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The Peniel Mission was an
interdenominational Interdenominationalism is an evangelical Protestant movement of cooperation among various Christian denominations. History The movement has its origins in the founding of the London Missionary Society, a missionary society, in 1795 by variou ...
holiness Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...
rescue mission The Inner Mission (german: Innere Mission, also translated as Home Mission) was and is a movement of German evangelists, set up by Johann Hinrich Wichern in Wittenberg in 1848 based on a model of Theodor Fliedner. It quickly spread from Germany to ...
that was started in
Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
on 11 November 1886 by
Theodore Pollock Ferguson Theodore Pollock Ferguson (January 10, 1853 – July 12, 1920) was a pioneer leader in the American Holiness Movement, a Christian evangelist and social worker who co-founded the Peniel Mission and Peniel Missionary Society. Ferguson was bor ...
(1853–1920) and
Manie Payne Ferguson Manie Payne Ferguson (1850 – 8 June 1932) was a pioneer leader in the American Holiness Movement, a Christian evangelist and social worker who co-founded the Peniel Mission, and the author of several hymns, most notably "Blessed Quietness". E ...
(born 1850; died 8 June 1932). It was dissolved in 1949.


History of The Peniel Mission


Origins and early days (1886–1894)

Manie Payne Ferguson, along with her husband, Theodore, founded the Los Angeles Mission on November 11, 1886 at the Masonic Hall on Spring Street (near 416 North Main Street) in downtown Los Angeles. However, after three months they were forced to move to the basement of the Nadeau Hotel (opened 5 July 1886), located on the southwest corner of Spring and First Streets. After a year, they were forced to rent the burnt-out
Methodist Episcopal Church, South The Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MEC, S; also Methodist Episcopal Church South) was the American Methodist denomination resulting from the 19th-century split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC). Disagreement ...
for six months until it could be demolished. The Mission then relocated to rented rooms at 107 North Main Street. In the first eight years, the Mission relocated six times, before establishing a permanent location. The Mission was eventually renamed the Peniel Mission. Peniel means "Face of God",Frankiel, 107. and "was chosen from Genesis 32: 24–30, and is meant to connote spiritual triumph."


Peniel Hall (1894)

