This Week in AG History -- Dec. 29, 1934

E. S. Williams was AG general superintendent during the Great Depression and through WWII, and in this 1934 New Year's article, he urged the Fellowship to remain sound in its doctrine and he cast vision for strong evangelism at home and on foreign fields throughout the coming year.

"Looking Toward the New Year," by E. S. Williams was published in the Pentecostal Evangel on Dec. 29, 1934. Williams wrote this article during the Great Depression, and noted how people felt uncertain in regards to the next year ahead. However, he encouraged readers saying, "It is a time for the Church, the Bride of Christ, to trim afresh her lamps, to replenish her vessels with spiritual oil, to look diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble and defile us."

Ernest Swing Williams (1885-1981), was a participant in the Azusa Street revival in 1906, and ordained with the AG in 1914. Later he became the general superintendent between 1929 and 1949. During his tenure he brought great stability to the Assemblies of God fellowship in the United States, during which the United States faced the Great Depression and WWII.

In the beginning of his article Williams asked, "If we have injured, or wronged any, may we at the beginning of the New Year make restitution?" To begin the New Year right, Williams quoted Matthew 5:23-24, pointing out the need for reconciliation in our relationships.

Williams also mentioned the need for the teaching of sound doctrine and going back to the Bible. He noticed that "many new and strange doctrines are abroad and some of God's children are sorely perplexed by them." He also noted that some were seeking some new way or novel path, but he assured his readers that, "We need no new gospel, we need no strange or startling novelty." He goes on to say that, "While we should not despise prophesying, we should regard the holy Scriptures as of greater importance than all else for building and establishing the soul."

Looking to the future, Williams was pleased to see the Assemblies of God moving forward and reminded readers that we are pilgrims and strangers on a journey toward "the Celestial City." Williams said we must look beyond the enemy, temptations, and all hindrances to "Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, seeing in Him our sufficiency even when our faith and our strength seem small." Williams also cast vision for the Assemblies of God to advance evangelism at home, as well as in the foreign fields for the coming year. "This will require, not only desire, but money, strength, and purpose. No doubt each assembly can establish some new work during the year," said Williams. 

Williams' final encouragement reads, "The World plunges madly into darkness and despair. To us has been given the light of life. May the New Year take us leagues ahead of where we have ever been before. The blessing of God be with you."

Read the article, "Looking Toward the New Year," on pages 1, 6, and 7 of the Dec.29, 1934, issue of the Pentecostal Evangel.

Also featured in this issue:

• "Communion with God: New Year's Message," by an unknown author.

• "The Editor's Notebook," by Stanley H. Frodsham.

• "The Passing and the Permanent," by an unknown author.

And many more!

Click here to read this issue now. 

Pentecostal Evangel archived editions courtesy of the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center.

William Molenaar