Sibley Honored with Spirit of Azusa Award
Cleveland, TN–Friends, church leaders, and members of the Cleveland community filled the Dixon Chapel at North Cleveland Church of God last week to honor Dr. Wallace J. Sibley with the Spirit of Azusa Award. The award is given annually on the occasion of the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center’s Azusa Lecture to someone whose ministry represents God’s work of revival and renewal exemplified in the 1906 Azusa Street revival and continuing in the world today.
In announcing the award, PRC Director, Dr. David G. Roebuck, remarked, “There are many characteristics of the three-year revival at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles that we can highlight including an emphasis on Pentecost, a commitment to raising up ministers of the gospel, a sense of global mission, and a recognition of the diversity of the body of Christ.” Reminding the congregation that the Holy Spirit is still at work in the world today, he observed, “In part we know the Spirit is at work, because we have seen the Spirit work through those among us who have served faithfully. High on that list is Dr. Wallace J. and Dorothy Sibley.” Roebuck highlighted Dr. Sibley’s Pentecostal preaching, mentoring of spiritual sons and daughters, and pioneering efforts to reach a multicultural harvest.
Dr. David Roebuck (left), presents the Spirit of Azusa Award to Dr. Wallace Sibley, while his wife, Dorothy looks on. (click on image to enlarge)
Currently Third Assistant General Overseer of the Church of God, Dr. Sibley began his ministry in 1963. Following his service as pastor and evangelist, the Church of God has appointed or elected him to numerous leadership offices at state and international levels including Administrative Bishop of Florida (Cocoa) and Southern New England, Regional Director of Evangelism for the Southeast Black Churches, Director of Cross-Cultural Ministries, Assistant Director and Director of Evangelism and Home Missions, and Secretary General.
Dr. Estrelda Alexander, president of William Seymour College in Washington, DC, presented the Azusa Lecture entitled “From Azusa Street to Cleveland, Tennessee: The Shared Legacy of William Joseph Seymour and Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson.” Prior to the lecture, the Lee University Evangelistic Singers under the direction of Mrs. Gloria Scott-Richmond led in worship. Dr. Kenneth L. Hill, Director of Church of God Multi-cultural Ministries, and the Reverend Janice A. Hill participated in the presentation of the Spirit of Azusa Award. Dr. Kenneth Hill congratulated the Sibleys and presented a copy of the African American History Bible, which includes a biography of Bishop Sibley. Reverend Janice Hill presented roses to Mrs. Dorothy Sibley. Both Wallace and Dorothy Sibley expressed deep appreciation for the honor.
In honoring the Sibley’s, Dr. Roebuck announced that Bishop Sibley is donating his ministry papers to the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center as the beginning of an expanded effort to preserve the voices of Church of God members and ministers of African descent. Dr. Sibley’s papers, along with those of other Black leaders, will be preserved in the archives of the research center and made available to students, scholars, and church leaders. Bishop Anthony T. Pelt Sr, Administrative Bishop of Florida (Cocoa) Church of God congregations, and the Reverend Xenovia Pointier-Anderson presented the congregation with an opportunity to financially support the preservation of Dr. Sibley’s legacy.
The Dixon Pentecostal Research Center sponsored the Tenth Annual Azusa Lecture in partnership with other Church of God ministries and friends of the Sibleys. The purpose of the Azusa Lecture is to celebrate the rich heritage of the Pentecostal Movement. The Dixon Pentecostal Research Center launched the annual lecture in 2006 on the occasion of the centennial of the revival at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles. Church of God Historian Charles W. Conn noted that the Los Angeles revival, which lasted from 1906 to 1909, “is universally regarded as the beginning of the modern Pentecostal Movement.”
