work in Southampton in the War Years.
This was the pattern in the late 1930’s in Southampton, but things were to change as time drew on. The
political situation in Europe was causing great concern as Germany was re-arming and making demands upon
neighbouring states. War clouds were gathering and with the German invasion of Poland, we were at war
with Nazi Germany on 3rd September, 1939. Things went on much as usual in Southampton in those days,
and it was not until the miracle of Dunkirk that things began to change. Nothing significant was happening in
the local churches for a time, but trouble was taking place nationally in the Elim movement. Just before the
war, George Jeffreys had been to Sweden and saw the great Pentecostal work which had taken place under
the ministry of Lewi Pethrus in Stockholm. He came back to this country, determined to change the structure
of the Elim movement. This met with considerable opposition and there was a division in the churches. There
was a lot of propaganda as leaflets were printed and distributed throughout the country and as no agreement
could be reached, George Jeffreys left the Elim movement which he had brought into being and formed.

‘The Bible Pattern Church Fellowship.’ Churches were now forced to make up their minds and in July 1940 the
Southampton Elim church was changed by a vote of the membership into the Bible Pattern Church.
The war was now reaching
a crucial stage and many young people had been called into the armed forces. Southampton and other cities
suffered a terrible bombardment and the church at Park Road was struck by a bomb, rendering it unfit for use
as a place of worship. The meetings then took place in the minor hall and a few rooms outside the main
building. Meanwhile, the argument continued with the Elim Headquarters over the legal entitlement of the
building and this continued for some time.
A Time of Change was now taking place.
Due to the need for a minister at the Middlesbrough church, the Bible Pattern Church Headquarters
transferred Lemuel Morris to that city and someone had to be found to take over the Southampton church.
Robert Smith was a friend of George Jeffreys and had originally been the Dean of the Elim Bible College. He
had resigned from the movement and for some time was living in Cornwall as a chicken farmer. He was called
back into the ministry and took over as pastor of the Southampton church. He was a strong and forceful
preacher and was well liked by the congregation. He was originally a miner at Dowlais in South Wales and
soon found that an old friend of his, William George, who had also been a miner at Merthyr Tydfil was the
pastor of the Romsey Elim church. Thus they renewed their friendship and worked in harmony, despite their
denominational differences. Robert Smith was an honourable man and it was not long before he realised that
there was something amiss. They were worshipping as a Bible Pattern church in a building which was legally
owned by the Elim movement. In fact, this had been the bone of contention since the beginning of the split
between the two groups, and Elim had repeatedly tried to get the building back. Robert Smith told his
oversight that he was not happy with the situation and said they should do the honourable thing and get out
of the building. He therefore began to look for another place in which to worship.
The Pentecostal Work in Southampton.
Some time in 1945 the Bible Pattern church moved into the Oddfellows Hall in St. Mary Street, near the Kingsland Square Market.

CLAPHAM LONDON

Churches throughout Britain recognised the hand of God which rested upon the two brothers and invites flooded in from churches willing to host their 'revival' meetings. George sensed that the Holy Spirit wanted him to relocate from Ireland to a more appropriate venue. So in 1921, it was with great sadness that the Elim work I Ireland said 'good-bye' to George as he left for a new an exciting venture, that would result in him seeing the biggest building filled to capacity with people hungry to hear the words that came from the heart of God.

A series of meetings were held in Leigh on Sea, Essex, where the first building on the mainland was purchased for this memorable occasion. Crowds of people came from neighbouring communities to support the revival meetings and as a result, an Elim fellowship was left in that town.

In January 1922 preparations were under way for George and Stephen to hld revival services in an old disused Methodist church in Clapham Park, Clapham. Meetings were held nightly for a month with wonderful results - "Conversions, healings, and baptisms in the Holy Spirit have followed at every meeting. Souls have been saved even at the open-air meetings. The large hall in the rear of the building is frequently filled, and sometimes overcrowded with anxious souls The following press reports will demonstrate the general effect of the meetings upon the minds of the public:-—
IRISH REVIVALIST AT CLAPHAM COMMON.
The Revival Meetings conducted by Pastor George Jeffreys, of Belfast, the old church at Park Crescent, attracting much attention by the testimonies of the converts who claim to have derived benefit from his ministry, it is evident that a Revival of the most apostolic type is in progress, Not only are they claiming to be relieved of burdened consciences. but publicly testifying to being healed of diseases through the faith cures. By the intense fervour of the worshippers one would conclude that the Revival is being enthusiastically supported by the congregation, which is composed of staid men and women of all classes and creeds."

