John G. Lake
Canadian-American Pentecostal leader and missionary to South Africa.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
John Graham Lake (March 18, 1870 – September 16, 1935) was a Canadian-American figure in the early Pentecostal movement, remembered as a faith healer and missionary. Alongside Thomas Hezmalhalch, he co-founded the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa. His missionary work there, from 1908 to 1913, was key to spreading Pentecostalism across South Africa, which grew into the region’s most successful 20th-century religious movement.
Lake was born in St. Marys, Ontario, one of sixteen children (eight died young). His family moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in 1886, shortly after he finished high school. He claimed to have been ordained as a Methodist minister at twenty-one, but no records confirm his seminary attendance, and census data suggests he may not have completed ten years of schooling. In 1890, he moved to Harvey, Illinois, working as a roofer and construction worker before returning to his hometown in 1896. Lake later said he became a millionaire through life insurance and owned two newspapers—the *Harvey Citizen* and the *Soo Times*—but historian Barry Morton found no evidence of this; the *Harvey Citizen* was township-run, and the *Soo Times* was owned by others. Morton argues Lake exaggerated his career, and that he actually worked as a small-scale contractor, roofer, and house-flipper. The 1900 Census lists his occupation as “carpenter.”
In February 1893, Lake married Jennie Stevens; they had six children and adopted one more before her death in 1908. During the 1890s, Lake and his family regularly attended services led by John Alexander Dowie, where healings and alleged resurrections were reported. In 1898, Lake started a small chapter of Dowie’s Christian Catholic Church in Sault Ste. Marie, holding meetings in his parents’ attic. He moved his family to Zion, Illinois, in 1901, working in the town’s construction department. After Zion City’s financial troubles, Lake found new work around 1905. He later claimed ties to figures like James Jerome Hill, Cecil Rhodes, Mahatma Gandhi, and Arthur Conan Doyle, and said he left a $50,000 annual salary and a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade to preach. His biographer, Burpeau, found no outside evidence for these claims. Morton notes that contemporary records show Lake never left Zion City during that period, instead working as an ordinary insurance salesman in Waukegan. Lake does not appear in new
- born
- March 18, 1870, St. Marys, Ontario, Canada
- died
- September 16, 1935, age 65
- field
- Pentecostal leader, faith healer, missionary
- nationality
- Canadian-American
- known_for
- Co-founder of the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa; spreading Pentecostalism in southern Africa; establishing healing rooms
Lore & Background
Lake was born into a large family of 16 siblings, eight of whom died young. He moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in 1886 and later to Harvey, Illinois, where he worked as a roofer and construction worker. He claimed to have been a millionaire in life insurance and to have owned two newspapers, but historian Barry Morton found no evidence for these claims, noting that census records list his occupation as carpenter. Lake was influenced by the healing ministry of John Alexander Dowie and the ministry of Charles Parham. In 1907, after Parham's tent revival in Zion, Illinois, Lake became a Pentecostal and co-led a group of Parhamites with Thomas Hezmalhalch. Following Parham's arrest, the group fled to Indianapolis and raised funds for a mission to South Africa.
Reader's Guide
John G. Lake's significance lies in his foundational role in the spread of Pentecostalism in southern Africa, particularly through the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, which influenced the rise of Zionist Christian sects. Historian Barry Morton notes that Lake was instrumental in spreading a fusion of Zionism and Pentecostalism unique to the region, and that about half of southern African Christians in 2023 are adherents of this movement. Lake's healing rooms and campaigns along the U.S. West Coast also contributed to the growth of Pentecostal faith healing practices. However, his legacy is complicated by disputed claims about his early business career and wealth, as well as controversies during his missionary work. The article presents conflicting assessments: Morton views Lake as a possible fraud, while Nel suggests a preconceived notion of fraud. Lake's influence remains substantial, but the historical record contains significant uncertainties.
Did You Know?
- Lake claimed to have been a millionaire in life insurance, but historian Barry Morton found no evidence of this and said Lake worked as a carpenter.
- Lake's first wife, Jennie, died just six months after his arrival in South Africa; he called her death 'Satan's masterstroke.'
- Lake and Thomas Hezmalhalch were likely the first Pentecostal missionaries to South Africa, introducing speaking in tongues there.
- After Charles Parham's arrest for sodomy and pedophilia in 1907, Lake and other Parhamites fled Illinois to avoid mob violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is John G. Lake?
John Graham Lake was a Canadian-American Pentecostal leader born in 1870 in Ontario, Canada, who became widely recognized for his work as a faith healer and missionary in southern Africa.
What was John G. Lake's role in the Pentecostal movement?
He served as a faith healer who established healing rooms and as a missionary who traveled to South Africa between 1908 and 1913 to spread Pentecostal beliefs across the region.
How does John G. Lake's story end?
Lake passed away on September 16, 1935, at the age of 65, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the growth of Pentecostalism in southern Africa.
Why is John G. Lake important to the history of new religious movements?
His missionary efforts in South Africa helped transform Pentecostalism into the continent's most successful religious movement of the twentieth century, making his work a cornerstone of the faith's expansion beyond North America.
What organization did John G. Lake co-found?
Together with Thomas Hezmalhalch, he established the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, which became a major vehicle for spreading Pentecostal theology and healing practices throughout the region.
More in Founders Of New Religious Movements 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record