Assyrian Pentecostal Church

Classification	Syriac Christian
Orientation	Pentecostal
Distinct fellowships	World Assemblies of God Fellowship
Geographical area	Australia, North America, Iran

The Assyrian Pentecostal Church (Template:Lang-syr, ‘Ittā d-Akhonāwāthā Pēnṭēqosṭāyē Ātūrāyē), in ( Persian: کلیسای پنطیکاستی آشوری), began in villages across the Urmia region in Iran, and spread to the Assyrians living in the adjacent cities. The current church's doctrine and tradition is a continuation of the spiritual revival movements that took place in Western Iran during the 1930s. In 1940, with great diligence and personal sacrifice a young pastor, named Tooma (Thomas) Nasseri^[1] began his evangelical ministry throughout Western Iran and built churches and established congregations in villages, towns, and major metropolitan cities in Iran. With the seed of Protestant Christianity planted Assyrian Protestant Church's began to emerge throughout greater Iran in the 1950s.^[2] Currently, the Assyrian Pentecostal Church has several congregations in California, Illinois, Canada, Australia, Austria, and Iran.^[3] The Church is an affiliate with the Assemblies of God.^[4] Today, the church may have from 12 to 20 thousand adherents.^{[citation needed]}

Contents 1 Name of the church 2 Statement of beliefs 3 Current Leaders 4 Language 5 Observed Holidays 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Name of the churchEdit

The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, or the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ as described in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2. Thus, the Church's name originates from the biblical passages contained within the Acts of the Apostles which refers to the day of Pentecost.

Statement of beliefsEdit

• The scriptures:

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. (II Timothy 3:16)

• The God Head:

Our God is one, but manifested in three persons, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (John 16: 13-15)

• Man, His Fall and Redemption:

Through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. (Romans 5:12-21)

• The New Birth:

Through Jesus' death and resurrection, righteousness comes to all who believe. (John 3:3-5)

• Water Baptism:

Baptism in water, by immersion. (Matt 28:16)

• Baptism in the Holy Ghost:

The baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God. (Mathew 3:11, Acts 1:8, Acts 2: 1-4)

• Divine Healing:

It is provided in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of every member of the church today. (James 5: 14-15, Mark 16:18, Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:17)

• Resurrection of the just and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ:

His coming is imminent. The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we that are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (I Thess 4: 16-17, Acts 1:11)^[5]

Current LeadersEdit

• Pastor William Abraham of Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Turlock
• Pastor Robert Barcham of Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Urmia
• Pastor Jonathan Nader of Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Chicago
• Pastor William Neesan of Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Los Gatos
• Pastor Victor Tamraz of Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Tehran

LanguageEdit

The liturgical language spoken by the members, church choir, and the pastor is Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, a language descended and closely entwined with Aramaic. Prayers and scripture is read and recited from an Assyrian Aramaic Bible.^[6]

Observed HolidaysEdit

The adherents of the Assyrian Pentecostal Church observe the following holidays:

• Christmas: (Eda Surah) also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.^[7][8]

• New Year's Eve: (Sheetah Khatah)

• Easter: (Eda Gurah) Assyrian Pentecostals celebrate Jesus Christs resurrection from the dead three days^[9] after his crucifixion, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day,^[10] or Easter Sunday, two days after Good Friday.

• Pentecost: (Yomit Pantacostayeh) Assyrian Pentecostals commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2.

See alsoEdit

• Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
• Assyrian People
• Pentecostalism
• Syriac Christianity
• Assyrians in Iran

ReferencesEdit

External linksEdit

• Religion and Nation: http://books.google.com/books?id=xJ8CLhx7pqMC&pg=PA199&lpg=PA199&dq=assyrian+pentecostal+church+in+iran+-east+-iraq&source=web&ots=zIbyi9vTP0&sig=GNz-EhCybrA54a7wHMWZ4PzBhJs&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA199,M1
• http://www.baylor.edu/Truett/journal/index.php?id=20626
• Acts 2:1-13 (New International Version) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:1-13
• http://books.google.com/books?id=KBhuAAAAMAAJ&q=assyrian+protestant&dq=assyrian+protestant&lr=&pgis=1
• Official Website for Turlock Branch: http://www.assyrianpentecostalchurch.org/APC/index.php
• Official Website for San Jose Branch: http://www.assyrianpentecostalchurch.com/

v t e - ܣܘܖ̈ܝܝܐ Syriac Christianity Churches (West Syrian) Maronite Church · Syriac Catholic · Syriac Orthodox Churches (East Syrian) Ancient Church of the East · Assyrian Church of the East · Assyrian Evangelical Church · Assyrian Pentecostal Church  · Chaldean Catholic Church Churches (in India) Chaldean Syrian Church · Jacobite Syrian Christian Church · Malabar Independent Syrian Church · Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church · Mar Thoma Church · Syro-Malabar Catholic Church · Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Languages Assyrian Neo-Aramaic · Bohtan Neo-Aramaic · Chaldean Neo-Aramaic · Garshuni · Hértevin · Koy Sanjaq Surat · Syriac · Malayalam · Mlahsô · Senaya · Turoyo National identity Naming issues · Assyrian identity · Chaldean identity  · Aramaean identity