in 1903, lewis led her followers in creating the church of the living god, the pillar and ground of the truth in greenville, alabama. the name was taken from i timothy, 3:15. following a period of illness, lewis experienced a miraculous healing and the pentecostal baptism of the holy spirit, speaking in tongues. from june 25 to july 5, 1908, she held a ten-day general assembly there, a pentecostal revival at which she formally incorporated the denomination. as the overseer and chief leader of the church, she presided as bishop, ordained ministers, and baptized converts in the "indwelling" of the holy ghost. the church spread rapidly, in response to the work of lewis and her sons. by 1911, presiding elders were appointed.