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Your one-stop
resource for accurate information
on the wild and
wooly world of modern religious groups and teachers.
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If this is
your first visit to the Field Guide you will find it important to read
the material in the Introduction section
before continuing your explorations here.
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Who's Who Digest
of the Wild World of Religion
Thumbnail profiles of influential individuals, ministries and websites
in the Wild World of Religion
Go directly to an Alphabetic Index of Profiles
Go directly to the beginning of the main section of Profiles of Individuals
Go directly to the section on Ministries
Go directly to the listing of links to websites which have collections of information and documentation on a wide variety of individuals and groups.
About the Field Guide
This Field Guide is an ongoing project, and keeping up with all of the activity in the Wild World of Religion requires exhaustive research. It will therefore be some time before the complete collection of major profiles of even the most influential groups and teachers will be posted. In the meantime, in the interest of assisting those whose main interest is just "identifying" a variety of individuals and groups, the following collection of over 125 "thumbnail sketches" is offered.
Please Note: This is an "all inclusive" listing, past and present, positive and negative, of individual writers, speakers, teachers, religious personalities, ministries … and their websites … related to modern religious movements. Some are included because of their negative influence on a significant number of people. Others are included because of their positive contribution to sorting through the confusion in the Wild World of Religion. And still others are included just because their names show up frequently in information about modern religious movements, and folks wonder, "Who is that?" Some profiles are just a few sentences. Some are a paragraph or two. A few are even longer. The length is totally idiosyncratic based on how much the Webauthor felt might be interesting and/or helpful as overview information, and does not imply anything in particular about the relative "importance" of the subject of the thumbnail.
Corrections welcome: Careful effort has been made to represent as accurately as possible any biographical information and the actual teachings and policies and practices of the individuals and groups in this collection of information. But in an effort this massive, minor errors are inevitable. When practical, quotations from their own publications or recordings have been provided to substantiate their teachings, and documentation from public records, including news articles, has been provided to substantiate information regarding their activities. Any corrections of fact, with supporting documentation, are welcome and will be incorporated as promptly as possible.
However, no effort has been made to provide a comprehensive overview of all of the teachings or activities of any one person or group. That is beyond the scope of the purpose of this material. Every teacher and group has positive and negative attributes. Any reader who wishes to investigate these matters in more detail is referred to the bibliography section of this Field Guide website. The bibliography includes many books and weblinks to information--pro and con--about most of the entries in this database. It also includes weblinks to the official websites of the individuals and groups whenever available. It is not the purpose of this website to dogmatically impose opinions and evaluations on anyone--the purpose is to call attention to those areas believed to be of serious spiritual concern in the actions or words of these teachers, groups and movements. It is left to the reader to evaluate the evidence presented and come to their own conclusions.
Suggestions for more individuals, ministries and websites to include in this listing are welcomed.
Please Note:
Some thumbnails include reference to other individuals who have their own entry in these listings. Their names will be clickable, to take you to their listing.
If a longer profile is currently available in another section of the Field Guide for any of the individuals listed, their name next to their thumbnail will be clickable, to take you to that profile. Many more of those men and women listed here eventually will be the subjects of more extensive profiles elsewhere in the Guide.
Some groups, movements and ideas referenced in some of the thumbnails have their own profile in the Field Guide, and thus their names will also be clickable to take you to the relevant material.
Quick Reference Index of Individual Names
Click on an underlined name to go to the thumbnail profile below for that person.
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [V] [W]
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [V] [W]
Names that are underlined in the list at the left below can be clicked to go to more extensive profiles elsewhere in the Field Guide. Within the profiles, terms or names underlined can be clicked to go to entries elsewhere. To return to the same spot in the Who's Who Guide after going to look at such links, just use the BACK Arrow on your browser.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING LINKS:
Some profiles below contain links to other websites which may contain material of interest regarding the profiled individuals. Inclusion of these links should not be considered "endorsement" of all of the opinions, conclusions and doctrinal positions of the authors of those websites. They are included because they do contain credible documentation on the facts regarding the profiled individuals. Readers are encouraged to consider carefully the documentation and come to their own informed conclusions, based on their own understanding of Biblical doctrine and principles.
Photos: You can click on the
icon next to any profile for a link to a picture elsewhere on the Web of the individual,
Use the BACK Arrow on your web browser
to return to the same spot on this page after viewing the picture.Asa Alonzo Allen (1911-1970). Prominent, flamboyant and controversial Pentecostal "healing evangelist" of the 1940s—1960s. Allen made many outrageous, unsubstantiated claims of miracles.
From The Faith Healers by James Randi
On June 14, 1970, listeners in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines were hearing a recorded message from A. A. Allen on his radio program saying: "This is Brother Allen in person. Numbers of friends of mine have been inquiring about reports they have heard concerning me that are not true. People as well as some preachers from pulpits are announcing that I am dead. Do I sound like a dead man? My friends, I am not even sick! Only a moment ago I made a reservation to fly into our current campaign. I'll see you there and make the devil a liar." At that moment, at the Jack Tar Hotel in San Francisco, police were removing A. A. Allen's body from a room strewn with pills and empty liquor bottles. The man who had once said that "the beer bottle and gin bucket" should have been on his family coat of arms was dead at 59 from what was said to be a heart attack but was in reality liver failure brought about by acute alcoholism. (p.88)
Mark John Allen aka John Allen
Former member of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong. Allen believes himself to be the inheritor of the apostolic mantle of Herbert Armstrong, and thus God's primary mouthpiece on earth today, doing "the Work of Elijah." He had a number of dreams and visions he is convinced verify this calling, but doesn't seem to have gathered many supporters for his megalomania. He has attempted to gather supporters via the Internet for an attempt through the courts to take back the headquarters of the Worldwide Church of God from Armstrong's legal successors.
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Argentinian revival leader whose massive Charismatic healing/evangelistic campaigns in South America are said to have reached many millions since his first such meeting in 1982. Annacondia specializes in bombastic verbal attacks on Satan and demons as part of what is termed "spiritual warfare." And he claims huge numbers of people attending his campaigns are healed and delivered from demons.
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Radio and television evangelist, son of Herbert W Armstrong. Garner Ted Armstrong was former chief spokesman on the media outreaches of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). He founded the Church of God, International (CGI) after being expelled from the WCG in 1978 during a leadership power struggle in that organization. He later founded the Intercontinental Church of God (ICG) and the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association after being expelled from the CGI in 1998 as a result of a highly-publicized sex scandal. Armstrong is the self-proclaimed "Ezekiel Watchman" … main prophetic spokesman for God on earth today. Died in fall 2003.
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Deceased founder of the Worldwide Church of God (originally the Radio Church of God), the Plain Truth magazine and the World Tomorrow radio and TV programs. During his lifetime, Armstrong was the self-proclaimed "Apostle" of the "only true church on earth today." Herbert Armsrong was father of television and radio evangelist Garner Ted Armstrong.
(Click on Herbert Armstrong's name above to go to a more extensive profile.)
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Pastor of the Charismatic Toronto Airport Vineyard Church, now called the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF), in 1993 when the so-called "Toronto Blessing" revival broke out in that congregation. The Association of Vineyard Churches expelled the congregation in 1996, and Arnott now pastors the TACF as an independent fellowship.
