Foursquare Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids International Church of the Foursquare Gospel |
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Jesus Christ the Savior, Baptizer, Healer, Coming King
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| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Pentecostal Evangelical |
| Theology | Finished Work |
| Polity | Modified episcopal polity |
| President | Randy Remington |
| Associations | Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America Pentecostal World Fellowship National Association of Evangelicals |
| Region | 150 countries |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Founder | Aimee Semple McPherson |
| Origin | 1923 Los Angeles, California |
| Separated from | Assemblies of God |
| Separations | Open Bible Churches Calvary Chapel Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) |
| Congregations | 67,500 |
| Members | 8.8 million |
| Other name(s) | The Foursquare Church |
The Foursquare Church is a worldwide Christian group. It was started in 1923 by a famous preacher named Aimee Semple McPherson. Its main office is in Los Angeles, California, in the United States. This church is known for being both Evangelical and Pentecostal.
Contents
History of the Foursquare Church
The Foursquare Church began with a special idea called the "Foursquare Gospel." This idea came to Aimee Semple McPherson during a sermon in 1922. She believed it showed four important parts of Christ: Savior, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Healer, and Soon and Coming King.
In January 1923, McPherson officially started the Foursquare Church in Los Angeles. She opened a large church building called the Angelus Temple. It could hold 5,300 people. McPherson was very well-known. She even had parades in Los Angeles with the mayor and movie stars. She also built a school next to the temple, which is now called Life Pacific University.
Leadership Changes Over Time
After Aimee Semple McPherson passed away in 1944, her son, Rolf K. McPherson, became the church's leader. He led the church for 44 years.
Later, in 2004, Jack W. Hayford became the president of the Foursquare Church. He helped the church recover from some financial problems. In 2020, Randy Remington became the current President of The Foursquare Church.
Important Church Partnerships
The Foursquare Church has worked with other Christian groups. In 1948, it helped create the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America. This group later changed its name to the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America in 1994. This new group included many different churches, including African-American organizations.
What the Foursquare Church Believes
The Foursquare Church has a clear set of beliefs. These beliefs are written in its "Declaration of Faith."
Core Christian Beliefs
The church believes the Bible is truly inspired by God. They believe in the Trinity, which means God exists as the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. They also believe that Jesus Christ is fully God.
They teach that people were made in God's image. However, because of the "Fall" (when Adam and Eve disobeyed God), all humans are naturally sinful. The church believes that Jesus died to save people from their sins. They teach that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus, not by good actions. When people truly believe and turn away from sin, they are "born again."
Spiritual Growth and Gifts
The Foursquare Church believes that growing spiritually is a continuous journey. This growth happens through studying the Bible and praying. They also believe in the baptism with the Holy Spirit. This is a special experience, separate from becoming a Christian, that gives believers power to share their faith. They believe that spiritual gifts, like speaking in tongues, are still active today and help the church.
Healing and Future Hope
The Foursquare Church teaches that God can heal sick people when they pray. They believe that Jesus will return to Earth before a thousand-year period of peace. They also believe there will be a final judgment. Good people will have eternal life, and bad people will face eternal punishment.
Church Practices
The Foursquare Church practices believer's baptism by fully going underwater. They also celebrate the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion, which is open to all believers. They also practice Anointing of the sick and tithing, which means giving a tenth of one's income to the church.
How the Foursquare Church is Organized
The Foursquare Church has a specific way of being governed. It's similar to how some bishops lead churches. The founder, Aimee Semple McPherson, had a lot of power in making decisions.
Church Leadership and Decisions
The main group that makes decisions for the Foursquare Church is the Foursquare Convention. This meeting happens every year. Leaders and ministers from the church can vote. Each Foursquare church in the United States can send one voting person for every 50 members. Churches outside the U.S. can send one official person.
A group of 12 to 24 directors helps manage the Foursquare Church. They watch over the church's activities and choose officers. They are also in charge of giving licenses to ministers. The board includes the president, vice presidents, and ministers from different areas. Other church members can also be chosen for the board.
Local Churches and Their Connection
Local Foursquare churches are part of the larger International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. They follow the rules of the international church. There are two main types of Foursquare churches. A "charter member church" is fully part of the international church, and its property is owned by the international church. A "covenant member church" might be a newer church or one that joined later. These churches might not transfer their property to the international church. Some churches can also simply "affiliate" with the Foursquare Church without becoming full members. These churches keep their own legal identity and independence.
Foursquare Church Around the World
The Foursquare Church has grown a lot since it started.
North America
In North America, three colleges are connected to the Foursquare Church. These are Life Pacific University in San Dimas, California, Life Pacific College Virginia in Christiansburg, Virginia, and Pacific Life Bible College in Surrey, British Columbia.
In 2023, there were over 2,000 Foursquare churches in the U.S. While many are on the West Coast, the church is found all over the country. States like Oregon, Hawaii, Montana, Washington, and California have many members.
South America
Foursquare in Ecuador
The Foursquare Church first came to Ecuador in 1956. Missionaries started churches in Guayaquil. By 2012, there were 200 Foursquare churches in Ecuador.
Statistics
In 2022, the Foursquare Church reported having 67,500 churches. These churches are located in 150 different countries. Globally, the church has about 8.8 million members.
See also
- Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Philippines
- List of the largest Protestant bodies
- World Evangelical Alliance
- Believers' Church
- Worship service (evangelicalism)
