William H. Seymour

William H. Seymour was a prominent American Protestant minister and evangelist in the early 20th century. He is best known for pioneering the Pentecostal movement, emphasizing direct personal experience with God through the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues. Seymour's leadership at the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles around 1906-1909 played a crucial role in popularizing Pentecostalism, which has since become a major branch of Christianity worldwide. His work contributed to a renewed emphasis on spiritual experience and charismatic worship within Christian communities.