The Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God is a predominantly black Pentecostal/Holiness denomination formed in 1908 when the African-American members of the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church withdrew to form their own body in Greer, South Carolina.
The parent body, now defunct, was founded by Benjamin H. Irwin in 1895, becoming a national organization in 1898. William E. Fuller, Sr., an ordained minister with the African-American New Hope Methodist Church, attended the founding meeting, and decided to join the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church.
By 1900, Fuller had organized fifty black Fire-Baptized churches and a convention, integrating the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church. In 1900, Irwin resigned as general overseer and was replaced by Joseph H. King, while Fuller was appointed assistant general overseer.
Concerned over what he viewed as a trend toward segregation within the leadership, Fuller separated from the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church in 1908 and formed the Colored Fire Baptized Holiness Church, which began publishing The True Witness in 1909. In 1926, the denomination adopted its current name, the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God.
The denomination maintains an episcopal form of government, with bishops presiding over dioceses. Holding that there is no distinction between male and female in the eyes of Christ, the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God was one of the first churches in the United States to ordain women as preachers and pastors.
The denomination is strongest on the East Coast of the United States but has churches in Canada, England, Jamaica, and the Virgin Islands.
The theology of the church is similar to that of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, and it shares a history with African-American Pentecostalism in the South, as well as the Methodist Holiness tradition.
In addition to baptism and the Lord's Supper, the church also practices foot washing. Marriage and funerals are also considered ordinances of the church.
Largely, the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God holds to basic evangelical, holiness, and Pentecostal beliefs and practices.
The church believes that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the remission of past sins, for the regeneration of penitent sinners, and for salvation from sin and sinning. Justification is by faith alone, through the blood of Jesus, which was shed for the complete cleansing of the justified believer, not only from indwelling sin but from the pollution of sin subsequent to regeneration. Sanctification is the second work of grace, attainable through the faith of a fully justified believer.
The church believes in the Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, attainable through a definite act of appropriating faith on the part of a fully sanctified believer, evidenced by speaking with other tongues. The church also believes in divine healing, and the imminent pre-millennial Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The doctrines of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God are specifically opposed to that of Christian Scientists, Islam, Spiritualists, Unitarians, Universalists, and Mormons. The church considers as false the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventists, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Roman Catholics, and New Age Christianity. It also condemns the belief systems and practices of the occult, sorcery, witchcraft, psychics, numerology, and the teaching of Jesus only.
The focus of this category is on the denomination known as the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God, its dioceses, ministries, missions, publishing companies, and affiliated organizations and services. Websites representing local congregations should be submitted to the Local & Global category appropriate for the geographical location of the church.
Recommended Resources
Organized in 1977, the Tampa, Florida church is named Bethel Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, and is part of the Florida district. A history of the congregation is set forth, and an introduction to and biography of its pastor is included. Directions, service schedules, a calendar of events, and administrative contacts are posted, along with news and announcements, prayer requests, and several informational articles.
http://www.bethelfbhchurch.com/
Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas
Founded by William Edward Fuller Sr. in 1898, the denomination exists for the deepening of spiritual life, to ordain elders, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, deacons, and teachers, and to enforce the sacraments of the church. The official denominational site offers an introduction to the organization, its beliefs and practices, various sermons, schedules, locations, notices, announcements, and prayer requests.
http://www.fbhchurch.org/
Mount Athens Fire Baptized Holiness Church
Founded in 1918, the church is located in Ware Shoals, South Carolina. A history and profile of the church are presented, including directions, service and program schedules, a calendar of events, a statement of beliefs, articles of faith, announcements, and administrative contacts. Other resources include an archive of sermon video, a prayer for salvation, and a variety of informational articles.
http://www.mtathensfbhc.org/
PCTII: Fire-Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas
Presented by the Pentecostal-Charismatic Theological Inquiry International, the site offers a profile of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, including photos of several of those in leadership positions in the denomination, historical images and documents, schedules of conferences and other events. Other resources include the denomination’s headquarters and administrative contacts.
http://www.pctii.org/arc/fbhcga.html
Located in Gastonia, North Carolina, the congregation is a member of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas. Directions, a weekly worship schedule, calendar of upcoming programs and events, and information about its Sunday School program, youth programs, and music ministries. A history and introduction to the denomination are included, along with administrative contacts.
http://www.villageearth.net/
