America,New Zealand and Australia. with Tom Thomas

I am making good headway with my book about Pastor Stephen Jeffreys, I recived an enquiry about the Evangelist Tom Thomas and his connnection with Stephen Jeffreys who he somtimes accompanied.

I just happened to be at the point in writting my book about Pastor Stephen Jeffreys which covers this question. I hope you find the following intereseting.

Stephen sailed for America and then on to New Zealand and Australia.
Large crowds thronged his meetings in America. In Springfield, where the General Offices of the American Assemblies of God are located, he was specially blessed. 3,000 were in the meetings and people started queueing at five o'clock in the morning outside the home where he was staying. In Los Angeles the crowds grew to 7,000.

Stephen arrived in Wellington, New Zealand on October 22nd with his wife and nephew Tom Thomas, his sister Ann’s son as his song leader; where, in spite of atrocious weather, the crowds gathered just as they had done everywhere else, and with meeting in the Exhibition Hall, Wellington with 1,400 attending climbing to 2,000. Other meetings were held in New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Christchurch. Then followed the Annual conference of the New Zealand Assemblies of God moving on to Auckland.

The same results of convincing conversions and amazing healings. A letter from Stephen in Redemption Tidings, February 1929, gave his own story of the healing of a Maori Chief.

'A doctor belonging to the Maori people had been attending some of the meetings, and the Chief of the tribe was poorly with cancer; so he told him that he could hold out no hope for him and advised him to try to get me. I shall never forget the welcome they gave us. I prayed for the chief and I am glad to say the Lord wonderfully touched him. He rose up, walked about and came into town.'

Stephen's restrained account was typical of the man. Fortunately, his nephew, Tom Thomas, who was with his uncle as campaign soloist, added more details:

'Pastor Stephen laid his hands on the poor emaciated body of the Maori Chief. The power of God descended in answer to his prayer and the once-dying man literally shook from head to feet. To the amazement of the tribe, he got up from his bed and walked, a thing he had not done for a considerable time. He shouted and waved his hands, saying: "I am healed." The result was electrifying. There was no need to appeal for converts. They just fell on their faces and cried to God for salvation.'

From New Zealand Stephen moved on to Australia. In the Richmond suburb of Melbourne, a newsvendor, a well-known figure on the street corners, who had been deaf and dumb since the 1914-18 war, was brought into an afternoon healing service. His friends brought him in mainly as a joke but the power of God was present in a powerful way that night and when Stephen laid his hands upon him he both spoke and heard. This once deaf mute went down the Hall waving his hands and shouting: 'Jesus has healed me!' Still shouting he ran out into the street. Stephen seeing this turned to his nephew and said “there goes my congregation!” however, It was no wonder that overflowing crowds returned and thronged the building that night.

LINKS TO BOOKS AND BOOKLETS REPAIRED

I am writing to you thanks to a kind email from over “the pond”. He came across the fact that several of the links to allow you to purchase books and leaflets were not working.

It seems that www.revival-library.org had updated there website which had changed the address of several items.

I hope this is now solved. Thanks you for keeping me aware of any problems you may have with the website.

Three Schools of Thought on the Israel Question. A booklet by Principle George Jeffreys

Christ is Coming. Booklet by Principal George Jeffreys

As you read this message by the Apostle of Pentecost in the British Isles, the Second Advent becomes a living reality. Click on picture for link to website to purchase item

(See advert and website link near the bottom of the webpage).

Download Pentecostal Books for kindle

Many of you will have heard of the “Kindle” The Amazon Kindle is a series of e-book readers now in its fifth generation. Amazon Kindle eReaders enable users to shop for, download, browse, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media via wireless networking.[1] The hardware platform, developed by Amazon.com

This is cheaper than buying some of the old books.

The following books can be downloaded from British Pentecostal Books - Instant Download

Online Catalogue /Instant Download Pentecostal Books /British Pentecostal Books - Instant Download

http://shop.revival-library.org/

I will place pictures for you to click onto for links to each book near the bottom of the website.

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George Jeffreys - The Miraculous Foursquare Gospel

Price: £3.99 / $6.30

George Jeffreys, founder of the Elim Pentecostal Church in Britain, was undoubtedly one of the greatest evangelists of the last century. He pioneered a Pentecostal ministry which included preaching the Gospel with authentic signs following and planting new churches. From small halls across the nation to the largest, including The Royal Albert Hall and Crystal Palace in London, he saw thousands converted, baptised in the Holy Spirit and healed by prayer in the name of Jesus.

This book desribes the main contents of the 'foursquare' gospel that he preached.

His ministry, leadership and organisational skills clearly mark him out as a true New Testament apostle.

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Agnes Adams - Stephen Jeffreys

Price: £2.99 / $4.72

Stephen Jeffreys was a great British evangelist and older brother to the eloquent George Jeffreys. Converted during the Welsh Revival, Stephen began his ministry at Cwmtwrch near Swansea. A further visit in December extended to a seven-week mission reaping 130 converts from the small village. Thus began a dramatic ministry as a full-time itinerant evangelist which reaped thousands of souls and was confirmed by signs and wonders wherever he went.

Scores of young men caught the heavenly breeze and began to pioneer new works for God during this time of visitation. Outstanding miracles of healing occurred and a constant flow of converts were won to Christ. "One of the most far-reaching effects of his ministry was the way he seemed to trigger off so many others to follow suit, and the whole character of the British Pentecostal Movement changed." Donald Gee.

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Noel Brooks - Fight for the faith and freedom

Price: £3.99 / $6.30

George Jeffreys, founder of the Elim Pentecostal Church in Britain, was undoubtedly one of the greatest evangelists of the last century. He pioneered a Pentecostal ministry which included preaching the Gospel with authentic signs following and planting new churches. From small halls across the nation to the largest, including The Royal Albert Hall and Crystal Palace in London, he saw thousands converted, baptised in the Holy Spirit and healed by prayer in the name of Jesus.

His ministry, leadership and organisational skills clearly mark him out as a true New Testament apostle.
This 136-page book is another presentation from a supporter of his ministry.