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Word Faith teacher and author, frequent guest on TBN. Avanzini specializes in grandiose promises of financial prosperity. He is well-known for promoting the "hundred-fold blessing" gimmick for fund-raising.
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One of the founders of the controversial so-called "Shepherding Movement" branch of the Charismatic renewal of the 1970s, along with Bob Mumford, Charles Simpson, Derek Prince, and Ern Baxter. Their Christian Growth Ministries, headquarted in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, published a monthly magazine called New Wine, with Basham as editor.
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Ern Baxter
(photo with William Branham on left, Ern Baxter on right)
One of the founders of the controversial so-called "Shepherding Movement" of the Charismatic renewal of the 1970s, along with Bob Mumford, Charles Simpson, Derek Prince, and Don Basham.
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Pastor of the former Kansas City Fellowship—now Metro Vineyard of Kansas City—home of the "Kansas City Prophets" group. Bickle has been considered by many to hold the office of "modern prophet" and thus regularly receive direct revelations from God, along with Paul Cain, John Paul Jackson and Bob Jones (not the same Bob Jones that founded conservative Bob Jones University.)
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German healing evangelist who specializes in huge outdoor mass campaigns in Africa, sometimes preaching to audiences of one million or more. Bonnke is founder of the Christ for All Nations ministry. He mMakes spectacular but usually unsubstantiated claims for astounding healings at his meetings.
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(1909-1965) One of the most influential "healing evangelists" in history. Branham's healing crusade career from 1946 until his death in 1965 was marked by grandiose claims by his supporters and considerable skepticism from his detractors. A number of prominent modern Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders still praise his ministry, and a number of doctrinal perspectives and methods in such circles can be traced to his influence.
(Click on Branham's name above for a longer profile elsewhere in the Field Guide.)
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Founder of Stone Kingdom Ministries. Bruggeman is a prominent "Christian Identity" ("White Christians are the True Israelites") movement writer and speaker. Although there is no current active website for Bruggeman or his ministry, Bruggeman's name shows up on a number of websites announcing his appearance as a guest speaker at a number of events along with a variety of speakers from White Supremacy circles. And his books are popular in the "for sale" section of many websites connected with the KKK, various "Patriot" and militia groups, the Nazi Party, and so on.
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One of the "Kansas City Prophets" group. Cain has been considered by many to hold the office of "modern prophet" and thus regularly receive direct revelations from God, along with Mike Bickle, John Paul Jackson and Bob Jones (not the same Bob Jones that founded conservative Bob Jones University.)
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Long-time religious radio broadcaster, founder of the Family Radio network (now officially called Family Stations, Inc.).
Official bio from a Family Radio-affiliated website:
http://www.timehasanend.org/bio/haroldcamping_bio.html
Harold Egbert Camping received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 1942. He and his family were lifelong members the Christian Reformed Church until the year 1988. He served there as an Elder and Bible teacher for many years. Harold Camping earned his living from his own construction business, which he began shortly after the end of World War II.
In 1958 he, together with two others, formed the non-profit ministry of Family Stations, Inc. (Family Radio - a Christian educational network) in which he has served as President. Eventually Harold Camping sold his business and became a full-time volunteer employer of Family Radio serving as President and as General Manager.Camping is most famous in religious circles for two things: (1) A failed dogmatic teaching, promoted through his radio ministry and through his book 1994?, that Christ would return in 1994. (2) His current teaching, promoted bombastically by him since about 2002, that every single local church congregation on Earth has been abandoned by God, and that thus all true believers need to remove themselves from any church affiliation at all, as well as abandon any thought of taking part in baptisms or communion activities. At one point he recommended that they form “home fellowship groups” with likeminded believers, with no leadership of any kind (such as pastors, deacons, or elders) recognized. (While, of course, he strongly suggested that they continue to look to his teachings and broadcasts on Family Radio as authoritative.) But he now evidently recommends even against that. Individuals are to just worship privately at home—while, of course, still continuing to look to his teachings and broadcasts as their source of spiritual understanding. He has readjusted his speculation on the timing of the return of Christ (and has toned down the absolute dogmatism just a tiny bit) a number of times. He currently says:
“Surely, we must take into very serious consideration the likelihood that A.D. 2011 may be the year that ends this world's existence.”
http://www.timehasanend.org/public/en_time_has_an_end_cont.html
The Family Radio network was extremely popular for years with religious leaders and laymen from a wide variety of conservative Christian denominations, particularly those which considered their roots as being in the “Reform movement.” Thus he had a wide audience for his increasingly radical pronouncements for a time, until many leaders and teachers from throughout these circles became alarmed and began warning against those pronouncements. It is unclear how many people are committed supporters of his teachings, but it would likely not be an over-estimation to suggest the number may be at least in the tens of thousands.
An extensive overview of Camping’s ministry, with links to many articles regarding his strange teachings, is at:
http://familyradioiswrong.com/
A 1994 review of the book 1994? and evaluation of its impact on the Family Radio ministry, from the Christian Research Journal is available at:
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0152a.html
Excerpt:
California-based Family Radio, Inc., a worldwide conglomerate of 38 radio stations broadcasting a mostly conservative Christian viewpoint, is in danger of self-destructing, according to high-level sources within the ministry.
The problem centers on Harold Camping -- Family Radio's president and the moderator of its popular Open Forum call-in radio program -- and on his explosively controversial 562-page book, 1994? In it Camping proclaims that Jesus Christ will return in September of 1994. "No book ever written is as audacious or bold as one that claims to predict the timing of the end of the world," he writes, "and that is precisely what this book presumes to do."
Camping is causing problems for the organization that go far beyond general discomfort with the book. Key ministry officials, who requested anonymity, told the JOURNAL that he has used the network to promote 1994? without the authorization of Family Radio's board of directors. "We've had battles with him before, during and after this book came out," offers a ministry insider, "and Harold just won't listen. He considers himself a modern-day Jonah and feels he has to get his message of Christ's return in 1994 out to everyone, especially those who are reached by Family Radio."
Insiders claim that the contention among Camping, his nationwide staff of over 400, and his board is undermining the entire ministry. "Everyone is in turmoil about his 1994 stand," says the high-ranking staff member. "Instead of working for the cause of Christ worldwide, we're merely taking sides in a battle that will divide us -- and ultimately defeat us. Harold's position on end-time events is his own business, but he's brought all of us into this by using Family Radio as his own personal forum to promote his book. He uses Open Forum to talk about 1994? and has even gone so far as to counsel people who call in not to make any long-term plans because Jesus is coming back next year.
"We told him not to do that anymore," he sighs, "but he's a loose cannon."
See the link above for the full article.
For what may be the most complete overview and evaluation of Camping’s ministry and teachings available, see Dangerous Airwaves, a book by Dr. James R. White:
Long-time, prolific Word Faith ("positive confession," "health, wealth and prosperity") writer and speaker. Capps' books and pamphlets and taped messages on the fundamentals of the Word Faith doctrines are extensively imitated—almost to the point of plagiarism—by many younger Word Faith writers, teachers and preachers.
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Pentecostal evangelist active since the 1950s. Cerullo is part of the Healing Ministries movement and the Word Faith movement.