This article was reported in the press at that time and later published in the Elim Evangel.
"HEALING IN CLAPHAM
A building, from the outside looking as if it belonged to a bygone age, vet viewed from within, bright with glowing lamps. Such is the setting for the strange scenes winch are being enacted in a church in Park Crescent Clapham Park Road, where Pastor George Jeffreys, of Elim Tabernacle, Belfast, is preaching, The meetings are decidedly strange and in many ways are reminiscent of early Methodist Revivals, for one can hear the Hallelujahs and Amens resounding on all sides as the address is given. Many of those who claim to have received good at the meetings believe the preacher has been sent in answer to the prayers of the old Methodist saints, who in years gone by had reverently prayed and worshipped God within its walls The old church has been converted into a real apostolic centre, where people claim to have received miraculous gifts through the ministry of the Scriptures. Most remarkable testimonies have been given, including deaf people hearing suddenly. Some who were diseased prior to the application of the olive oil, which is lavishly used by the Pastor, now give glowing testimonies of faith healing. Conversions of a most striking type are reported daily as the irresistible power of his sermons penetrates the stoutest hearts. That a Revival is in progress no one can doubt.

The writer has had personal dealing with each of the following eases, and others just as remarkable are of constant occurrence — A. sister was healed of deafness after ten years' suffering. A brother was healed when anointed for deafness so that he could hear the ticking of a watch. A 78.year-old Christian lady, who had six cancers, was so overjoyed at the glorious result of the anointing that she is testifying everywhere of her deliverance from pain and suffering. A young man who came from Scotland on purpose to attend the meetings, and who described himself as a physical wreck," testified that he had received the full assurance of salvation, the baptism of the Spirit, and perfect healing of body, all within a week. The evening on which this brother received the baptism will be remembered by all present. Here was Acts x , 44, repeated in this twentieth century. While taking notes of the preacher's message the power of God came upon him, and, like Paul, he was prostrated. Every part of his being seemed charged with supernatural power, and his face shone with ineffable light. Those about him gave the following testimony —" We heard him speak with tongues and magnify God. Up to the present over fifty have received the Pentecostal baptism, and over one hundred have professed conversion.

The building was originally rented for twelve months, then purchased for the then pricey sum of £4,525.1s.9d, and the first Elim church in London was purchased. This was a great sacrifice, but the young movement rose to the challenge and within a very short space of time the debt was cleared and the 'revival services' were continuing in the now 'Elim Tabernacle, Clapham', which was to play a vital role in the life of the movement's history in the UK.

Clapham also played an important role in taking the Pentecostal message to other parts of the world. In March 1922 it was also reported that Miss Adelaide Henderson said farewell from Elim Tabernacle, Clapham to go to work in the Congo as reported in the April edition of the Elim Evangel. Later on people fare-welled from Clapham to work in many parts of the world.

Stephen left Wales and joined his brother in pastoring the new church, which was later to become known as 'Clapham Central Church' as this became the headquarters of the Elim movement. For five years the brothers pastored the work here, and at the same time took many opportunities to conduct services elsewhere in the UK. Everywhere they went signs and wonders followed the preaching of the Word of God.

Even though a building had been purchased in Clapham, members of the Evangelistic Band conducted further meeting in a tent nearby at Clapham Junction. People were still being converted and Christians were "being brought into a deeper Life with Him." (Oct 1923).

Another account of the many healings reported in the Elim Evangel:-
"....I was suffering from rupture, and was trusting the Lord for healing. I went to the Elim Tabernacle, Park Crescent, Clapham, on Thursday, April 5th. to the Water Baptismal Service, and while the service was going on the presence of God was felt all over the building, and I felt the Lord operating inside my body and, praise the Lord, He has healed me. I never shall cease to praise Him! G. Ryder (Notting Hill, London W 11)"

The many healings and miracles prove beyond a shadow of doubt that the 'gifts of the Holy Spirit' are as much for today as they were at the commencement of the Church 2,000 years ago. Here is a copy of a doctor's letter of a woman who testified in the Clapham Church in 1923 of being miraculously healed:-

