A study of the history of the Church, especially since the 17th century, shows clearly how God had prepared the soil for the Pentecostal movement.

Since the Reformation in the 16th century, the Pietists, Wesleyanism, the second Evangelical awakening, the Holiness Movement and the Zionist Movement of John Alexander Dowie, all played roles to establish a climate to create the "fullness of time" for the Pentecostal Movement to start.

What happened in the United States had an equivalent in South Africa. The cradle for Pentecost to start in this country was clearly prepared by God during the last decades of the 19th century. The 1860 revival in the Dutch Reformed Church, Dr Andrew Murray, the local Zionist Movement and the problems after the second South African War, all clearly interlocked, prepared an atmosphere and climate for the Pentecostal Movement to take off.

The Role of John G Lake and Thomas Hezmalhalch
These two American evangelists were used by God to play a prominent role in the establishment of the AFM. Let it immediately be said that they did not start pentecostalism in South Africa.

When they came to South Africa they found a number of people in various parts of the country who already had the Pentecostal experience, but they did not understand it.

Lake and Hezmalhalch were used by God to unite those who already had the experience and to give impetus, momentum and direction to the work. They were mightily used by God to demonstrate spiritual gifts.

A few remarks on the lives of Lake and Hezmalhalch prior to their ministry in South Africa are appropriate.

John G Lake in America
Born on March 18, 1870 in Ontario, Canada, he was one of 16 children. Eight died early. Trained as a Methodist preacher, he entered the business world and did well for himself. He married Jenny Stevens, who soon after became chronically ill.

It was through the ministry of John Alexander Dowie that divine healing touched this family. After witnessing a number of miraculous healings in his own family and home, Lake himself was led into the healing ministry.

After becoming a Zionist and spending a few years (1901-1904) in Dowie’s Zion City, he felt the urge to go into a full-time evangelistic and healing ministry.

He left Zion City and joined forces with Thomas Hezmalhalch. He was baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

Thomas Hezmalhalch in America
He was born on October 5, 1847 in Paterson, New Jersey. Little is known about his early days. As a young man he spent time in England, where he ministered as a preacher of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and married Charlotte Best.

Back in America, he joined the Holiness Movement. He was baptized in the Holy Spirit and met John G Lake about 1907. They became close friends and co-evangelists in a number of campaigns.

Lake and Hezmalhalch in South Africa
In April 1907, Lake decided to go into full-time, independent evangelistic work. "... I locked my office door, disposed of my bank account to various religious and educational institutions, divided my real estate in like manner and appointed ... my financial agent, to dispose of everything".

Early in 1908 Hezmalhalch and Lake were led by the Spirit to go to South Africa.

Lake, having distributed what his assets had realised among charities, now had no money, but God supplied the 2000 dollars needed by the group of 13 to go to South Africa. They left Indianapolis on April 1, 1908 and reached Cape Town, via England, on May 14.
After a few services in Cape Town and a short visit to Pretoria, they felt led by God to settle in Johannesburg.

An American woman missionary met John G Lake and his family at the station, telling them that during the night, God had told her about their coming to Johannesburg and that she should meet and accommodate them. By 3 pm that day the Lakes were settled in a furnished home!

The first organized meeting was on May 25, 1908, probably only a day or two after they had arrived in Johannesburg. This date can be accepted as the beginning of the AFM.

This quotation from Gordon Lindsay about the going of John G Lake to South Africa, provides a good summary: "Let us for a moment consider the phenomenon of Lake’s ministry in South Africa. He went there without funds. Every mile of the journey was a miracle ... He depended upon God to supply the money for the trip, and he and his party upon arriving in Africa were without visible means of support. There was no organization nor mission board to back him. From the natural viewpoint, the venture was a perfect setup for failure or perhaps disaster.

Dr Lake had made no particular study of the field, did not know the language of the indigenous people. Yet despite all the handicaps that ill-omened the success of the mission, the power of the ministry of Lake and his co-worker, Hezmalhalch, was such that within five years the message they brought had penetrated to the remote areas of South Africa. An apostolic revival broke out of such power that in a short time hundreds of churches and missions were established throughout the land. The secret of the success of these men was of course the fact that they possessed an apostolic ministry in which signs, wonders and miracles were manifested continually."

THE MINISTRY OF JOHN G LAKE AND THOMAS HEZMALHALCH IN ESTABLISHING THE AFM
While Lake and Hezmalhalch came to South Africa as close friends, it is significant that Lake, although more than 22 years his junior, was the more prominent of the two. He had the stronger, leading personality, perhaps a little individualistic, and played the most influential role in establishing the AFM. Let us first take a quick look at the ministry of Thomas Hezmalhalch.

Thomas Hezmalhalch
Lake and Hezmalhalch were co-pastors of the mother-church of the AFM, the so-called Central Tabernacle assembly in Bree Street, Johannesburg.

At the first meeting of the executive council on May 27 1909, Hezmalhalch was elected chairman and first president of the AFM, probably because he was the eldest and more experienced in pentecostal ministry. He held the position for year.
It was probably the wrong decision to appoint him president, as Lake, the younger of the two, was a born leader and had a stronger personality and ministry.

In such a relationship where the stronger person has to take a secondary position, friction and tension between the two can sooner or later be expected, as the one in the leadership position may feel threatened. Later developments seem to confirm this view.
Hezmalhalch, not known as a great preacher, was a gentle and loving person ... "his life was a beautiful testimony to the reality of Pentecost". He loved the Lord and he loved His word. He was a real giant of faith and his ministry was characterised by many outstanding miracles.

John G Lake
Burton describes Lake thus: "He was a man of strong, forceful personality, who would have made his way to the fore in any situation."
Lindsay writes: "Mr Lake was a strong, rugged character of loving and winning personality, and ... he was a rugged individualist, and such persons have a tendency to make enemies as well as devoted friends."

The following aspects of his ministry in South Africa are soon to be discussed:

Lake’s healing and preaching ministry
"It is an understatement to say that the ministry of John G Lake was unusual" It is "... a story which, perhaps, has had no parallel in the history of missions since the days of the Early Church".

Probably the most outstanding characteristic of Lake’s ministry, was his ministry of divine healing. The time he spent with John Alexander Dowie contributed to this. His healing ministry ensured that this ministry became a significant characteristic of the AFM.
Lake was extremely cautious and responsible in his ministry of divine healing. He realised even then that many sicknesses had a complex, psychological or spiritual origin. He also believed in praying for the sick repeatedly until God answered. Due to this responsible approach, a success rate of 75% crowned his healing ministry in South Africa. He got very upset with evangelists who were irresponsible in their approach and who thought "that it was only proper to pray for the sick once, that they should not be ministered unto a second time.
"This was Dollar Christianity. Wherever it was practiced and by whom, it is still Dollar Christianity."

The healing ministry asked much of Lake. Services often continued till late because of the many people who had come for prayer. His house was often filled with ill people while he continued through the night, praying for one after the other.

This was possible only because Lake was a man who had an intimate walk with God and who had spent much time in prayer.
Lake was also a dynamic preacher. His preaching was strongly scripture based. He had the ability to stir faith in the hearts of his audience.

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