UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH INTERNATIONAL

Pentecostals expect that new Christians will receive from God the gift of speaking "in tongues" as evidence that they have been "baptized of the Holy Spirit." This infilling of the Holy Spirit can also bring additional gifts:

	ability to heal others mentally and/or physically
	prophecy - the ability to predict the future as in Acts 2:17
	wisdom that is unattainable by natural methods
	discernment of spirits - the ability to detect angels, demons, etc.

There is one fundamental difference between the first century CE phenomenon of xenoglossia and the glossolalia exhibited among Pentecostals today. The latter is not an actual foreign language. It sounds to the casual observer like a repetitive series of meaningless sounds. If it were converted to written form, the alphabet would contain only a few vowels and consonants.

However, they hold some non-traditional beliefs, including:

	they share with other "Oneness Pentecostals" the practice of baptizing in the name of Jesus Christ only. (See Acts 2:38) Other Christian denominations follow Matthew 28:19 and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
	they believe that anyone who is not baptized in the name of Jesus only will not be accepted into heaven when they die.
	If a person is genuinely saved, then they will speak in tongues. "Speaking in other tongues...is the manifestation God has given as the definite, indisputable, supernatural witness or sign of the baptism of the Holy Ghost...This spiritual baptism is necessary to put someone into the kingdom of God."
	they reject the traditional concept of the Trinity. Although they believe that God has manifested in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) they believe that this happened sequentially. "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names of separate persons, but titles of positions held by God." 5 God appeared first as the Father; in the 1st century CE he appeared as Jesus; since Jesus' ascension, he has appeared as the Holy Spirit.
	their religious service includes foot washing in emulation of Jesus and his followers.
	members are forbidden to join the Masonic Order and other "secret societies."
	strict dress and codes are followed, particularly for women.
	attendance at movies is forbidden "...Inasmuch as motion pictures are utilized by the world as the medium by which the basest and most corrupt passions and activities of men are portrayed on the screen, and the United Pentecostal Church International has traditionally opposed said movie films produced for the entertainment of the ungodly world..." However, they do permit "the use of this medium among God's people...in such areas as taking pictures of families and friends and the viewing of educational, religious, or inspirational films..." 2
	The use of television is restricted to the taking of pictures of families, friends, and church activities, and the viewing of educational, religious, or inspirational films which are consistent with wholesome Christian principles. A 1983 resolution further called for the alteration of all TV sets so "as to be unable to receive television channels." 2

Most conservative Christians disagree with the current availability of "gifts of the spirit." They believe that these were given only to the early Christian church while the apostles were alive. They are not available to Christians today.

	They oppose abortion. However, their 1988 statement on this topic does not indicate whether abortion is acceptable in pregnancies arising out of rape or incest, or if needed to save the life of the woman.
	Members may hot participate in competitive sports because of the evils associated with that activity.
	They teach that members' clothing and appearance must be gender specific. For example, men must not have long hair or cover their hair in church; women must not wear jeans or slacks.
	"...we cannot approve the integrating of male and female in physical education classes in which scanty clothing, on the gymnasium floor or in the swimming pool or in an outdoor stadium, is required." 4

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