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Part of the Modern Apostles and Prophets movement, viewed by many as one of the modern Apostles. Chavda is active in the Toronto Blessing movement and other manifestations of the so-called Third Wave of the Charismatic renewal. Originally from India, he is now an American citizen.
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Pastor of "the world's largest church" that is a single congregation, not a denomination. Korean Yonggi Cho (who changed his name to David in recent years for some obscure reason) heads the Charismatic Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul that claims to have over 1 million people in regular attendance. Cho teaches an extreme occultic form of Word Faith doctrines, including the concept that if someone has an adequate "positive confession," their words literally enter into the "Heavenly Holy of Holies" and can emerge manifested as tangible objects that the believer is "naming and claiming."
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Popular prophecy pundit of the End Times Prophecy movement. Church spreads his theories via his Prophecy in the News TV show and numerous books. He is most famous for his 1986 book Hidden Prophecies in the Psalms, which alleges that the Psalms contain a hidden prophetic guide to the Twentieth Century. In other words, something in Psalm 1 applied to the events of 1901, Psalm 86 applied to 1986 and so on. Using utterly speculative and fanciful interpretations of vague passages, he strongly hinted in the first edition of his book that 1988 would be the year of the pre-tribulation rapture, followed by the Tribulation for 1989-1994, and the return of Christ in 1995. When none of this panned out, it didn't stop him, he just re-interpreted the vague passages to imply what did happen in those years. And he still continues to this day using his Nostradamian-style gimmick to sell books, gather and keep a TV audience, and garner invitations to speak at prophecy seminars and conventions. There's no accounting for the gullibility of folks who are desperate for someone to tell them "secret things."
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Senior Pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of St. Louis, Missouri. Clark started a "holy laughter" revival at his home church after attending a 1993 meeting featuring Rodney Howard-Browne at Kenneth Hagin's Rhema Bible Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was invited by John Arnott, pastor of the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church to conduct a four day conference at the Toronto church starting January 20,1994. Clark's appearance triggered the beginning of what came to be known as the "Toronto Blessing" revival. As a result, Clark and his Global Awakening team are regularly invited to conduct or participate in revivals and revival training sessions all over the world to promote the same kind of activity as that in Toronto.
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(1918-1957) One of the most well-known "healing evangelists" of the 1950s. Coe was part of the Healing Ministries movement. He was described in The Century of the Holy Spirit by Vinson Synan as "bold and flamboyant" and as having "pushed claims of divine healing to the uttermost boundaries."
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(d. 2001) Founder of the Church of God, the Eternal (COGTE), a split-off group from the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert Armstrong. Cole's family had been supporters of Armstrong since the 1930s, and he was one of the first students at Armstrong's Ambassador College in 1947. At one time an influential player in the leadership of the WCG, Cole left the group in 1975 and started the COGTE over what he believed to be "watering down true doctrine" by Armstrong. The doctrines in question were particularly the issue of divorce and remarriage, and the setting of the proper date for the church to observe the Holy Day of Pentecost.
Strangely enough, for the next 25 years, until his death, Cole preached that Armstrong was divinely chosen by God to restore truth to the Church that had been lost since the first century. And he taught that all the doctrines Armstrong had taught in his early years were absolutely binding on members of the COGTE, because they had been divinely inspired by God to Armstrong. Yet he did not believe that Armstrong had any authority to change his mind on any doctrine, and thus no one had the right to accept any later changes to earlier church doctrine.[ Return to alphabetic index ]
Former long-time minister of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert Armstrong. Abandoned his faith in Jesus as Savior in the 1990s and wrote a book titled Mystery Babylon and the Lost Ten Tribes in about 1996 with the specific aim of undermining the validity of the New Testament writings. Withdrew distribution of the book in 2000 because he had become rabidly anti-semitic, and decided to throw all his effort into combating what he perceived as the threat of the Jews to civilization; felt that even though the Christian religion was in error, it was preferable to Judaism. Has since changed his mind and returned to anti-Christian efforts.
(Click on Conder's name above for more details.)
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Pentecostal/Charismatic televangelist and author. Most currently influential protégé of the teachings of Word Faith Movement pioneer Kenneth Hagin. Studied at Oral Roberts' Oral Roberts University (ORU). Spreads his name it and claim it doctrines via his Believer's Voice of Victory program, sharing the speaking on the program with wife Gloria Copeland.
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Former member of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong. Left the WCG in 1979, founded his own small denomination called the Biblical Church of God. Left that group over leadership disputes in 1982 and founded the Christian Biblical Church of God. While not claiming, as many former WCG members who started their own groups have, to be God's Only Spokesman on Earth, Coulter does never the less declare his own teachings on certain matters to be absolutely binding on believers, insisting they represent the only correct way to interpret the scriptures to determine the will of God. Anyone teaching anything even slightly different on some such matters has been labeled by one of Coulter's closest representatives in the past as a "minister of Satan." This particularly applies to the details of how and when--and why--the church's observance of the Passover should be conducted. That doctrinal understanding is considered so significant that Coulter wrote a 450 page book just on the one topic. Coulter, who has a BA in theology from the now-defunct Ambassador College of the Worldwide Church of God, has produced his own personal translation of the of the Bible. From the perspective of some of his critics, the volume is not a truly neutral, scholarly work, but an idiosyncratic effort which in places adjusts the wording of the scriptures to match up with Coulter's own theology. This version of the Bible has the books of the Old and New Testament rearranged into what Coulter believes to be the only "true" order in which they should be arranged. And he is adamant that the issue of ordering the books is extremely significant. Coulter's Bible is bound with an extensive commentary that further reinforces his own idiosyncratic interpretations. While this is a legitimate method of spreading his teachings, it may be useful for any purchasers to realize that they are getting a very narrow perspective of one man. That perspective is so narrow that a large proportion of those with whom he even shares a significant amount of doctrinal agreement find his reasonings on a number of topics--topics he considers vital to an adequate understanding of the Gospel--totally unpersuasive.
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Australian member for a short time of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong. Left and founded, along with a small group of like-minded people, a ministry called the Christian Churches of God with headquarters in Australia. The ministry of the organization is primarily conducted through a large Internet site that features a very large collection of Cox's writings, along with some writings of other CCG authors. The CCG does not release to the public any figures regarding the number of individuals considered "members." So, although the traffic on the website does indicate a wide interest in the CCG writings, it is not clear if there are hundreds or thousands who are directly affiliated with the organization around the world. Cox has promoted the CCG as the only Sabbatarian group that holds to the "true" first century teachings—in particular a "monotheistic" view of God which insists that Jesus, although now Savior and Messiah, is not in any sense divine, but rather an inferior, created being, a brother to Satan. The CCG enforces an exclusivist policy limiting fellowship, including participation in the annual bread and wine service connected with the observance of Passover, to those who affirm agreement with the unique doctrinal perspectives of the CCG in key matters, as represented in the writings of Cox and other CCG writers. This is a policy typical of a number of WCG split-off groups, which do not accept other Sabbatarians with similar beliefs and background into full fellowship without full agreement with their own unique doctrinal distinctives.
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Husband and wife founders of the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN), which is the primary media outlet for most of the preachers, teachers and evangelists of the Word Faith Movement.
