The Church of God, House of Prayer is a Pentecostal holiness body of Christians.

The Church of God, House of Prayer was organized in 1939 by Harrison W. Poteat. Poteat was an overseer for the Church of God in the northeast for over 20 years. He was overseer of the church in Maine until 1923. After the 1923 division of the Church of God (Cleveland) and the Church of God of Prophecy, he served as overseer over six northeastern states for the Cleveland-based body. In 1933 he established the work of the Church of God (Cleveland) on Prince Edward Island. The Church of God, House of Prayer was founded in 1939, and was incorporated in 1966.

Doctrinally this body is similar to the Church of God (Cleveland). They are Trinitarian and Arminian in theology, holding a premillennial view of eschatology. Other beliefs include the baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in tongues; water baptism by immersion; the Lord's supper and feet washing for believers only; and that the atonement provides not only for spiritual rebirth, but also for healing and deliverance from evil spirits.

In 1979, the Church of God, House of Prayer had 24 churches in the eastern United States, and 2 churches in eastern Canada. The estimated membership was 1200. Local congregations are "integral parts" of the General Assembly of the Church of God, House of Prayer, and are subject ot the General Assembly and its officials. Headquarters appear to be in Markleysburg, Pennsylvania.

External link

Reference

  • Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
  • Profiles in Belief: the Religious Bodies of the United States and Canada, by Arthur Carl Piepkorn

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