Open Bible Churches (OBC), formerly known as Open Bible Standard Churches (OBSC), is an association of Pentecostal churches with headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, United States.
Open Bible Churches is affiliated with New Hope Christian College,[1] an accredited Bible college in Eugene, Oregon, INSTE Bible College[2] in Ankeny, Iowa, Harvest Bible College, located at First Church of the Open Bible in Des Moines, Iowa, and Toledo School of Ministry in Toledo, Ohio. Open Bible publishes the Message of the Open Bible.
There are more than 150,000 Open Bible members worldwide. In 2006, U.S. membership was 40,000 in 330 churches.[3]
The OBSC's origins are found in two smaller Pentecostal groups which can be traced to the Azusa Street Revival: the Bible Standard Conference founded in Eugene, Oregon in 1919 and the Open Bible Evangelistic Association founded in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1932; as both were similar in doctrine and structure, the two groups amalgamated in 1935.[4]
The Bible Standard Conference was formed in 1919 after Fred Hornshuh and several other ministers withdrew from the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) led by Florence L. Crawford. Hornshuh disagreed with the AFM's isolationist stance from other full gospel groups, centralized and authoritarian leadership style, and its strict position on divorce and remarriage. The Open Bible Evangelistic Association began in 1932 when thirty-two ministers led by John R. and Louise H. Richey left the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. The separation grew out of the reluctance of these ministers to give ownership of local church property to the Foursquare Church denominational leadership. They were also concerned over the church's divorced leader Aimee Semple McPherson's remarriage.[5]
The two Pentecostal groups were similar in their resistance to authoritarian leadership and denominational ownership of church property, and they also thought that local churches should maintain some autonomy.[5]: 158
Since 1996, the organization's public name has been simply Open Bible Churches.
^"2008 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches". The National Council of Churches. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
^Open Bible Churches. "About Open Bible". Retrieved 2011-12-28.
^ abCole, David (2007). "Heritage and Horizons: The Derivation and Destiny of Open Bible Churches". In Patterson, Eric; Rybarczyk, Edmund (eds.). The Future of Pentecostalism in the United States. New York: Lexington Books. pp. 157–158, 171. ISBN978-0-7391-2102-3.
Further readingedit
Mitchell, R. Bryant. "Heritage & Horizons". - "The History of Open Bible Standard Churches"- Click Here To Read
Mitchell, R. Bryant. Heritage and Harvests. – The history of Open Bible's involvement in international missions. Link to purchase
Jeff Farmer & Andrea Johnson. "Heart for the Harvest". - "History of Open Bible Churches 1982-2007. Link to Purchase
On the Wings of a Dove: An African Missionary Saga. 2006. – The memoirs of Grant H. Moore and Wilma M. Moore, Open Bible missionaries to Guinea, West Africa, beginning in 1952.
External linksedit
Official website
April 08, 2024
open, bible, churches, formerly, known, open, bible, standard, churches, obsc, association, pentecostal, churches, with, headquarters, moines, iowa, united, states, pacific, office, eugene, oregonorientationpentecostalorigin1935, moines, iowa, united, statesse. Open Bible Churches OBC formerly known as Open Bible Standard Churches OBSC is an association of Pentecostal churches with headquarters in Des Moines Iowa United States Open Bible ChurchesOBC Pacific Office in Eugene OregonOrientationPentecostalOrigin1935 Des Moines Iowa United StatesSeparated fromInternational Church of the Foursquare GospelCongregations330 in 2006 Members150 000 worldwide Official websitewww wbr openbible wbr orgOpen Bible is similar in doctrine and practice to the Assemblies of God in that the adherents believe in the modern day gifts of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues as one of the evidences of the gifts being manifested in the believer Generally each congregation owns its own property and calls its own pastor The organization is affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals the Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America and the Pentecostal World Conference Open Bible Churches is affiliated with New Hope Christian College 1 an accredited Bible college in Eugene Oregon INSTE Bible College 2 in Ankeny Iowa Harvest Bible College located at First Church of the Open Bible in Des Moines Iowa and Toledo School of Ministry in Toledo Ohio Open Bible publishes the Message of the Open Bible There are more than 150 000 Open Bible members worldwide In 2006 U S membership was 40 000 in 330 churches 3 Contents 1 History 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksHistory editThe OBSC s origins are found in two smaller Pentecostal groups which can be traced to the Azusa Street Revival the Bible Standard Conference founded in Eugene Oregon in 1919 and the Open Bible Evangelistic Association founded in Des Moines Iowa in 1932 as both were similar in doctrine and structure the two groups amalgamated in 1935 4 The Bible Standard Conference was formed in 1919 after Fred Hornshuh and several other ministers withdrew from the Apostolic Faith Mission AFM led by Florence L Crawford Hornshuh disagreed with the AFM s isolationist stance from other full gospel groups centralized and authoritarian leadership style and its strict position on divorce and remarriage The Open Bible Evangelistic Association began in 1932 when thirty two ministers led by John R and Louise H Richey left the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel The separation grew out of the reluctance of these ministers to give ownership of local church property to the Foursquare Church denominational leadership They were also concerned over the church s divorced leader Aimee Semple McPherson s remarriage 5 The two Pentecostal groups were similar in their resistance to authoritarian leadership and denominational ownership of church property and they also thought that local churches should maintain some autonomy 5 158 Since 1996 the organization s public name has been simply Open Bible Churches References edit nbsp Christianity portal New Hope Christian College INSTE Bible College 2008 Yearbook of American amp Canadian Churches The National Council of Churches Retrieved 2009 12 16 Open Bible Churches About Open Bible Retrieved 2011 12 28 a b Cole David 2007 Heritage and Horizons The Derivation and Destiny of Open Bible Churches In Patterson Eric Rybarczyk Edmund eds The Future of Pentecostalism in the United States New York Lexington Books pp 157 158 171 ISBN 978 0 7391 2102 3 Further reading editMitchell R Bryant Heritage amp Horizons The History of Open Bible Standard Churches Click Here To Read Mitchell R Bryant Heritage and Harvests The history of Open Bible s involvement in international missions Link to purchase Jeff Farmer amp Andrea Johnson Heart for the Harvest History of Open Bible Churches 1982 2007 Link to Purchase On the Wings of a Dove An African Missionary Saga 2006 The memoirs of Grant H Moore and Wilma M Moore Open Bible missionaries to Guinea West Africa beginning in 1952 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Open Bible Churches amp oldid 1132331713, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
