On August 19, 1886, seven people covenanted with which leader and his son to find the spiritual life lacking in the churches?

• A. Richard Spurling
• B. R.G. Spurling Jr.
• C. J.C. Murphy
• D. W.F. Bryant

Answer: (A)

A moment of awakening in the Church of God’s early history centers on seven men who, on August 19, 1886, covenanted with Richard Spurling and his son R.G. Spurling Jr. to pursue the spiritual life they felt was lacking in the churches. The leadership and influence surrounding that covenant are tied to Richard Spurling, with his son playing a key role alongside him. This event marks the founding impulse of the movement as a distinct expression of faith, emphasizing a restoration of apostolic life and holiness that the founders believed had been lost in existing churches. The other individuals named were peers in the broader revival context, but the covenant specifically anchors to the Spurlings, making Richard Spurling the most fitting answer in this context.