Commemorating the Beginning of the Pentecostal Movement in Little Tokyo

The date, Feb. 22, 1906, is noted in history as the arrival date of Pastor William J Seymour into downtown, Los Angeles. The "Walk of Remembrance" will showcase two historic sites in Los Angeles. Hosted by Azusa Street Mission & Historical Society which was founded by Fred and Wilma Berry.

The
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The "Walk of Remembrance" will showcase two historic sites in Los Angeles.

The walk will begin at 244 South San Pedro Street at noon on Saturday, Feb 22, 2014 in the Little Tokyo community in downtown Los Angeles. Various community leaders and churches will participate in remembering two great African Americans in Los Angeles; Biddy Mason and William Seymour.

The first site on our two block walk is the Biddy Mason Memorial wall at 331 Spring Street, which is the location of the home of an African-American midwife and landowner. She held a significant amount of acreage during the 1800's that today currently comprise Downtown Los Angeles and founded the First AME Church (FAME.)

We will then proceed to Azusa Street in Little Tokyo, home of the Azusa Street Mission founded by an African-American Pastor William J. Seymour. William Seymour arrived in Los Angeles on February 22nd, 1906 and proceeded to hold meetings at a small store front church on Santa Fe Street. This small church plant had resulted from some tent meetings at First and Bonnie Brae Streets held by W. F. Manley's group, the Household of God. The members came from various holiness backgrounds, particularly the Nazarene Church, and were seeking a holiness preacher to be their pastor. Neely Terry, one of these members, recommended Elder William J. Seymour. She had first met this black, one-eyed preacher on a recent visit to relatives in Houston, Texas where Seymour was standing in for the regular pastor, Mrs. Lucy Farrow.

Noted speaker & historian, Dr. Mel Robeck from Fuller Theological Seminary will lead and conduct the walking tour of these two historic locations. Many leaders from the churches in Los Angeles will be on hand to proclaim unity in our diversity.

In addition, there will be a special announcement about the planned memorial wall dedicated to the birth of a movement that now numbers over a half billion members of Pentecostal churches worldwide.