Charles Parham was rightly called "The Father of the Pentecostal Movement". It was at his Bible School in Topeka, Kansas that the Pentecostal movement first began and where speaking in tongues was first associated with the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Parham went on to be the main apostle and teacher of the growing movement. He traveled extensively, teaching and preaching the new Pentecostal message.

Later in life, Parham was accused of grevious sin and disgraced. He denied the charges to his death. Modern church historians largely agree that he was falsely accused by for political purposes.