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Albert W. Edsor - George Jeffreys - Man of God

Price: £3.99 / $6.30

George Jeffreys, founder of the Elim Pentecostal Church in Britain, was undoubtedly one of the greatest evangelists of the last century. He pioneered a Pentecostal ministry which included preaching the Gospel with authentic signs following and planting new churches. From small halls across the nation to the largest, including The Royal Albert Hall and Crystal Palace in London, he saw thousands converted, baptised in the Holy Spirit and healed by prayer in the name of Jesus.

His ministry, leadership and organisational skills clearly mark him out as a true New Testament apostle. The author was part of the Revival Party from 1928 and later became Jeffreys' private secretary and manager of his revival ministry. His unique knowledge of Jeffreys and personal observations are presented in this 150-page book.

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Edward Jeffreys - Steven Jeffreys - The Beloved Evangelist

Price: £2.99 / $4.72

Stephen Jeffreys was a great British evangelist and older brother to the eloquent George Jeffreys. Converted during the Welsh Revival, Stephen began his ministry at Cwmtwrch near Swansea. A further visit in December extended to a seven-week mission reaping 130 converts from the small village. Thus began a dramatic ministry as a full-time itinerant evangelist which reaped thousands of souls and was confirmed by signs and wonders wherever he went.

Scores of young men caught the heavenly breeze and began to pioneer new works for God during this time of visitation. Outstanding miracles of healing occurred and a constant flow of converts were won to Christ. "One of the most far-reaching effects of his ministry was the way he seemed to trigger off so many others to follow suit, and the whole character of the British Pentecostal Movement changed." Donald Gee.

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George Jeffreys - Healing Rays

Price: £3.99 / $6.30

George Jeffreys was undoubtedly one of the greatest British evangelists of the last century. He pioneered a Pentecostal ministry which included preaching the Gospel with authentic signs following and planting new churches, clearly exhibiting an apostolic ministry. From small halls across the nation to the largest, including the Royal Albert Hall and Crystal Palace in London, he saw thousands converted, baptised in the Holy Spirit and healed by prayer in the name of Jesus.

In this book he states his understanding of the Biblical doctrine of healing in a clear and systematic way, peppering his teaching with examples from his dynamic ministry

‘Land of Hope and Glory’

In ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, Kensington Temple’s Associate Minister Bruce Atkinson scans through all the major revivals of British history, giving the ‘big
picture’ of God’s work to keep the fire of faith burning. It’s a story that stretches back about 1,600 years, but the Pentecostal revival that gave birth to the Elim Movement was a comparatively recent event – beginning in the early
20th century, spearheaded by two brothers: George and Stephen Jeffreys. In this extract, Bruce looks back at those heady days...

The ‘foursquare’ foundation at the heart of Elim’s faith believing in Jesus as Saviour, Baptiser, Healer and Coming King, George Jeffreys led a revival that would put down roots and live on.

A new movement was being born. The new converts for the most part did not want to attend churches that were non- Pentecostal in experience – indeed they would not have been welcome in many, as vicious persecution faced the
fledgling ‘Tongues Movement’ worldwide. Churches were established out of the fruit of campaigns. George Jeffreys named this exploding movement ‘The Elim Foursquare Gospel Movement’, inspired by the Elim Oasis of refreshment.

In ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, Kensington Temple’s Associate Minister Bruce Atkinson scans through all the major revivals of British history, giving the ‘big
picture’ of God’s work to keep the fire of faith burning. It’s a story that stretches back about 1,600 years, but the Pentecostal revival that gave birth to the Elim Movement was a comparatively recent event – beginning in the early
20th century, spearheaded by two brothers: George and Stephen Jeffreys. In this extract, Bruce looks back at those heady days... The ‘foursquare’ foundation
at the heart of Elim’s faith Believing in Jesus as Saviour, Baptiser, Healer and Coming King.

George Jeffreys led a revival that would put down roots and live on
Exodus 15:27. The Elim Evangelistic Band was a revival group of men and women that George took to break open towns for the Gospel.

The Foursquare Gospel was preached: Jesus the Saviour, Jesus the Baptiser in the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Healer and Jesus the Coming King. George had no intention of the fruits of revival being lost, as in the Welsh revival, and raised
up leaders to pastor the new converts, ordaining ministers for the first time in 1917. Soon the tent was too small and George was packing town halls with
thousands of people. By 1920, George had birthed a powerful Pentecostal revival across Ulster, put in place ministers, evangelists and pastors, and now felt the leading to do the same in Wales and England. George went from city to city in England, holding miracle meetings until he broke through, and out of the hundreds of new converts he would start Elim churches.

A classic example of his ministry was his 1930 gospel campaign in Birmingham. George began the meetings in a small church with only a handful of people there. The next evening the ground floor was full, but no one was in the balcony. George invited people who needed prayer for healing to come to the front, and they literally rushed out of their seats to receive prayer. Five days later the church was full on one of the afternoon meetings and 88 new converts were made. Large queues would appear waiting to get a seat for each meeting. In one month the crowds meant that they had to hire a hall, which overflowed, and they moved to the Embassy Rink that had a seating capacity for 8,000 people. Even this became too small, and so they moved to the 15,000-seater Bingly Hall, which they crammed to capacity for 26 meetings. The total number of converts reached 10,000. All of this was accomplished without any local church support and was due to the powerful healing anointing that
was operating. Over 1,000 people testified to being healed at the meetings, and in three services they also baptised 1,000 people. Three churches were born initially of this revival, and this number multiplied to eleven in five years.