180, Kennington Park Road. S.E 11.
15 April, 1921."I hereby certify that Edith May Cufiley has been under my professional care since December, 1917, and before that date, under my predecessor, the late Dr. it Foster Owen, for several years. She was rendered unfit for work in June, 1916, by reason of pulmonary tuberculosis, which was followed by spinal tuberculosis. She was more or less prostrated from that time until the 4th of April last, when she appears to have mysteriously recovered, having received no systematic treatment since her removal from a sanatorium in August, 1920. For the last two years she was crippled. bed-ridden, and believed to be incurable. In my opinion, she is now recovered and will soon be quite fit for work, and her cure can only be ascribed to her wonderful faith in prayer.
"(Signed) P. EUGENE GIUSEPPE, M B., C M., J.P., "
Late Government Medical Officer, Trinidad, B.W,I."

Short Version of the history of George and Stephens work together

It is no wonder that George Jeffries became the founder and leader of the Britain’s Elim Pentecostal Alliance. He was arguably the most influential and most gifted preacher that the British Pentecostal Movement has ever produced. Donald Gee’s record of him is revealing: ‘He had a voice like music, with sufficient Welsh intonation to add an inimitable charm. His platform personality at times was magnetic. His face was appealing. Although lacking academic training he possessed a natural refinement that made him acceptable in all circles. He pre­sented his message with a logical appeal and a note of authority that was compelling. With all that he was baptized in the Holy Spirit.’

He was converted in the Welsh Revival on Nov. 20th 1904, with his brother Stephen, under the evangelistic ministry of Glassnant Jones. It was the provocation of Stephen’s son, Edward, who first received the Spirit and spoke in tongues that caused him to seek God for a deeper experience. Soon afterwards he received a personal healing from extreme physical frailty, a speech impediment and a developing facial paralysis. He was also baptised in the Holy Spirit and was soon preaching the Gospel publicly.

At Cecil Polhill’s instigation he resigned from his job at the Co-operative Stores in Maesteg, and began a period of training at the Pentecostal missionary college in Preston under Thomas Myerscough’s leadership and was set apart for the ministry by the Independent Apostolic Church known as Emmanuel Christ Church, Maesteg, on the 13th Nov. 1912.

He helped his brother in a mission in Jan. 1913 and began to conduct small campaigns in Wales with increasing success. Attending the Sunderland convention in 1913 he was given opportunity to preach for Alexander Boddy and an Irish visitor immediately invited him to Ireland, offering to pay the fare. Unfortunately, when the owners of the hall in Monaghan that was secured for the series of meetings, learned that he was a Pentecostal, they cancelled the booking! During a further invitation in 1915 to minister in Monaghan, Northern Ireland, George met a group of zealous young men and they joined together forming the Elim Evangelistic Band, registering it as the Elim Pentecostal Alliance. The members were Margaret Streight, R. E. (Ernest ) Darragh, William Henderson, and Frederick Farlow.

Initially they worked exclusively in Ireland, establishing his first church in Belfast in 1916. After this he accepted many invitations in England planting churches there from 1921. With Stephen he conducted highly successful crusades in London and Hull before entering London in 1922. In this year the headquarters of Elim were moved to Clapham in S.W. London. "Elim Woodlands" was purchased and it also housed the Elim Bible College, with other local properties added for administration of the growing movement.

George spent the next ten years in sustained evangelistic activity with remarkable success. During this time his ministry enjoyed a fresh anointing causing a meteoric rise to fame across the land. His evangelistic and divine healing campaigns soon filled the largest public halls in the country. There were thousands of converts, scores of healings and dozens of churches planted. In Birmingham 10,000 converts were recorded. British Pentecostalism enjoyed a quantum leap forwards during this time.

In mainland Europe he was also a great success, seeing an astonishing 14,000 converts in Switzerland in the years 1934-36. He visited Sweden several times and was the main preacher at the European Pentecostal Conference in Stockholm in June 1939.

New Book
I would like to commend a website to you

“Pentecostal Pioneers Remembered”
by Keith Malcomson.
Here is a story long untold and mostly forgotten, of faith, power and glory.
http://www.pentecostalpioneers.org/pentecostalpioneersremembered.

See Article below, click on picture of book for website link.

Why I am recalling these stories

You may wonder why I am recalling these stories, the Bible tells us why!
• Miracles should be remembered.
1 Chronicles 16:12 Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
Psalms 105:5 Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
• Stories of Miracles should be told to future generations.
Exodus 10:2 And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.
Judges 6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

Confirmed the Word with signs following.

