Brief History
The Foursquare Church, officially named the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, is a Pentecostal denomination that resulted from the dynamic evangelistic ministry of Aimee Semple McPherson, who opened the historic Angelus Temple on Jan. 1, 1923.
Following the opening of Angelus Temple, our founder did not take time to rest on her laurels. The first “branch” church from Angelus Temple had its beginnings in Oct. 1923 in Long Beach, Calif. Other Los Angeles-area church plants rapidly ensued in Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Santa Ana; all four churches are still open today. As time passed, Foursquare branched out to the rest of the United States; we now have churches in most of the 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska.
The launch into foreign ministry fields also began in the 1920s. In 1927 Sister McPherson commissioned Vincente and Teodora DeFante as missionaries to the Philippines. Foursquare is still alive and well in the Philippines, which has a very strong national church presence. A former missionary herself, our founder’s desire to go around the world with the Foursquare Gospel led to The Foursquare Church’s being known as a missionary movement. At this time we have approximately 100 missionary units deployed throughout the world. From our earliest days, foreign missions was a primary emphasis—and remains so today.
Another early Foursquare initiative was establishing an educational institution to train Foursquare ministers and missionaries. The Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute opened in 1923, not long after Angelus Temple opened. The institute’s name was changed in 1926 to L.I.F.E. (Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism) Bible College. Today the school is known as Life Pacific College in San Dimas, Calif.; it is a WASC accredited college.
Our Doctrine
The Foursquare Church exists to glorify God and advance His kingdom. Jesus Christ’s command is to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19). Therefore, we are “Dedicated unto the cause of Inter-denominational and Worldwide Evangelism.”* These words express our spirit and our focus.
Our call is to preach Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as The Savior, The Baptizer, The Healer and The Coming King.
Our assignment is to develop healthy, growing churches. Our commitment is to plant national churches around the world led by loving servants of Jesus Christ. Churches developed in this manner will reproduce again and again.This makes possible the spread of the gospel to those who have not heard or accepted the message of God’s Son.
Our Name – The Foursquare Gospel Church: “Foursquare” is a Biblical term used of the tabernacle in the Book of Exodus, of the Temple of the Lord in Ezekiel 40:47, and of Heaven, as described in the book of the Revelation. The term “Foursquare Gospel” was given in the inspiration of revival to the denomination’s founder, Aimee Semple McPherson, during an evangelistic campaign in Oakland, Calif., in 1922. It represents that which is equally balanced on all sides, established and enduring. Such confidence in the power of the Gospel is also expressed by the verse, Hebrews 13:8, displayed in Foursquare churches proclaiming, “Jesus Christ the Same, Yesterday and Today and Forever.”
The name represents the four-fold ministries of Jesus as:
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We Believe that Jesus Christ is the saviour of the World
- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
- “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him…” – Isaiah 53:5
- “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” – Titus 2:14
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We believe that Jesus Christ is THE HEALER.
- “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases..” – Mathew 8:17
- “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[a] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will.” – Mark 16:17-18
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We believe that Jesus Christ is THE SOON COMING KING.
- “” For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
- “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” – Hebrew 9:28
- “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” – Titus 2:14
These We Believe
THE TWENTY-TWO (22) TENETS OF FOURSQUARE GOSPEL
THIS WE BELIEVE; THE FOURSQUARE DECLARATION OF FAITH
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THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Bible is God-inspired; perfect, with no mistakes; that God told certain men thousands of years ago what to write in it; that it is there to help us and to show everybody Jesus-the Son of God, the Savior of mankind; that it tells people how to live and be saved. (Matt. 24:35;2 Timothy 3:16,17; Psa. 119:105; 2Pet. 1:19-21; 2Tim. 2:15).
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THE ETERNAL GODHEAD.
We believe THAT THERE IS ONE God, Creator of the universe, eternal, holy, loving, all-powerful and deserving of our praise and thanks; and that, in the unity of Godhead, there are three, equal and divine: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit;
The Father the King of the Universe, full of Glory and Majesty, whose justice demands that sin be punished, but whose love sent His own Son to take that punishment for us.
The Son Jesus Christ, who has always been with the Father, who was born to the virgin Mary by the power of God in Israel about 2000 years ago, who taught and healed people, who died on the cross to take away sins, who lived again to defeat death, who lives with those who believe in him and defends them in heaven.
The Holy Spirit the Spirit of God, always with the Father and Son, but now also with believers in Christ, sent by him to guide and help them and also in the world to draw people to God and salvation. (Deut. 6:4; John 1:1-3; Matt.1: 23; 1John 5:7; Isa.9: 6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1Jn. 5:7).
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THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that by voluntary disobedience he fell from perfection. (Gen1: 27; Gen 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:19)
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THE PLAN OF SALVATION
We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, signing the pardon of all who believe on Him-Jesus. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Isa. 55:7; Heb. 7:25;).
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SALVATION THROUGH GRACE
We believe that we have no righteousness and must come to God pleading the righteousness of Christ (Ephesians 2:8;Rom. 3:10; Rom. 3:23; Isa. 64:6; John 6:47; Eph. 2:13).
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REPENTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE
We believe that upon sincere repentance, and a whole-hearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God (I John 1:9; Rom. 5:1,2; Rom. 8:1; Luke 1:77-79; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20)..
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THE NEW BIRTH
We believe that the change, which takes place in the heart and life at conversion, is a very real one (John 3:3; 2Cor. 5:17; John 15:19; Gal. 2:20; Psa. 1:1,2).
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DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
We believe that it is the will of God that we be sanctified daily, growing constantly in the faith (Hebrews 6:1; 1Thess. 4:3; 2Cor. 7:1; Heb. 6:1; Rom. 8:5; Isa. 35:8)..
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WATER BAPTISM
We believe that baptism by immersion in water is a sign to the world of our new birth; that, just as Christ was placed in consider our old self and nature dead and so are we “buried” in water and come up again to eternal life. (Matt.28: 19;Rom.6:4; Acts 2:41).
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THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe in the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper by the symbolic use of the bread and juice of the vine (I Corinthians 11:24, 25; 1Cor. 11:26; 1Cor. 11; 28; 2Cor. 13:5)..
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BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is to endue the believer with power; and that His incoming is after the same manner as in Bible days (Acts 2:4)..
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THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE
We believe that it is the will of God that we walk in the Spirit daily (Ephesians 4:30-32)..
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THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit has gifts to bestow upon the Christian; and that we should show spiritual fruit as evidence of a Spirit-filled life (I Corinthians 12:1-11; Galatians 5:22)..
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MODERATION
We believe that the experience and daily walk of the believer should never lead him into extremes of fanaticism (Philippians 4:5)..
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DIVINE HEALING
We believe that divine healing is the power of Christ to heal the physically sick in answer to the prayer of faith (James 5:14-16)..
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THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17)..
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CHURCH RELATIONSHIP
We believe it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:25)..
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CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that rulers should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to the will of God (Romans 13:1-5)..
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THE FINAL JUDGEMENT
We believe that all shall stand some day before the judgment seat of God, and there receive eternal life or death (2 Corinthians 5:10).
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HEAVEN
We believe that Heaven is the glorious eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:1-3; Revelation 7:15-17).
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HELL
We believe that hell is the place of eternal torment for all who reject Christ as the Savior (Revelation 20:10,15).
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EVANGELISM
We believe that soul winning is the most important responsibility of the Church (James 5:20).
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TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We believe that the method ordained of God for the support and spread of His cause is by giving of tithes and free-will offerings (Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:7).