God Broke Through

The Story of Chile's Methodist Pentecostals

It has been described as “the greatest church history ever written outside of North America!” When the Pentecostal Awakening came to Chile, it caused an explosion that was heard throughout the country. It was followed by the expulsion of the Pentecostals from their churches, just as happened in the United States and other countries around the world. This is the story of just how it occurred in Chile; before, during and after, from 1817 to 1984. In 1909, Chile received its Pentecost. This book carefully documents not just the events, but the very thoughts and actions of the principle actors. On September 12, 1909, the “new wine” had a frontal confrontation with the “old wineskins,” and an explosion took place that has continued to the present day. When those expelled from their churches took their enthusiasm to the streets, the movement started to grow, and the nation was changed. Despite religious and secular opposition, signs, wonders and miracles confirmed the work of the Risen Lord. Today, the overwhelming majority of Chile’s Protestant believers proudly call themselves “Pentecostals.” Their story will open your eyes to what God can do with yielded vessels. Missionaries Dean Helland and Alice Rasmussen united their scholarly expertise in this investigative report of exactly what happened in this isolated part of the world. Though fully a Classical Pentecostal denomination, the Methodist Pentecostal Church has retained the form, doctrine and rituals of the Methodist Church, including infant baptism, with real surprises for the reader. The result is a masterpiece; riveting, at times, shocking -- an emotion-packed account of a singular spiritual event. The experiences contained here also relate directly to what is happening in the world today. These spiritual and mystical accounts will stretch one’s faith with the challenge to draw closer God.