On Monday, June 29, a dedication ceremony was held to officially open the new Museum of Faith, which centers on the early history of the Apostolic Faith work. The museum is located on the Portland campground, situated between the headquarters church office and the tabernacle.

The event was held outside the building on a sunny morning at the start of the annual international camp meeting. It began with a welcome by Superintendent General Sola Adesope, who shared that the museum was created to preserve Apostolic Faith history and inspire future generations. An opening prayer was offered by Darrel Lee, who served as Superintendent General from 2000-2024. He thanked God for the legacy of faith that is being preserved through this effort.

Those who brought the vision of the museum to life were acknowledged and thanked, especially Kim Habre who spearheaded the project. Karen Barrett, also on the museum team, spoke briefly about what the project has meant to her personally. Her connection with the Apostolic Faith goes back over one hundred years, when her grandfather traveled to Portland to investigate Florence Crawford’s work. After sitting in just one service, he determined to move his family here, saying, “There’s enough power in this place to change the world.” She expressed her appreciation to all the pioneers who upheld the Gospel and faithfully passed it down for us to experience today.

For the Scripture reading, Bill McKibben, who is a Member of the Board of Directors, read Psalm 48:12-14. Rev. Adesope gave the dedication address, emphasizing the intention for the museum to stand as a testimony of God’s faithfulness to this organization, and to be a source of courage and boldness for those who are continuing to share the Gospel message around the world today. The dedication prayer was offered by Earl Phillips, who at the age of ninety-six, is one of Portland's most senior veteran ministers. He said, “We pray, God, that it will be dedicated completely to You, and that every soul, saved or unsaved, that steps into this Museum of Faith, will feel Your presence.”

Following the prayer, Rev. Adesope cut the ribbon that was stretched across the museum entrance and invited guests to walk through the exhibit. The foyer area highlighted both the work’s roots in the Azusa Street Revival of 1906 and its status in 2026—the flags of 76 countries were shown to indicate nations where there are Apostolic Faith churches today. Inside the museum, displays highlighted the humble beginnings in Portland and what church life was like during the early days of the work. Other areas featured the publishing ministry, which touched lives around the world, and the many evangelistic efforts that were undertaken by workers, including street meetings, harbor ministry, aerial evangelism, and more. Another display highlighted the history and contributions of musicians to the work.

In a back corner of the room, an old-fashioned canvas tent was set up, portraying what campground lodging was like many decades ago. Captioned photos related how the campground was acquired, the tabernacle built, and the blessings that came from the meetings, both in Portland and other parts of the country. Another part of the museum was staged to look like an office space, with a desk and typewriter used by previous generations of workers. Photos and captions related the impact of office staff who corresponded with individuals around the world in need of spiritual guidance and prayer.

Another area shared how missionaries helped establish the Latter Rain Gospel in the Caribbean, Japan, South Korea, and Africa. Near the exit, display panels related how the Apostolic Faith work first took hold in a few featured locations: the Southern United States, the Dominican Republic, Romania, and Nigeria. The plan is to highlight other locations in the future.

The Museum of Faith is filled with inspiring and captivating historical accounts. The team is working on new displays for next year and a companion website that will allow people around the world to learn and benefit from the information that has been gathered. In addition, a new Legacy of Faith subscription series will be launched in the fall of 2026 to share accounts from the past on a weekly basis. The prayer is that through learning more about the sacrifices and victories of past generations, individuals will be inspired to continue in the same legacy by consecrating their lives fully to Him.