From the outset, the Peniel Mission was
non-denominational A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination. Overview The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism, Baháʼí Fait ...
and
nonsectarian Nonsectarian institutions are secular institutions or other organizations not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group. Academic sphere Examples of US universities that identify themselves as being nonsectarian include Adelp ...
. In 1894, the Fergusons received a significant anonymous financial donation (from former English cricketer
George Studd George Brown Studd (20 October 1859 – 13 February 1945) was an English cricketer and missionary. Studd was the second eldest of the famous Studd brothers, who dominated English cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between t ...
). With this funding the Fergusons were able to plan to expand the ministry of the Peniel Mission. They invited former Methodist presiding elder Dr. Phineas Bresee to join them in their endeavour, and planned to construct a 900-seat auditorium and ministry centre at 227 South Main Street, Los Angeles. It was decided that there would be four superintendents: Theodore and Manie Ferguson,
George Studd George Brown Studd (20 October 1859 – 13 February 1945) was an English cricketer and missionary. Studd was the second eldest of the famous Studd brothers, who dominated English cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between t ...
and Phineas Bresee. On Sunday 21 October 1894 the 900-seat Peniel Hall was dedicated.
University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...
president Dr.
Joseph Pomeroy Widney Joseph Pomeroy Widney, M.D. D.D. LL.D (December 26, 1841 – July 4, 1938), was an American doctor, educator, historian, and religious leader. After the American Civil War led him to medicine, he followed his brothers to California where ...
led the 9.30am Praise Service, while Bresee preached in the 11.00am service "from the text, "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."(Smith, 40). In the initial issue of the ''Peniel Herald'', the mission's official newspaper, it was announced
"Our first work is to try to reach the unchurched. The people from the homes and the street where the light from the churches does not reach, or penetrates but little. Especially to gather the poor to the cross, by bringing to bear upon them Christian sympathy and helpfulness.... It is also our work to preach and teach the gospel of full salvation; to show forth the blessed privilege of believers in Jesus Christ, to be made holy and thus perfect in love."Smith, 40.
As Timothy Smith explains:
Here were
holiness Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...
and
humanitarianism Humanitarianism is an active belief in the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans to reduce suffering and improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic, and emotional ...
working hand in hand, as in the days of Wesley. And
sectarian Sectarianism is a political or cultural conflict between two groups which are often related to the form of government which they live under. Prejudice, discrimination, or hatred can arise in these conflicts, depending on the political status quo ...
feeling was rejected: "Peniel Mission is thoroughly
evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...
but entirely undenominational," the Herald declared. Its superintendents would welcome help from all "earnest souls . . . who have any time over and above the work in their churches that they desire to give."
In October 1894 at the dedication of the Peniel Hall, Widney announced his intention to organize a Training Institute, in which Bible and practical nursing were to be the principal studies. By December 1894 Bresee had urged in the ''Peniel Herald'' the creation of an organization to screen out undesirable workers, and to create a group for "those that are being gathered in, who have no church affiliation, who need care and fellowship, and a place to find a home and work." Bresee and the other three superintendents created a printed statement of belief to be required of all who wished to associate themselves with Peniel Hall. It was a broad one, "embracing in simplest statement… a few of those essential things which are the common inheritance of the children of God.":
"The Peniel Mission is an organization for Christian service and fellowship. It will be required that those who seek to become members of the Peniel Mission be sound in the faith on all the main points of
Christian doctrine Christian theology is the theology of Christian belief and practice. Such study concentrates primarily upon the texts of the Old Testament and of the New Testament, as well as on Christian tradition. Christian theologians use biblical exegesis, ...
, which may be particularized as follows:
"1. The Divine inspiration of the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments.
"2. The
Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...
of the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
"3. The Fall of man, and his consequent need of
Regeneration Regeneration may refer to: Science and technology * Regeneration (biology), the ability to recreate lost or damaged cells, tissues, organs and limbs * Regeneration (ecology), the ability of ecosystems to regenerate biomass, using photosynthesis ...
.
"4. The
Atonement Atonement (also atoning, to atone) is the concept of a person taking action to correct previous wrongdoing on their part, either through direct action to undo the consequences of that act, equivalent action to do good for others, or some other ex ...
of the Lord
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 ...
for all men.
"5.
Justification by Faith ''Justificatio sola fide'' (or simply ''sola fide''), meaning justification by faith alone, is a soteriological doctrine in Christian theology commonly held to distinguish the Lutheran and Reformed traditions of Protestantism, among others, f ...
in Him.
"6.
Sanctification Sanctification (or in its verb form, sanctify) literally means "to set apart for special use or purpose", that is, to make holy or sacred (compare la, sanctus). Therefore, sanctification refers to the state or process of being set apart, i.e. " ...
by Faith in the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
"7. The
Resurrection Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, which ...
of the dead.
"8. The
eternity Eternity, in common parlance, means Infinity, infinite time that never ends or the quality, condition, or fact of being everlasting or eternal. Classical philosophy, however, defines eternity as what is timeless or exists outside time, whereas ...
of Reward and Punishment."
According to Smith, "What Bresee intended, apparently, was a combination of the interdenominational mission idea with that of an independent church, the former for the workers and sponsors who had no thought of forsaking their old allegiances, the latter for the converts and others who had no church home."


Leadership difficulties (1895)

However, by early October 1895, Widney and Bresee were "frozen out" of the Peniel Mission. Frankiel indicates: "At first Bresee joined with the Fergusons at the Peniel Mission in Los Angeles, where he tried to persuade them to open a school and organize to receive members like a church. They refused, however, and other difficulties led to his parting with them after one year." According to Smith,
e immediate cause for the organization of the Church of the Nazarene … is not so much to be found in Bresee's differences with the Methodists as in those which developed between him and the proprietors of Peniel Hall. Certainly J. P. Widney must have been disillusioned when
A. B. Simpson Albert Benjamin Simpson (December 15, 1843 – October 29, 1919), also known as A. B. Simpson, was a Canadian preacher, theologian, author, and founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), an evangelical denomination with an emphasis ...
, leader of the
Christian and Missionary Alliance The Alliance World Fellowship is the international governing body of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (The Alliance, also C&MA and CMA). The Alliance is an evangelical Protestant denomination within the Higher Life movement of Christianity ...
and reportedly an extremist on divine healing, appeared as a special worker at the mission in May
895 ' __NOTOC__ Year 895 (Roman numerals, DCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * The Hungarians, Magyars are expelled from southern Russia, and ...
Bresee on his part disagreed with Mr. and Mrs. Fergusons' insistence upon the use of young women in rescue work, and their growing interest in foreign missionary schemes.
Another cause of disagreement was that Bresee became convinced that the best ministry for the urban poor was to create strong churches that ministered to entire families, whereas the Fergusons believed that the Peniel Mission should focus instead on the "down and outer" and remain non-denominational.


