Page 224 - LD215 History of the Church in Africa A4 final

A History of the Church in Africa

John G. Lake
John G. Lake was born in Canada but moved to the United States of
America in 1886. At the age of 21, he married Jennie Stevens and was
ordained to the Methodist ministry. Three years later, the Lakes were
informed that Jennie had incurable tuberculosis. Lake watched his wife’s
condition sink to the point of death. Since their church taught that the days of
miracles were past, their case seemed hopeless. Then they came under the
teaching of John Alexander Dowie. Lake witnessed several members of his
family healed and his faith increased. Later he testified concerning his wife:

I knelt at her dying bed and called on the living God. The power
of God came upon her, thrilling her from head to foot. Her
paralysis was gone, her heart became normal, her cough ceased,
her breathing was regular, her temperature was normal. The
power of God was flowing through her person. Seemingly I heard
a sound from her lips,… “Praise God, I am healed!” (quoted in
Lindsay, 28–29)

Shortly after he witnessed these healings, Lake joined Dowie’s
movement and became an elder in the Zion Apostolic Church. He
preached often and at the same time became a successful businessman.
At one point, he was offered a huge salary of $50,000 a year to represent
a life insurance company; however, God had other plans. He heard the
testimony of those who had been baptized in the Holy Spirit from people
like Charles Parham. In 1907, after seeking for the baptism in the Holy
Spirit for several months, he received his personal Pentecost. Allow me to
take excerpts from his testimony:

The result of this baptism was to show me a new revelation
of the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. A new tenderness for
the lost awakened in my soul. I saw mankind through new
eyes.… I determined to leave the insurance business and give
my life completely to the ministry of Jesus Christ. (quoted in
Lindsay, 16)

While in prayer, Lake felt led to join a missionary party going to
South Africa. The missionaries went out by faith, not knowing how God
would provide. Lake did not have a mission board to guarantee monthly
support. As Zeigler observes:

::: 214 :::