Christian History Almanac Thursday, January 29, 2026
Jan 29, 2026
A lively look at the rise of early Pentecostalism and its 20th-century global shift. The story of Charles Fox Parham and his Bethel Bible College is explored. The Topeka tongues event and the link to Azusa Street get attention. Controversies, dramatic healings, and Parham’s lasting influence on worldwide movements are highlighted.
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Azusa Didn't Start It Alone
- Azusa Street popularized speaking in tongues as evidence of Holy Spirit baptism and amplified Pentecostal visibility.
- Yet Azusa was preceded by Parham's Topeka work, showing a chain of influence rather than a single origin.
Parham As Catalyst For Global Pentecostalism
- The Pentecostal movement's rise shifted Christianity's center of gravity southward and globalized in the 20th century.
- Charles Fox Parham's Bethel Bible College catalyzed doctrines and networks that led to worldwide Pentecostal growth.
Topeka Beginnings And The Tongues Report
- Parham began Bethel Bible College in Topeka around 1900 with a few dozen students and a small congregation.
- A student, Agnes Osman, reportedly began speaking in tongues that winter, sparking national attention and new schools.