This year marks a significant time in the life of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of Bishop J.H. King becoming the bishop of the young denomination. Recently, three biographies of early church leaders have been released and are available for purchase from LifeSprings Resources.
From Plowboy to Pentecostal Bishop: The Life of J. H. King, by Dr. Tony G. Moon
“Dr. Tony G. Moon’s biography of Bishop J. H King appears at an opportune juncture in the history of Pentecostal historiography. In recent years, scholars from around the world have ‘discovered’ Bishop King and his seminal work as an early Pentecostal leader who was theologically highly educated for his time, place, and social location. Now, with Dr. Moon’s excellent and complete biography of his life, the stature of “the Pentecostal aristocrat” as a theologian, journalist, educator, and churchman will only grow and expand as newer generations get to know the man who defined what it meant to be a Pentecostal bishop in the early days of the movement.”
—From the Foreword by Dr. Vinson Synan, Dean Emeritus, Regent University School of Divinity; Interim Dean, Oral Roberts University College of Theology and Ministry
Fire Baptized: The Many Lives and Works of Benjamin Hardin Irwin, by Dr. Vinson Synan and Dr. Daniel Woods
“For over a century Benjamin Hardin Irwin has been a shadowy figure in the history of late nineteenth century Holiness movements and early twentieth-century Pentecostal movements in the United States. From writers such as J.H. King, we knew that in 1900 Irwin ignominiously left the movement he birthed, the Fire-
Baptized Holiness Church. But beyond that, very little was known of the life of this enigmatic man. However, after years of research bolstered by the accessibility of numerous sources otherwise unknown and inaccessible, noted Pentecostal scholars Dr. Vinson Synan and Dr. Dan Woods have provided a rich study of Irwin and his writings.”
-Dr. A.D. Beacham, Jr., General Superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church
George Floyd Taylor: The Life of an Early Southern Pentecostal Leader, by Dr. Stan York
On August 10, 1881, the hearts of James and Julia Taylor were relieved after a strenuous labor of seventy-three hours by the birth of their third child, George Floyd Taylor. As he recorded in his 1908 diary, “I am twenty-seven years old this day. How I thank God for allowing me to live this long. I am told that when I was born I was dead. After being rubbed in warm water one hour, I began to breathe. I was born on Wednesday, August 10, 1881. My mother told me that she never saw me until Saturday. Nobody ever thought that I would ever live. So, I feel worthy of a place in the world stall. Yet, I feel so greatful (sic) to God for this (sic) mercies to me! Glory! Indeed He is good! God has lead me greatly through these years! I am unable to enumerate His blessings. I thank Him for all of them.”
“The most impressive fact about Taylor was that he overcame serious congenital disabilities to become an accomplished theologian, educator, author, missiologist, and editor. His work helped form the infant Pentecostal Holiness Church into one of the leading Pentecostal denominations in the world. What would have stymied a lesser man only caused Taylor to become more determined and persistent in his mission to excel in everything he attempted to do. This included enrolling at the University of North Carolina at the age of 48 here he earned the Master of Arts degree in 1929.”
– Dr. Vinson Synan, Dean Emeritus, Regent University School of Divinity; Interim Dean, Oral Roberts University College of Theology and Ministry
By IPHC Communications