George opened hundreds of churches in Britain for the Elim Movement, but he also founded one as a basis for his personal ministry. He purchased Horbury Chapel in 1930, renamed it Kensington Temple (KT) and launched the church as his headquarters in 1931 with a two-week healing revival campaign. The seating capacity was increased to 1,100 and the crowds and new converts began to flock to the meetings. Miracles abounded and the Daily Express reported on the1st August: “Revival in a London street: Foursquare Church with tip-up seats”. Albert Edsor was a member of the George Jeffreys revival party and he told me about the type of meetings Jeffreys would hold at KT. He had a vision of going out to the lost and bringing them to the Temple to get saved. There was a marvellous atmosphere at the meetings. Sometimes, during the worship, Jeffreys would go right into the middle of the congregation, stand on a seat and lead meetings from there. Sometimes just as a new song was going to begin he would say ‘Just a minute!’ He sensed the presence of a holy atmosphere coming into the meeting; he knew the presence of the Lord was there to heal. KT became known as the ‘Church of the Great Physician’ due to the constant flow of miracles that took place. People from all over the world would send in their healing requests to be prayed over each day at KT. When George sensed a healing presence in a meeting he would often exclaim, ‘The Master is here’, and eyeballs would creatively appear in empty eye sockets, crippled legs would be straightened and tumours disappear. George was never the day-to-day pastor of KT, but he used the church as his apostolic base for travelling with the revival band, as well as his regular outreach centre to London. George also ministered in many other places in London. Most notable was his famous Royal Albert Hall Easter celebrations. In those days the Royal Albert Hall had a seating capacity for 10,000 people, and George booked it for the first time in 1927. The auditorium was filled and hundreds testified to being healed. The next year 1,000 people were baptised in water in a single service. Excerpts
from a national newspaper recorded by E C W Boulton show the kind of impact these meetings were having: “1,000 BAPTISED IN ALBERT HALL REMARKABLE ‘FAITH CURE’ SCENES PEOPLE WAIT IN QUEUE
FOR EIGHT HOURS All were smiling happily as they descended into the tank; some were singing, and some waved their hands to the congregation of 10,000, who shouted fervently all the time. There was no self-consciousness anywhere. That the people had been convinced by this young pastor there was no doubt.

Every member of his vast congregation last night was spellbound throughout his address, and when he had finished explaining the symbolism of baptism, no fewer than 53 people came forward demanding to be ‘saved’.” Morning Post, 7 April.

In 1928 Stephen Jeffreys was ministering in Sunderland to crowds of up to 3,000 people. A Sunderland newspaper witnessing the number of sick and afflicted people brought into the meetings said the hall was ‘resembling the scene in a waiting room of a large hospital’. On some individual days over 200 people were healed. On one occasion six people came who were wheelchair bound and all of them were healed sufficiently to push the chairs home themselves.

In one month 3,362 converts were made. He moved next to Spennymoor, making 1,362 converts in three weeks; on to Chesterfield with 1,554 converts in three weeks; Bury with 2,042 converts; Doncaster with 1,100 converts in two weeks and so on and so on. Both George and Stephen began to minister internationally to great effect. For example, 6,000 converts in a one-month campaign in Switzerland in 1934, including 1,800 converts in Geneva alone in three days.

Stephen Jeffreys died in 1943, having blazed a trail of uncompromising supernatural evangelism. He had taken the Welsh revival and brought it into the dimension of the miraculous. George died in 1962. This is how Pastor E C W Boulton summed up his ministry in 1928, but equally it could be extended to reflect George’s whole life: “George Jeffreys, with the rod of the inspired Word, fearlessly smote the waters of an incredulous and invasive modernism, opening up a passage by which many others might pass. He dared to breast the waves of popular religious opinion, thereby exposing himself to a
fierce cross-fire of criticism from most sections of the Christian Church. In the very face of this, God enabled him to achieve triumphs which must for all time adorn the annals of evangelical enterprise. His example should wield a wide influence and provide an abiding inspiration to many.”

Reproduced with Kind permission from ‘Land of Hope and Glory: British Revival through the Ages’, Bruce Atkinson, Dovewell Communications (hardback £11.99; paperback £7.99).

If you would like more detailed information why not purchase the book by James Robinson called Pentecostal Origins (see advert and website link on the bottom left hand side of the webpage).

Where Did George Jeffreys Live and Pastor in Belfast

I thought you might find it interesting to know where Pastor George Jeffreys lived during his time as the Pastor of the first and second Elim church in Belfast Northern Ireland.

The First Elim Church was in Hunter Street in Belfast. This Street no longer exists, but I am informed by local residents that Hunter Street ran between Matilda Street and Oswald Street. Sadly these streets have now gone but if you wish to locate the approximate location of the first Elim Church, make your way to Shaftsbury Square then to Donegal road, the side roads leading off Donegal road opposite the City Hospital will give you the general location of where Hunter Street used to be. As a point of interest Hunter Park and Matilda Gardens are close by to help pin point the area. There is still an Elim church nearby which is known as South Belfast Elim Church Donegall Pass Belfast. See my post on Wednesday, 24 March 2010.

Before going to Belfast to establish the first Elim Church pastor George Jeffreys had met George and William Gillespie in 1913 at the Sunderland Convention, after hearing the Preaching of George Jeffreys the Gillespie brothers sent invitations to George Jeffreys and Mr R.E. Darragh to stay at Pine Street which was just around the corner from where the Donegall Pass church now stands. Sadly Pine Street has now gone. But thanks to the Hospitality shown in Belfast the Monahan meetings soon followed and the establishment of the first Elim church nearby at Hunter Street.

Whilst serving as Pastor of the Hunter Street Church Pastor George Jeffreys lived within a ten minute walk in University Avenue (if ever you are in town, drop me a line and I will give you the house number).

Melbourne Street Was the second Location. Part of the street was cut off by the A12 West link being built, Melbourne Street can now be found at the end of Brown Street which is off the B126 Millfield found behind Smithfield Market. I was thrilled to find out this information because this is round the corner from where I park on a Saturday to make my way to the Open Air Evangelistic Outreach in Corn Market.

If you would like more detailed information why not purchase the book by James Robinson called Pentecostal Origins ( see advert and website link on the bottom left hand side of the webpage).