Subsequent developments and expansion (1895–1906)

From the home base in
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, other missions were established as Peniel Missions, primarily on the west coast of the United States of America, but also in Memphis, New York, Alaska and Hawaii. "With a United States membership destined never to exceed a thousand (in 1906 a government report said 703), the ministry…had an impact on the larger olinessmovement far in excess of that implied by numbers."Jones, WHM 1:734. By the turn of the twentieth century, more than 25 missions and rescue homes had been started. Among the Peniel Missions established were those located at: * 1.
San Pedro, Los Angeles, California San Pedro ( ; Spanish: " St. Peter") is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, California. Formerly a separate city, it consolidated with Los Angeles in 1909. The Port of Los Angeles, a major international seaport, is partially located wi ...
, the first branch mission, established 20 November 1891; * 2. Grant Avenue,
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
(11 November 1893) * 3.
San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the List of United States cities by population, eigh ...
, California on 3 March 1895 * 4.
Juneau, Alaska The City and Borough of Juneau, more commonly known simply as Juneau ( ; tli, Dzánti K'ihéeni ), is the capital city of the state of Alaska. Located in the Gastineau Channel and the Alaskan panhandle, it is a unified municipality and the se ...
on June 1, 1895 * 5.
Douglas, Alaska Douglas is a community on Douglas Island in southeastern Alaska, directly across the Gastineau Channel from downtown Juneau. History Douglas Island was originally a border of the Auke people’s and Taku people’s territory. It was not usually ...
in October 1895 * 6.
San Bernardino, California San Bernardino (; Spanish for "Saint Bernardino") is a city and county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 cen ...
in February 1896 * 7.
Stockton, California Stockton is a city in and the county seat of San Joaquin County, California, San Joaquin County in the Central Valley (California), Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. Stockton was founded by Carlos Maria Weber in 1849 after he acquir ...
, on May 6, 1896 * 8.
Eureka, California Eureka (Wiyot: ''Jaroujiji'', Hupa: ''do'-wi-lotl-ding'', Karuk: ''uuth'') is the principal city and county seat of Humboldt County in the Redwood Empire region of California. The city is located on U.S. Route 101 on the shores of Humboldt ...
, on August 11, 1896 * 9. 325 Kay Street,
Sacramento, California ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento C ...
, on August 15, 1896 * 10. a second mission in San Francisco, California at Third Avenue was also opened in August 1896 * 11.
Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
in December 1896 (although it only lasted a few years) * 12. 14th Street,
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, started by Miss Ella Shaw (later Melody) in spring of 1897, but relocated to 39
Bowery The Bowery () is a street and neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City. The street runs from Chatham Square at Park Row, Worth Street, and Mott Street in the south to Cooper Square at 4th Street in the north.Jackson, Kenneth L. "B ...
in December 1897 and subsequently known as the Peniel Josephine Mission; * 13. a third mission in San Francisco was originally started on May 14, 1897 on Sacramento Street, but later relocated to Pacific Street (within two blocks of 49 saloons), and later still to the corner of Kearney and Montgomery Streets * 14. 407 Broadway,
Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...
opened on June 29, 1897, but later moved to the Oriental Block at 716–724 Washington Street * 15.
Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. I ...
on October 30, 1897 * 16. the
Victor, Colorado The City of Victor is a Statutory City in Teller County, Colorado, United States. Gold was discovered in Victor in the late 19th century, an omen of the future of the town. With Cripple Creek, the mining district became the second largest gold ...
mission in the mining camps was opened on 20 November 1897 * 17.
Fresno, California Fresno () is a major city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley region. It covers about and had a population of 542,107 in 2020, makin ...
opened on December 18, 1897 * 18.
Vallejo, California Vallejo ( ; ) is a city in Solano County, California and the second largest city in the North Bay region of the Bay Area. Located on the shores of San Pablo Bay, the city had a population of 126,090 at the 2020 census. Vallejo is home to the ...
(near the naval station) was opened on 16 March 1898 by three women from San Francisco * 19.
Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California. Incorporate ...
mission was opened on 6 May 1898 * 20. a rescue home was established in San Francisco in August 1898 to minister to women * 21.
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
was opened on March 25, 1899, and by 1904 was meeting in a hall on the corner of Hotel and Fort Streets in
Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...
* 22. a rescue home was opened in Sacramento on April 1, 1899. Wealthy socialite Margaret Eleanor Rhodes Crocker (1822–1901) donated her Sacramento mansion to the Peniel Rescue Mission in 1900 for the care of "erring young women."; * 23.
Wrangell, Alaska The City and Borough of Wrangell ( tli, Ḵaachx̱ana.áakʼw, russian: Врангель) is a borough in Alaska, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 2,127, down from 2,369 in 2010. Incorporated as a Unified Home Rule Bor ...
opened May 7, 1899 * 24.
Skagway, Alaska The Municipality and Borough of Skagway is a first-class borough in Alaska on the Alaska Panhandle. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,240, up from 968 in 2010. The population doubles in the summer tourist season in order to deal wit ...
opened on May 16, 1899, by Victorine Tooley (or Yorba) and her daughter Roberta Yorba, who were members of the Peniel Mission in Sacramento. They decided to establish a mission in Skagway and when they moved up, brought both Justina M Dickinson and Victorine's step-sister, Gusta Carnahan with them. "The Peniel Missions were dedicated to helping the " soiled doves" or prostitutes. There is no record of any of them after 1900, so they may have found better areas to take the Mission (once the gold rush was over, the population of men and consequently prostitutes dropped). * 25. 502 Pike Street,
Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
, Washington in 1902. On 21 July 1913 sailors of the US Reserve Fleet destroyed the chapel in the mistaken belief that it was the headquarters of the Industrial Workers. When they realised their mistake, the sailors took an offering to compensate the Peniel Mission, and then destroyed the headquarters of the Radical Socialists. * 26. 247 NW Couch Street,
Portland Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...
(1904), later 5 more locations including Jefferson and 1st Streets Other Peniel missions were established, including: * 12th Street and Pacific Avenue,
Tacoma, Washington Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, Washington, Olympia, and northwest of Mount ...
*
Astoria, Oregon Astoria is a port city and the seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1811, Astoria is the oldest city in the state and was the first permanent American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. The county is the northwest corne ...
*
Bakersfield, California Bakersfield is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is the county seat and largest city of Kern County. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's populat ...
* W 11th St and N Senate Ave
Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
,
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, eventually leased to the Christ Temple Pentecostal denomination from 1912 and sold in 1915; (DuPree, African-American Holiness Pentecostal Movement, 269–270. *
Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz (Spanish for "Holy Cross") is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, in Northern California. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 62,956. Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a pop ...
.


