"Communicating Former and Current Moves of God To Multitudes Around the World"
Howard Carter
"A Man of Whom the World Was Not Worthy"
Howard Carter of London, England originated much of the teachings about the gifts of the Spirit that are commonly taught in Charismatic circles today. He is famous for his book, "Questions and Answers on Spiritual Gifts," first published in the 1930s. He helped to pioneer the Assemblies of God in England and chaired conventions at which his friend Smith Wigglesworth preached. He oversaw the historic Hamphstead Bible School in Great Britain for 20 years.
Howard Carter had a profound prophetic ministry that stretched over many years. In his lifetime, he gave 71 public prophecies. He declared that if even one of his prophecies failed to come to pass, he would never prophesy again. He never had to stop prophesying, because all of his prophecies came to pass. Howard and Ruth Carter ministered at the Goodwins' church in the 1960s, and felt a great kinship with Mom and Dad Goodwin.
A more detailed biography of Howard Carter is presented at the bottom of this page.
If the materials we bring to you on this page are a blessing to you, please become a financial partner with us and sow a seed into this ministry today by clicking HERE.
Media Files
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| Arise Young Man! |
A message drawn from Luke 7:11-15, in which Christ raised the widow's son from the dead. Copyrighted Recording: 45 minutes. This is a recording of Howard Carter preaching at the Goodwins' church, First Assembly of God, Pasadena, Texas in 1964. It begins with two messages in tongues coming from the congregation and two messages in tongues from Sister Goodwin. Brother Goodwin interprets the messages. Next, Mrs. Ruth Carter gives a testimony to God's faithfulness, and comments on recent world events which concur with end-time events and Bible prophecy. Dad Goodwin then introduces Howard Carter. |
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| Daniel in the Deacon's Den |
Carter shares his experiences with dancing in the Spirit and tells the story of a revival that broke out in Boston. Copyrighted Recording: 20 minutes.
Carter preached this sermon at Bill Britton's church in Springfield, MO in 1970. He discusses his attitude, and the attitude of his wife, towards dancing in the Spirit. Then he tells the story of a great woman of faith that he had mentored, saying, "I wish I had ten men with half her faith." She went with his blessing to Boston, raised up a church, and a revival broke out. People tried to stop the move of God, but God moved anyway. Carter ends by sharing some personal struggles and receiving God's grace to worship and dance before the Lord.
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| The Holy Spirit's Gifts and Salvation |
Comments by Dad and Ruth Carter. Then Carter shows how spiritual gifts can lead to salvation. Copyrighted Recording: 49 minutes.
Recorded at the Goodwins' church in 1964. Dad Goodwin speaks first, followed by Ruth Carter. Howard Carter tells of his early Christian walk, then preaches his sermon with power and humor. He comments about the Goodwins' church: |
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| Jacob Have I Loved |
Aspects of Jacob's personality that God loved, and that we need to adopt. Copyrighted Recording: 45 minutes. Howard Carter preached this message at Bill Britton's church in Springfield, MO in 1970. In this message, in his home church, Carter shares many wonderful truths about God from the life of Jacob. |
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| The Move of the Spirit |
Carter teaches about the Holy Spirit's gift of the Word of Knowledge. Copyrighted Recording: 40 minutes.
In this sermon, recorded at Bill Britton's church in 1971, Howard Carter focuses on the gift of the Word of Knowledge. He defines this gift as,"an amazing revelation of God's knowledge." He teaches that sin can be revealed by the Word of Knowledge, stating, "The Word of Knowledge makes the sinners in Zion [Christians living in sin] afraid."
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| The Need for Apostolic and Prophetic Ministry |
Why the Spirit-filled church needs the operation of genuine apostles and prophets. Copyrighted Recording: 39 minutes.
Howard Carter preaches what he calls a "sackcloth and ashes" message, given "in sorrow and grief," to the British Assemblies of God in 1961. He asserts, and I believe rightly so, that their problem [and ours] is the shunning of genuine apostolic and genuine prophetic ministry. He notes that most of the apostles and prophets he had known in his life had been run out of the denominations to which they belonged. Carter ends his heartfelt sermon abruptly with, "I cannot continue with my message!"
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| Three Parables of Christ's Return |
A classic Pentecostal message drawn from the three parables of Christ's return in Matthew Chapter 25. Copyrighted Recording: 27 minutes.
In this masterpiece that Carter preached at Bill Britton's church in 1971, he recalls an incident from back in 1920 when he was pastoring a church in London. He also includes a moving story of Nelly, and how in the face of a violent death, the love of God shown through her to her enemy. There are many precious truths in this message that will transform your life if you will take the Lord's instruction deeply into your heart and apply it in your life.
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| The Word vs. Indescribable Nonsense |
Carter teaches "There's a great deal said today that is utter nonsense. And not according to the Word . . ." Copyrighted Recording: 25 minutes.