STEPHEN JEFFREYS 1876-1943 Short Histrory

Stephen Jeffreys was a great British evangelist and older brother to the eloquent George Jeffreys. They were converted together on Nov. 20 1904 during the Welsh revival when Stephen was 28 and George just 15 years old. Stephen married Elizabeth Lewis and they had three daughters and one one, Edward , who later became a successful divine healing campaigner and was founder of the Bethel Evangelistic Society.
Stephen was a coal miner for 24 years until 1912 when George asked him to preach at Cwmtwrch near Swansea. A further visit in December extended to a seven-week mission reaping 130 converts from the small village. He joined George holding missions in Central Wales and also in London. In 1913 he preached in Island Place Mission in Llanelly where he accepted an invitation to become its Pastor.
It was here that a miraculous appearance of the face of a lamb appeared on the wall of the mission while he was preaching, changing into the face of the Man of Sorrows. In the July 1916 edition of Confidence, Alexander Boddy reported that he had made enquiries and endorsed the story. This is part of his report:
“Bro. Every said that he went up to the wall and was close to the picture. It was the size of a man’s face. The eyes were remarkable; they seemed to be alive and moving. (He drew as it were with his finger on the wall where we were standing the shape and size of the picture.) I asked Bro. Every if he could send me any account which had appeared in one of the local papers. He has sent me the following cutting from the Llanelly “Star”:-
‘A remarkable experience is related by those who at tend the mission services now being held at the Island Place Gospel Hall. For some months past Mr. Stephen Jeffreys, an earnest mission worker, has been conducting services here among a section of the community to whom the churches and chapels seem to make no appeal. During the service on Sunday night the congregation were startled to see a vision appearing on the wall behind where the preacher was standing. The outlines appeared to be blurred at first, but by-and-by the congregation recognised the head and face of the Man of Sorrows, with the Crown of Thorns upon His head. Speaking to a “Star” representative to-day, Mr. Jeffreys gave a thrilling account of what he described as
“THE VISION OF THE MASTER.”
“We have had many conversions,” he said, “but what occurred on Sunday night transcends all that one could have hoped for. My back was turned to the portion of the wall where the vision appeared, and my attention was drawn to it by some of the congregation who were spell-bound to see the face of our Blessed Lord standing boldly out on the wall. There was no mistaking the appearance - it was the Man of Sorrows looking on us with ineffable love and compassion shining out of His wonderful eyes.
The effect upon us all was one that will never be forgotten by any who were privileged to behold it. Some of my congregation saw the head crowned with thorns, but I cannot speak as to this, as I did not see it. The face, however, was not to be mistaken, and it still haunts me. It remained on the wall for hours after the service closed, and we kept the building open in order that all should have the opportunity of witnessing this wonderful revelation.
Many unbelievers came in and it was a proof to us that the Lord is with us in our work, and it will inspire us to more wholehearted consecration to His service.”
A member of the congregation told our representative that to him the vision appeared as that of the Lord appearing out of a great cloud. “I went early on Monday morning,” he added, “ but by that time the vision had disappeared.”
Stephen continued a successful ministry there until 1920 when he pioneered a a new church, becoming it’s first pastor.
For a few years after that Stephen joined his brother George in his Elim Evangelistic Band and in 1924 the two brothers went on a five-month tour of Canada and the U.S. On his return Stephen became a full-time itinerant evangelist, mostly with the British Assemblies of God from 1926.
These were his the most fruitful years of all his ministry. T. D. Darling took charge of his engagements, Stephen would have two campaigns booked for the same dates! He had no gift for organisation, and was happy to do nothing but preach. That was all he wanted, But what preaching! Campaign followed campaign in the providence of God, and he was the Lord's gift to the burgeoning Fellowship of Assemblies of God. They were stirring years. Scores of young men were catching the heavenly breeze and starting out to pioneer new works for God. Not all were equally successful, but it was a time of visitation. Outstanding miracles of healing occurred and a constant flow of converts were won to Christ. At Sunderland mounted police were employed to control the crowds.
In 1928, after he became the object of an unjustified attack from the press, he began a world tour visiting USA, New Zealand, Australia and New Zealand.
His health began sadly to fail. At only fifty-nine he became crippled with arthritis. The closing years were spent back in his native South Wales in Porthcawl. His wife died in 1941 and he preached his last message at Pontardulais on October 27, 1943. He lived his last years in seclusion and died on November 17 1943.
Donald Gee remembered him thus, ‘Stephen Jeffreys was inimitable. That blending of humour and pathos, of unpolished eloquence with passionate evangelism was mighty in God. The repetition of many of his favourite messages never seemed to dull their intensity. He was Christ's gift of an evangelist (Eph. 4:11). One of the most far-reaching effects of his ministry was the way he seemed to trigger off so many others to follow suit, and the whole character of the British Pentecostal Movement changed. To many the Jeffrey's campaigns marked its beginning. For all his irrepressible wit and humour he was reminiscent of one of the old Hebrew prophets. He could be terrible. At Whitsuntide Convention meetings in Kingsway Hall, London he proclaimed doom on an unrepentant city. Fourteen years later it burned in my memory as I walked through the charred and ruined streets of the City after the great raids of 1941.’

AN INSTANTANEOUS HEALING AT BRIXTON

Mr. E. H. Thorpe F.C.T.S (Inc) F.I.P.S - Leicester

Testimony of the deputy Principal of Banbury’s College, Leicester

Seventeen years ago I met with an accident at Grimsbyon a ship and fractured my knee cap. The fracture was so complete that all the oil in my knee cap formed a substance at the bottom of the leg. The infirmary authorities wanted me to have my leg ‘wired’, but I refused and was told I should have a stiff leg for life. I engaged a bone-setter, and although he did his work well, I had temporary paralysis for three months.

I attended the healing service at the Brixton Tent held by Principal George Jeffreys on Sunday, 16th June, 1929, having previously prayed that God would help me to be cured in one of three things:

(1) That l should be healed of an internal trouble.

(2) That He would make my eyesight better.

(3) That ‘He would heal my knee-cap.