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Former member of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong, writer at one time for Armstrong's ministry. Was disfellowshipped in the 1980s, and began Triumph Prophetic Ministries (now referred to on the Triumph website as Triumph Prophetic Ministries Church of God) in 1987. Produces Prophecy Flash newsletter/magazine. Has a small following of regular supporters, primarily drawn from ex-members of the WCG or its offshoots, who look to him as their religious leader/guru. Sample from a 2000 Prophecy Flash letter to the editor:
"Thank you for the PF and the TAPES!! I am so greedy, it took me only 3 days to listen to your 12 Tapes! As you may have noticed -- I get very nervous when your material is DELAYED, and if by a very BAD CHANCE --- I don't get it AT ALL -- I go mad!! It's the price you have to pay for being so VITALLY INDISPENSABLE in our life, Dear Bill!! So, please make a careful note in your computer of my new order if you please . . . .
"Your impatient sister in Yeshua! God Bless you!
"P.S. . . . I stick closely to your narrow path!
-- France
Guru Bill spreads his teachings primarily through the magazine, articles and sermon/teaching tapes, as well as the Triumph website. Accepts a certain amount of Hebrew Roots/ Jewish custom emphasis, including wearing a Jewish-style prayer shawl. Frequently uses a bombastic, aggressive, dogmatic, condescending style even when dealing with supporters. Specializes particularly in prophetic end times speculations and in promoting his own idiosyncratic take on obscure Bible points. In February 1999 he speculated in Prophecy Flash that Bill Clinton was the Beast of Revelation. In April 2001 he speculated that Ariel Sharon was the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies of a latter-day "Zerubbabel," who would oversee the rebuilding of the Temple. He is also currently speculating that the seven year Tribulation started in 2001, and will end in 2007 with the Return of Christ.
One of his idiosyncratic interpretations of non-prophetic Bible topics includes his teaching that Jesus was not crucified in the same 24 hour period of his arrest by the Romans. Rather, Bill is sure that Jesus was subject to beating by the guards for almost a day, and wasn't crucified until the following day. He feels this explanation resolves some of the problems of harmonization of the events of the crucifixion week presented by the various Gospel accounts, even though it is impossible to "read into" the straightforward sequence of events in the Gospel accounts this speculative extra day.
Bill Dankenbring does not openly label himself as God's Only Mouthpiece on Earth—However … a loyal supporter writing to the Prophecy Flash in the mid-1990s noted that he had no one else in his local area who adhered closely to Dankenbring's teachings. He wondered if it would be OK to look for Christian fellowship with others who at least held similar beliefs, particularly Sabbath and Holy Day observance. Dankenbring's answer was NO. It would be best not to risk being tainted by those who didn't understand what the reader understood from studying under him. So for fellowship on Sabbath, he literally suggested such folks ought to "fellowship" with Dankenbring's tapes! This is surprisingly reminiscent of Herbert Armstrong. When asked a similar question in the 1960s, Armstrong forbade his followers from either gathering in informal fellowship and Bible Study without a minister, or attending any other kind of church. He rather recommended that those who could not fellowship with an official Radio Church of God congregation endorsed by Armstrong in their own area for Sabbath worship services should sit respectfully in front of their radio on the Sabbath and listen to the World Tomorrow Broadcast.
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(1800-1882) Key leader in the Brethren movement of the 1800s. Darby was a prolific writer whose views on a number of doctrinal issues and prophetic speculations had a wide impact outside the Brethren groups.
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Founder of an independent teaching ministry, Christian Educational Ministries, which sponsors Dart's national radio program Born to Win, and makes available a variety of teaching materials including inspirational and Bible Study tapes, printed Christian educational materials for children and teens, and booklets and articles on numerous topics. Dart was formerly affiliated with the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert Armstrong, but severed that affiliation in 1978. He then worked for a number of years with Armstrong's son Garner Ted Armstrong in his Church of God, International (CGI) organization. He left the CGI in 1995 shortly after revelations of the sex scandal involving Armstrong that year. Dart has gotten away from the highly speculative prophetic style and many of the idiosyncratic doctrines of his former affiliations with the Armstrongs, and focuses primarily on teachings related to systematic Bible Study, spiritual growth of the individual, and Christian daily living . CEM webpage is at http://www.borntowin.net/
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Writer and conference speaker who extensively promotes the Modern Apostles and Prophets movement. Professor in the Department of Old Testament Exegesis and Semitic Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary from 1976-1988. Associate Pastor at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Anaheim, California, 1988-1992. Currently Senior Pastor at Trinity Fellowship Church, Amarillo, Texas. Executive Director of Covenant Ministries International (CMI). CMI is "an organization that connects apostolic church networks and provides resources and training for the apostolic churches." ("Apostolic churches" seems to be a term for those groups that recognize a circle of alleged modern apostles and prophets.) Also head of Evangelical Foundation Ministries, Inc. Conducts a conference ministry with Paul Cain, Mike Bickle and Rick Joyner. Two significant books he has authored: Surprised by the Power of the Spirit and Surprised by the Voice of God.
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Author of a 1930s book called History of the True Church, along with co-author Andrew Dugger. Both were affiliated with the Church of God, Seventh Day (COG7) at the time, and the book was an attempt to create an unbroken historical record of Sabbatarians backward in time to the first century. The Worldwide Church of God under Herbert Armstrong (called the Radio Church of God at the time) used the material in the book as the primary source for their own booklet with a similar goal, titled A True History of the True Church. More recent investigation into the material in the Dugger and Dodd book has shown much of the "historical research" to be very shoddy, and their conclusions to be poorly reasoned.
Dodd began his own ministry in 1937 with publication of a magazine called The Faith at Salem, W. Virginia. The original purpose of the magazine was to promote observance of the annual Biblical Holy Days among those affiliated with the Church of God, Seventh Day. In 1938 he organized the Faith Bible and Tract Society. Dodd eventually accepted the so-called Sacred Name doctrine, the requirement of believers to use the Hebrew names of deity rather than the English words God and Jesus. He left the Church of God movement and was instrumental in the development of a loose association of independent Sacred Name groups which usually adopted the name Assemblies of Yahweh. After his death, publication of the magazine was continued by various Sacred Name assemblies. It has been published since 1969 by a group in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, which has been meeting continuously as a Sacred Name group since 1939. The Faith Bible and Tract Society was continued by Dodd's family.
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(1847-1907) Early forerunner of the Healing Ministries movement. Born in Scotland, Dowie lived as a youth and young adult in Australia, and eventually moved to America. He began a ministry in Australia in1875 based on the "guaranteed healing in the atonement" theory. He moved to US in 1888 and set up healing meetings across the street from the Chicago World's Fair in 1890 to draw attention to his ministry.
