Assemblies of God is a fellowship of Pentecostal churches based in the United States. Its official name is the General Council of the Assemblies of God. The fellowship developed from a revival movement that began in the late 1800’s. It was organized in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1914.
Churches in the Assemblies of God teach that the Bible is the inspired word of God. They also teach the fall and redemption of human beings, divine healing through prayer, the return of Jesus Christ and his reign, and eternal punishment for the unsaved. The churches teach that Christians should seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The initial physical evidence of this comes when people speak in tongues (speak in a language they never learned). Believers are baptized by immersion (dipping into water). Assemblies of God churches also observe Holy Communion, sometimes called the Lord’s Supper.
A General Council supervises the educational, missionary, and publishing activities of the Assemblies of God in the United States. The fellowship is organized into several dozen districts, including a number of districts based on language, in the United States. Elected pastors and boards of deacons are responsible for the affairs of local congregations. All affiliated churches must adhere to the Statement of Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God and to a Biblical code of conduct. The Assemblies of God has millions of followers worldwide. Its headquarters are in Springfield, Missouri.
