Elim Fellowship is a North American–based

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement

/charismatic Christian Ministry founded in 1933. Elim Fellowship's headquarters is located in Lima, NY.

History

Elim Bible Institute Elim Bible Institute and College is a private Christian college in Lima, New York. It awards bachelor's degrees, an associate degree, and certificates. History Elim was founded in 1924 in Endwell, New York, by Ivan and Minnie Spencer. The school ...

was founded in 1924 by

Ivan Q. Spencer Ivan Quay Spencer (November 28, 1888 - August 17, 1970) was an American Pentecostal minister who founded Elim Bible Institute and the Elim Fellowship.Hornell, New York. Spencer, a young minister, had a vision to train ministers to work in revival and renewal movements. The Elim Fellowship began a few years later in 1933 as the Elim Ministerial Fellowship, an informal fellowship of ministers who had graduated from

. In 1947, this loose network was incorporated as Elim Missionary Assemblies. In 1972 the name Elim Fellowship was officially adopted. Elim, describing itself as a "worldwide revival fellowship", serves, supports, and networks pastors, missionaries, churches, and other ministers and ministries. The Elim Fellowship of Evangelical Churches and Ministers (Canada) was incorporated in 1982. The administrative headquarters of the fellowship are located near the campus of Elim Bible Institute in

Lima, New York Lima (, the name is a shibboleth) is a town in Livingston County, New York, United States. The population was 4,305 at the 2010 census. The town is in the northeast part of the county, south of Rochester. The village of Lima is located within ...

. As of 1997, Elim Fellowship reported 190 member churches with an estimated membership of 21,000.

Beliefs

The Elim Fellowship holds membership in the

Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) is an American financial standards association representing Evangelical Christian organizations and churches, which qualify for tax-exempt, nonprofit status and receive tax-deductible c ...

, the

National Association of Evangelicals The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) is an association of evangelical denominations, organizations, schools, churches and individuals, member of the World Evangelical Alliance. The association represents more than 45,000 local churches ...

Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America The Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA) is an interdenominational fellowship of Pentecostal and charismatic churches and denominations in North America, existing for the purpose of promoting cooperation and understanding. It ...

, and the International Pentecostal Association. The fellowship describes itself as being "of Pentecostal conviction and Charismatic orientation". According to the denomination's official Statement of Faith, Elim Fellowship believes that the Holy Bible is the divinely inspired word of God; that God exists eternally as one being of three coequal persons; that humankind is lost and in need of a savior; that eternal salvation comes through the atoning death of

Jesus Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

and spiritual regeneration by the Holy Spirit; that divine healing is provided through atonement; and that the personal bodily return of Jesus Christ is imminent. Church government is congregational. The decision making body of the fellowship is the ''Council of Elders''. New elders are chosen by the existing elder body and affirmed in annual session.

Colleges/institutes

* Elim Bible Institute & College -

* Elim Bible Institute - Buffalo -

Orchard Park, New York Orchard Park is a town in Erie County, New York. It is an outer ring suburb southeast of Buffalo. As of the 2010 census, the population was 29,054, representing an increase of 5.13% from the 2000 census figure. The town contains a village a ...

References

*''Encyclopedia of American Religions'', J. Gordon Melton, editor *''Handbook of Denominations in the United States'', by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood *"Ivan Spencer, Willow in the Wind", by Marion Meloon
Elim Fellowship website

External links

* {{National Association of Evangelicals Christian organizations established in 1933 Pentecostal denominations established in the 20th century Pentecostal denominations in North America Finished Work Pentecostals 1933 establishments in the United States Members of the National Association of Evangelicals Evangelical denominations in North America Pentecostal denominations Christian organizations Christian denominations