Dowie insisted his followers totally reject medical treatment of any kind, considering drugs and doctors to be of the Devil. His own daughter died as a result of untreated severe burns—Dowie had even forbidden anyone to try to soothe the pain of the injuries with Vaseline. He founded the Christian Catholic Church in Chicago and produced a magazine called Leaves of Healing that had a wide influence. He created his own closed society in 1900 of over 6000 residents called City of Zion on the lakefront near Chicago, that he ruled with dictatorial authority. Although not a Pentecostal himself, many men and women who were later very influential in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements were at one time a part of Zion City, including several of the founders of the Assemblies of God denomination. Dowie claimed in 1901 to be "Elijah the Restorer," and in 1904 to be the "divinely commissioned first apostle of a renewed End Times Church." Many supporters did not accept this new revelation, and his ministry went downhill from that point, with the City of Zion leaders eventually voting him out of his leadership role there. Dowie was accused of sexual improprieties late in life, suffered a stroke, his City went bankrupt, and he spent his final months of life nearly totally despondent. The city did eventually recover, and is now just a regular small suburb of Chicago, with population of about 20,000.
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Author of a 1930s book called History of the True Church, along with co-author C. O. Dodd. Both were affiliated with the Church of God, Seventh Day (COG7) at the time, and the book was an attempt to create an unbroken historical record of Sabbatarians backward in time to the first century. The Worldwide Church of God under Herbert Armstrong (called the Radio Church of God at the time) used the material in the book as the primary source for their own booklet with a similar goal, titled A True History of the True Church. More recent investigation into the material in the Dugger and Dodd book has shown much of the "historical research" to be very shoddy, and their conclusions to be poorly reasoned.
Dugger, an elder in the Church of God, Seventh Day. Although he agreed in principle with some of the same doctrinal positions of C.O. Dodd, including observance of the annual Holy Days and use of the Sacred Name, Dugger did not leave the COG7 in the 1930s as did Dodd. However, he later split with the organization over non-doctrinal issues, and because of his particular view of prophetic speculation. In the 1950s he established his own ministry with headquarters in Jerusalem, and began publication of The Mount Zion Reporter in 1953. After his death in 1975, some of the members of his family continued his ministry, which goes under various names, including Church of God (Jerusalem), Congregation of Elohim, and Family of Elohim.
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Word Faith television preacher and conference speaker. Founder of Jesse DuPlantis Ministries with a weekly television show of his own on TBN, and guest speaking spots on many TBN specials, especially the fund raising telethons. Best known for his almost non-stop huge grin and hyperactivity in delivery, using corny jokes to make his points. Topic of messages is almost unrelentedly the "prosperity gospel."
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Founders of the controversial Growing Kids God's Way ministry, which includes special programs for teaching parents of infants to teens the Ezzo's own idiosyncratic childrearing methods. Particularly of concern to their critics are their recommendations for feeding infants. They insist that even the tiniest breast-feeding infants should be put on a rigid schedule of four-hour feedings or the like. There are numerous reports giving evidence that this regimen has led to both breastfeeding failure on the part of some mothers, and serious nutritional deficiencies in some infants. Critics also claim that the Ezzos have refused to address legitimate concerns brought to their attention regarding various aspects of their training materials. Extensive details on the controversy can be seen at http://www.ezzo.info
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Former member of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong. Flurry was founder, after Armstrong's death, of a rival organization to the WCG called the Philadelphia Church of God (PCG). He claims to be the spiritual successor to Herbert Armstrong as head of the Only True Church of God on Earth. And he has gathered a fairly large following from among those former WCG members who believed that Armstrong was used by God to "restore the Truth" to the "Church in the End Time." Many such individuals seem to believe that the PCG adheres most closely of all the major exWCG splits to the original doctrines and practices of Herbert Armstrong. This perception is disputed by followers from other WCG split-off groups, who believe their own chosen guru is more faithful to Amrstrong's teachings. This is particularly true regarding the topic of prophetic speculation. Flurry has changed a number of Armstrong's teachings in this area. For instance, Armstrong had insisted that there were no actual "prophets" in the modern era of the Church, and would be none. (Armstrong had instead styled himself as an Endtime "Apostle.") According to some observers, Flurry has evidently attempted to distract his followers from this emphasis in some of Armstrong's writings by selective editing of the texts of Armstrong's writings that are reprinted by the PCG. The reason for this is that Flurry has adamantly identified himself as the one and only prophet of modern times.
Flurry publishes the full-color Philadelphia Trumpet magazine, a clone of the Plain Truth magazine at its height of polished attractiveness. He has a TV program modeled after Armstrong's World Tomorrow program. He has even attempted to create in Tulsa a miniature version of Armstrong's Ambassador College, complete with a scaled-down version of Armstrong's Ambassador Auditorium and its popular concert series
The PCG for some time re-published Armstrong's major full-length book, Mystery of the Ages, until the WCG won a copyright infringement judgment against them. The PCG later paid the WCG 3 million dollars for the publication rights to all of Armstrong's major writings. The PCG is the most secretive, and the most worrisome of the main splits from the WCG in the eyes of people who have family members within the PCG. Flurry runs the organization in a totally dictatorial way and has implied strongly to members that they may soon leave for "a place of safety" if the Great Tribulation appears about to begin in Flurry's estimation. Flurry currently demands that his members cut themselves off totally from all family members, including parents and children, who were ever a part of the WCG or the PCG but who are not now loyal members of the PCG. This has caused great distress in many families, with even aged and dying parents separated from their loved ones.
A helpful overview of Flurry's ministry with links to other commentary and documentation is available at:
The most recent information about activities within the group can be seen at
http://www.exitsupportnetwork.com/mike_ep/letters/ltrspcg06.htm
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(l920-l984) Founder of the Faith Assembly in northern Indiana and its well-known meeting hall which he gave the name "Glory Barn." Freeman taught and enforced among his followers one of the most radical positions in the Healing Ministries movement: that healing was "guaranteed in the atonement," it is always God's will to heal, and that any acceptance of any human aid to healing would be evidence that one did not trust God. He embraced the radical healing position in the 1960s, but was, prior to that, a respected professor of Old Testament at Grace Theological Seminary, author of a widely-accepted text, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets published by the Moody Bible Institute
Freeman's radical healing position led to over 90 deaths, many of them children, in the local congregation which investigation indicated would not have occurred with proper medical attention, many from simple ailments.
John MacArthur wrote regarding Hobart's group in Charismatic Chaos (Chapter 9, available on the Internet):
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/chaos9.htm
After a 15 year old girl whose parents belong to Faith Assembly, died of a medically treatable malady, the parents were convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to ten years in prison. Freeman himself was charged with aiding and inducing reckless homicide in the case. Shortly afterward, on December 8, 1984, Freeman himself died, interestingly enough of pneumonia and heart failure complicated by a severely ulcerated leg.
Hobart Freeman's theology did not allow him to acknowledge that polio had left one of his legs disfigured and lame. He said, in spite of the obvious, "I have my healing." And that is all he would say when anyone pointed out the rather conspicuous inconsistency between his physical disabilities and his theology. Ultimately, his refusal to acknowledge his infirmities cost him his life. He had dutifully, according to his own theology, refused all medical treatment for the maladies that were killing him, and medical science could easily have prolonged his life, but in the end he was a victim of his own teaching.
