Dr. French L. Arrington
The Reverend Dr. French L. Arrington received the Spirit of Azusa Award following the 7th annual Azusa Lecture at the North Cleveland Church of God.
David G. Roebuck, director of the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center, presented Dr. Arrington with the award and commended his scholarship and service to the Church. He said, “French Arrington continually integrates the Word of God with the faith and practice of the Church. Like many of you, my life has been enriched beyond measure through his ministry.”
In his award speech, Dr. Arrington recognized the extraordinary contribution of his late wife, Frances Treadaway Arrington, to his writing, academic study and ministry. He was married to the former Mrs. Arrington until her death in 2011. She is survived by her children Athena Hicks and Lee Arrington. Dr. Arrington is now married to Joyce McKinney Arrington.
The Dixon Pentecostal Research Center established the Azusa Lecture and Spirit of Azusa Award in 2006 on the occasion of the centennial of the Los Angeles revival. The Center presents the award annually to a person whose life and ministry reflect the legacy of the ongoing revival that began in Los Angeles in 1906. North Cleveland Church of God hosts the annual lecture.
Mr. Roebuck said, “Among the characteristics of that revival was an emphasis on Pentecost, a hunger and expectation for revival in the last days, a sense of global mission, and a commitment to the Scriptures. They saw God restoring among them what they had previously only read about in Scripture. So they searched the Scriptures to understand what to believe and how to live.”
A resident of Cleveland, Dr. Arrington is professor emeritus of New Testament Greek and Exegesis at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. A scholar of the New Testament and the Greek language, he served for 21 years as a PTS faculty member as well as 17 years with Lee University. While at Lee, he was chairman of the Bible and Theology Department, and honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr. Arrington was ordained in the Church of God in 1968. In addition to preaching in numerous churches around the world, he served as assistant pastor of the East Atlanta Church of God and as pastor of the Tower Grove Church of God in St. Louis.
Dr. Arrington has authored 14 books and contributed to numerous other publications. His latest book, “The Greatest Letter Ever Written: A Study of Romans,” is available at Pathway Press.
Dr. Arrington’s academic degrees include a Doctor of Philosophy from St. Louis University, a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology from Columbia Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chattanooga.
Before his academic career, Dr. Arrington served in the U.S. Army from 1950–1953. He was a faculty member at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla. He has taught and lectured at many schools, local churches and conferences.
Dr. Arrington has been appointed to many boards and committees, such as the Literature Review Committee of Pathway Press, the Ordained Bishop’s Examining Board for the state of Tennessee, the Church of God Commission for Doctrine and Polity, and the Committee to Evaluate Bible Curriculum for Christian Day Schools.
His books include “Divine Order in the Church,” “The Ministry of Reconciliation,” “The Acts of the Apostles,” the three-volume “Christian Doctrine: A Pentecostal Perspective,” “Exploring the Declaration of Faith,” “Encountering the Holy Spirit,” “The Spirit-Anointed Church,” “The Spirit-Anointed Jesus,” and “Unconditional Eternal Security: Myth or Truth?”
The Pentecostal Theological Seminary co-sponsored this year’s event as part of their Heritage Week. Seminary President Dr. Steven J. Land welcomed those attending, and Dr. John Christopher Thomas presented the annual Azusa Lecture entitled, “‘In the Spirit on the Lord’s Day’: The Holy Spirit in the Book of Revelation.”
Irma and Eddie Williams led attendees in singing “The Comforter Has Come,” a favorite song sung at almost every service, according to historical accounts of the Azusa Street revival. Bishop J. David Stephens prayed the benediction. Stephens serves as Assistant General Overseer of the Church of God and Executive Committee Liaison to the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center.
Located on the campus of Lee University, the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center is one of the world’s most significant collections of Pentecostal materials as well as the archives of the Church of God. In addition to students at Lee University and the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, numerous scholars visit the center to study about the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement.
Audio and video recordings of the lecture and award presentation are available from the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center at 614-8576.