Decline and demise (1906–1949)


Azusa Street and the rise of Pentecostalism

The
Azusa Street Revival The Azusa Street Revival was a historic series of revival meetings that took place in Los Angeles, California. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African-American preacher. The revival began on April 9, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915. O ...
of April 1906 had a negative effect on the Peniel Mission. Among those defecting from Peniel Hall was an Owen "Irish" Lee, a former Irish-American Catholic converted through Peniel Hall, who hosted William Seymour in 1906 and allowed meetings in his home. The Lees informed other members of Peniel about the meetings (later held at 214 North Bonnie Brae Street). On 9 April 1906 Lee received the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit In Christian theology, baptism with the Holy Spirit, also called baptism in the Holy Spirit or baptism in the Holy Ghost, has been interpreted by different Christian denominations and traditions in a variety of ways due to differences in the doc ...
and
spoke in tongues Speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia, is a practice in which people utter words or speech-like sounds, often thought by believers to be languages unknown to the speaker. One definition used by linguists is the fluid vocalizing of sp ...
in his home when Seymour laid hands on him and prayed. This precipitated other manifestations of tongues-speaking (including Seymour for the first time) later that day. Among those affected were Jennie Moore and Ruth Asberry who went to the Peniel Mission and spoke in tongues there. This resulted in the entire congregation of the Peniel Mission following them to the Azusa Street Mission.Owens, 66. "Most of the churches, mission and tent meetings in the area were effected immediately. Some lost so many people to the Azusa Street Mission that they closed." Among those who also defected to the Pentecostal movement was their primary financial supporter,
George Studd George Brown Studd (20 October 1859 – 13 February 1945) was an English cricketer and missionary. Studd was the second eldest of the famous Studd brothers, who dominated English cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between t ...
, former English cricketer and one of the primary benefactors of the Peniel Mission since its inception in 1886, who defected to the Apostolic Faith Mission in September 1907; and
Frank Bartleman Frank Bartleman (December 14, 1871 – August 23, 1936) was an American Pentecostal writer, evangelist and missionary. He converted to Pentecostalism and became a preacher. He began his writing career in 1905. Early life Bartleman was born ...
(1871–1936), pioneer
Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement
preacher A preacher is a person who delivers sermons or homilies on religious topics to an assembly of people. Less common are preachers who preach on the street, or those whose message is not necessarily religious, but who preach components such as a ...
and the chronicler of the
Azusa Street Revival The Azusa Street Revival was a historic series of revival meetings that took place in Los Angeles, California. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African-American preacher. The revival began on April 9, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915. O ...
, who was appointed director of the Peniel Mission in
Stockton, California Stockton is a city in and the county seat of San Joaquin County, California, San Joaquin County in the Central Valley (California), Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. Stockton was founded by Carlos Maria Weber in 1849 after he acquir ...
in early 1904, and later preached regularly at the Peniel Mission in
Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. I ...
immediately prior to his involvement in the nascent
Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement
movement.


