Premier Pentecostal historian Vinson Synan shares for the first time his engaging personal assessment of and involvement in the extraordinary events of the last 100 years that gave birth to the charismatic and Pentecostal movements. Because of his unique position and participation in most of these events, Synan offers a rare and fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the phenomenal events that took place when the Holy Spirit fell at Azusa Street; the subsequent formation of the Pentecostal denominations; the surprising birth of the charismatic renewal; the emergence of charismatic Catholicism; the Toronto Blessing; and beyond.

Because Synan is so widely respected across denominational lines for his scholarship and balance, his candid eyewitness memoir will rivet all who walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, as well as professors, students, and curious onlookers. A once-in-a-lifetime perspective!

From Publishers Weekly

A historian of Pentecostalism and a highly regarded denominational leader, Synan has written a summary of the seminal moments in the North American Pentecostal movement. Less a memoir and more of a guide to newcomers, the book presents the rise of practices such as speaking in tongues and healings in the first decade of the 20th century and their spread to Protestant and Roman Catholic churches in the 1960s. The book breathlessly portrays events with tired adjectives such as amazing and awesome and incredible. But its simplicity of presentation is a useful shorthand for conveying big events such as the racial breakthroughs of the 1990s and the phenomenal spread of exuberant worship styles to churches outside the movement. A retired dean of Pat Robertson's Regent University divinity school, Synan argues in favor of the prosperity gospel, though he acknowledges excesses on the part of some of its vocal proponents. He is more critical in his views of the new apostolic movement, in which pastors of large churches declare themselves apostles, as holding the potential for abuse. (Apr.)
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From the Back Cover

"A deeply moving account."
-- Richard J. Mouw, president and professor of Christian philosophy, Fuller Theological Seminary

Premier Pentecostal historian Vinson Synan, widely respected across denominational lines for his scholarship and balance, holds a unique position: personal involvement in many of the extraordinary events of the last hundred years that gave birth to the charismatic and Pentecostal movements.

Now, for the first time, he candidly shares exciting behind-the-scenes stories and personal assessments of these phenomenal experiences, including:

• when the Holy Spirit fell at Azusa Street,
• the surprising birth of the charismatic renewal,
• the Latter Rain movement,
• the emergence of charismatic Catholicism,
• the Toronto Blessing,
• and more!

Truly a once-in-a-lifetime book, this eyewitness memoir will rivet and refresh all who walk in the fullness of God's Spirit.

"This is a must-read history."--Francis MacNutt, Ph.D., co-founder, Christian Healing Ministries

"A delightful and perceptive journey through a century of controversy and incredible growth...a fascinating story."--David Edwin Harrell Jr., Daniel Breeden Eminent Scholar in the Humanities, emeritus, Auburn University