The Pentecost Bands were an influential yet short-lived group that began in 1882 as an evangelistic outreach in Iowa. Founded by Free Methodist elder Vivan Dake, his wife Ida, and several others, the group’s mission was to spread the gospel. However, the original Pentecost Band dissolved within a year due to members being pulled in different directions. In 1885, Dake revitalized the movement in Parma, Michigan, forming new Pentecost Bands to encourage young adults to dedicate their lives to ministry.
Formation and Growth of the Pentecost Bands
The 1885 Pentecost Band was founded in Parma, Michigan, and established specific guidelines for all new bands to follow. The name “Pentecost” was chosen by Dake to highlight the return to “primitive Pentecost methods,” where both converts and preachers were actively engaged in spreading the gospel. Unlike many religious organizations, members didn’t need to be formally trained or licensed evangelists in the Free Methodist Church. Instead, they were motivated by a shared passion for evangelism, similar to Dake and the original Pentecost Band.
By the end of 1885, four Pentecost Bands were formed, each consisting of 3-4 young adults, mostly single men and women, aside from Vivan and Ida Dake. Three of these first four bands were led by women. As the movement grew throughout the late 1880s and into the 1890s, the majority of the bands were woman-led. Research shows that at least 105 women and 45 men served in the Pentecost Bands between 1885 and 1920. According to historian Howard Snyder, over 200 members served between 1885 and 1900, which is the period of primary interest for this research.
The Pentecost Bands and Their Independent Theology
Although the Pentecost Bands are often linked with the Free Methodist Church, they operated outside its formal oversight and structures. While some church leaders, including Benjamin Titus Roberts, supported Dake’s vision, the bands were never officially recognized by the Free Methodist Church. The Pentecost Bands followed their own guidelines, held independent conventions, and developed a theology that differed from the Free Methodist Church, particularly regarding conversion, sanctification, and holiness.
Between 1885 and 1890, the Pentecost Bands grew rapidly, operating without formal oversight from the Free Methodist Church. The movement spread internationally and launched its own publication, The Pentecost Herald. By 1894, the bands began formalizing their structure, yet they continued to maintain a theology and organizational model distinct from the Free Methodist Church. In 1925, the bands transitioned to the Missionary Bands of the World, Inc., cementing their independence from the Free Methodist Church.
The Pentecost Bands’ Legacy and Mentorship from Free Methodist Leaders
By 1890, Free Methodist leadership began to consider ways to formally oversee the Pentecost Bands, but by then, the movement had already developed its own leadership hierarchy and missions efforts. The relationship between the bands and the Free Methodist Church is best described as one of informal mentorship from church leaders like Roberts, rather than a formal connection or oversight.
Other Articles in the Series:
Pentecost Band Initial Organizational Guidelines
Dake’s Influence on Pentecost Band Theology
Pentecost Band Leaders Embrace Marital Purity
Michigan Pentecost Bands Cause Uproar in 1886
References:
[i] See Ida Dake’s biography of Vivan Dake Kindling Watchfires
[ii] See Thomas Nelson’s biography of Vivan Dake p. 102 (section on the Parma Band formation)
[iii] See Howard Snyder’s research on the bands
[iv] The Free Methodist Book of Discpline first included oversight of band work in the 1890 edition ad even then it was not specific to the Pentecost Bands, just general band work annual conferences might oversee.
[v] Enclopedia of Missions Pentecost Band article
Free Methodist Feminist 
Excited about your research and eager to read further posts.
Hello from Noblesville, Indiana. My name is Steven Hight and I am a retired president of Evangelistic Faith Missions in Bedford, IN. EFM counts its beginning as February 1905 with the going of Pentecost Band members to Egypt, where they established a mission work that is still going today. Their names were Lewis Glenn (Band #30, Evansville), his wife, Viola Light Glenn (Band #13, Vincennes), Della Hugill (Band #25, Akron, OH), and Marietta Simpson (whom may or may not have been with a Band). They were accompanied as far as New York by Thomas Nelson, Pentecost Band leader at the time. (These names and Band numbers are from a list published in the March 15, 1899, issue of the Pentecost Herald.)
I have read with interest most of the articles and excerpts you have posted and have skimmed part of Vivian Dakes’ biography.
One thing that caught my interest was the article about Pentecost Bands people in India. We knew some had gone there, but I was glad to see the confirmation and get a few names.
Questions: Do you know any details about other Bands in other countries? Do you know of other works begun by one or another of the Bands? Faith Mission Church, Bedford, IN, was started by a Band in late 1893, when they began services. They were in at least two or three different Bedford locations before settling on I (that’s the letter I) Street, which also became the first headquarters of Evangelistic Faith Missions.
Might we have brothers and sisters somewhere, or have traces of the Bands pretty much been erased?
Hi Steven- so great to hear from you! I’ll shoot you an email, too. I’ve been trying to keep track of the band members and what bands they were with (they switched bands so often that their band info is only ever going to be a rough estimate) As of now I haven’t found Marietta Simpson listed and I’m up to about 1895-1896 with my list. However, Viola Light Glenn (joined before marriage) in 1895 and was a leader of at least one women-led home mission band prior to marriage.
In regards to your questions (which are great)
1) The bands were very active in establishing churches starting in 1885 (mostly in IL, IN, Ohio, and PA). They began their foreign mission work around 1890 when the first band went to Monrovia (now Liberia). It wasn’t a great success and the women who were in the first band died on the field. Another band led by Mary and George Chapman arrived soon after the first band and was there for several years.
They also established work in Norway and India and then the group you’re familiar with in Egypt. They were in a few other locations but my research to-do has been on the U.S. bands during the first ten years of their existence (1885-1895). There is almost nothing published on them.
There are a few people who have been researching the bands over the past few years. One book I recommend is Shivraj K. Mahendra’s book, Lived MIssiology (https://www.amazon.com/Lived-Missiology-Legacy-Ernest-Phebe/dp/B099C14V97) on Phebe and Ernest Ward who were missionaries to India.
I am new to the Free Methodist denomination. I am now ordained Free Methodist having left the United Methodist denomination after 40 years. My mother-in-law was sent out from Moody Bible Institute during the 1940’s to do evangelistic work in central Ohio. She went with at least one other woman who was also ordained. My mother-in-law was from a church that had split from the Methodist Episcopal denomination years before. Do you know if what Moody graduates were doing was similar or influenced by the Pentecost Bands?
Hi Stan
I don’t know of any official connections between the Bands and Moody (or any Band members who were Moody graduates). Many of the Band workers were not even college educated because ministry training occurred as part of band work. It wouldn’t surprise me if during this period Moody had professors and students who were inspired by the same Weslyean theology and interpretations. I have more research I need to post here but during this period there were a lot of tiny Holiness magazines and small Holiness denominations that sprang up as members left the Methodist Epsicopal Church, Free Methodist Church or other similar denominations. The National Holiness Association (which started as a camp meeting movement) was very influential during this period and had numerous regional chapters which Moody might have had faculty or students a part of. The Bands are just part of a much larger narrative of Holiness theology and social activism during this period!