I have been unable for many years to engage in any form of recreation, or walk any distance, and could get up and downstairs only with difficulty and by the aid of the banisters. Within three minutes of the laying-on of hands and the offering of prayer by the Principal, I felt the healing touch of the Divine Master and immediately exclaimed, in “I am healed!” I then rose, again tested the leg, found that I could move it in all directions, that l was able to swing- it to and fro, that the ligaments were free and (or loose) that l could kneel without pain on the right knee-cap. I again tested it on the bus, running upstairs, and I then had no doubt that the cure was permanent. On arrival inLeicester, I practiced running upstairs to amazement of several who came to visit me.

At the healing meeting many others gave testimony to being cured of blindness cancer, consumption and other diseases.

This article was taken from http://ernestanderson.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/healing-testimonies-101/#comment-5459
With greatful thanks.

Why the need to Start the Elim Denomination

George Jeffreys and the group of people who called the new Church movement "ELIM" held the same beliefs as other Christians, but with one important difference. They believed that God’s promises in the Bible about the Holy Spirit and healing were for Christians today. In other words, miracles didn’t stop after the Bible was written. The Elim pioneers had rediscovered God’s power, promised in the Bible to all who would completely commit their lives to following Jesus. It was a ‘re-discovery’, not a discovery, because it was nothing new. God had worked in power through different Christians throughout the centuries, right back to the dramatic miracles of the early Church so frequently mentioned in the Bible.

The basic teaching of Elim, which was publicised under the heading ‘The Foursquare Gospel’, highlighted this rediscovery: it stated that Jesus is the Saviour, the Healer, the Baptiser in the Holy Spirit and the Coming King.

During the journey from their cruel bondage in Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land, the Israelites, exhausted and dispirited came upon an oasis called "Elim". (Exodus 15:27 NIV) Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. It would have been a place of shelter and refreshment in the wilderness. In this day and age life can sometimes seem like a wilderness, we hope our church can be an oasis on your journey.

Such ‘Pentecostal’ beliefs raised a lot of opposition from some traditional church leaders at the time, because miracles are always controversial. But the pioneers were just getting back to what Jesus had taught in the first place – after all, Jesus himself healed many people and had promised the Holy Spirit to his followers.

The name ‘Pentecostal’ comes from the account in Acts 2 when the apostles were visited by the Holy Spirit during the feast of Pentecost. We believe the power and presence of God is as real and relevant today as it was in Biblical times. God has not changed. We believe that God longs to transform lives, heal bodies and give new direction.

These doctrines were firmly ‘orthodox’ – shared in common with the historic Protestant denominations like the Anglican Church, Methodists, Baptists, etc, who all believe in ‘the Trinity’ – God in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus) and the Holy Sprit. This core belief is totally rejected by the so-called ‘Christian’ cults – Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, etc.

Although the doctrine of the Trinity being firmly ‘orthodox’ – shared in common with the historic Protestant denominations like the Anglican Church, Methodists, Baptists, etc,there has been a difference of belief on the Ministry and gifts of the Holy Spirit, Divine healing and miracles being in opperation today. Some of the denominations mentioned claim that these ended with the death of the apostles.Whilst their view is respected many Members of Elim and other Pentecostal Churches still believe the truth of The Foursquare Gospel and that the Lord Jesus Christ is Saviour, Healer, Baptiser in The Holy Ghost and coming King.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.

Elim took God at his Word and so God honoured that by delivering on his promises in the Bible. And he is still doing the same today!

These beliefs have now been accepted by many within the traditional churches, and are shared with many new church groups that have sprung up in the last 40 years – called ‘charismatic' churches or simply new churches.

But the vision wasn’t confined to this country. Today, Elim comprises over 500 churches in the UK and Ireland, but we are also linked to over 9,000 Elim churches in other countries. Elim is also in co-operative fellowship with thousands of Pentecostal churches around the world, and has missions work in over 40 countries.

The governing body of Elim is the annual conference. Over 2,000 people gather for a week of worship, teaching and fellowship, and time is set aside for ministers and delegates to discuss matters relating to Elim.

It is our belief that Elim has a significant part to play in the world today, and we are confidently looking forward to what God will do in the future. To find out more about Elim you can visit http://www.elim.org.uk/

Part of this article was taken from http://www.ashingdonelim.com/index.htm
with greatful thanks.

Bethel Church Liverpool

PLEASE SEE A LINK TO THIS CHURCH ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE WEBSITE

BETHEL Church in Green Lane, was born out of a powerful local revival,
sovereignly inspired by the Holy Spirit. The man God used was Edward Jeffreys. He came with the gospel message of repentance and faith, and the Lord confirmed the preaching of the Word with signs following. In this case the confirmation was that of healing miracles.

"The Merseyside campaigns were the greatest in my career as an evangelist" said Pastor Jeffreys on the occasion of our Silver Jubilee. "I shall never forget the wonderful services we had in the old marquee. The campaign opened in a very quiet way. There was nothing to suggest at the beginning that God was going to open such a flood-tide of blessing in the city of Liverpool. It was simply amazing in every way. At times one felt such a sense of God's presence and such a manifestation of power that our souls were filled with awe and amazement, almost to the point of being afraid at what would happen next."

The marquee with its seating capacity of 3,000 — and later one still larger — was packed with people and there was an even greater crowd listening reverently outside. The dominant note of the meetings was that of quiet­ness and order. The people had been arrested by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Edward Jeffreys began the campaign meetings in Breeze Hill, Bootle, but it was from the tent meetings at Lister Drive that the Tuebrook Bethel was founded. "We recall those early days" says Nell Hawkins, when "night by night we sat under the ministry of Pastor Jeffreys. We can never forget the mighty Hallelujahs that resounded from the corners of the tent, or fail to remember the tremendous wave of joy as we witnessed miracles of spiritual and physical healing.

Mrs Hawkins tells of the wilderness days when the church, newly formed after the campaign, wandered from cinema, dance hall and skating rink to the old Elizabeth Street Chapel. It was at the Welsh Chapel that Ernest Wales was inducted as the first pastor of this new church. In October 1936 both he and Edward Jeffreys laid the Foundation Stones of the Tuebrook Bethel Temple as it was then known, and these stones can still be seen in the foyer of our new church. At the opening service the Crusaders sang the dedication hymn, part of which reads;

Pour down Thy love, and in this church may all Thy glory shine, We consecrate it now to Thee, not ours dear Lord, but Thine.