God has graciously honored the ministry of Pastor Stephen Jeffreys, brother of George Jeffreys, in the salvation of souls, and has continually confirmed the Word with signs following. J. W. Adams, an Episcopal minister of Wall, Litchfield, Staffs., writes: "While in London I went to Surrey Tabernacle, Walworth, and though at first somewhat prejudiced, I was profoundly impressed that Pastor Jeffreys and his helpers were instruments of the Lord Jesus in healing all manner of sickness. After being given up by doctors and turned away from hospitals, the blind received their sight, the deaf heard, the dumb spoke, cancer was cured, and the lame leaped for joy. Above all, the gospel was preached to rich and poor alike."

One who attended Stephen Jeffreys' campaign at Bishop Auckland wrote as follows: "There have been as many as 1,500 turned away disappointed after waiting in line two hours before the commencement of the service, who have complained, `When we have a bit of gospel we cannot get in to hear it.' There have been some wonderful divine healing cases-- the lame walking, the deaf hearing, and all manner of diseases healed in the name of Jesus. A born-blind girl, twelve years of age, from Newcastle on Tyne, received her sight, and the first face she saw in the world was the pastor's. A dear man who had been in an invalid's carriage and on crutches for seven years, came to the meeting on Friday night and could hardly move on his crutches, an object of pity. The pastor laid hands on him as he sat helpless in the chair. Immediately he came to his feet, and putting his crutches on his shoulder, walked home. This man walked into the meeting on Sunday night, and as soon as he was noticed the whole congregation of 1,000 began clapping their hands as they saw him mount the platform. This man has come every night since, dancing and leaping for joy. Another woman, Monday night, never able to walk from birth, of about forty-five years, was prayed for. As the evangelist laid hands on her she stood and walked, and then in sheer joy sobbed."

Mr. T. D. Dorling writes: "During the month here at Bishop Auckland, over 2,000 souls confessed the Lord as their Saviour, a church being formed which now fills the Eden theater holding 1,200 people on a Sunday evening."

"On September 3, 1927, a campaign commenced at Victoria Hall, Sunderland. The Lord came down in mighty power and testified to His presence in a manner that set the county heaving. Crowds gathered from distant towns, creating a situation which had to be taken in hand by the police. Twice a day thousands of people were divided into queues by mounted and foot police, and when 3,000 had been admitted to the hall, often a larger number remained outside to be dispersed by the police or reformed into queues to wait for the next meeting. Probably never before in England have such services been witnessed in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. So mightily was the Spirit outpoured that at ten p. m. queues were formed, standing or sitting, throughout the whole night till three p. m. the next day, sympathetic hearts ministering to the crowds-- some with their sick-- throughout the night, supplying hot tea and eatables.

"An inspection in the early hours of the morning revealed some stirring examples and deep pathos of human love and sympathy. An aged mother reclining on the flagstone was holding the place for a crippled son, who could not spend the night in the open. A young woman resting on the pavement was ministering throughout the night to her sick husband. Each story told a need and a sacrifice through love. Ambulances, cabs and a variety of vehicles brought the sick and suffering and numbers were immediately raised from stretchers and testified in a practical manner of their healing. Such mighty demonstrations of the power and virtue of Calvary increased the interest, and the crowds, from which the Lord drew an abundant harvest -3,300 souls passed through the enquiry rooms or confessed the Lord as their Saviour; forming a church so numerous as to create a difficulty to find a place to accommodate them. This work has since spread to Seaham Harbour, where a second church has been formed in a hall holding 1,000."

One who attended the revival meeting held by Stephen Jeffreys in Bury, wrote: "We have daily seen wonderful miracles of healing and salvation. Seven blind eyes have been opened, deaf have regained their hearing, the lame have discarded crutches, and the dead in trespasses and sins have been raised to newness of life. One Thursday afternoon two cases of cancer were prayed for and both were healed. One of these two was Mrs. Wall, The Homestead, Woodland Ave., Gorton, Manchester.

The Lord’s healing power in Brighton, Portsmouth & Bournemouth

Over 1,200 were swept into the kingdom in one campaign held , and 300 gave testimony to the Lord’s healing power. One who attended this meeting writes: ‘Hundreds of people have testified in the meeting to having been healed. People who only a few weeks ago were bedridden, or wheeled about in chairs, are today walking and praising God for His kindness in healing them. Lame ones, who moved only by the aid of crutches, are able to dispense with these. Deaf ones have been made to hear, blind ones to see, fourteen testified to having been cured of cancer, tuberculosis, or tumor’.

