The Rafu Shimpo - L.A. Japanese Daily News

Little Tokyo Welcomes Pentecostals
By GWEN MURANAKA
Rafu English Editor
Friday, April 28, 2006

3,000 march to Noguchi Plaza to celebrate centennial of the Azusa Street Revival.

The plaza of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center April 22 was filled with song and dance as Pentecostal Christians from all over the world gathered to celebrate the centennial of the Azusa Street Revival.

Pentecostals MARIO G. REYES/Rafu Shimpo

Several thousand faithful waving flags and banners marched two miles through downtown in a “Holy Spirit Procession” to the former site of the Azusa St. Mission, considered the birthplace of modern Pentecostalism.

A commemorative plaque adjacent to Noguchi Plaza marks the site where African American preacher William J. Seymour led the 1906 revival in an old wooden church.

The purpose of coming here is to celebrate the 100th anniversary since the revival here in Los Angeles at Azusa Street,” remarked Mathias Ng’andu, a pastor who traveled from Tanzania. “So we received the news in Africa and decided to come and celebrate here with you.”

About 3,000 people gather at a celebration of the centennial of the Azusa Street Revival April 22. Gospel singers perform for Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians in Noguchi Plaza.

More than 60,000 people are expected to attend the week-long series of events scheduled to mark the anniversary. Worldwide, the movement states that there are 600 million followers. In Little Tokyo, Azusa Street Praying will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Japan America Theatre is showcasing “The Covenant: The Story of My People.”

The gathering was welcomed by Little Tokyo dignitaries including Councilmember Jan Perry, Tom Kamei, president of the Little Tokyo Community Council and Rev. Philip Tsuchiya, pastor of Union Church. Bill Watanabe, who served as master of ceremony, said the celebration highlighted the diverse history of Little Tokyo.

We certainly have a history here but we have to share it with a lot of other groups as well,” Watanabe said. “Little Tokyo shares its history with a lot of different groups and one of the most significant is the Pentecostals. They trace their beginnings to right on this courtyard where JACCC is. The Pentecostal movement is huge, its worldwide and I think it’s something that they started right here 100 years ago.”

Pentecostals believe in a personalized commitment to Christ and a second experience known as “baptism in the Holy Spirit.” That baptism is most commonly accompanied by speaking in tongues, though other “gifts” from the Holy Spirit can include faith healing, the casting out of demons and modern-day prophecies.

Donnie Green, of Los Angeles, said a highlight of the day was a young woman who spoke in tongues during the celebration.

“That was the highlight hearing the young lady filled with the spirit,” Green said. It’s really exciting and a beautiful time to be together with the Body of Christ. It don’t matter what denomination you are, as long as you believe in Jesus Christ, you’re my sister, you’re my brother.”

In February a group of civic and religious leaders held a press conference at City Hall to push for creating an outdoor promenade and mural honoring Seymour at Azusa Street. JACCC has raised objections to placing a mural on a wall it owns on Azusa, because the wall contains power panels and hardware used during plaza events.

In JACCC Plaza, Pentecostals swayed and danced, others raised their hands and prayed as groups of dancers and musicians performed.

Marilyn Gray, of Olympia, Wash., said Pentecostalism helped her overcome drug and alcohol abuse.

“My whole life changed. There’s so much joy, there’s nothing better than that. That’s why I come to celebrate that.”

More News Stories...