Bonnie Brae Street Prayer Meeting (April 9, 1906)

In a modest home on Bonnie Brae Street in Los Angeles, a small prayer meeting became the setting for a turning point in modern Pentecostal history. There were no banners, no cathedral, and no powerful sponsors—only hungry hearts, open Bibles, and persistent prayer. On April 9, Edward Lee asked William J. Seymour to pray that he would receive the gift of tongues. Seymour, recently rejected and locked out of a pulpit yet continuing in quiet, steady faith, brought the request before God. Lee began to speak in tongues, and the room was stirred with repentance, worship, and renewed expectancy.

This gathering showed a familiar pattern in Scripture: God delights to meet people who come lowly, not lofty; obedient, not entitled. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:4)

Edward Lee

Edward Lee’s role is marked by humility and spiritual desire. He did not seek attention; he sought God. His simple request—prayer for the gift of tongues—expressed a longing for the Spirit’s empowering and a willingness to be led where God directed. In many accounts, the outpouring that touched him also softened the whole meeting, producing not mere excitement but conviction, confession, and reverent awe.

William J. Seymour

William J. Seymour stands as a model of persevering faith under hardship. When shut out by those who feared his message, he did not turn bitter or retaliate. Instead, he prayed, waited, and trusted that God would vindicate His Word in His time. Seymour’s “heroism” was not loud—it was the courage to endure rejection while keeping a tender spirit, a disciplined prayer life, and an unwavering commitment to Christ’s lordship.

From Bonnie Brae to Azusa Street

What began on Bonnie Brae soon overflowed into the Azusa Street Revival, drawing seekers from many backgrounds and sending witnesses outward with renewed boldness. The aim was never spectacle, but power for testimony: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The story endures as a reminder that God honors persevering prayer, purifies His people through repentance, and equips ordinary believers for extraordinary witness.