'''Pentecostalism''' is a spiritual [[Christian]] revivalist movement that began within [[Protestantism]]. It emphasizes gifts of the Holy Spirit, and has experienced explosive growth for the past half-century; today its quarter of a billion adherents represent one. Pentecostals and charismatics combined add up to very large numbers (the statistics are highly inexact) -eighth of all Christians-perhaps as many as one Christian in ten, worldwide.
Although Pentecostalism is generally descended from [[Methodism]] and the Methodist [[Holiness Movement]], many do not regarded consider it as "Protestant, however, and it ." It has gained some acceptance by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] in the [[Second Vatican Council]]. Because many Pentecostal denominations
Pentecostalism focuses on the outpouring of the [[Holy Spirit]] on the [[Apostles]] as described in the [[Acts (of the Apostles)|Acts of the Apostles]] and Pentecostals strive to embrace that same spirituality on a weekly or daily basis. :''When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them.'' [Acts 2:1-3] That is, Pentecostalism consists of becoming a messenger for the [[Holy Spirit]] in modern times. Adherents seek gifts of [[prophecy]] and [[faith healing|healing]], and sometimes speak in different or unrecognized [[speaking in tongues|tongues]]. Like evangelicals they emphasize the centrality of the conversion experience and the impending return to earth of Jesus. However Pentecostals are distinctive in their concentration on divine healing and Holy Ghost baptism, and forms of worship, such as "speaking in tongues" they see as part of that baptism.
Supporters of the movement cite as an obstacle to participation a distrust or diffidence towards the [[Holy Spirit]]'s ability to achieve today what was accomplished in the first century A.D. Pentecostals emphasize the necessity of revivals; their theology is [[Arminianism|Arminian]].
From a worldwide perspective, the Assemblies of God is the largest Pentecostal denomination. However, the vast majority of its membership is outside of the United States. It has 2.5 million members in the U.S. and 25 million overall.
Second in size is The Church of God in Christ, a predominantly African American denominationbased in the U.S. Other of Pentecostal denominations include the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee; the International Pentecostal Holiness Church; the International Church of the Four Square Gospel; and the nontrinitarian United Pentecostal Church International. There are scores of smaller Pentecostal bodies.<ref> For a listing of the websites of these and other Pentecostal churches, go to http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~kbanner/pentec.html </ref>
The main Pentecostal denomination is the [[Assemblies of God]]. Others include the Full Gospel church.