This is the third part of a series on the PEW Forums recent survey Religion In American Life.  Read Part 1 and Part 2.

What's in a Name?

Everything! 

Normally, a name should be a simple, clear, literal device for identifying someone or some place.  About one-fifth of the names in Scripture simply identify persons or places:  “the name of the first river is...,” “a city called Nazareth,”  or “his mother’s name was...,”  etc.  Names soon took on a much more significant importance for the preservation of personal identity in cultural and family memories.  The Scriptures include many long lists of names, more than three thousand people, associated with specific events in the history of Israel.  Isn’t that why we often name our children after a great-grandfather, so that his memory will continue into our present family story?

Scripture adds a divine dimension to names when God says to Moses, “...I know you by name.” Or when it says the good shepherd calls “his own sheep by name.”  For Bezaleel, David, Isaiah, the apostles and even Cyrus, King of Persia, it meant a divine selection for a special task.  In our tradition, we have a sense of “being called by God” into ministry.  Jesus reminds us that our “names ...are written in heaven.”   The book of Revelation often refers to those “whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world” as a means of separating true worshippers from false ones.

Names have taken on etymological meanings that say so much more than just the name.  For example, we all know the meaning of the names Babel, Babylon, Jerusalem, Bethel and Eden.  In Genesis and Exodus alone there are more than thirty accounts of parents creating a name to fit the circumstances of birth.  Benjamin means “son of suffering,” Samuel means “heard by God,” Ichabod means “no glory,” Noah means “relief,” and Joseph means “may God add.”  Many parents today scour through books of names to find just the right name with the right meaning for their newborn child.  According to my family folklore, I was named for a radio comedian that was popular at the time of my birth.  Those who know me understand what an oxymoron that turned out to be, for I am neither a comedian nor a crowd pleaser.  But in my late teens, as an avid student of the Scriptures, I discovered the Hebrew meaning of my name and my self-perception changed forever.

Ideally, a name should capture the essence of the person.  But how hard is it to know which name will best suit the personality of a child not yet grown?  Only the Creator has such discernment and the Scriptures once again reveal the truth (See Ps 147.4; Is 40.26).  Often, names were changed later in life to reflect a significant change in attitude or lifestyle.  How many can remember the days of Cassius Clay or Lou Alcindor?  In many cultures still today, it is common practice to take a biblical name over a given name to symbolize the significance of the salvation experience.

Abram and Sarai had their names changed by God; Moses changed the name of Hosea, son of Nun, to Joshua; Jacob, Gideon and Solomon are given supplementary names of Israel, Jerubbaal and Jedidiah, nicknames, if you will.  In the New Testament, the practice continued:  Simon to Cephas or Peter; the Cypriot Joseph to Barnabas and Judas to Thomas.  Others were given Hellenized equivalents of traditional Hebrew names, like James for Jacob, Jesus for Joshua, and John Mark had both Semitic and Roman names.  This may be a revelation (literally) for many people, but  according to Rev 2.17, those who overcome will be given a new, secret name written on a white stone!  It seems that there is yet another life-changing experience in our future so dramatic that God is compelled to change our names!

What’s in a name?  Everything.  How we know others, how we are known and how we view ourselves are rooted in our names.  Our name is also important in our relationship with the Lord.  He knows us by name!

In the next segment, we'll take a look at how the names "Christian" and "Evangelical" are taking on meanings never intended.

The Pentecostal Holiness Church had always been very inclusive of women in the church, seeing them as fellow-labors of the Kingdom, pastors, evangelists, teachers, and missionaries. There was now in 1944, as the war was winding down and war widows and women with husbands still overseas, could be found everywhere, a sensed need for something more focused.

Lila Berry, remarking on the first organization of Pentecostal Holiness women on May 10,1944, noted: "A small group of women (and nearly as many men) met in the historic little church in Falcon…I hardly think any of us knew just what we wanted , but out of a yearning heart to do something to help the church and a determination to find our places in God's great harvest field, we met…." (Campbell, J. The Pentecostal Holiness Church, 1898-1948; pg.388-389).

The first group was organized under the conference leadership of W. Eddie Morris in Falcon, N.C. and their first speaker was T.A. Melton. (Synan, Old Time Power, pg. 214). The first leader was Mrs. Lila Berry who set her sights on expanding the new outreach across the denomination and did so in the General Conference of 1945, being named the first general woman's auxiliary leader.

The ministry touched a cord and provided a new and vital means of ministering to P.H. women – but to also reach out to impact their communities and the world.

by Marilyn Hudson, Author & Historian
Director of Library Services, Southwestern Christian University

To learn more about our rich history, visit the IPHC Archives Website.