Many in Bethel today can testify of the faithfulness of God to his people in their joys and struggles. It is a record of the fact that God, in his mercy, answered the prayer offered in that hymn. He has poured down his love and his glory has shone down the years. The consecration of those early Bethel folk back in 1936 was not in vain, neither has their labour in the Lord been in vain, but in every way profitable to the extending of his kingdom.

The work is on-going. Many have met the Lord here in Bethel and their lives have not been the same since. Many have gone on to full-time service for Christ and have in turn seen their lives bearing fruit for the Lord. If the early Bethelites were children of the local revival of 1934, then there are countless grand­children and great grandchildren of that same sovereign work of God's grace.


Bethel Church Green Lane Liverpool
www.bethelliverpool.co.uk Email: admin@bethelliverpool.co.uk

The Edward Jeffreys Crusades

Of all the moves of God that have taken place in Liverpool, the crusades taken by Edward Jeffreys and his team were probably the most spectacular. They impacted Liverpool in a way that had probably not been seen before and has certainly not been seen since then. On one day in June 1934, 3000 people came to know the Lord and I do believe that this one event alone could well be unique in UK history. Multitudes of people were drawn into the kingdom and many outstanding healings took place with the blind, deaf, and crippled experiencing God’s miraculous power. The team comprising Edward Jeffreys and his two helpers Esaiah Davies and Horace Trembath came in faith with virtually no advance publicity, and just a few leaflets and a 3000 seater tent. Their dependence was on God with little or no recourse to material or human resources. God certainly blessed them for within a couple of weeks God’s tremendous power was being manifested in a way, which had rarely been seen before even during the Welsh Revival.

The crusade commenced on 28th May 1934. On the first night people came from other Bethel churches (the movement started by him) in other towns to support the crusade, but after that he was left alone with his team. The campaign opened in a very quiet way and writing about it some time later Edward Jeffreys said that there was nothing to suggest at that time that God was going to open such a flood-gate of blessing on the City of Liverpool. Within a couple of weeks, however, it became clear that God was certainly moving and the cumulative effect of what God was doing was reverberating around Liverpool and that the people attending was growing rapidly every day. By the middle of June the report of what God was doing came to the attention of the local press and the amazing scenes that were being witnessed were reported on an almost daily basis. Here is a report from the Liverpool Echo on 12th June 1934, with the following headline:-

"Amazing scenes at faith healing mission, Bootle; Women in tears; Invalids state they have been cured."

The reporter stated that "a crowd of 4000, singing hymns in a marquee, had seen cripples throw away their crutches and heard them state that they had been cured. The marquee was crowded, with hundreds outside. After the pastor had preached, some of the women were so overcome that they had to be assisted outside with tears streaming down their faces. Cripples on crutches, paralytics in bath chairs and pallid invalids formed a solid rank down the side of the tent." At this meeting a young girl, who had never been able to walk, was healed and walked across the platform to the cries of "hallelujah" from the congregation. Also healed at this meeting, as also reported in the Evening Express, was a Welsh Congregational minister, Rev Ynys-Thomas. After being blind in his left eye for 24 years his sight was instantaneously restored after prayer. Realising that his right eye was also failing he was contemplating learning Braille, but after prayer he read before the congregation without wearing glasses and could see clearly in both eyes."

Five days later there was a crowd of 8000 people at the evening service with 1000 people receiving Christ as their Saviour. On the 19th June the crowds had swollen to 10,000 people (with many more people outside the tent than inside) with 3000 decisions recorded that day, from the afternoon and evening services.

Here is a report from another local newspaper on Friday 22 June 1934 with the following headline: -
"Amazing Scenes at Faith Healing Tent. Fifty cures a day! Ten thousand people attend services. Waiting all night."

The reporter stated that 10,000 people were present that evening and that people were coming from not only from all parts of Liverpool, but also from North Wales and as far afield as Scarborough. From the early hours of the morning people were waiting to gain admittance to the services, and one person was waiting at 10pm in order to attend the afternoon service the next day. In his report he said that "it is an extremely moving spectacle to see the maimed and blind people, some in great pain, hobble or grope their way up the few steps, and in a few minutes testify to the onlooking thousands that they have been cured."

A week later the same newspaper carried the following headline:

"Great crowds continue to attend revival meetings"

The paper reports that the wet weather does not have any effect on the congregation but on the contrary large numbers sometimes greater than 10,000 people are maintained consistently.

In early July a new marquee accommodating 5000 people is erected, but even this is not enough to accommodate the crowds to whom the service is relayed through amplifiers. This tent was described as the biggest evangelical tent in the country. Following on from this another tent was erected in Tuebrook, another part of Liverpool and the same phenomenal successes were seen there, with a multitude of healings taking place.
On 24 September it was reported that some 17 weeks after the first meetings were held a congregation of between 3000 and 6000 people were still gathering every night in Bootle, with people still being converted and healed at every service.

The crusades of 1934 had a profound effect not only on many of God’s people but also very much on the local community as well. This of course is what is expected during times of revival, and parts of Liverpool were certainly no exception.

