Hot Springs General Council (April 2, 1914)

On April 2, 1914, roughly three hundred Pentecostal believers—pastors, evangelists, and missionaries—assembled in the Grand Opera House in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The spa town, known for its healing waters and steady stream of visitors, became an unlikely setting for a meeting marked by earnest prayer, frank conversation, and a desire to unite zeal with faithfulness to Scripture.

For ten days the delegates sought fellowship without confusion, and freedom in the Spirit without loss of accountability. Many had labored in hard places with little support, sometimes facing suspicion from established churches and practical obstacles on the mission field. They came not to build a platform for themselves, but to strengthen one another and to ensure that Christ’s work would be carried out honorably. Their watchword could have been the apostolic counsel: “But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)

Key Leaders and Shared Concerns

Among early leaders were E. N. Bell, whose steady hand helped guide the developing fellowship, and J. Roswell Flower, a gifted organizer and communicator who would serve in publishing and administration. Others, including Howard A. Goss and D. W. Kerr, contributed pastoral wisdom and a sense of practical urgency.

A chief concern was trustworthy ministerial credentials—recognizing genuine calling while guarding congregations from disorder and exploitation. Another was cooperative missions: how to care for workers, verify needs, and channel support without quenching initiative. The council’s tone blended brotherly candor with humility, aiming to preserve unity while allowing local churches to remain active and Spirit-led.

Outcome: The Assemblies of God

From this gathering emerged what became the Assemblies of God, organized as a “General Council” to serve, not to dominate. The delegates emphasized evangelism, holiness of life, and the Spirit’s empowerment for witness. Their heartbeat matched the Lord’s own urgency: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few… Ask the Lord of the harvest… to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37–38)

In a time when many worked without recognition, the Hot Springs council honored quiet heroism: missionaries who went, pastors who endured, and believers who prayed, gave, and stood together—seeking to walk in unity under God’s Word and the Spirit’s guidance.