Mr. Percy G. Parker wrote of a revival campaign held by George Jeffreys at Portsmouth: ‘Hundreds testified to healing, two at least had been wheeled into the meetings a few days before. One for fifteen years and the other for twenty years had been wheeled about helpless, but lo! they walked before us healed! The useless leg of one had faded to a skeleton. Not only was she instantly healed but her flesh returned as fresh and full as the other. A little girlie of about three years of age had been healed of paralysis of both arms. She held them up before us. Another had been blind in her right eye for many years. Now she sees! Growths, dislocations, deafness, rupture, even sugar diabetes have all disappeared before the touch of the Master.

We are living in the days of the acts of the Holy Ghost – thank God for it! Our eyes are seeing what hundreds of thousands of the redeemed ones have been groaning for. At this last meeting no less than 130 people signified their acceptance of Christ’.

The following is a newspaper clipping from the Bournemouth Times and Directory, by a special reporter, Marion Holmes: ‘If I had gone to the big tent – where Principal George Jeffreys has been holding revival and healing meetings – to scoff, I should certainly have remained to pray. But I did not go to scoff, I went to see if the wonderful cures of which I had heard were really taking place, and to decide – if I could – whether they were due, as some said, to hysterical excitement, or to something much greater and more permanent in its effects. I went, I saw, and I was conquered …. The gift of sight to a boy, who – so I was told – was born blind, was conferred at the same meeting; and I was given the particulars of the healing of a severe and long-standing case of spinal trouble by the grateful patient himself. Cases of cancer, goiter, rheumatism, nerve trouble, curvature of the spine, hereditary deafness, asthma, and numerous others have been cured at other meetings’.

The following incident is one of the after-effects of the revival meeting held at Bournemouth. It is taken from the Daily Chronicle, a London newspaper: ‘After being crippled from early childhood, owing to a diseased hip, Lindley Lodge, aged 26, of Highfield Road, Salisbury, has been cured by prayer. She has cast aside a surgical shoe, a splint, and surgical irons, and now wears ordinary shoes. Miss Lodge has been a patient in Salisbury infirmary about 20 times since she was five years old, and has had a number of operations, yet for the most part she has had to be wheeled in a chair. When last discharged from the infirmary a few months ago she was told that, failing relief of her pain, it would be necessary to amputate the leg. She agreed to this course, but decided to wait until after Christmas. In the meantime, however, a friend communicated with Pastor Fergus Trevor, of Bournemouth, who sent a message that at 3:20 p. m. on a certain day, special prayer would be offered for her. ‘I had heard of a person at Bournemouth being cured of curvature of the spine by prayer’, she told a Chronicle reporter, ‘and just before three o’clock that day I went into my room, took off my splint and irons, and feeling sure that I should not wear them again, I began to pray. Then something happened – I do not know what – but when I came to myself I could walk around the room. That was at 3:25. I flew downstairs to tell my parents. They were dumbfounded’. Within a week Miss Lodge had discarded her shoe, which had a sole 3,5 inches thick, and has worn shoes one of which had merely an extra layer of leather on the sole. The leg which was previously four inches short is now pratically normal’.

Time to move on

As you have seen I have tried to bring you some of the stories of how the Jeffreys brothers were used to preach the Gospel message and include teaching on the subject of the Holy Sprint and Divine Healing. This then lead to the planting of many churches which were called Elim churches.

If you would like to add your story please feel free to email me pandasimpson@taltalk.net

For now I will endeavour to share some stories from around the world.

A vision for Ireland

A vision for Ireland showed a gold ring – representing the first Elim Assembly – out of which came many other rings.

I must mention the vision given to a sister who was a most consistent follower of the Lord, and who most faithful to the Elim work. At the time this vision was given she knew nothing of the plans proposed in Monaghan (the beginning of the Elim work).

The vision consisted of a large, golden ring out of which came a dazzling brightness –brighter than the sun at noonday– and out of the ring ran many other rings in all directions. She prayed to God for the interpretation, and it was given:
”The large ring is the first Elim Assembly, and out of it shall come many other assemblies.” To her it was no idle dream.

