Church of Daniel's Band
Encyclopedia
The Church of Daniel's Band is a nondenominational holiness church
originally organized in imitation of the early Methodist class meeting at Marine City, Michigan
. It was founded in 1893 by former members of the Methodist Episcopal Church
.
In the year of its foundation it had 4 to 5 churches with 120 to 217 members and eight ministers.
The name of the church was chosen, based on the title of a sermon
delivered by Charles Spurgeon
, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle
in Newington, London
, on August 3, 1890, entitled Daniel's Band, in which in which he related the story of Daniel
in the Old Testament
.http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/2256.htm In that sermon, he exhorted his listeners, "The Lord preserved Daniel, and he will preserve you, dear friend, if you belong to 'Daniel's Band.'
Its doctrines and polity
are based on the Methodist model. It stresses evangelism
, perfectionism, fellowship, religious freedom
, and asceticism
.
It has historically been a rather small body, although it did experience a period of rapid growth in the late 1910s and early 1920s. During that time, it grew from 4 churches with 129 members to 6 churches with 393 members. Between 1950 and 1951, it again experienced a period of rapid growth, going from 121 members to 200 members. In 2007, it reported having only one to four employees.
Currently, all four of the church's congregations are in the state of Michigan. It is registered in Midland, Michigan
, with additional congregations in Beaverton
, Linwood
, and Gladwin
in Michigan
.
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
originally organized in imitation of the early Methodist class meeting at Marine City, Michigan
Marine City, Michigan
Marine City is a city in St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located on the west bank of the St. Clair River, it is one of the cities in the River District north of Detroit and south of Lake Huron. The population was 4,652 at the 2000 census...
. It was founded in 1893 by former members of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
.
In the year of its foundation it had 4 to 5 churches with 120 to 217 members and eight ministers.
The name of the church was chosen, based on the title of a sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
delivered by Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a large British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers"...
, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle
Metropolitan Tabernacle
The Metropolitan Tabernacle is a large Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle in London. It was the largest non-conformist church edifice of its day in 1861. The Tabernacle Fellowship have been worshipping together since 1650, soon after the sailing of the Pilgrim Fathers...
in Newington, London
Newington, London
Newington is a district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It was an ancient parish and the site of the early administration of the county of Surrey...
, on August 3, 1890, entitled Daniel's Band, in which in which he related the story of Daniel
Daniel
Daniel is the protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Hebrew Bible. In the narrative, when Daniel was a young man, he was taken into Babylonian captivity where he was educated in Chaldean thought. However, he never converted to Neo-Babylonian ways...
in the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
.http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/2256.htm In that sermon, he exhorted his listeners, "The Lord preserved Daniel, and he will preserve you, dear friend, if you belong to 'Daniel's Band.'
Its doctrines and polity
Ecclesiastical polity
Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a church or Christian denomination. It also denotes the ministerial structure of the church and the authority relationships between churches...
are based on the Methodist model. It stresses evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
, perfectionism, fellowship, religious freedom
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
, and asceticism
Asceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
.
It has historically been a rather small body, although it did experience a period of rapid growth in the late 1910s and early 1920s. During that time, it grew from 4 churches with 129 members to 6 churches with 393 members. Between 1950 and 1951, it again experienced a period of rapid growth, going from 121 members to 200 members. In 2007, it reported having only one to four employees.
Currently, all four of the church's congregations are in the state of Michigan. It is registered in Midland, Michigan
Midland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, with additional congregations in Beaverton
Beaverton, Michigan
Beaverton is a city in Gladwin County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,106 at the 2000 census.The city is adjacent to Beaverton Township and incorporates some land formerly in the township....
, Linwood
Linwood, Michigan
Linwood is a small unincorporated community in the northern portion of Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is on the boundary between Fraser Township on the north and Kawkawlin Township on the south. M-13 passes to the west and the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron is on the east...
, and Gladwin
Gladwin, Michigan
Gladwin is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,001. It is the county seat of Gladwin County.The city is at the southwest corner of Gladwin Township, but is politically independent....
in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
External links
- The Church of Daniel's Band on Adherents.com
- http://google.com/search?q=cache:jUvv-1xY7rEJ:www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,792908,00.html+Church+of+Daniel%27s+Band&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=ukThe Church of Daniel's Band on the TimeTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
website] - Church of Daniel's Band Year by Year