This Hispanic denomination traces its origin to the early days of the Pentecostal Revival that broke out in Los Angeles, California, in 1906, but it was not formally organized until 1925 in San Bernardino, California. Its present name was adopted at its legal incorporation in the State of California in 1930. For lack of a denominational structure prior to 1930, the early Hispanic leaders of Oneness ("Jesus Only") Pentecostal churches obtained their ministerial credentials from the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW). The Apostolic Assembly, early in its development, adopted an episcopal structure of church government.

Among those who attended the famous Azusa Street Apostolic Faith Mission (1906-1913) in Los Angeles were several Mexican believers. Luis López was baptized there in 1909 and before long the mission had produced its first Mexican preacher, Juan Navarro. Evidently, both López and Navarro were Protestants prior to their arrival in Los Angeles; but, upon hearing the Pentecostal message, they were convinced of its truth and received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by speaking in tongues and other signs and wonders. They also accepted the doctrine that they should be rebaptized only in the name of Jesus Christ, and that "this is the true baptism that saves." This baptismal practice dates from about 1909, which is several years prior to the controversy that erupted over the "Jesus Only" vs. Trinitarian baptismal formula that sharply divided Pentecostals in 1913.

In 1912, soon after 22-year-old Francisco F. Llorente arrived in San Diego from his home in Acapulco, Mexico, he was converted to Pentecostalism by a group of Anglo-Americans who were followers of the Apostolic Faith (or "Jesus Only" Pentecostals). In 1914 Llorente converted and baptized Marcial De La Cruz, and the pair traveled throughout Southern California during 1914-1915 and established numerous Spanish-speaking Apostolic churches. These early Mexican Pentecostals differed from other Pentecostals by teaching that their churches should not have women preachers, that women should have their heads covered during public worship services, and that water baptism should be administered only in the "name of Jesus" (as in Acts 2:38 and I Timothy 2:12).

Beginning in 1916, Navarro, Llorente and De La Cruz received their ministerial credentials from the PAW, and Llorente was named the PAW's "Mexican Representative." That event marks the organizational beginning of the Apostolic Assembly as an emergent denomination, with Llorente as its acting bishop (1916-1925).

In 1917, Antonio Nava was converted, baptized in the Holy Spirit, and received a divine call to the ministry. He launched a career in evangelism and church planting that led to his being named the second Presiding Bishop (1929-1950) of the Apostolic Assembly following the death of Llorente in 1928.

Between 1916-1919, the Spanish-speaking Apostolic work spread from San Francisco to the Mexican border. Llorente dedicated most of his efforts to ministry between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Although loosely related to the PAW, the PAW leadership exercised no control or supervision of the Spanish-speaking work in California at the time the PAW was formally incorporated in 1919.

In December 1925, the leaders of the Hispanic Apostolic churches (some 23 congregations) in the American Southwest and Baja California met together in San Bernardino, California, for their first general assembly as an organization. Those in attendance chose "The Church of the Apostolic Pentecostal Faith" as the official name of their movement and elected Francisco Llorente as Presiding Bishop (1925-1928). However, when the new denomination became officially incorporated in California in 1930, its name became "The Apostolic Assembly of Faith in Jesus Christ" and it formally severed its ties to the PAW. The work in Baja California, Mexico, remained under the supervision of the Apostolic Assembly in California until transferred to the supervision of its sister denomination in Mexico, the Apostolic Church of Faith in Jesus Christ, in 1933. The latter was formally organized in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico, in 1932, although its first church was formed in 1914 in Villa Aldama, Chihuahua.

Also, the delegates at the general assembly in 1925 adopted an organizational structure similar to Methodism, with an executive board of ministers. The original officers included the President (Pastor General or Presiding Bishop), Executive Elder (Anciano Ejecutivo), Secretary and Assistant Secretary.

The young Hispanic Apostolic Faith movement suffered from the migratory nature of the Mexican-American population, mainly composed of agricultural workers that followed the seasonal planting and harvesting of crops in the Southwestern states; the lack of literacy and basic education among the Spanish-speaking people; the lack of funds for pastoral salaries and for purchasing land and constructing church buildings; the large-scale movement of migrant farm workers back to Mexico during the Great Depression of the 1930s; and the general lack of experience in organizational development and management.