Leaving but little impression. It was a vision given by God, one that was stamped indelibly upon her heart, and which was meant to be actually fulfilled. As I write these words my heart flows out in praise and thanksgiving to God, for he has caused it to come to pass! Out of a mere handful of Christians– devoted followers of Christ, who knew something about praying and thirsting for souls
have come workers who have gone forth with the sword of the Spirit, and with the shield of faith, who have walked in the train of Christ’s triumph, and who have reaped the fruit of that corn of wheat that fell into the ground. Lives and homes have been transformed on all hands. The garment of praise from the wardrobe of heaven has been given to many who previously were garbed in the robe of sadness and gloom. The oil of gladness has been poured into mourners’ hearts, and they have been filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

YOUTUBE SITE

View a compilation of three Sermonettes by Principle George Jeffreys.
On YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfGFOcMYiF4&videos=M6K2FXvC-kM
1 A Vital Question 2 The Foursquare Gospel 3Look Up! All are taken from 10” 78rpm Elim Records which have been digitally re-mastered.

Also look out for another YouTube Sermonette Never a man spoke like this man by Principle George Jeffreys.

New DVD

I would like to commend a website to you
http://www.garywilkinson.eu/TheJeffreysBrothers/The%20JeffreysBrothers.html

Gary Wilkinson is an independent Christian television producer. He has a passion for bringing the Good News to people through the medium of television.
He has embarked on a project believing the importance of looking back at some of the lives and events that have impacted the church of Jesus in the earth today, to take encouragement from what others have achieved through faith and the empowering of the Holy Spirit to the establishing of the church of Jesus Christ.
On the DVD page of the website you will see a New DVD to be released in May 2010.

There is also a short film to view on YouTube

British Pentecostal Movement in the 20th Century.mov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMyFjQE7ShE&feature=related

The First Elim Church

IRELAND

In 1914 – the year of the outbreak of the First World War – Christian Convention was held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The organisers agreed to invite young George Jeffreys to attend. He was then 24 years of age.

At this convention were two leading men of Monaghan, named Alan Kerr and George Allen. Having heard of God’s blessing on the ministry of young George Jeffreys, and now having met him, they decided to invite him to their town to conduct a crusade. This was arranged for the next year – 1915

It was in Monaghan, in Jan 1915, that they discussed their plans, and make provision for the purchase of a marquee in which to hold their meetings. It was from this meeting that the Elim Four Square Gospel Alliance was birthed. The first church was purchased on Hunter Street in the Donegal Road area of Belfast, in June 1915. Through God's grace, the movement grew in number greatly in Northern Ireland, and the U.K. However, sadly its impact within the Republic took a little longer to bear fruit.

NORTHERN IRELAND

The work spread rapidly against great odds and personal hardships experienced by George Jeffreys and his evangelistic team. In some places persecution was fierce because of the direct message that was being preached. It came to be known as the Foursquare Gospel Campaign, because George Jeffreys concentrated his message on the four fundamental truths of the faith: Jesus Christ as the Saviour, Healer, Baptiser in the Holy Spirit, and Coming King.

As a result of all this, Elim was named the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance. Later it was to be known and the Elim Pentecostal Church. Throughout Northern Ireland some of the largest halls were used for very successful campaigns and in almost every instance an Elim Church was established.

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

It was not until 1957 that Pastor Gordon Hills brought the movement to Dublin. It was in the building in Thomas Street that Elim roots in Dublin took root. It was also from Dublin that many of the other churches in the Republic were planted. The first of these was Westport. Westport is, as its name suggests the most westerly port in Europe. It was in this pictureesque village that the Gospel was preached by members of the Dublin church in the years of 1976-7. As a result of these outreaches a church was planted in 1977. Since 1977 the number of churches has grown, and there are now 10 churches in the Republic. These are located in Sligo, Mayo, Leitrim, Limerick, Tipperary, Cavan, Monaghan, Meath, and Dublin (click on map for details).

Elim Ministries in Dublin

In 1991 Pastor John McEvoy recieived a word from the Lord that He was to return to Ballyfermot, after serving nearly 11 years as pastor in the fellowship in Westport. It took over a year for John to settle things in Westport. With the church, he purchased a building in Castlebar, but the Lord had told him he would never preach in it. Indeed, he never did because as the first meeting was taking place John, Vicky and the children were on their way back to Dublin. In 1992 John held six meetings in the West County Hotel, and the fellowship was born. After the initial Mettings in the West County, premises were sought in Ballyfermot. They came in the form of rooms above a florist. This was a less than auspicious beginning, but the Lord was with the church and it prospered.