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One of the primary leaders of the "Argentine Renewal/Revival." Friedzon was influenced in the early part of his public ministry by the work of fellow Argentinian Carlos Annacondia. He entered a new phase after exposure to Benny Hinn's Good Morning Holy Spirit book and subsequent meetings in 1992 with Hinn during a visit to America to attend Hinn crusades. Shortly thereafter Friedzon led his Argentine congregation in experiencing the kind of extravagant displays of alleged supernatural manifestations that later became identified by name as the Toronto Blessing. This catapulted him to a career in large urban mass evangelism crusades where these manifestations became the norm. It was at a Claudio Friedzon meeting in Argentina in late 1993 that Friedzon prayed over Toronto Airport Vineyard pastor John Arnott and his wife. Their reaction to the experience led directly to the initiation in January, 1994, of the "revival" in their own church back in Canada and thus the actual beginning of the Toronto Blessing Movement.
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One of the earliest and most influential leaders in the white racist Identity movement. Gayman founded the Church of Israel in 1972, with headquarters in Missouri. He added the observance of the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days of Leviticus to the church's doctrines in the 1990s. He is author of a number of books and articles on the Serpent's Seed/Satan's Seed doctrine which are disseminated widely in racist circles. Gayman teaches that the modern Jews are actually the descendants of a sexual liaison between Eve and "the serpent" in the Garden of Eden, in which Satan—not Adam—begat Cain. And he teaches that only genetically pure, white Caucasian people—descendants of Adam's son Seth—are made in God's image, and that thus only they can be in covenant with God, and inherit eternal spiritual salvation as His sons and daughters. All non-whites are descended from a pre-Adamic creation by God, and are referred to in the book of Genesis as "beasts of the field."
An overview of the history of his organization and its white extremist affiliations can be seen at:
http://www.adl.org/learn/Ext_US/gayman.asp?xpicked=2&item=gayman
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Founder of the Institute for Basic Life Principles (IBLP), the Advanced Training Institute (ATI) and creator of the materials used for the Character First! CF! programs being used by various schools, businesses and communities throughout the US and other countries. Through the IBLP Gothard offers seminars on child rearing and family living, including a series called "Basic Youth Conflicts" regarding parenting teenagers. ATI is a comprehensive homeschool program for families, CF! uses character training and success motivation material from the ATI curriculum , after purging it of references to God and the Bible. This program is offered to cities, businesses, schools and other groups as being a totally secular program, and all references to its connection to the Gothard ministries have been obscured. Gothard's methods and teachings have come under close scrutiny and criticism in recent years. A growing number of individuals and families which formerly looked to Gothard as somewhat of a spiritual guru have become disillusioned and disenchanted with him and his ministries, and some are actively seeking to publicize their concerns.
The most extensive and well-documented material covering the areas of concern about Gothard's ministry is that available on the Midwest Christian Outreach (MCO) website:
And the definitive book on the topic is Bill Gothard--A Matter of Basic Principles, an excellent investigative report by MCO affiliates Don and Joy Veinot and Ron Henzel. A description and ordering information is at:
http://www.midwestoutreach.org/02-Information/01-AvailableResources/GothardBookEndorsements.html
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(Born 1940) Founder and pastor of the 15,000+ member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. President of Global Evangelism Television, which broadcasts his daily and weekly programs on television and radio throughout the United States and around the world. Author of a series of popular books on End Times prophecy.
His broadcast, John Hagee Ministries, is seen twice daily on TBN (Trinity Broadcast Network) and is carried in America on 110 full power TV stations and on the Inspirational Network (INSP), and from coast to coast in Canada on the Vision Network (VN). Hagee's specific emphasis on his program and in the many books he has written for the "popular Christian market" is his own idiosyncratic take on End Times Prophecy, making him a significant player in the End Times Prophecy movement.
Often referred to on TV and in complementary articles as "Dr. Hagee," this is evidently because he holds a 1989 "honorary" doctorate from Oral Roberts University (ORU) (1989). His theological training was from Southwestern Bible Institute near Dallas. Although he does not come across as particularly "Charismatic" in his preaching, Hagee is firmly within the Charismatic Word Faith camp, and associates and cooperates freely with such hyper-charismatic personalities as Benny Hinn and the other TBN regulars.
Excerpts from one highly critical website called "The Other Gospel of John Hagee":
http://www.pfo.org/jonhagee.htm
Most people who see and hear the Rev. John C. Hagee are impressed. He is rotund, strident, authoritative (and could well pass for Rush Limbaugh’s older and more serious brother). His delivery alone gives the impression of one who really knows what he is talking about. However, careful evaluation of the teachings of Hagee, pastor at the San Antonio-based Cornerstone Church, reveals false teaching and a defective view of a basic and essential issue regarding salvation and the Gospel. Hagee preaches another way of salvation for the Jew, which is in direct violation of Paul’s warnings in Galatians 1:6-9.
This theological concept, which has many forms, is primarily referred to as the "Two Covenant" or "Dual Covenant" theory.
Hagee’s web site tells us that his "vision is for world evangelism. The burning passion of his heart is to win the lost to Jesus Christ in America and around the world." That statement is not altogether true since he will not evangelize Jews and teaches salvation on another basis than the Gospel for the Jewish people.
Hagee has become extremely popular since the 1987 dedication of his Cornerstone Church (an event that featured an appearance and a blessing from W.A. Criswell, then pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas) and because of the daily programs from Global Evangelism Television of which he is president. His best-selling books have also made him a celebrity. He associates with the likes of Benny Hinn and appears with him from time to time at crusades and other Charismatic congresses.
…That there are moral and ethical concerns with Hagee and a serious question as to his being biblically qualified as a pastor and teacher are not the main issues of this article. However, one very important factor should be noted. The Liberty Flame reported in May 1994 that during the time when Hagee was serving the Charismatic congregation at Trinity Church (1976) in San Antonio, he divorced his wife, resigned and married a young woman in the congregation, Diana Castro. Custody of Hagee’s two children by his ex-wife, Martha, went to her.
In a letter to the church, Hagee admitted immorality, which later became part of the court records in the custody battle. Martha later also remarried and started another family. Not surprisingly, there is a hiatus from 1976 to 1987 left out of Hagee’s web site biography.
…The Christian Research Institute panned Hagee’s 1996 book, Beginning of the End, not only for its premise that Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination triggered prophetic events and set the prophetic clock ticking somehow but because he falsely predicted that Shimon Peres would succeed Rabin. The later elections brought Benyamin Netanyahu to power.
…While most of Hagee’s prophetic books become instant best-sellers, they do not always receive the best of reviews. As noted above, CRI faulted his Beginning of the End and the normally courteous CBA Marketplace Magazine gave a "thumbs down" to his book, Final Dawn Over Jerusalem, saying:
"In his long list of Jewish people who have blessed the world, Hagee makes no distinction between individuals who simply have a Jewish background and those who truly fear and seek God. He lists Goldie Hawn, Dustin Hoffman, and Barbara Streisand, among others, as Jews who have proven the Scripture ‘in thee shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.’ The contributions of these entertainers can hardly be seen as a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis. Hagee also goes as far as branding anti-Semitic those who don’t agree with his enthusiastic support of Israel."
Despite its criticisms, CBA Marketplace Magazine in June 1998 listed Final Dawn Over Jerusalem as the No. 1 clothbound nonfiction book.