Also, two divisions affected the new denomination during the 1920s-1930s. In 1926, a small group of pastors, led by José L. Martínez of San Bernardino, revolted against the leadership of Llorente and demanded "a doctrinal purification, the purging of the ministry, and a new name for the movement," but also the requirement concerning tithing was a major issue in the financial structure of the denomination. The unfortunate result of this conflict was the withdrawal of Martínez and six other pastors, who formed the Apostolic Christian Assembly of the Name of Jesus Christ in 1927. During the late-1930s, a small group of churches in New Mexico, led by Pedro Banderas, left the Apostolic Assembly over disagreements on tithing (ca. 1938) and joined the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, which was created in 1932 by a merger of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.

During the period 1940-1945, the Apostolic Assembly adopted a pacifist position regarding the bearing of firearms during World War II, and recommended that if called upon to serve in the armed forces the duty of their members was to obey the draft but to declare themselves as "conscientious objectors" and only serve in a non-combatant role, such as in the medical corps.

The Apostolic Assembly grew slowly during the 1930s and early 1940s, but began a period of expansion following World War II. In 1935, there were at total of 18 churches in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. In 1946, the Apostolic Assembly agreed to a joint venture with the United Pentecostal Church International and the Apostolic Church of Mexico to evangelize Central America, initially in Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. In 1949, the Apostolic Bible Training School was established in Hayward, California, to better prepare Spanish-speaking ministers.

During the 1950s, the denomination divided its work into various districts, each supervised by a bishop who was elected by the majority of the ministers of his district and subject to the approval of the Qualifying Commission, composed of three members of the national board of directors. The ministers of the local congregations were appointed and subject to removal by the District Bishop; the local congregations are consulted regarding the matter, but the final decision is made by the bishop. Sometimes the District Bishop allows the local church to call its own pastor, however pastoral changes are normally made at the district conventions or at regional pastors meetings. All church buildings and properties are held in the name of the corporation. The principle of self-support is strongly adhered to and tithing is considered the duty and obligation of every member. In addition, no local church is exempt from sending a tenth of its tithes and offerings to the General Treasurer of the Apostolic Assembly. The tithes of the pastors and elders of each district must be sent monthly to the District Treasurer for the support of the District Bishop and the administration of the district.

During the early 1960s, new Apostolic Assembly churches were established in Washington, Oregon, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Florida, as well as missionary efforts in Costa Rica, Honduras and Italy in 1964-1965. By 1966, there were 152 Apostolic congregations with about 8,000 members in 12 states, including new work in Utah, Michigan and Wisconsin.

By 1980, the Apostolic Assembly had grown to 298 organized churches and 80 missions with about 16,700 members nationally, and the largest concentration of congregations was in California (129).

In 1993, the Apostolic Assembly reported 451 organized churches nationally with about 40,600 members, which made it the third-largest Hispanic denomination in the USA after the Assemblies of God and the Southern Baptist Convention in terms of Hispanic churches and membership.

Burgess, Stanley M. and Gary B. McGee, editors. Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements. Grand Rapids, MI: Regency Reference Library/Zondervan Publishing House, 1988.

Gaxiola, Manuel J. La Serpiente y la Paloma: Historia, Teología y Análisis de la Iglesia Apostólica de la Fe en Cristo Jesús de México (1914-1994). Second Edition. Nacaulpan, Mexico: Libros Pyros, 1994.

Holland, Clifton L. The Religious Dimension in Hispanic Los Angeles: A Protestant Case Study. South Pasadena, CA: William Carey Press, 1974.

Holland, Clifton L. "An Update on the National Study of Hispanic Protestant Church Growth in the USA," an unpublished research report. Pasadena, CA: IDEA-PROLADES, 1993.

Ortega, José A., editor. Historia de la Asamblea Apostólica de la Fe en Cristo Jesus, 1916-1966. Mentone, CA: Editorial Committee of the Asamblea Apostólica, 1966.

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