2.1 How Did the Pentecostal Movement Come to Canada?

[Emma Hodges]

The unorganized spread of Pentecostalism in its early days does not surprise me. I have often found that God works in very unique ways and the Spirit coming upon people would not follow a specific pattern or rhythm. Pentecostals are a bit more open and free moving with their decisions in comparison to other denominations, so I am not surprised by this fact. I think that the early resistance to organization both helped and hindered the spread of Pentecostalism. I think it helped it by allowing the Spirit to freely move and impact whoever he wanted to. But, I think some leadership and central organization may have helped members to feel more connected to each other and to not feel as alone in what they were experiencing. I think Pentecostals eventually began to organize themselves to build community and to have a group of believers who believe similar things to grow together and learn together.