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Aimee Semple McPherson
Aimee Semple McPherson (1890–1944). Born Aimee Elizabeth Kennedy on October 9, 1890, in Salford, Ontario, Canada, to James and Mildred Kennedy, Aimee Semple McPherson was a pioneering Pentecostal evangelist and founder of the Foursquare Church. Raised in a Salvation Army family, she converted at 17 during a revival led by Robert Semple, whom she married in 1908, adopting Pentecostalism. After Robert’s death in China in 1910, she returned to North America, marrying Harold McPherson in 1912. Preaching across the U.S. in tent revivals, her dynamic sermons and reported healings drew thousands, blending faith with theatrical flair. In 1923, she opened Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, seating 5,300, where she pastored and broadcast services on KFSG radio, founding the Foursquare Church in 1927, now with millions globally. Her 1926 kidnapping controversy—alleged by some to be an affair—sparked media frenzy, but she was acquitted. McPherson authored books like This Is That (1919) and In the Service of the King (1927), promoting her “Foursquare Gospel.” Divorced in 1921 and briefly married to David Hutton (1931–1934), she had two children, Roberta and Rolf. She died on September 27, 1944, in Oakland, California, from an accidental barbiturate overdose, saying, “I am not a healer; Jesus is the healer.”
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Aimee Semple McPherson emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promise in the Old Testament through the manifestation of His Son in the New Testament. During Jesus' ministry, He promised to bestow the Holy Ghost upon the world, highlighting the importance of receiving this gift. Jesus explained the Spirit's role in convicting of sin, guiding into truth, glorifying Him, and empowering believers. His disciples were instructed to wait in Jerusalem for the promised gift, leading to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Work of the Holy Spirit
JUST as God the Father promised, with ever in- creasing emphasis in the Old Testament the coming time in which His Son should be mani- fested, so during the latter months of Jesus' minis- try He promised when He went away He also would bestow a gift upon the world, even the Holy Ghost. As the hour of his departure approached, and Cal : vary's cross cast its shadow over the fearful hearts of His disciples, Jesus more and more sought to impress upon the minds of His people the neces- sity and importance of receiving His gift the Comforter. So many times did the Lord promise the Spirit and explain the importance of His coming and His office work in our lives from conviction to bap- tism, and on to perfection, that time and space will permit our giving only a few quotations at this time. In the 16th chapter of John, Jesus said: "It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart I will send Him unto you." Here and in other places He begins to enumerate the differ- ent reasons why we should receive the Holy Ghost, and to explain still more fully His office work in this world : (1) When He is come He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. John 16:8. (2) Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth. John 16 :13. (3) He will not speak of himself; but whatso- ever he shall hear, that shall he speak. John 16 :13. (4) He will shew you things to come. John 16 :13. (5) He shall glorify ME. John 16 :14. (6) He shall receive of mine, and show it unto you. John 16:14. (7) But when the Comforter is come, whom I w4ll send you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me. John 15 :26. (8) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14 :26. (9) But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. Acts 1:8. Jesus' parting words to His little flock after His death and resurrection, as His pierced feet were rising from earth as He ascended to His Father, rang out clear and plain : "Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry in Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high." Luke 24 :49. True to His commission, Acts 1 :12 shows the little band of faithful followers (one hundred and twenty in number) wending their way to Jerusa- lem, to tarry until they should receive the prom- ised gift. "And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter and James and John, and Andrew and Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all con- tinued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren. Acts 1 :13, 14.
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Aimee Semple McPherson (1890–1944). Born Aimee Elizabeth Kennedy on October 9, 1890, in Salford, Ontario, Canada, to James and Mildred Kennedy, Aimee Semple McPherson was a pioneering Pentecostal evangelist and founder of the Foursquare Church. Raised in a Salvation Army family, she converted at 17 during a revival led by Robert Semple, whom she married in 1908, adopting Pentecostalism. After Robert’s death in China in 1910, she returned to North America, marrying Harold McPherson in 1912. Preaching across the U.S. in tent revivals, her dynamic sermons and reported healings drew thousands, blending faith with theatrical flair. In 1923, she opened Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, seating 5,300, where she pastored and broadcast services on KFSG radio, founding the Foursquare Church in 1927, now with millions globally. Her 1926 kidnapping controversy—alleged by some to be an affair—sparked media frenzy, but she was acquitted. McPherson authored books like This Is That (1919) and In the Service of the King (1927), promoting her “Foursquare Gospel.” Divorced in 1921 and briefly married to David Hutton (1931–1934), she had two children, Roberta and Rolf. She died on September 27, 1944, in Oakland, California, from an accidental barbiturate overdose, saying, “I am not a healer; Jesus is the healer.”