Highlights

About 15 October 1906 there was a fire at the Peniel Hall in Los Angeles which caused the death of one elderly female worker, injury to two male workers, and the total destruction of the building.


Deaths of Theodore and Manie Ferguson

After her husband's death in 1920, “Mother Ferguson” continued to direct the work until her own death. Upon the death of Manie Ferguson on 8 June 1932, control of the Peniel Mission passed to an all-female self-perpetuating board.


Changes

In 1947 the Peniel Mission became a part of the present-day
World Gospel Mission World Gospel Mission (WGM) is an interdenominational Christian holiness missionary agency headquartered in Marion, Indiana, United States. Aligned with the Wesleyan Holiness tradition of Protestantism, WGM was founded on 10 July 1910 in Universi ...
br>
In 1998, all but two of the former West Coast USA Peniel Missions missionaries resigned from Peniel Missions, Inc. / World Gospel Missions and went to work for CityTeam Ministries. Peniel Missions in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Oakland were closed and the buildings and small fixed assets were sold to the ministry of CityTeam in a transaction that allowed those being ministered to continue receiving the services they needed. Missionaries and Pastor's Bob and Lisa Margaron continue the work at Peniel Missions, Inc. at 1500 and 1508 S. Sutter Street, Stockton, California today. This is the only remaining American Peniel Missions affiliated with World Gospel Mission.


Methods

"The Peniel Mission used some of the same methods as the
Salvation Army Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...
, including street-corner meetings followed by parades back to the mission hall". According to Schwanz,
"Manie Ferguson was more outgoing than Theodore and was the guiding force for the expansion of the ministry. … Under Manie’s direction, the Peniel Missions sought to provide a ministry for single women. This appears to have been a primary motivation in the growth of the movement. The women usually lived in rented rooms near the rented hall where they conducted evangelistic services. They boldly testified on street corners and in bars and houses of prostitution. All workers were unsalaried, but the local mission paid for most of their expenses. Even the Fergusons were not paid by the mission, but lived on the rental income from three small houses they owned."
According to Sandra Frankiel,
"Together with his wife Manie, he offered street-corner meetings in the afternoons and
evangelistic In Christianity, evangelism (or witnessing) is the act of preaching the gospel with the intention of sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians who specialize in evangelism are often known as evangelists, whether they are in ...
services nightly, with a meal afterwards. Their entire work, like that of most of the city holiness missions, was oriented toward soul saving and the promotion of
holiness Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...
. The mission was not a church, however; converts were supposed to join one of the regular denominations. It was, rather, a holiness revival station spreading the message of
Christian perfection Christian perfection is the name given to theological concepts within some sects of Christianity that purport to describe a process of achieving spiritual maturity or perfection. The ultimate goal of this process is union with God characterized by ...
".


The Peniel Missionary Society (1895–1949)

In addition to the expansion of the Peniel Mission in the United States of America, and its overseas territories:
Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
and
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
, eventually Peniel Missions were established overseas in
Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
,
Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
(1911);
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
(190

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
,
Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
,
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, and the
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
. A separate organisation, The Peniel Missionary Society, under the control of Manie and Theodore Ferguson, was formed in 1895. The objective of the organisation was: "Mission work, as God shall lead, and as means shall be provided." (Dennis). The Mission operated on the
faith mission Faith mission is a term used most frequently among evangelical Christians to refer to a missionary organization with an approach to evangelism that encourages its missionaries to "trust in God to provide the necessary resources". These missionaries ...
model, with workers unsalaried, and guaranteed no financial support. Despite this, by 1911, the Peniel Missionary Society was operating in the following fields: India, North Africa (Egypt), Mexico, Central America (Guatemala), South America (Argentine Republic, and Bolivia), West Indies (Puerto Rico), Alaska, and Hawaii. (Dennis)