Here are some of the observations that were made of the crusades by God’s people at that time and then some further comments on how the influence of the crusades affected the life of the town: -
Some impressions of the crusade meetings
• It was noted that the atmosphere was not one of great excitement but on the contrary it was one of reverence. Frequent comments were made of the orderliness and impressiveness of the gatherings, despite the fact that so few were seated comfortably with the greater part standing outside in the open.
• Even the hymn singing was anointed with a great favourite being "Nearer my God to Thee" which was sung with great earnestness and fervour.
• An elderly preacher who had been involved in the great crusades of Moody and Torrey in Liverpool remarked that whereas Torrey enjoyed the expectant and united assistance of scores of ministers and clergymen, a huge choir and hundreds of eager volunteers workers, Edward Jeffreys had only a small company of helpers, i.e. a soloist and pianist. Yet within a week Bootle was thrilled by the wonderful conversions, by the marvellous healings which daily followed the preaching of the gospel. He said that he had never before found such a readiness to hear about Jesus and His love.
• A Baptist Minister Rev W R Jones said after attending the meetings for a few weeks that he had seen the most glorious things that he had ever witnessed which had moved him to the very depth of his personality and gripped his soul. What moved him was the reverence of the huge crowd, the eagerness to hear the Word of God, and the wonderful response to the pastor’s appeal.
• Writing about this some time later Edward Jeffreys said that one felt such a sense of God’s presence and such a manifestation of power that their souls were filled with awe and amazement, almost to the point of being frightened at what would happen next. Likening the situation to the earthquake experienced by Paul and Silas at Philippi, he said that God sent a spiritual wave of power that shook the whole city. Such was the impact that it made that people came from various parts of England and Wales and even from Ireland. He went on to say that as he looked upon those wonderful days in Bootle and in other parts of Liverpool his heart went out in thankful praise to Him who confirmed His word with such mighty signs and so graciously blessed their feeble efforts.
• Nell Hawkins from Bethel Church, Tuebrook recalled "we can never forget the mighty "Hallelujahs" which resounded from all corners of the tent, or fail to remember the tremendous wave of joy and enthusiasm which swept over the vast crowd as they sang those simple choruses and witnessed miracles of spiritual and physical healing.
• Mrs Frostick, later from Netherton related "I can remember the tremendous communion service on the Sunday morning. Even I took it as a young child. We went nearly every night. Whole families would walk up Marsh Lane, together. Her younger sister Mrs T Orchard, later from Litherland added "we followed the crowds from Bibby’s Lane. Everyone was talking about the healings they had seen the night before.
• Dr J A Anderson of the China Inland Mission and author of several books remarked that the meetings he attended at the Casino Skating Rink filled his heart with joy and his mouth with praise to God. It stirred up memories of the great crusades held by Moody and Sankey, Torrey and Chapman-Alexander when witnessing the great crowds gathering day by day, to hear the glorious gospel proclaimed in its fullness and freeness.
• Rev J L Mair said "it is a wonderful sight to see the immediate response all over the huge tent and among those who are standing either inside it or outside. As many as 6 young men in one group have been seen to stand together to accept Christ, immediately the appeal was made.
• Rev D E Jones, when describing the effect that the meetings had on him said "I have never witnessed anything like them! The spiritual and natural power of God is being revealed in an extraordinary degree in the saving of souls and the healing of bodies. The signs of the wonderful works of our Lord Jesus Christ are being re-enacted in the present generation – fulfilling the prophecy about ‘the greater works’ literally and substantially.’ The fetters of sin are broken, the chains of evil habits are snapped, mighty barriers are brushed aside, intense darkness and gloom are chased away by the light of the Sun of righteousness. Prophecies are being fulfilled, mighty promises are realised, and the glory of God is being revealed."
• This is how Aerona Williams described the breaking of bread service on Sunday 17th June "we felt that we were truly in the tabernacle of God; a holy awe fell on the tent, and it seemed that we were standing on holy ground. All we could do was just bow our heads and worship the Lord." Her impression of the evening service was given as follows, "What an atmosphere! What a congregation! What singing! What testimonies! A glorious climax to a glorious weekend. The Gospel tent was again packed, and yet people streamed in from all directions to hear the story of Redeeming Love. Many, many hundreds were obliged to stand outside. At the close of Pastor Edward’s address an invitation was given for people to take Christ into their lives. Unless one was an eyewitness, it is difficult to visualise the scene. All over the tent men and women stood to their feet, and hundreds of hands were raised by those standing around. The number was far, far too many to count. What a glorious sight – multitudes coming into the Kingdom of God, probably about 1500, but it is difficult to estimate such a vast number. To God be the glory, great things He has done.
• Here is an extract from a Nellie Brown who wrote from another part of Liverpool, "I sincerely hope with God’s grace that you will be able to plant a Bethel Temple somewhere in the wilderness. Children are talking about you on their way to school in the mornings. These meetings could go on forever and we would not get tired. You have set Liverpool and Bootle tingling. You have completely cleaned the town up.
There are also some further testimonies from people who have just given their initials:-
• I am a South Wales man and my wife is from Penarth. I attended Evan Robert’s meetings when it swept the whole of Wales – also Gypsy Smith’s meetings, but I have not seen anything to equal these meetings – E.G.
• On entering the tent each evening I was deeply impressed by the pervading feeling of joyous expectancy and anticipation that seemed to fill and thrill one’s being – F.M.
• What impressed me most was the effect it had on a type of men who rarely went into a place of worship – R.P.
• How my soul rejoiced to see the shining faces of joy on these dear people. I thought of Moses’ shining face and at those moments it became real to me. I thought of Jesus healing the sick and restoring sight to the blind – it all became real to me there in Bootle. I saw as it were, fetters and cords being loosed, leg and arm joints being unlocked, a shining coming on the faces of many who were healed – R.S.
The effect on the life of the town
• Rev W R Jones when writing of the far-reaching influence that the campaign had had on the social and religious life, referred to:-
1. The wonderful grip it had on men and women who rarely heard the story of Christ and His redeeming love.
2. The complete and marvellous change in the conversation of men and women and young people everywhere in the trams, buses, offices and workshops. The topic of conversation was not gambling as it used to be, but of the saving power of Christ, not of the fashion of time, but of eternal realities.

