Our Heritage: The Apostolic Trail
The history of LAPC does not begin with a modern denomination or a 20th-century movement; it begins in an upper room in Jerusalem. We believe that the Church was birthed in the book of Acts, and the doctrine we hold dear today is the very same "apostles' doctrine" that was once delivered unto the saints.
The Apostolic Foundation (33 A.D.)
The Church began on the Day of Pentecost. Under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, the Apostle Peter preached the first Gospel sermon, revealing the identity of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation. On that day, about three thousand souls were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2). This established the blueprint for the Church: one God, one faith, and one baptism.
Acts 2:42 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
The "Hidden" Thread of Truth
As church history progressed, traditional systems often drifted from the simplicity of the Apostolic message. However, we believe that God has never left Himself without a witness. Throughout the centuries—even during the dark ages—there have always been groups of people who sought the "old paths."
Whether they were called Waldenses, Anabaptists, or simply "brethren," history records scattered groups who rejected the idea of a trinity, baptized by immersion in the Name of Jesus, and experienced the supernatural move of the Spirit. Though they may not have carried the label "Apostolic" or "Pentecostal," they carried the Truth. The flame of the New Birth experience was never fully extinguished; it remained a "hidden thread" preserved by those who prioritized the Word of God over the traditions of men.
The Latter Rain (1901 – Present)
At the turn of the 20th century, a great spiritual hunger began to spread. From Topeka, Kansas, to the landmark Azusa Street Revival in 1906, the world witnessed a massive outpouring of the Holy Ghost. People from all walks of life began to speak in other tongues and rediscover the power of the Name of Jesus in baptism.
This wasn't the start of a "new" religion—it was the restoration of the original one. The "Latter Rain" brought the Apostolic message back to the forefront, calling people out of dead ritual and back into a living, breathing relationship with the one true God.
Our Place in History
Today, LAPC stands as a continuation of that book of Acts heritage. We aren't interested in modern innovations or changing the message to fit the culture. Our history is rooted in the conviction that the Word of God is timeless. We walk the same path the Apostles walked, preach the same Name they preached, and experience the same Spirit they received.
Jude 1:3 "...it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."