Prominent members and supporters

Prominent members of the Peniel Mission included *
Haldor Lillenas Haldor Lillenas (19 November 1885 – 18 August 1959) was "one of the most important twentieth-century gospel hymn writers and publishers" and is regarded as "the most influential Wesleyan / Holiness songwriter and publisher in the 20th century ...
(1885–1959), "the most influential Wesleyan/ Holiness songwriter and publisher in the 20th century", who was converted at the Peniel Mission in
Astoria, Oregon Astoria is a port city and the seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1811, Astoria is the oldest city in the state and was the first permanent American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. The county is the northwest corne ...
, in 1906; and *
R.G. LeTourneau Robert Gilmour LeTourneau (November 30, 1888 – June 1, 1969), born in Richford, Vermont, he was a prolific inventor of earthmoving machinery and the founder of LeTourneau Technologies, Inc. His factories supplied LeTourneau machines which rep ...
, wealthy pioneer of the earth-moving industry who was active in the Peniel Mission at Stockton, California.LeTourneau 87–88, 91, 194–195.


References


Sources and further reading

*Anderson, Donald Firth. ""We Have Here a Different Civilization": Protestant Identity in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1906–1909." ''
The Western Historical Quarterly The Western History Association (WHA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1961 at Santa Fe, New Mexico by Ray Allen Billington et al. Included in the field of study are the American West and western Canada. The Western Histor ...
'' 23:2 (May, 1992), 199–221. See reference to Peniel Missions. *Avella, Steven. ''Sacramento: Indomitable City''. Sacramento, CA: Arcadia, 2003. See page 71 for reference to the Peniel Mission at Sacramento. *Bangs, Carl. ''Phineas F. Bresee: His Life in Methodism, the Holiness Movement, and the Church of the Nazarene'' (1995). Includes a chapter that discusses Bresee's involvement in the Peniel Mission in Los Angeles and profiles other principal leaders involved in the mission's founding and development, including the Fergusons and G. B. Studd. *Bartleman, Frank. ''How Pentecost Came to Los Angeles''. Los Angeles, CA: 1925. Republished as ''Azusa Street''

*Beach, Harlan Page. ''India and Christian Opportunity''. Student volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions, 1904. Page 297 gives statistics for the Peniel work in India. *Besse, Henry True. ''Church History''. Holzapfel Publishing Co., 1980. See page 232 for article on the Peniel Missions. *California Historical Society. "Peniel Mission". ''California History'' 74:388. *Cary, William Walter. ''Story of the National Holiness Missionary Society''. Chicago, IL: National Holiness Missionary Society, 1940. *Carroll, Henry King. ''The Religious Forces of the United States Enumerated, Classified, and Described''. C. Scribner's Sons, 1912. Page 470 Enumerates the statistics for the Peniel Mission at 703 members in 1910. *Case, Jay R. "And Ever the Twain Shall Meet: The Holiness Missionary Movement and the Birth of World Pentecostalism, 1870–1920." ''Religion and American Culture'' 16: 2 (Summer 2006):125–16

"Case moves the study of Holiness/Pentecostal origins to a new level of sophistication by framing the story within a global process, paying special heed to notions of modernization and resistance to modernization. The article makes clear that Pentecostalism did not start in the United States but came here as part of an international movement

*Clark, Elmer Talmage. ''The Small Sects in America: Their Historical, Theological, and Psychological Background''. Revised Edition. Nashville: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1949. See pages 79–80 for discussion of the Peniel Mission and TP and Manie P Ferguson. *Cox, Mabel Holmes. ''The Lady Pioneer: Pioneer Missionary Work in Alaska and the Northwest''. Roseburg, OR: n.p., 1968. Autobiography of Peniel Mission missionary who served at several different sites. Includes photographs, including ones of Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Ferguson, founders of the Peniel Mission. *Darling, Olive M., compiler. ''Converts of Peniel Missions''. n.p., n.d. *Dennis, James S. and Charles H. Fahs, eds. ''World Atlas of Christian Missions: Containing a Directory of Missionary Societies, a Classified Summary of Statistics, an Index of Mission Stations, and Maps Showing the Location of Mission Stations Throughout the World''. Rev. ed. New York: Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions, 1911. Online edition