Christian author and conspiracy debunker Gregory Camp also is critical of Hagee’s writings:
"The Texas-based minister has recently published a book dealing with the end times in which he predicts the end of Israeli independence as a result of giving up the Golan Heights and then signing a treaty with the Antichrist. Titled Beginning of the End, this Thomas Nelson publication will doubtless sell by the hundreds of thousands. It rehashes old pre-millennial prophecy themes and like an increasing number of such ministries, throws conspiracy theory into the mix. The book unfortunately is just one more of a series of tired conspiracy-tainted prophecy monographs so common these days; there is scarcely an original idea to be found between its covers. The reader is ‘treated’ to sensationalistic predictions about the Israeli State and the nearness of Christ’s return based on conspiracy and closet date-setting."
…Yet, of additional and more serious concern is that Hagee reported to the Houston Chronicle that he believes that Jews already have a covenant with God and a relationship to God and do not need to come to the cross. Hearing this is startling. Hagee told the newspaper:
"I believe that every Jewish person who lives in the light of the Torah, which is the word of God, has a relationship with God and will come to redemption."
This certainly is a shocking statement in the light of Jesus’ words that "no man comes to the Father but through me" (John 14:6). John further writes, in his first Epistle: "He who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12).
The Apostle Paul, as well, would say the opposite of Hagee: "I do not set aside the grace of God: for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain" (Galatians 2:21). Paul is affirming that nothing that the Old Testament offered could avail apart from the death of Jesus.
The Houston Chronicle article further reported:
"John Hagee, fundamentalist pastor from San Antonio and friend of Israel, is truly a strange fish. ... The man has a mission. He’s out to attack anti-Semitism. He also believes that Jews can come to God without going through Jesus Christ."
The Houston newspaper then quoted Hagee’s own shocking words: "I’m not trying to convert the Jewish people to the Christian faith."
And further revealed:
"In fact, trying to convert Jews is a ‘waste of time,’ he said. ‘The Jewish person who has his roots in Judaism is not going to convert to Christianity. There is no form of Christian evangelism that has failed so miserably as evangelizing the Jewish people. They (already) have a faith structure.’ Everyone else, whether Buddhist or Baha’i, needs to believe in Jesus, he says. But not Jews. Jews already have a covenant with God that has never been replaced by Christianity, he says."
(See the website referenced above for much more commentary on Hagee and his teachings.)
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Most influential pioneer of the Word Faith Movement. Founder of Rhema Bible School, alma mater of a number of well-known televangelists. Author of many books, booklets, articles and magazines that provide the doctrinal basis for standard Word Faith teachings. Blatantly plagiarized some of his writings directly from material written by earlier mystic evangelist EW Kenyon. Examples of this word for word plagiarism can be seen at:
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Controversial successor to the late Walter Martin as the head of Martin's Christian Research Institute. Hosts the Bible Answer Man national radio program. Author of a number of books of research on modern religious movements. Member of Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel. Martin's widow and family have challenged Hanegraaff's claims to have been Martin's hand-picked successor, and disagree with some of his decisions involving the ministry. Although the documentation in his books is usually solid, his credentials as a legitimate researcher have been challenged by admission of incidents of plagiarism, and by charges of former CRI employees that he took credit for research done by others.
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Founder and dictatorial leader of the House of Yahweh in Abilene, Texas, an exclusivist religious group that adheres to an extreme form of pseudo-Biblical "legalism" based heavily on Hawkins' interpretations of the Old Testament (unrelated to any connection with orthodox Judaism). The belief system, including polygamy introduced in the group in 1993—and the teaching that "Satan" is female—is a totally idiosyncratic creation of the founder. Although claiming to believe in Jesus—Yeshua—as Messiah, His role in the religious system is almost negligible. It is taught that He had no pre-existence prior to His birth, and that His primary purpose in His ministry was to reinforce the need to keep the "613 Laws" of the Old Testament. Hawkins proclaims himself to be the only leader of the only true Work of the Almighty on earth now, and requires total obedience of all supporters to his every edict.
Hawkins' name was originally Buffalo Bill Hawkins. Hawkins' late brother Jacob first founded a House of Yahweh in Odessa, Texas, in 1975. Bill, who changed his name to Yisrayl in 1982, established his own independent congregation in 1980. For a time Bill billed himself and Jacob as the Two Witnesses of the Book of Revelation, but the fact that Jacob didn't believe this, and had nothing to do with his brother's ministry, made this revelation difficult to sustain, and it became even harder after Jacob died in 1991. Followers from all over the country have left their homes in the past decade and cast their lot in with Hawkins, moving to live in his trailer compound outside Abilene. Others travel there three times a year for conventions held to observe the Levitical Holy Days. By 1997, things were getting stranger in the group … one of the few that this Field Guide website has no qualms about labeling a severely spiritually abusive cult. Reportedly, over 300 of the members of the group legally changed their last names to "Hawkins," and Yisrayl was dogmatically prophesying that the Messiah was going to return in October, 2000 and that "80% of the world's population would be killed by mid-2001." The "Religioustolerance.org" website, which is extremely conservative in its approach to labeling groups as cults notes that it finds Hawkins' group to fit ten out of ten of their list of "ten indicators of a destructive cult." A collection of articles about the House of Yahweh is available at:
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Hard-core Word Faith teacher and conference speaker and prolific writer. Founder of Norvel Hayes Ministries and New Life Bible College. Author of such full-length books and small booklets as Confession Brings Possession, How to Cast Out Devils, Putting Your Angels to Work and Why You Should Speak in Tongues.
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Founder of the Church on the Way, First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys, CA. Head of Jack Hayford Ministries which produces and broadcasts Hayford's Living Way radio program and Spirit Formed TV program. His calm and almost conservative speaking style belies the fact that his doctrinal background is hard-core hyper-charismatic Word Faith. He is a regular on Jan and Paul Crouch's Trinity Broadcasting Network. And he supports, cooperates with and appears on speaking schedules regularly with more flamboyant ministers such as Benny Hinn.
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Former member of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong. Left and established his own British organization called Midnight Ministries. Has a very small following, mostly spreading his material through email and unsolicited mailings of articles and tapes to addresses gathered from other Sabbatarian Church of God publications. Particularly promotes the notion that Sabbatarians should accept such ultra-charismatic ministries as that of Benny Hinn as being part of a Great Move of God. Believes himself and his family to have a prophetic ministry. Bases this conviction on a number of dreams and visions they have had. Most notable of the dreams was one which has convinced them that Diana, Princess of Wales, is going to be resurrected to physical life some time in the near future to validate the authority from God of Midnight Ministries. The dream consisted of Diana visiting the Heap household, and Mrs. Heap giving her a cup of water.
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Popular hyper-charismatic Word Faith televangelist. Husband Wallace is the pastor of Orchard Road Christian Center in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Marilyn Hickey Ministries produces and distributes the TV program Today With Marilyn and Sarah, hosted by Hickey and her daughter Sarah Bowling, and publishes Hickey's magazine, Outpouring.
From her website: http://www.mhmin.org/
God touched her at a Texas tent meeting in June 1958. Doctors had told Marilyn she would never have a child; but Evangelist William Branham told her that she was to go home, receive her healing, and have her baby.
Even though it would be 10 years before Sarah's birth, Marilyn knew God would take care of her. While they waited for the prophecy to be fulfilled, the Hickey’s adopted Michael. (Sarah is now an adult. She and her husband, Reece Bowling, joined Marilyn Hickey Ministries' staff in 1995 and are actively involved in the ministry with Marilyn of covering the earth with the Word.)
