Pentecostal
A Protestant movement defined by the baptism in the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and energetic worship.
Updated July 23, 2026
What Pentecostal believe
Pentecostals believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience subsequent to salvation, evidenced by speaking in tongues, and that all the spiritual gifts described in the New Testament remain active in the Church today. They trace their modern origin to the Azusa Street Revival of 1906 in Los Angeles, led by William J. Seymour, where interracial worship and manifestations of the Spirit drew worldwide attention. Pentecostals emphasize a direct, experiential encounter with the Holy Spirit as essential to Christian life.
Pentecostal worship is spontaneous and expressive, including laying on of hands, anointing with oil, prophecy, divine healing, and speaking in tongues. Most Pentecostal churches baptize believers by immersion and observe the Lord Supper as a memorial. They tend toward Arminian theology, affirming free will and the possibility of backsliding, and they place strong emphasis on holy living and evangelistic missions.
The movement includes classical Pentecostal denominations such as the Assemblies of God and the Church of God in Christ, as well as charismatic streams within mainline churches. Pentecostalism is the fastest-growing Christian family in the world, with especially explosive growth in Latin America, Africa, and parts of Asia.
Key beliefs
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience after salvation, evidenced initially by speaking in tongues.
- All spiritual gifts, including healing, prophecy, and tongues, are active today and should be sought and exercised.
- Divine healing is provided in the atonement and is the privilege of every believer.
- Salvation is by grace through faith, followed by a life of holiness and consecration.
- The imminent return of Christ motivates urgent evangelism and missions.
- Believer baptism by immersion follows a personal confession of faith.
- The priesthood of all believers equips every Christian, not just ordained clergy, for Spirit-empowered ministry.
History
Pentecostalism emerged in the early twentieth century as part of the broader Holiness movement, which sought a deeper experience of sanctification. The pivotal event was the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles from 1906 to 1915, where the African American preacher William J. Seymour led meetings characterized by speaking in tongues, healing, and racial integration unusual for the era. Missionaries and visitors carried the experience back to their home countries, igniting a global movement.
Early Pentecostalism divided over the question of whether speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of Spirit baptism. The Assemblies of God, formed in 1914, affirmed this doctrine, while others allowed broader evidence. The movement grew through healing revivals and tent crusades in the mid-twentieth century and spawned the charismatic renewal in the 1960s, which brought Pentecostal practice into mainline and Catholic churches. Today Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity includes hundreds of millions of adherents, making it the largest Protestant family in the world after Baptist and Lutheran bodies in some regions.
What makes Pentecostal distinct
- Initial physical evidence, the doctrine that speaking in tongues is the first sign of Spirit baptism, is a signature of classical Pentecostalism.
- Spontaneous, emotionally expressive worship including raising hands, shouting, dancing, and prayer in tongues sets Pentecostal gatherings apart.
- Divine healing and deliverance are regular pastoral practices, not occasional liturgical rites.
- Empowered laity ministry means that ordinary believers, not only clergy, are expected to exercise spiritual gifts.
- Global missionary zeal with indigenous leadership has produced the fastest-growing Christian movement in the Global South.
Comparison with other traditions
| Topic | Pentecostal position |
|---|---|
| Authority | Scripture, interpreted through Spirit-led experience and community |
| Sacraments | Two ordinances, baptism and communion, both symbolic but Spirit-attended |
| Salvation | By grace through faith, followed by Spirit baptism and holiness |
| Scripture | Bible only, read with expectation of present-day Spirit gifts |
| Church government | Varies widely, from congregational to episcopal depending on body |
| Worship style | Spontaneous, expressive, with tongues, healing, and prophecy |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
- Pentecostals teach that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience after salvation, in which the believer is empowered for witness and service. Classical Pentecostals hold that the initial physical evidence of this baptism is speaking in tongues. The experience is sought through prayer, laying on of hands, and faith, and it is distinguished from conversion and from sanctification.
- Do Pentecostals still speak in tongues?
- Yes. Pentecostals believe that speaking in tongues and all the gifts of the Spirit described in 1 Corinthians 12 through 14 remain active in the Church today. They reject the cessationist view that miraculous gifts ended with the apostolic age. Tongues function both as personal prayer language and, when interpreted, as a congregational gift.
- What is the difference between Pentecostal and charismatic?
- Pentecostals belong to denominations that originated in the Azusa Street revival and hold Spirit baptism with tongues evidence as doctrine. Charismatics are Christians within mainline Protestant, Catholic, or independent churches who practice Pentecostal gifts but remain in their tradition. Both share the conviction that the gifts of the Spirit are for today, but the labels distinguish origin and structure.
- Do Pentecostals believe in divine healing?
- Yes. Most Pentecostals teach that divine healing is provided in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of every believer. They practice anointing with oil, laying on of hands, and prayer for the sick as regular parts of worship and pastoral care. They do not generally reject medical treatment, but they pray in faith for supernatural healing alongside it.
- Are Pentecostals Protestant?
- Yes. Pentecostalism is a Protestant movement that emerged from the Holiness tradition, which itself grew out of Methodism. Pentecostals affirm sola scriptura, justification by faith, and believer baptism. They are distinguished from other Protestants by their emphasis on the present-day activity of the Holy Spirit and the continuation of spiritual gifts.
- How is Pentecostal worship different from other Protestant worship?
- Pentecostal worship is spontaneous and participatory rather than following a fixed liturgy. Congregants may raise hands, shout, dance, pray aloud, or speak in tongues during a service. Music is often contemporary and loud, and services commonly include altar calls, prayer lines, prophecy, and testimony. The goal is a direct encounter with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
Find a Pentecostal church near you
Browse our directory of pentecostal churches across the United States.
Search Pentecostal churches →Related denominations
Methodist
A Protestant tradition rooted in the Wesleyan revival, emphasizing grace, holiness, and practical piety.
Baptist
A Protestant tradition defined by believer baptism, congregational autonomy, and the authority of Scripture.
Non-Denominational
Churches that identify with no historic denomination, prioritizing Scripture and local autonomy.
Episcopal
The American province of the Anglican Communion, blending catholic liturgy with Protestant theology.