What are Pentecostals?
The term “Pentecostal” is derived from the fact that most, if not all, Pentecostal branches trace the birth of the church age back to the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost and the prevailing view that this initial experience (which was accompanied by speaking in tongues) is still available to those who seek it today.
While there are many individual sects within the Pentecostal movement, just as there are many different flavors of Baptists, Judaism, etc., one thing all Pentecostals have in common is the belief in the modern manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12). Among these gifts are that of speaking in tongues and gifts of healing.
In practice, Pentecostals tend to be very demonstrative in worship, with lively singing, hand clapping, and upbeat music . Once again, the origin of this behavior can be traced to the day of Pentecost, when Jesus’ disciples were accused of being drunk after they were filled with the Holy Ghost. In the first healing recorded in the church age (Acts 3) the lame man who was made to walk again went leaping into the temple. None of this should be particularly surprising, given the fact that exhuberant worship is commonly referred to in the Old Testament (particularly the book of Psalms) and only became subdued as a result of persecution at the hands of the Roman Empire.
Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Non-Denominational churches often share many of the same qualities and in some cases are indistinguishable. There is little if any difference between Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in general. Many Charismatic churches are simply Pentecostal-style churches that prefer the Charismatic label. However, Charismatic-labeled churches tend to be more independent while Pentecostal churches tend to be aligned with a larger denominational body.
Partial List of Greenville Pentecostal Churches in South Carolina:
- NewStart Church, 754 Mauldin Road, Greenville, SC 29607 (864) 640-4433
- Emmanuel Pentecostal Church of the First Resurrection, 9 Renfrew Avenue, Greenville, SC
- Christian Life Pentecostal Holiness Church, 4 Ballenger Street, Greenville, SC
- Emmanuel Temple Pentecostal Church, 11 Bluff Drive, Greenville, SC
- Solomon’s Temple Pentecostal, 3 Guess Street, Greenville, SC
- Iglecia Pentecostal El Tabernaculo, 105 Donaldson Road, Greenville, SC
- St. James Pentecostal Holiness Church, 107 Maloy Street, Greenville, SC
- Life Restoration Center, 523 Old Easley Highway, Greenville, SC
- Redemption Outreach Center, 58 Airview Drive, Greenville, SC