Denominational Roots

The story of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Sri Lanka begins with the life of a woman born in Ontario, Canada in 1890 and the founding of the In ternational Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Aimee Semple McPherson was a woman anointed by God with a powerful ministry of healing and evangelism. Thousands would attend her crusade meetings at a time in history when women preachers were frowned upon. While preaching in 1922 Aimee came up with the term, "Foursquare Gospel" to describe the Gospel of Jesus the Saviour, Healer, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit and Soon Coming King.

As the ministry flourished, many pressed Aimee to start a denomination but she resisted this because her heart and passion were set on evange lism. However, in 1923 a huge dome-shaped church called Angelus Temple was built in Los Angeles for Aimee's meetings. LIFE Bible College was founded and those who had been trained began planting churches in southern California and up the coast of the United States. These churches wanted to unite together as a community of believers and so the In ternational Church of the Foursquare Gospel was es­tablished.  Today this church family reaches into ……… Nations worldwide and has over ….. million members and adherents.