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Which regions of the United States became early centers of Pentecostalism?
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Pentecostalism
Prayer service at Abundant Life United Pentecostal Church, in Moore, Oklahoma.
The modern Pentecostal movement emerged in the early 20th century, with its foundational roots in the American Midwest and its rapid expansion occurring across the South and Southwest.
Key early centers of the movement included:
- Kansas: The movement is widely traced to 1901 at Bethel Bible College in Topeka, where students first experienced speaking in tongues.21
- The American South and Southwest: Following early successes, the movement gained significant traction in Texas, Alabama, and Florida. By 1905, Texas alone reported 25,000 adherents.2
- Missouri: Along with Kansas, this state became a notable hotbed for early Pentecostal activity.2
- Los Angeles, California: The 1906 Azusa Street revival, led by William Seymour, served as the primary catalyst for the movement's wider national and international expansion.21
Development was particularly concentrated among rural poor whites and urban Black communities in the South, eventually leading to the formation of major organizations like the Assemblies of God, which was founded in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1914.21