George Floyd Taylor : The Life of an Early Southern Pentecostal Leader

On August 10, 1881, the hearts of James and Julia Taylor were relieved after a strenuous labor of seventy-three hours by the birth of their third child, George Floyd Taylor. As he recorded in his 1908 diary, "I am twenty-seven years old this day. How I thank God for allowing me to live this long. I am told that when I was born I was dead. After being rubbed in warm water one hour, I began to breathe. I was born on Wednesday, August 10, 1881. My mother told me that she never saw me until Saturday. Nobody ever thought that I would ever live. So, I feel worthy of a place in the world stall. Yet, I feel so greatful (sic) to God for this (sic) mercies to me! Glory! Indeed He is good! God has lead me greatly through these years! I am unable to enumerate His blessings. I thank Him for all of them." Dr. Vinson Synan writes, "The most impressive fact about Taylor was that he overcame serious congenital disabilities to become an accomplished theologian, educator, author, missiologist, and editor. His work helped form the infant Pentecostal Holiness Church into one of the leading Pentecostal denominations in the world. What would have stymied a lesser man only caused Taylor to become more determined and persistent in his mission to excel in everything he attempted to do. This included enrolling at the University of North Carolina at the age of 48 here he earned the Master of Arts degree in 1929." Stan York is a licensed minister in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. He earned a B.A. in History from East Carolina University, M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary, Th.M. from Duke University, and Ph.D. from Regent University. He is married with six children.