Our History

 

Since 2009, churches, pastors, lay people, a local seminary, and judicatoral leaders from the Philadelphia region, have come together in a mass effort to Celebrate the Holy Spirit. The Pentecost Celebration serves as an intentional and prayerful effort to encourage those of the Christian faith to empower themselves for a deeper and fulfilling relationship with the Holy Spirit. 

 

Each year this celebration has served as an intentional and prayerful effort to encourage those of the Christian faith to further themselves toward a growing and deepened relationship with the Holy Spirit. This year we are celebrating our 6th year. The following offers a brief history of the celebrations:

 

• Established in 2009 as a partnership between “Clergy of Philadelphia” and Palmer Theological Seminary. The Celebration was hosted at Palmer Theological Seminary (Wynnewood campus) and featured the following: Rev. Dr. James Forbes, former pastor of the Riverside Church of New York and author of “The Holy Spirit and Preaching” served as the keynote speaker, and Bishop C. Milton Grannum, pastor of the New Covenant Church of God, served as the lecturer. Rev. Dr. Gus Roman was a part of evolution of this vision.

 

• In 2010 the event was hosted again at Palmer Theological Seminary, with guests such as Bishop Millicent Hunter, Dr. Alyn E. Waller, Rev. Steven Lawrence, Dr. Wallace Charles Smith, Bishop Donald Hilliard, and Bishop Audrey Bronson.

 

• In 2011 and 2012, the celebration was hosted by the New Covenant Church of Philadelphia (Bishop C. Milton Grannum is the Pastor).

 

• In 2013 the celebration was held at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ (Dr. J. Louis Felton is the Pastor). Founder and Bishop Ernest C. Morris served as the guest speaker. 

 

• In 2014 the celebration featured a City Wide Prayer Service and a conversation addressing the issues confronting urban cities and the Holy Spirit’s guidance in confronting these issues both hosted at the Bethel Deliverance International Church (Bishop Eric A. Lambert Jr. is the pastor). The event concluded with a resounding Worship Experience at Zion Baptist Church, 3600 N. Broad Street, Phila, Pa. featuring remarks by various clergy from around the region and keynote speaker Bishop Eric A Lambert, Jr.