Gives details of Peniel Missionary Society. *Ferguson, Manie Payne. ''Echoes From Beulah''. Los Angeles: T. P. & M. P. Ferguson, 1913. Musical Score. 268 pp. *Ferguson, Manie Payne. "Peniel Missionary Work" in ''Faith Tonic: 1 and 2 Combined; being a series of articles by different writers, exemplifying God's dealings with those who trust Him'', 3–35. Compiled by Leander Lycurgus Pickett. Louisville, KY: Pentecostal Publishing Company, c.1920s. 102 pp. *Ferguson, Manie Payne. ''T.P. Ferguson: The Love Slave of Jesus Christ and His People and Founder of Peniel Missions'' (c.1920). 240 pages. Includes 39 poems by Ferguson, a photo of T.P. Ferguson (page 17), biography of the life of T.P. Ferguson, notes from T.P. Ferguson's diary for 1881–1882 (pages 95–103), Bible readings and notes by T.P. Ferguson (pages 107–219), ''Peniel Missionary Work'' (pages 220–238), and an update of "Peniel Missionary Work" (page 239). *Frankiel, Sandra Sizer. ''California's Spiritual Frontiers: Religious Alternatives in Anglo-Protestantism, 1850–1910''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988

See pages 106–107 for Peniel Mission and the ministry of the Fergusons. *Henry, Helga Bender. ''Mission on Main Street''. W. A. Wilde Company, 1955. See page 105 for reference to Mrs Ferguson and the Peniel Mission. *Hinshilwood, C. Milton and Elena Irish Zimmerman. ''Old Los Angeles and Pasadena in Vintage Postcards'' (Postcard History Series). Arcadia Publishing: 2001. Features photographs of the Nadeau Hotel (page 14). *Hittson, Paul A. ''History of Peniel Missions''. Homeland, CA: Paul A. Hittson, 1975. *Holland, Clifton L., comp. ''An Overview of Religion in Los Angeles from 1850 to 1930''

*Hunt, William Chamberlin, ed. ''United States. Bureau of the Census. Religious Bodies: 1906''. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1910. See page 285 for good description of the Peniel Mission. *Hustad, Donald Paul. ''Dictionary-Handbook to Hymns for the Living Church''. Carol Stream, Illinois: Hope Publishing Company, 1978. See pages 239–240 regarding Manie Ferguson. *Jones, Charles Edwin. ''A Guide to the Study of the Holiness Movement ''. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1974. *Jones, Charles Edwin. ''Perfectionist Persuasion: The Holiness Movement and American Methodism, 1867–1936.'' Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1974. Section on the Peniel Mission: 243–244. *Jones, Charles Edwin. ''The Wesleyan Holiness Movement: A Comprehensive Guide''. Volume One: Parts I-III. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2005. See pages 734–735 for article on the Peniel Missions. *LeTourneau, R.G. ''Mover of Men and Mountains''. Chicago: Moody, 1967. See pages 87–88, 91, 194–195 for LeTourneau's involvement in and support of the Peniel Mission at Stockton, California. *Lewis, James R., editor. ''The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions''. 2nd ed. Prometheus Books, 2001. See page 561 for encyclopedic article about the Peniel Missions and the Fergusons. *Lillenas, Haldor. ''Down Melody Lane: An Autobiography''. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1953. See page 77 regarding MP Ferguson. Lillenas was converted through the Peniel Mission in Astoria, Washington in 1906. *Lillenas, Haldor. ''Modern Gospel Song Stories''. Kansas City, MO: Lillenas Publishing, 1952. See page 67 regarding Manie Ferguson. *Melton, J. Gordon, editor. ''The Encyclopedia of American Religions'': Vol. 1. Tarrytown, NY: Triumph Books, 1991. Chapter: Holiness Family; section: 19th Century Holiness; pg. 214 for article regarding the Peniel Missions and the Fergusons. *Nickel, Thomas R. ''Azusa Street Outpouring: As Told to Me by Those who were There''. Hartford, CT: Great Commission, 1979. Page 8 refers to the effect of the 1906 Azusa Pentecostal Revival on attendances at local churches and missions, including large numbers leaving the Peniel Mission in Los Angeles. *Osbeck, Kenneth W. ''101 More Hymn Stories: The Inspiring True Stories Behind 101 Favorite Hymns''. Kregel, 1985. See pages 314–315 for biography of Haldor Lillenas and his conversion through the Peniel Mission in Portland, Oregon. *Osbeck, Kenneth W. ''Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions'' (2nd Edition). Kregel, 2002. See entry for May 22 for reflections on "Blessed Quietness". *Owens, Robert R. ''Speak to the Rock: The Azusa Street Revival: Its Roots and Its Message''. University Press of America, 1998; Xulon, 2005. See pages 58–66 for effect of Azusa Street on the Peniel Mission in Los Angeles. Among those defecting was a former Irish-American Catholic converted through Peniel Hall, Owen "Irish" Lee who hosted William Seymour and allowed meetings in his home. The Lees advised other members of Peniel about the meetings (now being held at 214 North Bonnie Brae Street). On 9 April 1906 Lee received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in his home when Seymour laid hands on him and prayed. This precipitated other manifestations of tongues-speaking (including Seymour for the first time). Among those affected were Jennie Moore and Ruth Asberry who went to the Peniel Mission and spoke in tongues there. This resulted in the entire congregation of the Peniel Mission following them to the Asuza Street Mission (66). "Most of the churches, mission and tent meetings in the area were effected immediately. Some lost so many people to the Azusa Street Mission that they closed." (Owens, 66). *Phillips, Jim and Rosemary Gartner. ''Murdering Holiness: The Trials of Franz Creffield and George Mitchell''. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press, 2003. Franz Creffield briefly headed the Peniel Mission in
The Dalles The Dalles is the largest city of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The population was 16,010 at the 2020 census, and it is the largest city on the Oregon side of the Columbia River between the Portland Metropolitan Area, and Hermiston ...
, Oregon before forming his own controversial grou