History of Elim in Ireland

by Pastor Stephen Hilliard
Elim had its beginnings in the town of Monaghan, now in the Republic of Ireland, and grew indirectly out of the Welsh Revival at the start of the twentieth century.
During that Revival, a young Welshman called George Jeffreys was converted and, shortly afterwards, experienced the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. He began to preach, at first in small places near his home and then, as his reputation grew, further and further afield.
While preaching in Sunderland, he was heard by two young brothers from Belfast, George and William Gillespie. They were so impressed that, on their return home, they wrote inviting him to speak at meetings they were organising in Bangor. They thoughtfully enclosed the fare - three ten shilling notes - and George Jeffreys duly arrived in Northern Ireland. Whilst there, he was asked to meet with a group of young men from Monaghan who shared his passion for evangelism and his belief in the power of the Holy Spirit.

A MEETING IN MONAGHAN
Those young men had a deep concern for the spiritual welfare of their native land and had been meeting to pray for revival in an old loft over the bottling store of a public house. On 7th January 1915, they met with George Jeffreys in Knox's Temperance Hotel to discuss how they might reach Ireland with the message of the Full Gospel.
They resolved that night that they would band together, under George Jeffreys' direction, to establish a permanent evangelistic work in Ireland, and would begin by holding a Gospel mission in the town. This they did, in a tent erected at North Street.
Though no church was established in Monaghan at that time, George Jeffreys considered those meetings to be the origins of the Elim Movement. He wrote later, "I regard Monaghan ... as being the birth place of this work." It was there that he first engaged in evangelism with the men and women who were to become his co-workers in Elim.

BUILDING IN BELFAST
After the Monaghan mission, the focus of the work shifted to Belfast. Meetings were held in a disused laundry in Hunter Street, and a congregation was formed, with George Jeffreys as pastor. The building was old and decrepit. There was hardly an unbroken pane of glass, and many of the holes were blocked with rags to keep out the wind and rain, as new glass was too expensive for the meagre resources of the evangelists. The street itself had an unsavoury reputation. Frederick Farlow, one of the young men from Monaghan, wrote, "The surroundings are anything but beautiful, in fact it is situated in one of the worst streets in the city, the name of which has had to be changed several times owing to the sinfulness of its inhabitants."
In 1917, George Jeffreys was officially ordained by a visiting Welsh Congregational minister, Rev. Moelfryn Morgan. Shortly afterwards, a church constitution was drawn up giving the newly formed fellowship the name Elim Christ Church.
Meanwhile, Elim was reaching into other parts of Northern Ireland. In February 1916, George Jeffreys began meetings in a tent in Ballymena. Over a period of five weeks, 120 people were saved and many were baptised in the Holy Spirit. During their time in Ballymena, George Jeffreys and his fellow workers first called themselves The Elim Evangelistic Band.
In July 1919, a disused church building in Melbourne Street at the bottom of Belfast's Shankill Road was acquired and refurbished. George Jeffreys and many of the Hunter Street congregation moved to this new and larger location and the Melbourne Street Church was recognised for years as the mother church of Elim.

THE SPREADING FLAME
Although it had not originally been George Jeffreys' intention to establish a denomination, the Elim Movement grew rapidly and was soon established as a legally recognised charity under the name 'Elim Pentecostal Alliance.'
Meanwhile, the work was extending to other parts of the Province and beyond. By the close of 1920, there were over twenty churches, including those in Armagh, Ballymena, Bangor, Belfast, Cullybackey, Lurgan, Moneyslane and Portadown. In 1919, the first issue of a new magazine, The Elim Evangel, appeared, to spread the news of what God was doing. Those early magazines were basic in format but the contents were exciting - a record of the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of ordinary men and women. The pages read like extracts from the Acts of the Apostles. New Testament Christianity was alive and well in Ireland.
The issue for December 1920 lists the Elim workers of the day. In Ireland, there were twenty in total, six recognised as pastors, including George Jeffreys himself, twelve described as evangelists, and two deaconesses. In addition, there were three workers in Wales and three missionaries in the Congo. By the close of 1922 the number of workers exceeded thirty, including seven ladies. In a letter written at that time, George Jeffreys commented, "No salary is paid to any pastor or evangelist. Each one has to trust God individually."
Elim's founders knew their work was only part of the new, rapidly expanding Pentecostal movement that was sweeping across the world. God was doing something remarkable of which Elim was a small but significant part. Looking back, we can see how that tiny seed has developed to become the world-wide Pentecostal movement of today, the fastest growing section of Christianity. There are now over 550 million Spirit-filled believers across the world - almost 30% of all Christians.

