05/08/2025
Dennis J. Bennett was an Episcopalian priest deeply rooted in liturgy, tradition, and Scripture. He served faithfully at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Van Nuys, California, where he was known for his intelligence, pastoral care, and biblical preaching. But over time, he grew restless. The spiritual power he saw in the book of Acts did not match what he was seeing in his church. Something in him longed for more than religious routine. That longing led him to a small home Bible study hosted by a humble couple, Mr. and Mrs. Baker.
At the Bakers’ Bible study, the focus was not on emotion or controversy, but on the Word of God. The Bakers gently but clearly taught about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, pointing to passages in Acts and Paul’s letters. Bennett, though skeptical, could not deny the clarity of Scripture. He wrestled with the idea that spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues were still available to believers today. The Bakers did not pressure him. Instead, they encouraged him to seek Jesus directly and ask for the fullness of the Spirit. That quiet witness began to break through years of theological resistance.
Eventually, Dennis Bennett set aside his doubts and asked for prayer. In a simple setting with a few believers, he invited the Holy Spirit to fill him. He was baptized in the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues. It was not dramatic or chaotic. It was peaceful and powerful. A new boldness rose in him. His love for Jesus deepened. The Bible became alive in a new way. His ministry and personal prayer life were never the same again.
After much prayer, Bennett decided to share his experience with his congregation. On Passion Sunday, April 3, 1960, he stood before the people of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and openly testified that he had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and had spoken in tongues. He made no demands or ultimatums. He simply told the truth of what God had done in his life. But even this quiet honesty stirred a storm. His announcement was met with confusion, fear, and resistance.
Some in the congregation were furious. Angry comments filled the halls. Members accused him of bringing Pentecostalism into a respectable Episcopal church. The idea that their dignified rector had spoken in tongues was too much for some to accept. The story quickly spread beyond the church, gaining national attention. News outlets like Time and Newsweek reported on the "tongues-speaking Episcopal priest." Under growing pressure, Bennett was asked to resign.
His resignation, however, was not the end. It was the beginning. Bennett moved to Seattle and began serving at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where many came to hear about the Holy Spirit. His testimony and teaching sparked revival across denominational lines. Episcopal, Lutheran, Catholic, and Baptist believers began seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit. His book Nine O’Clock in the Morning became a guide for thousands. Through one obedient Episcopal priest, a global movement of renewal began that continues to this day.
Credit: Revival Press