• Rev W H Maddock made the remark that "the dire need of those days was a revival which would change lives and homes and bring a blessed atmosphere of God into business places, dockside and even in the cemetery among the grave diggers and that it was such a revival that was witnessed at Bootle and Tuebrook. (How much greater is that need today!)
• The Bootle Times of 6th July 1934 in its coverage of the campaign reported that a request had been received from a group of dockworkers that Edward Jeffreys and his helpers should hold dinner-hour services at the docks. It appears that they were never held but it does show the impact that these crusades were making everywhere around. In fact it was reported that many were rebuked for swearing on the docks, and that the "Annual" for 1935 carried the following report from there -:
A foreman remarked that the men had never worked so well together as now; there was little blaspheming and the general topic of conversation was "the Tent." Men are heard singing at their work, "I fell in love with the Nazarene," and there is concord and a spirit of harmony where once there was cursing and swearing."
• One eyewitness of effects of the crusade on the life of the town made the remark that "every back yard rang with the Praise of God."
• In one of his replies to a Unitarian Minister and sceptic Rev H Fisher Short, in the Bootle Times, Pastor Hulbert referred him to something that could not be disputed. Here is what he said "First of all men’s lives are being changed, homes are different, children are better cared for, debts are being paid, and thousands of dear people have a song in their hearts. Melody is seen and heard where once discord ruled. This is the greatest miracle and is brought about by the direct intervention of God through our Lord Jesus Christ in the affairs of men and women. Where spiritual blindness ruled, the eyes of the soul have been opened. The chains of sin have been broken and there is great joy in the city.
At the end of 1934 a permanent purpose built dwelling to accommodate 2000 people was constructed to hold the crowds that were still anxious to attend at Bootle.

For those converted at the Tuebrook crusade meetings it was a while before they were able to find a suitable meeting place, so they met in a cinema and dance hall, and then in the Casino Skating Rink in Kensington which could accommodate 5000 people.Eventually they built their own church building in Green Lane, Tuebrook.

Both churches are still continuing today some 70 years later.
A full account of these amazing crusades with modern day testimonies of people whose lives were transformed as a result of those meetings when they were youngsters is given in a booklet "Liverpool Gripped by Revival" which can be viewed on www.liverpoolrevival.org.uk

Used with the kind permission of
www.24prayerhouse.org
With grateful thanks.

A rare legal action was taken against Pastor Edward Jeffreys

I have Discovered that in 1930 a rare legal
action was taken against Pastor Edward Jeffreys
by the Stoke-on-Trent Corporation, it was
claimed that at the meetings splints and
surgical appliances were, it was stated,
removed from crippled children.

The Stoke-on-Trent Corporation required an
undertaking that there should be no interference
with the treatment of the children for whose
care it is responsible; it also decided to
cancel arrangements for the use by
Pastor Jeffreys of municipal halls.

On November 3rd the town clerk received a letter in
which the evangelist explained that his only
part with the sick and afflicted who attended
his meetings was that of prayer. The letter
declared that an open letter had been sent to
Mr. Mitchell Smith, the orthopaedic surgeon
who had conveyed to the corporation the
original complaints, with a challenge that "for
every one case he can prove is worse I am prepared
to bring forward 20 who can testify to
physical blessing and healing." The material
for examining this latter undertaking is at this
stage hardly adequate and the challenge is thus
the less likely to be taken up. A more satisfactory
passage in the letter declared that, as
the Bethel Evangelistic Society was primarily
a spiritual movement and as the salvation of
souls was regarded as of more importance than
the healing of the body, the writer was prepared,
"for the sake of the Kingdom of God
and the peace of the city," to give his word
that he would not touch any leg supports or
plasters of any children under treatment by the
various authorities of the district. "If it has
been done in the past, it has always been with the
consent of the parent or some responsible
person." The corporation not being satisfied
that the promise not to interfere with leg
supports, etc., went far enough, the town clerk
was directed to write afresh to Pastor Jeffreys.
The latter in reply repeated his assurances in a
form which the corporation felt itself able to
accept. The controversy may therefore, it
seems, be regarded as happily ended, and the
ban placed upon the evangelist's meetings in
local public halls has been removed.

In these last days one wonders if other actions might take place when unsaved folk do not understand the miricle working power of almighty God.

Yes sadly there are some false works about, but as I am sure you would agree Pastor Edward Jeffreys was primarily concerned with the salvation of souls and was regarded as of more importance than the healing of the body. Although having said this it was often the case that when the members of a town being visited herd of a miracle taking place it was often the turning point of many a crusade. Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen

Kensington Temple recognises the apostolic foundations of their ministry

Today, Kensington Temple is appreciative of their history and is fol­lowing in the steps of their founder. While they have always revered their history, today they are able to discuss it openly without fearing it. Their Web site speaks freely of Jeffreys’ role as the founder of the Elim movement:

More than any movement or modern spiritual trend our future is tied up with foundations dug at KT by the apostolic work of George Jeffreys. Salvation, healings, miracles, mission­ary work, church planting, releasing ministries and revival—this was the vision of George Jeffreys that launched the ministry of KT and it is the same vision that will launch us into [the future].

Whenever people scoffed at the idea of the power of God to heal today, Jeffreys would answer in his determined manner, “It is almost 2,000 years since the sacred canon of Scripture was closed, but the dispensation of the Holy Ghost, with its miracles, signs and wonders, continues to this present day.” He reminded believers that the same gospel message that brought men and women to Christ in the New Testament is still converting sinners today, and that the same Holy Spirit who convicted them of sin and healed them is also convicting and healing today.

Roberts Liardon tells us that by the mid-1930s, Jeffreys and E. J. Phillips had been ministering together for almost twenty years. Their ministry had started in 1919, when Jeffreys had asked Phillips to join the Elim Evangelistic Band in Ireland. Although Phillips had begun by pastoring an Elim church, his prior experience in business was helpful in addressing the administrative needs of the new denomination.

Jeffreys and Phillips had had significantly different experiences growing up. Jeffreys had been raised in relative poverty, and he had been a part of a Congregationalist church where the congregation had input in the church’s govern­ment. He’d surrendered to the Lord during the fiery days of the Welsh revival, when sponta­neity and freedom in the Holy Spirit had been paramount, and was forever marked by the passion of that revival. To him, powerful, Spirit-led meetings were the benchmark of success in the church. He believed that revival was available to believers at all times because the Holy Spirit was always moving on the earth. If Jesus was the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8), then His power should be always moving to save, heal, and baptize in the Holy Spirit.

taken from: Co-Laborers in Christ by Roberts Liardon

Film about George and Stephen Jeffreys

I thought would enjoy a short film which was used as part of the "Songs of Praise". You will see a link on the left hand side of this webpage.