The first IPHC African American Leadership Forum convened April 29 & 30. It was another historic “FIRST” for the denomination as 13 key leaders met with Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr., the Executive Director of EVUSA; Rev. Macon Wilson, National Director of AA Ministries; and Rev. Garry Bryant, National Field Director for ACTS2DAY Ministries, to focus on the future of this ministry in the IPHC. The event hosted by Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville, SC.

The Bishop and coordinator for each of the three IPHC conferences that have appointed an AA Coordinator to date:

• North Carolina: Bishop Chris Thompson / Coordinator – Rev. Stacy Hilliard
• Mid-South: Bishop David Holton / Coordinator – Rev. Kelvin Steward
• Redemption Ministries: Bishop Dayton Birt (absent) / Coordinator – Rev. Doug Wilson

Other leaders were selected based upon their commitment to the IPHC, their leadership ability, and their geographical location. They were:

• Rev. Ricky Walter – Corsicana, Texas
• Rev. Jerome Edwards – Macon, GA
• Rev. Hasker Hudgins – Greenville, SC
• Rev. Rupert George – Virginia Beach, VA
• Rev. Carl Franklin – Shreveport, LA
• Rev. Eddie Cross – Harrisburg, PA
• Rev. Chuck Coleman – Philadelphia, PA
• Rev. Demetrius Miles – Phoenix, AZ

The Forum began with a get-acquainted dinner followed by a two hour work session on Tuesday evening. Apostle Ron Carpenter, Jr., pastor of RWOC, spoke to the leaders on “How To Fund Your Ministry”. Afterwards, participants broke into small groups for discussion.

Wednesday began with two small group sessions followed by two corporate sessions. The Forum members toured the 30 million dollar facilities at RWOC before dismissing at 4:30 P.M. The group attended service at RWOC on Wednesday evening and were greatly blessed by the fervent worship as well as the highly multi-racial nature of the congregation.

The purpose of the meeting was twofold:

1. To produce a set of core values for the ministry.
2. To produce a procedural document for the ministry.

Both goals have been accomplished and the development of a five-year plan for IPHC African-American Ministries is now underway as a result of this Leadership Forum.

Pray for this vital ministry of the church as we endeavor to impact our great nation!

The story of the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the infant Church may be told using numbers, as well as with sentences and words. Specifically, the opening chapters of Acts highlight the numbers 50, 15, 120, and 3,000. Together they tell the story of the Spirit’s descent.

50 – The name “Pentecost” itself is a number, meaning “fiftieth day.” For us, Pentecost Sunday is always recognized as the seventh Sunday after Easter. For them, the observance of the Jewish feast seven Sabbaths after the Passover provided the occasion for the city of Jerusalem to be filled with festive worshippers (Leviticus 23:15-16; Acts 2:5).

15 – This number represents fifteen specific nationalities or people groups identified as being present to witness the original phenomena of the New Testament Pentecost (Acts 2:9-11).
Many of these on-lookers evidently became participants in the reception of the Gospel and carried their new-found faith back to their homelands, such as to the capital city of Rome.

120 – This approximate number constituted the first “congregation” to experience the promised baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13-15). This cohort included the disciples of Jesus, His mother and brothers, as well as un-named men and women. Together they became the answer to Moses’ wish (Numbers 11:29) and the initial fulfillment of prophecy (Joel 2:28).

3,000 – The purpose of Pentecost was and is to empower followers of Jesus to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8). Luke summarizes the outpouring of the Spirit in only four verses (Acts 2:1-4), but devotes twenty-seven verses to Peter’s memorable message (Acts 2:14-40). The astounding result netted 3,000 converts to Christ – the beginning of the numbers from Pentecost.

- by Dr. Terry Tramel, Bible Chair and Assistant Professor at Southwestern Christian University

Spring Time of the Soul: April's Revival History

Across the expanse of IPHC history the month of April stands out as a beacon of spiritual work.

On April 14, 1906 the meetings began in Los Angeles in the Azusa Street Apostolic Mission. A year later on the front page of "The Apostolic Faith" newsletter, testimonials of experiences from around the globe burst out like colorful spring buds after a long spiritual winter.

One writer was the noted IPHC minister, F.M. Britton writing from Alvin, SC: "My wife and I have been in six wonderful meetings of late in which quite a number of saints have received the baptism with the Holy Ghost and all spoke with other tongues. Backsliders are being reclaimed and some honest souls being converted, quite a lot of sick ones being healed, and also many demon possessed persons are being delivered in Jesus' name from the power of Satan. Glory be to God!" {Source: Like as of Fire: a reprint of the old Azusa Street Papers, collected by Fred T. Corum, published 1981.)

In those early years, revivals in Alabama, Tennessee, and elsewhere all blossomed in April.