Church Times - Anglican churches embrace Florida 'revival'

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Anglican churches embrace Florida 'revival'

23/06/2008 12:00:00

BBC Radio Ulster devoted over half an hour of yesterday's Sunday Sequence programme to coverage of a 'healing revival' that is said to have broken out in Belfast. You can read about it on William Crawley's BBC Northern Ireland blog, or listen to the programme via this page - select 'Belfast's healing revival: the debate'.

I have been following reports of this so-called 'revival' on various blogs over the last few months. It seems to all be related to goings-on in Lakeland, Florida, details of which can be found on this website. 'Revivalist Todd Bentley' is the man in charge. The phenomena then spread to Dudley in the West Midlands (website) and to other churches from the charismatic branch of Christianity who are enthusiastic about this sort of thing.

As with the 'Toronto blessing' in the 1990s (See Church Times: After the animal noises, are people feeling sheepish?) there seems to be an emphasis on travelling to the place that the 'revival' is taking place (Florida in this case) and then 'bringing it back' to the folks back home. In addition to healings there have been reports of people being raised from the dead, whilst others are reported to have had debts paid when they have held their paperwork up to the computer screen.

This 'revival' is now beginning to be embraced by Anglican churches. St Andrew's church in Chorleywood is holding 'Fire meetings', whilst John Cole, the leader of the New Wine network has written enthusiastic letters to network members. Blogger Daron Medway has posted the texts of these letters : first epistle, second epistle. New Wine is a significant movement within the Church of England - see for instance this Church Times feature from 2004: On earth as it is in heaven

Not all Anglicans are as enthusiastic as John Cole - see blog posts by Anglican priests Maggi Dawn (An Unequal Blessing) and Doug Chaplain (Still a sceptic for Jesus). Methodist blogger Richard Hall has collected together a number of related videos and bits and pieces. Read Peter Kirk if you are looking for the 'pro-revival' viewpoint.

There have been several news reports about Todd Bentley and the Florida goings-on, although one might imagine that there would be rather more if the healings and raisings-from-the-dead could be verified. On MSNBC: Revivalist claims hundreds of healings, whilst the Charlotte Observer has this interview: Q&A with preacher Todd Bentley. An item in World magazine, a Christian publication, has the title 'Same old scam?'

Todd Bentley is extremely dangerous - see the video and discussion here.

joe | 23/06/2008 14:01:13

very interesting, can't wait to read the linked blogs when I have time later

Jan | 23/06/2008 21:53:37

Dave, even the internetmonk (Michael Spencer), coming out of a Southern Baptist background in Kentucky, said this of Todd Bentley.

3Minute Theologian (Justin Lewis-Anthony) | 27/06/2008 16:50:42

@ Joe
I like Todd Bentley and i like Bill Johnson´s way to support and defend against critics who don´t anything about Todd´s Life.
Watch Bill Johnson on this
Video: How in God's name can you endorse Todd Bentley?Bentley and the Lakeland Revival?" he writes on his website:

florida-revival-videos.blogspot.com | 10/07/2008 02:19:17

Check out my blog where I attempt to tackle Bill Johnson's statement of support for Todd Bentley. Click on my name to see my blog.

Daron Medway | 20/07/2008 21:03:48

Rev Dr Mark Stibbe should declare the millions he is set to make from his Todd Bentley franchaise. Trevor Baker in Dudley where Stibbe endorsed Todd has taken over £1 million and set for £5 million at The NEC in September. Stibbe like Charismatic Anglican leaders in the late 1970s may defect to become one of CP Wagner's 240 Apostles to rule the earth. Todd is one Apostle and June 23 in Lakeland saw the depth of organisation of the Apostolic Alignment publically knighting him. ANGLICANS BEWARE.

James | 22/07/2008 15:54:10

79% of Sunday Express readers voted to keep Todd Bentley out of The UK BUT alas his franchaises are already here making tens of millions and leading millions of souls away from The Trinity and into both Latter Rain herecy (a Cross free Jesus as they reject original sin but believe men are self-perfecting little gods) and Aleister Crowley satanism. On June 23 Todd was told by The Apostolic Alignment he was Branham, he was the hub and stargate to The Third Heaven where with angels he could lead us

James | 22/07/2008 15:59:26

Anglicans observe Rupert and Penny Foxwell and Todd Bentley. Anglican minister quits his Tonbridge Parish, sets up his own Church on The Way church taking many in congregation with him. Todd prophecies to him a cancer free church and golden marriage and huge church growth. Oh dear marriage has gone, church split bitterly, cancer still there. But he is even more tied to his Todd Bentley franchaise earning tens of millions. Anglicans beware of vicars supporting Todd Bentley and Rupert Foxwell.

james | 22/07/2008 16:04:41

The Church Times is to be commended for flagging up this vital debate and area to resarch. For too long a huge highly organised group in The UK and North America have been mobilising to seduce The Trinitarian Church and introduce full on herecy. Todd Bentley ironically is smoking out all the big players as they snatch hastily and greedily at all out victory rather than progress slowly and secretly.
Deuteronomy 13 verse 1 anon tells you. 1 John 2 v 26-27 this is a counterfeit anointing.

James | 22/07/2008 19:40:25