The Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas is a predominantly African-American pentecostal holiness denomination of Christians. The Pentecostal movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. ... Holiness means the state of being holy, that is, set apart for the worship or service of a god or gods. ... The term Christian means belonging to Christ and is derived from the Greek noun Χριστός Khristós which means anointed one, which is itself a translation of the Hebrew word Moshiach (Hebrew: משיח, also written Messiah), (and in Arabic it is pronounced Maseeh مسيح). ...

This church was founded by Benjamin Hardin Irwin and William Edward Fuller, Sr. (1875-1958). The Fire-Baptized Holiness Association originated in Iowa in 1895 under the leadership of Benjamin H. Irwin of Lincoln, Nebraska. Irwin expanded this into a national organization at Anderson, South Carolina in August of 1898. At age 23, William E. Fuller, Sr., a member of the African-American New Hope Methodist Church, attended the founding of that body in 1898. Blacks and whites were admitted with equality. Fuller returned to New Hope from the 1898 meeting, resigned his offices, turned in his license, and cast his lot with the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church. After Irwin left the church in 1900, Joseph Hillery King became the General Overseer. Bishop Fuller served as Assistant General Overseer to Overseer King in 1905. Acting on what he thought was a trend toward segregation, Fuller led about 500 members to organize the Colored Fire Baptized Holiness Church in 1908 in Greer, South Carolina. The True Witness periodical was established in 1909. On June 8, 1926 the name Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas was adopted. State nickname: The Hawkeye State Other U.S. States Capital Des Moines Largest city Des Moines Governor Thomas Vilsack Official languages English Area 145,743 km² (26th)  - Land 144,701 km²  - Water 1,042 km² (0. ... 1895 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Lincoln is the capital city of the State of Nebraska, in the United States of America. ... Anderson is a city located in Anderson County, South Carolina. ... Note: as an adjective (stressed on the second syllable instead of the first), august means honorable. ... 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ... 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Greer is a city located in South Carolina. ... 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The church government of the organization is episcopal. Bishops are the highest officials of the church, and preside over divisions called dioceses. The sacraments of the church are baptism and the Lord's Supper. Washing of the saints' feet, matrimony, and funerals are considered ordinances. In the Fire Baptized Holiness Church women can be licensed to preach and serve as pastors. The word Episcopal is derived from the Greek επισκοπος epískopos, which literally means overseer; the word, however, is used in religious terms to refer to a bishop. ... Baptism is a water purification ritual practiced in certain religions such as Christianity, Mandaeanism, Sikhism, and some historic sects of Judaism. ... The Lords Supper is a variation of the name and the service of The Last Supper or Eucharist. ... Feet washing is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. ...

The church headquarters and school are located in Greenville, South Carolina. In 2003 the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God had about 160 congregations, mostly on the east coast of the United States, but also including one church each in Canada, England, and the Virgin Islands, and 15 congregations in Jamaica. Greenvilles skyline at night. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Anglo-American division of the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church merged with the Pentecostal Holiness Church on January 30, 1911 in Falcon, North Carolina, to form what is now known as the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... A database query syntax error has occurred. ... Falcon is a town located in Cumberland and Sampson Counties, North Carolina. ... The International Pentecostal Holiness Church is a Pentecostal Christian body whose history, name, and theology bear the marks of two major American revival movements: the holiness revival of the late 19th century, and the pentecostal revival of the early 20th century. ...

External links

• Official Web Site (http://www.fbhchurch.org/)
• Statement of Beliefs (http://www.fbhchurch.org/belive.html)

Reference

• Handbook of Denominations in the United States (8th ed.), by Frank S. Mead and Samuel S. Hill