A Pentecostal denomination rooted in the Holiness movement, emphasizing Spirit baptism, divine healing, and sanctified living.
The Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) is one of the oldest Pentecostal denominations in the United States, tracing its roots to a Holiness revival in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina in the 1880s. It formally adopted Pentecostal distinctives — including the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues — after the Azusa Street Revival of 1906. Today it is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world, with congregations in over 180 countries.
The Church of God holds to a three-crisis theology: conversion (justification), entire sanctification (the cleansing of the heart), and the baptism of the Holy Spirit (empowerment for witness). This Wesleyan-Pentecostal synthesis distinguishes it from some other Pentecostal bodies that do not emphasize entire sanctification. The denomination maintains a connectional structure with bishops and state overseers, giving it more institutional organization than many independent Pentecostal congregations.
Fayetteville has 12 Church of God congregations in the directory, reflecting the denomination's strong presence in the Southeastern United States. Worship tends to be expressive and Spirit-led, with an emphasis on praise, prayer, and openness to the gifts of the Spirit.
The Church of God combines the Holiness tradition's emphasis on entire sanctification with Pentecostal Spirit baptism — a Wesleyan-Pentecostal synthesis not shared by all Pentecostal bodies. It also maintains a more structured denominational governance than many independent Pentecostal churches.
Expressive and participatory, with praise and worship, prayer for healing, and openness to the gifts of the Spirit as regular features of corporate worship.
Camp Creek, North Carolina, 1886; adopted Pentecostal distinctives 1906–1908.
Being one of the first organized Pentecostal denominations and a significant missionary force globally.