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The Apostolic Church is a Pentecostal Christian denomination that emerged in Wales in the early 20th century. It emphasizes Pentecostal beliefs, such as the baptism in the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts like prophecy and speaking in tongues. Governance follows a model inspired by the New Testament, with leadership roles like apostles and prophets.

Worship is vibrant, involving music, prayer, and spiritual gifts. Key practices include baptism, communion, and active missionary work. With a strong presence worldwide, especially in Africa and Europe, the church is distinct in its focus on apostolic authority and structured governance based on early church principles.

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The Apostolic Church was founded in the early 1900s in Wales during a Pentecostal revival movement. This revival, sparked by a desire to return to the practices of the early Christian church, emphasized direct experiences of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues and prophecy. Inspired by these New Testament practices, a group of believers organized into a community, focusing on apostleship and the gifts of the Spirit. From these beginnings, the church quickly grew and spread internationally.

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The persecuted church refers to early Christians who faced intense hostility and persecution, especially from Roman authorities, due to their refusal to worship Roman gods and the emperor. The first two major persecutions were:

1. Nero's Persecution (64 AD): After the Great Fire of Rome, Emperor Nero blamed Christians, leading to brutal tortures and executions. Many were crucified, burned alive, or fed to wild animals. This was the first organized attempt to eliminate Christianity in Rome.

2. Domitian's Persecution (81-96 AD): Emperor Domitian targeted Christians who refused to worship him as a deity. While not as widespread as later persecutions, it marked a period of intense oppression, especially among Christians in Rome and Asia Minor.

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The Great Persecution (303-311 AD) was the most severe and widespread persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire, initiated by Emperor Diocletian and continued by his successors. This campaign aimed to completely eliminate Christianity from the empire. Key events included:

Edicts Against Christians: Diocletian issued several edicts mandating the destruction of churches, burning of scriptures, and loss of legal rights for Christians. Sacrifices to Roman gods were required, and refusal led to imprisonment or execution.

Widespread Violence: Christians were tortured, forced to renounce their faith, or killed in brutal ways. It affected all levels of society, with church leaders particularly targeted.

The persecution finally ended in 311 AD, when Emperor Galerius issued the Edict of Toleration, allowing Christians to practice their faith. This persecution strengthened the resolve of the Christian community and ultimately led to Christianity’s legalization under Emperor Constantine in 313 AD with the Edict of Milan.

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The Imperial Church began after Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which legalized Christianity and ended its persecution. Supported by the empire, Christianity grew in influence, receiving resources and state patronage. In 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea unified Christian doctrine. Later, Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official state religion in 380 AD, strengthening its role in governance and society. This period established the church’s deep connection to the Roman state, which would shape Christian influence in Europe for centuries.

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Faith Defined refers to the period when early Christian leaders clarified core beliefs to unify doctrine and address heresies. This process was crucial as Christianity became more established within the Roman Empire. Key events include:

1. Council of Nicaea (325 AD): Convened by Constantine, this council rejected Arianism (which denied Christ’s divinity) and established the Nicene Creed, affirming Jesus as "true God from true God."

2. Council of Constantinople (381 AD): This council expanded the Nicene Creed to affirm the divinity of the Holy Spirit, further defining the doctrine of the Trinity.

3. Council of Chalcedon (451 AD): Addressed debates on Christ’s nature, affirming that Jesus was both fully divine and fully human in one person.

These councils helped define orthodox Christian beliefs, unifying doctrine and guiding the church’s teachings across the growing Christian empire.

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Faith Distorted refers to periods in early Christian history when teachings diverged from orthodox beliefs, leading to heresies and doctrinal disputes. Key examples include:

1. Gnosticism: This belief system claimed special, secret knowledge of salvation and viewed the material world as evil, conflicting with Christian teachings on creation and the incarnation of Christ.

2. Arianism: Founded by Arius, this heresy argued that Jesus was a created being and not fully divine. This view was rejected at the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) but persisted in parts of the empire, causing significant division.

3. Nestorianism: Taught that Christ’s divine and human natures were separate, essentially dividing Jesus into two persons. The Council of Ephesus (431 AD) condemned this, affirming that Jesus is one person with both natures.

4. Monophysitism: Claimed that Christ had only one nature (either divine or a mixture of divine and human). This view was rejected at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD), which affirmed the dual nature of Christ.

These and other heresies prompted early councils to define orthodox Christian beliefs more clearly, helping to preserve core doctrines and unify the church.