CROSSING THE IRISH SEA
In the early 1920s, the decision was made to extend across the Irish Sea to England. This was a big step for the leaders of the newly formed Elim Movement. Some feared that England would provide a less favourable environment for their message. However, George Jeffreys readily accepted the new challenge.
The First World War had brought dramatic changes to life in Britain. Many of the old certainties and values had gone forever. Thousands of men had died in the trenches leaving penniless widows and fatherless children at home. Demobilised troops, many disabled in body or mind, came home, not to the 'land fit for heroes' they had been promised, but to unemployment and grinding poverty. The darkness deepened as western society moved into the period of economic chaos known as 'The Great Depression.'
The historic churches and their clergy could offer no satisfactory answers. Many of the latter were unbelieving liberals, denying the fundamentals of the faith, and were seen by ordinary people as no more than an arm of a discredited and uncaring establishment. Church-going, once an integral part of the British way of life, plummeted.
Into this vacuum stepped George Jeffreys and the Elim Movement. They proclaimed a clear message in days of confusion. Unlike the liberal clerics who paraded their unbelief before their dwindling and disillusioned congregations, they preached the Gospel with conviction. They offered a warm, vibrant style of worship that appealed to people alienated from the traditional forms of orthodox religion. They demonstrated the reality of the message they preached by praying for the sick and seeing them healed.
Ordinary men and women could see and feel that the Gospel was relevant to them and they flocked to Elim meetings in their thousands. The early years of that Elim 'invasion' of England were marked by outstanding growth and blessing, and some of the greatest evangelistic meetings Britain has ever seen. During the 1920s and 30s George Jeffreys and his Revival Party filled the largest public halls across the nation, often in the face of opposition from existing Christian bodies.
Frequently, they would arrive in a town without any advance publicity, with no known supporters there, and begin preaching to a tiny handful of the casually curious who drifted in. As miracles of healing took place and the Gospel was preached in power, word would get round and, within days, hundreds would be queuing for admission. This pattern was repeated in many towns and cities.

Holyhead Elim Church

Back in 1935 a team of evangelists came to Holyhead to hold a tent campaign sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and salvation to the people. A marquee was put up on a field at the back of Newry Street. Pastor Edward Jeffries was the leader of the team. Edward’s father Stephen and brother George had already been touring the UK and overseas preaching the gospel and also praying for sick people to be healed.

A great impact was made on the people of Holyhead and large crowds attended meetings every night for many weeks. The pubs and cinemas were left half empty. Lives were changed, people were converted in large numbers and many were healed of their sicknesses. Some are still alive today and can testify to the healing and saving power of Jesus Christ.
Following the outcome of such times of blessing, it was felt that a building was needed to enable people to meet on a regular basis to worship God. A place was chosen in Trearddur Square and was built by uncle and nephew team David and John Williams. The new church was called ‘Bethel Temple’. A minister was appointed to care for the congregation by the name of Pastor Rees Edwards of Ammanford in South Wales. This new pastor worked along with his wife to further the proclamation of the Gospel and extending of the kingdom of God.

Not long after this time, the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance stepped into the work in Holyhead and appointed Pastor Lesley Hawes and his wife in 1945 to lead the church They had a son Gaius and a daughter Pearl. The format of the meetings continued as set out in the beginning. Sunday morning and evening services with Sunday School in the afternoon. Prayer meeting on Tuesday afternoon and Bible study on Thursday evenings. There was a ladies fellowship on Tuesday afternoons and Sunshine Corner meetings ‘For Children under 99’ Also there were Saturday evening celebration gatherings each week and also an after church meeting at 7.30 on a Sunday evening. This enabled members of other denominations who desired to join in the Pentecostal experience to come along and hear words of testimony and song. The singing af the Moody and Sankey Hymns was thrilling for the congregation as they praised God for the wonderful work done in their lives.