*Pickett, Leander Lycurgus, comp. ''Faith Tonic: 1 and 2 Combined; being a series of articles by different writers, exemplifying God's dealings with those who trust Him''. Louisville, KY: Pentecostal Publishing Company, c.1920s. 102 pp. Includes article entitled: "Peniel Missionary Work" by Manie Payne Ferguson, pp. 3–35. *Piepkorn, Arthur Carl. ''Profiles in Belief: The Religious Bodies of the United States and Canada''. Harper Collins, 1978. See page 7 for Bresee's involvement in the Peniel Mission. *Pounds, Michael E. “The Beginning Days.” ''Peniel Herald'', Number 5, 1986. Concerns the Peniel Missions and the work of T. P. and Manie Ferguson. Reference to Haldor Lillenas. *Schwanz, Keith. ''Satisfied: Women Hymn Writers of the 19th-century Wesleyan/Holiness movement''. Wesleyan/Holiness Women Clergy, Inc, 1998

Gives a brief biography of Manie Ferguson. *Smith, Timothy. ''Called Unto Holiness: The Story of the Nazarenes''. Kansas City, Missouri: Nazarene, 1962. See pages 49 and following for involvement of Bresee and Widney in the Peniel Mission. *Taiz, Lillian. ''Hallelujah Lads and Lasses: Remaking the Salvation Army in America, 1880–1930''. University of North Carolina Press, 2000. *"The History of Urban Ministry." http://www.urbanministry.org/book/export/html/18982 (accessed 2 July 2008) Website of resources, including reference to Peniel Missions and CityTeam Ministries. *''The Year in Review at the Los Angeles Mission, 1990''. The Los Angeles Mission is the reorganized Peniel Mission. *Trachsel, Laura. "Kindled Fires in Peniel Missions". In ''Kindled fires in the U.S.A.'', 33–47. Marion, IN: World Gospel Mission, 1988. *Wacker, Grant. ''Heaven Below: Early Pentecostals and American Culture''. Harvard University Press, 2003. See page 204 for GB Studd's contribution to the Peniel Hall. *Wood, John Windell. ''Pasadena, California, historical and personal;: A complete history of the organization of the Indiana colony, its establishment on the Rancho San Pascual … Churches, societies, homes, etc.''. John W Wood, 1917. See page 326 for description of the Peniel Mission.


Periodicals

* Chandler, Russell. "L.A.'s Quake-Stricken Peniel Mission Plagued by Constant Financial Difficulties" ''Los Angeles Times'' (27 November 1976):A31. * ''The Los Angeles Peniel Transformer'' 7:10 (October 1978). * ''The Oakland Peniel Transformer'' akland Peniel Mission12:9 (October 1978) * ''Peniel Herald''. Official organ of the Peniel Mission. 59:1&2 (January & February 1957) * "Story of Peniel Mission: Local Institution Observes Date of Founding in 1886 and Occupancy of Present Home: Peniel Mission Story is Told", ''The Los Angeles Times'' (18 November 1923):II1-


Archival material

*"Papers of Charles Henry Troutman, Jr. Collection III". Billy Graham Center Archives, Wheaton, Illinois. The IVCF-USA folders are letters and reports from other Christian organizations about evangelism and mission activities around the world. For example, Folder 5–34 has letters and critiques of the Peniel movement

*"Records of the Peniel Missions, 1917". Yale University Library, New Haven, CT.


External links


Biographical Sketch of Manie Payne Ferguson






* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20100924042747/http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/ear_01/ear_01_00070.html Peniel Mission
Peniel Mission Stockton
* http://www.stocktonpeniel.org/{{Dead link, date=May 2020 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes * http://www.notonemoredeadchild.org

Christian missions Religious organizations established in 1886