The Foursquare Church

So far, we’ve heard from many Assemblies of God and Church of God ministers and theologians in this group. We have not heard many voices from the Foursquare movement. Do you know anyone who belongs to the Foursquare church?

The 20th-century evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson was a woman ahead of her time. She crossed the United States with two young children in an era when women were not permitted to vote. She established an evangelistic ministry and built a large evangelistic center at a time when women were expected to marry, have children and leave religion and other “important” pursuits to men. But God had a plan for her life that did not take into account human ways of doing things. http://www.foursquare.org/about/aimee_semple_mcpherson

James M. Henderson [02/27/2015 1:36 PM]
There is more to the story. For example, I have been told that, in her broadcast sermons, Sister Aimee would call out corruption in the city and name names. Since LA was a mob town in the 1920s and 30s, the kidnapping makes sense to me. I have a question for you all; how do you tell the difference between honoring our spiritual ancestors and personality cults? Every Pentecostal group of which I am aware has had this problem. What is your consel or solution?

RevChristophoros Iaonnes Janson [02/27/2015 5:22 PM]
How about Vineyard or COGIC or PHC or UPC or COG of Prophecy?

Eric Washburn [02/27/2015 8:52 PM]
Honoring a spiritual leader, without recognizing their flaws and failures, leads to “personality worship.” No leader does everything right! Creating larger-than-life icons can be discouraging to those who have feet of clay. We should honor the good in our past leaders, but we should also learn from their mistakes. Jesus is the only “Star” in the Church.

Phil Hoover [02/28/2015 8:39 AM]
Jack Hayford

James M. Henderson [02/28/2015 11:52 AM]
Phil, are you saying that Pastor Jack is part of the solution or part of the problem? (fair warning, I consider him a spiritual father).

Phil Hoover [02/28/2015 11:56 AM]
James, on the contrary. Jack Hayford, in my opinion is the gold standard for someone in ministry.

James M. Henderson [02/28/2015 12:00 PM]
I would agree. He worked very hard to make sure that there were many leaders in the Body who could both exegete and prophesy, so that no one would lean all their weight on him.

Pentecostal Theology [02/28/2015 12:20 PM]
It’s a good and balanced approach. It is very productive for the Body in the long run, when solid leaders create other solid leaders

Amanda Walker [02/28/2015 2:23 PM]
My sister is a foursquare pastor

Gary Langley [02/28/2015 3:27 PM]
I have many friends in the 4SQ movement, some of them quite prominent leaders.

Phil Hoover [02/28/2015 3:29 PM]
George O Wood, Sam Clements, Mark Williams all have the reputation and history of being great pastors…and they are certainly wonderful leaders.

Anthony Portillo [02/28/2015 3:40 PM]
I’m a Foursquare pastor! I haven’t engaged much in conversation in the group yet. So far I’ve seen eye to eye with most of what I’ve seen! One post on the rapture I found disagreeable! And pastor Jack is the gold standard indeed. Willing to cross denominational lines and promoting unity in the body of Christ. Not a common thing these days.

Anthony Portillo [02/28/2015 3:44 PM]
I think denominationally Foursquare is growing and some younger voices are rising up. Some of the younger more prominent voices that have ties to Foursquare are Chad Veach, also Judah Smith and Carl Lentz (they are not Foursquare but Pentecostal) are making an impact in areas where other preachers and pastors have long deemed graveyards.