In this sermon that he preached at Bill Britton's church in Springfield, MO in 1970, Carter describes how he prepares his sermons, touches on apostolic and prophetic ministry, spiritual gifts, and tells a fascinating story of an acquaintance, 'Holy Ann' who had was used tremendously in the gift of Faith. Concerning being a prophet, Carter asks, "How do you get to be a prophet? I don't know. You don't get to be a prophet. God chooses you. . . Every gift of God is chosen by God."
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Howard Carter Biography:
Born in England in 1891, Brother Carter was born again in 1909, and filled with the Spirit in 1915. He grew in the things of the Spirit and began ministering to others. When World War I broke out against England, as a minister of the Gospel, he did not feel that he could take up arms against others. Since England did not recognize the Pentecostal faith as a legitimate denomination or Christian organization, Carter could not be recognized as a minister for " conscientious objector" status. Consequently, Howard Carter imprisoned. His head was shaved, he was dressed in rough prison garb, and fed mostly bread and water. Thus he endured through the remainder of the war years.
Prison was a difficult test and trial that drove him to find solace in the Bible and in prayer to God. As Carter drew close to God, the Lord began to bring him into a clearer understanding of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. In Carter's day, little was known about spiritual gifts. For instance, many ministers assumed that the Word of Knowledge, was exemplified by the knowledge possessed by college professors. Similarly, most ministers believed that the Gifts of Healings were fulfilled by medical doctors. But God showed Brother Carter that the Holy Spirit's gifts were all supernatural endowments exercised by Christians, not natural gifts attained by secular scholarship and practice. Howard Carter originated the teaching outline of dividing the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit into the three categories of Revelation, Utterance, and Power.
Carter came forth from prison, with his faith tried and refined like pure gold. He began teaching these newfound truths and his teachings gained widespread acceptance throughout Pentecostal churches then and are commonly taught in Charismatic churches today. This acceptance gained Carter favor in many circles, enabling him to participate in the founding of the Assemblies of God denomination in Great Britain. Brother Carter also served as the chairman of national conventions at which his friend, Smith Wigglesworth, preached. But these positions of honor, in spite of the spiritual fruit that was borne, did not satisfy his adventurous spirit. Carter launched out in the mid-1930s, with a young Lester Sumrall under his wing, and with no financial support, on a world-wide missionary journey. Carter and Sumrall traveled on ocean liners, air planes, three-wheeled taxis, on camels, donkeys, and by other means of conveyance. Howard and Lester ministered across Australia, China, Tibet, Japan, Russia, in countless cities and villages along the way. These two men even landed in Nazi Germany, at its height, where they watched Hitler's legions march in lockstep. On this journey, they preached in 18 different languages with the help of 65 interpreters.
Howard Carter assumed the leadership of Hampstead Bible School in England, where he served for over 20 years. During the Blitz when Hitler's bombs were falling all over England, Carter believed for God's protection for his school and its students. Empowered by the Gift of Faith, he slept in the school's attic--the place that would be first hit if any bombs fell--confident that God's protecting and delivering power would keep the entire property safe. Throughout the entirety of the Second World War, his school suffered only minor superficial damage.
When Brother Carter was 65, he married Ruth Steelberg. He lived out his final years in Springfield, Missouri. He and Ruth traveled and ministered together until his passing in 1971. Howard and Ruth Carter ministered at the Goodwins' church in the 1960s and felt a great kinship with Mom and Dad Goodwin. He said that the Goodwins' church was one of only two he had seen in his entire life that had all nine gifts of the Spirit in full manifestation.
The hallmarks of the ministry of Howard Carter were:
Sound doctrine--Carter remained orthodox, refusing "special revelations" and extreme teachings.
Spiritual gifts--he knew them extensively, operated in them personally, but claimed no "special anointing."
Spiritual accountability--he declared if even one of his prophecies failed to come to pass, he would never prophesy again.
Spiritual endurance--Carter stayed true to the Lord up to the end and the glory never left him.
Lester Sumrall wrote of his mentor, Howard Carter, that he was "a man of whom the world was not worthy."
Amen and Amen.
If the materials we bring to you on this page are a blessing to you, please become a financial partner with us and sow a seed into this ministry today by clicking HERE.
Acknowledgements:
I wish to express my gratitude to the following copyright holders, institutions, and individuals who entrusted these recordings to me or who offered their assistance and encouragement:
Dr. Charles Goodwin who gave me his permission to host the recordings of Howard Carter that were made at the church of his parents, the Rev. and Mrs. J. R. Goodwin.
Becky Britton who donated recordings to me from the archives of the church pastored by her father Bill Britton. Some of Pastor Britton's recordings can still be obtained through his ministry's website.
Keith Malcomson who is the Director of The School of Christ at Mungret College in Limerick, Ireland, donated a Carter recording from his collection. His website www.pentecostalpioneers.org, is a wonderful resource for historical accounts of Pentecostal moves of the past, and for the present day Pentecostal power in Europe, Asia, and Africa. I encourage everyone to visit his site and partake of the materials they offer.
Glen Gohr of the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, who has extended to me many kindnesses over the years. I encourage you to visit the website of IFPHC, and to take a tour of their wonderful museum at the Assemblies of God national headquarters in Springfield, MO.