Bishop Ed Smith
LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2023 Azusa Street Mission & Historical Society announces the 117th anniversary of William Seymour traveling to Los Angeles on Feb 22nd, 1906, the Azusa Revival, April 9, 1906 and the winners of the coveted William J. Seymour award. This year’s William J. Seymour National Award winner is Bishop Ed Smith, founder of Nehemiah Project LA. Nehemiah Project LA is a faith-based initiative that works to build greater awareness of the challenges faced by our nation’s at-risk and transitioning foster youth. Bishop Ed Smith stated “We are helping former foster youth ESCAPE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS WITH SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, TO build A brighter future with the support of a ‘forever family.’ Indeed, this is God’s love extended!”
The William J. Seymour International Award will be presented to Bishop Bill Hamon, founder of Christian International Ministries. Dr. Bill Hamon, a prophet for sixty years, is respected by church leaders around the world as the senior leader of the prophetic/apostolic company. God is raising up in these last days. CI is comprised of over 900 ministers in the USA and 3000 globally!
The awards will be presented during the annual AzusaFest celebration on Saturday, April 15th near the footprint of the original mission. The theme for this year’s celebration, is “Do you believe in miracles?: Bridging the Generations (Psalms 105: 4-5).” All services are free and open to the public.
Bishop Bill Hamon
Apostles Fred and Wilma Berry, founders of the Azusa Street Mission & Historical Society, have awarded pastors and leaders the William J. Seymour Award since 2006. Prior recipients of the award have been: Bishop Charles E. Blake, the COGIC presiding Bishop, USA; Pastor Sunday Adelaja, from Kyiv, Ukraine; Dr. Patricia Bailey-Jones, USA; Apostle John Eckhardt, USA; Dr. Myles Munroe from Nassau, Bahamas; Apostle Sam Korankye Ankrah from Accra, Ghana; Pastor Jabes de Alencar, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Al Hollingsworth of Boss the Movement, USA; Lou Engle of TheCall, USA; Pastor TD. Jakes of the Potters House, USA; Pastor Bonnie Chadva, USA; Pastor Robert Kayanja of Miracle Center in Kampala, Uganda; Dr. Mel Robeck of Fuller Theological Seminary, USA; Pastor W.M. Dwight McKissic, Sr. of Cornerstone Baptist Church, USA; Apostle Ron Hill of Love and Unity Church, USA; Sean Feucht of Let Us Worship, USA; and Dr. Robert Fisher of Spiritual Renewal Ministries, USA.
The original Azusa Street Revival began in 1906 and was the catalyst that started the Pentecostal Movement. Currently, it is estimated that over 800 million Pentecostals in the United States, Latin America, Africa, and Asia can trace their religious origins to the Azusa Street Revival and Bishop William J. Seymour. Apostle Wilma Berry carries on the history of Azusa Street as an international representative through the Azusa Street Mission & Historical Society. Apostle Fred Berry transitioned to heaven on November 16, 2021. The organization’s mission is to carry the flame of Azusa Street to the next generation throughout the world’s nations. For more details on Azusafest 2023, please visit www.azusafest.com or call 323.692.7268.
