CHURCH OF GOD
CHRONICLE
S
The Evening Light and Church of God Evangel
by David G. Roebuck
14:6). The Way promoted the doctrines of But Tomlinson’s sights were already set
salvation, sanctification, and divine heal- on a publication for the Church of God. In
W
HEN General Overseer A.J. ing. But in September 1905, the editors January 1910, the fifth General Assembly
Tomlinson recorded the min- noted they were publishing the final issue appointed a committee to draft a recom-
utes to the fourth General of The Way in order to give their time to mendation. Two days later the Assembly
Assembly in 1909, he reported, “Some pastoral and evangelistic work. appointed a Publishing Committee.
more thoughts advanced about a church Among many publications that The first issue of The Evening Light and
paper but the assembly came to no con- emerged in the early Pentecostal Move- Church of God Evangel was dated March 1,
clusion.” Hidden in those words was 1910. Its name was based on the
the birth of the Church of God prophet Zechariah’s words “at
Evangel, now entering its centennial evening time it shall be light” (14:7),
year of ministry. a common explanation for the emer-
Overseer Tomlinson had long rec- gence of the Pentecostal Movement.
ognized the importance of the print- Tomlinson was the editor of this
ed word in spreading the Gospel. In weekly publication, and the cost was
1894, he and J.B. Mitchell formed 3 cents per copy or 50 cents for a
the Book & Tract Company to dis- year’s subscription. There were 125
tribute Christian literature and pro- initial subscribers.
vide revenue for home missions. Five The name was abridged to Church
years later Tomlinson relocated from of God Evangel the next year. Editors,
Indiana to Culberson, North Caroli- format, and frequency of publication
na, as a colporteur and missionary to have changed from time to time,
Appalachia. but the Church of God continues to
By the fourth General Assembly faithfully publish the light of the
Tomlinson had already been Gospel.
involved in editing three periodicals.
In 1901 and 1902, he published a (Visit www.cogheritage.org to view the
monthly paper called Samson’s Foxes. first issue of The Evening Light and
The paper featured articles and news Church of God Evangel. Thousands of
from Tomlinson’s mountain mission- pages of publications including exist-
ary work as well as the Holiness and ing copies of Samson’s Foxes, The
divine healing movements. Tomlin- Way, and the Church of God Evangel
son believed that if he could reach are now available on the DVD-ROM
the mountain children, then like Sam- ment was G.B. Cashwell’s The Bridegroom’s Church of God Publications, 1901-1923,
son’s foxes burned the fields of the Messenger, established in 1907. Cashwell through the Dixon Pentecostal Research
Philistines, his ministry would burn the had received the baptism in the Holy Center.)
sin out of the mountains. Spirit at the Azusa Street Mission in Los
Beginning in January 1904, Tomlin- Angeles and preached in Cleveland, Ten-
David G. Roebuck serves as
son and M.S. Lemons launched a short- nessee, in January 1908. Tomlinson
director of the Church of God
lived newspaper called The Way with became a corresponding editor of The
Pentecostal Research Center in
these words of Jesus as their motto: “I am Bridegroom’s Messenger following Cash-
Cleveland, Tennessee.
the way, the truth, and the life” (John well’s visit to Cleveland.
EVANGEL • MAR 2009 21
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