David du Plessis
Encyclopedia
David Johannes du Plessis (February 7, 1905 - January 31, 1987) was a South African-born
Pentecostal minister. He is considered one of the main founders of the charismatic movement
, in which the Pentecostal experience of baptism with the Holy Spirit
spread to non-Pentecostal churches worldwide.
at the age of 18. He was ordained in 1928 by the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa
. In 1935, he became the general secretary of the denomination where he advocated closer ties between the AFM and South Africa's three sister churches. He worked with Donald Gee
to promote cooperation among Pentecostal groups and was involved in organizing the first Pentecostal World Conference
in 1947. A year later, he resigned as secretary of the AFM to become organizing secretary for the PWC. He served in this role for nine years until 1959.
Du Plessis and his family moved to the United States
in the late 1940s. He taught at Lee College
, a Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
school, from 1949-51. He received preaching credentials from the Assemblies of God (USA) and moved to Stamford, Connecticut
, in 1952 to serve as interim pastor of Stamford Gospel Tabernacle. In 1962, he surrendered his Assemblies of God preaching credentials under pressure from denominational leadership who opposed his ecuminical efforts. He remained a member of an Assemblies of God church in Oakland, California, and in 1980 his credentials were restored.
Originally shunning other movements, he became an active believer in ecumenism
, beginning his efforts in the 1950s to share the Pentecostal experience with Christians in the historic denominations
, chiefly Roman Catholicism. His main gateway into ecumenism was through his friendship with John McKay, then President of Princeton Seminary, New Jersey. McKay invited Du Plessis to address the International Missionary Council in Willingen, West Germany, in 1952. There he earned the nickname "Mr Pentecost".
He was a member of staff and Pentecostal "observer" at the World Council of Churches
in 1954 and 1961, respectively, and was invited to serve as Pentecostal representative at the Second Vatican Council
.
Du Plessis entitled his autobiography The Spirit Bade Me Go, as he believed God
had commanded him to take the Pentecostal message to other denominations, and in particular the World Council of Churches. Recounting a meeting with 24 ecumenical leaders in Connecticut
, Du Plessis wrote:
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
Pentecostal minister. He is considered one of the main founders of the charismatic movement
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
, in which the Pentecostal experience of baptism with the Holy Spirit
Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Baptism with the Holy Spirit in Christian theology is a term describing baptism in or with the Spirit of God...
spread to non-Pentecostal churches worldwide.
Biography
Born to missionary parents, an 11 year old du Plessis was born again in 1916, and he received the Pentecostal baptism with the Holy Spirit accompanied by speaking in tonguesGlossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
at the age of 18. He was ordained in 1928 by the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa
Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa
The Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa is a classical Pentecostal Christian denomination in South Africa. With 1.2 million adherents, it is South Africa's largest Pentecostal church. Dr. Isak Burger has led the AFM as president since 1996 when the white and black branches of the church were...
. In 1935, he became the general secretary of the denomination where he advocated closer ties between the AFM and South Africa's three sister churches. He worked with Donald Gee
Donald Gee
Donald Gee was an English Pentecostal Bible Teacher. Donald wrote the book Wind and Flame, which is the story of Pentecostalism in Europe in the 20th century. He was called "The Apostle of Balance."-Biography:...
to promote cooperation among Pentecostal groups and was involved in organizing the first Pentecostal World Conference
Pentecostal World Conference
The Pentecostal World Conference or Pentecostal World Fellowship is a fellowship of Pentecostal believers and denominations from across the world....
in 1947. A year later, he resigned as secretary of the AFM to become organizing secretary for the PWC. He served in this role for nine years until 1959.
Du Plessis and his family moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the late 1940s. He taught at Lee College
Lee University
Lee University is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States. It is historically affiliated with the Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination, and was the denomination's Bible Training School from 1918 until 1947, when the name...
, a Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
The Church of God, with headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a Pentecostal Christian denomination. With over seven million members in over 170 countries, it is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world...
school, from 1949-51. He received preaching credentials from the Assemblies of God (USA) and moved to Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, in 1952 to serve as interim pastor of Stamford Gospel Tabernacle. In 1962, he surrendered his Assemblies of God preaching credentials under pressure from denominational leadership who opposed his ecuminical efforts. He remained a member of an Assemblies of God church in Oakland, California, and in 1980 his credentials were restored.
Originally shunning other movements, he became an active believer in ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
, beginning his efforts in the 1950s to share the Pentecostal experience with Christians in the historic denominations
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
, chiefly Roman Catholicism. His main gateway into ecumenism was through his friendship with John McKay, then President of Princeton Seminary, New Jersey. McKay invited Du Plessis to address the International Missionary Council in Willingen, West Germany, in 1952. There he earned the nickname "Mr Pentecost".
He was a member of staff and Pentecostal "observer" at the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
in 1954 and 1961, respectively, and was invited to serve as Pentecostal representative at the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
.
Du Plessis entitled his autobiography The Spirit Bade Me Go, as he believed God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
had commanded him to take the Pentecostal message to other denominations, and in particular the World Council of Churches. Recounting a meeting with 24 ecumenical leaders in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Du Plessis wrote:
- I could remember days when I had wished I could have set my eyes upon such men to denounce their theology and pray the judgment of God upon them for what I considered their heresies and false doctrines. ... After a few introductory words I suddenly felt a warm glow come over me. I knew this was the Holy Spirit taking over, but what was He doing to me? Instead of the old harsh spirit of criticism and condemnation in my heart, I now felt such love and compassion for these ecclesiastical leaders that I would rather have died for them than pass sentence upon them.
Further reading
- Du Plessis, David J., The Spirit Bade Me Go, (Self-published, n.d.)
- Harper, Michael, As at the Beginning: The Twentieth Century Pentecostal Revival, (Hodder & Stoughton, 1965)
- Spittler, R.P., "David Johannes du Plessis" in The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic MovementsThe New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic MovementsThe New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements is a comprehensive reference work on charismatic Christianity . It is edited primarily by Stanley M. Burgess...
, revised edition, ed. Stanley M. Burgess & Eduard van der Maas, (Zondervan, 2003) - From prosecutor to defender: An intellectual history of David J. du Plessis, drawn from the stories of his testimony by Rutherford, Brinton L., Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Theology, 2000, 274 pages; AAT 9962623
External links
- David du Plessis Center for Christian Spirituality at Fuller Theological SeminaryFuller Theological SeminaryFuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
in Pasadena, CA - Biography