...In addition to her own ministry, Marilyn is the only woman on Dr. [David Yonggi] Cho's board of directors. This outreach has brought opportunities to minister in Korea and Japan, She is also committed to Oral Roberts University and serves as the chairman of the Board of Regents.
The most notorious aspect of Marilyn Hickey's ministry is her shameless fundraising techniques. She sends out letters to her supporters regularly which include small token objects, which she instructs them to use in various ritual ways, then send back with a "seed" offering to her ministry, in order to get prayer requests answered. These have included mustard seeds, "Stop the Devil" stickers (to put on the bottom of your right shoe--evidently to symbolically "tread the Devil under foot"), two pieces of red string, a packet of cornmeal, and much more. These gimmicks have often imitated those of earlier faith-healing ministries such as Robert Tilton, Oral Roberts and Rex Humbard.
A number of examples are given in the 1999 article from The Christian Sentinel, "Marily Hickey, Fairy Godmother of the Word Faith Movement?" at:
http://cultlink.com/sentinel/hickey.htm
Excerpt:
In analyzing these mailings there are two tricks of the trade that she puts into practice consistently: 1) send the people something that has to be returned in order to be affective; and 2) give a strict deadline for the readers to comply with. And of course, all of the gimmickry stands on the theory that Hickey’s faith is more anointed and powerful than the readers’ so they have the illusion they’re tapping into a direct pipeline from Hickey to God. Almost every mailing promotes the false teaching called "seed faith" that has been popularized for years by the false teacher, Oral Roberts. Basically, the seed faith concept fits neatly within the Word-faith camp. It states that if you want more riches, simply give to God’s ministries financially, and these gifts become "seeds" that can grow into more wealth later for those who contribute. Thus the motive behind giving to God, in direct contradiction to Scripture, becomes giving to God’s ministries in order to get from God. Hickey’s fundraising letters have this idea reduced to a science. They repeatedly say that none of her formulas for miracles can work unless money is sent in to seal the deal with God. After all, you can’t reap unless you sow something first, they’ll say.
Her latest mailing received by the Christian Sentinel in January 1999 focused directly on poor widows and women struggling with financial troubles. She mailed us two pennies stuck to the return card with an invitation to join in on her "prayer tunnel." The two pennies represented the two coins the poor widow woman put in the temple offering in the 21st chapter of Luke.2
The appeal reads in part: "THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO: #1) TAKE your Personal Prayer Sheet, place the palm of your right hand over the two copper pennies. We are going to use them as our miracle point-of-contact together... #2) NOW, write down today’s date in the box marked TODAY. #3) BE SPECIFIC and write in the miracle amount of money that you need... #4) WRITE DOWN any other personal areas of lack and need for which you are desperately desiring a miracle—and want me to release my faith for... #5) FINALLY. . . Search your heart, and write a check. Whatever you give, make it the BEST gift to Him that you possibly can!"
Then the appeal concludes with: "HERE’S WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO: FIRST: . . .I’m instructing every one of my prayer warriors who come in contact with your prayer request sheet to make sure that they touch it, lay their hands on it, touch the same 2 coins you’ve touched... NEXT: we’re going to form a ‘Prayer Tunnel’ of financial faith for you... it’s a powerful thing! . . . I’m believing as your request sheet passes through my ‘Prayer Tunnel’ of faith—you’ll pass through your dark tunnel of financial pressure... I really want you to hear my heart: THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER and we are not playing games with the devil...this is WAR!... Like the little widow, sow a seed out of your need!"
See the website linked above for numerous other examples of this bizarre type of fundraising.
Below are just two samples of the goofy, unbiblical concepts in Marilyn's teaching materials and fundraising letters.
From "Claim your miracles," audiotape #186:
"What do you need? Start creating it. Start speaking about it. Start speaking it into being. Speak to your billfold. Say, 'You big, thick billfold full of money.' Speak to your checkbook. Say, 'You, checkbook, you. You've never been so prosperous since I owned you. You're just jammed full of money.'
"Say to your body, 'You're whole, body! Why, you just function so beautifully and so well. Why, body, you never have any problems. You're a strong, healthy body.' Or speak to your leg, or speak to your foot, or speak to your neck, or speak to your back; and once you have spoken and believe that you have received, and don't go back on it. Speak to your wife, speak to your husband, speak to your circumstances; and speak faith to them to create in them and God will create what you are speaking."
Outpouring magazine, special edition 2001
"God put it in my heart to call Oral Roberts and his son Richard to ask them if they would join Sarah and me to form a 'next-generation' prayer circle of faith, believing God for Him to place a 'miracle-overflow Next Generation anointing' on some oil."
"During a particularly powerful prayer time, we fervently laid our hands on some SPECIAL anointing oil...and together, we released our faith for God to impart a MIRACLE-OVERFLOW Next Generation Anointing upon that oil. Now we want to pass it along to YOU, your children, and your grandchildren...as we invite you to become Faith Covenant Partners with us and this ministry of 'Covering the Earth with the Word.'"
"We've taken this oil and blended and prepared it for you to carry with you in a beautiful, gold- colored metal locket..allowing you to bring a MIRACLE-OVERFLOW Next Generation Anointing to everyone you touch...whenever and wherever the need arises." "When you become PARTNERS with a ministry, you ACTIVATE A POWERFUL SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE in your life: the same power of God that is available to that ministry...becomes available to YOU!...You can literally walk in the same anointing they walk in!"Hickey is also an avid supporter of the Holy Laughter movement and other Toronto Blessing-style manifestations. Notice these comments from her, quoted in the Christian Sentinel article above:
"I have watched the Holy Spirit minister joy from one side of the auditorium to the other," she writes in her Outpouring magazine, "…very prim and proper Christians rolling on the floor, people glued to the floor until released by the Holy Spirit; people so drunk on the Holy Spirit that they staggered, unable to walk, and people frozen in trances for hours. It is way too late to convince me that this outpouring of the Holy Spirit is anything but God."
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Evangelist who initiated the "Pensacola/Brownsville Outpouring," revival, a clone of the Toronto Blessing movement. This "revival" began at the Brownsville Assembly of God Church in Pensacola, FL, in 1995, when Brownsville pastor John Kilpatrick invited Hill to speak there. .
Description of Hill's role in the Revival, from a website promoting this type of movement.
http://www.pastornet.net.au/renewal/journal10/e-hill.html
In 1995, Hill read an article in Time magazine about the move of God in an Anglican Church in London. He arranged for a meeting at three o'clock on January 19 with Pastor Sandy Miller of the Holy Brompton Anglican Church to see what was going on. Over 500 people were shaking and laying on the floor under the power of God when Hill arrived. Instead of having the appointment, Hill asked Miller to lay hands on him. He received a new impartation from Miller’s prayer.
On Father's Day, June 18, 1995 Hill was invited by John Kilpatrick, the Pastor of Brownsville Assembly of God, to speak at the Sunday morning service. Kilpatrick had just lost his mother to cancer was emotionally and physically weary, so he requested his longtime friend Hill to speak in his place. Hill issued an altar call and a thousand people responded. Kilpatrick says that he felt the sensation of a wind blowing in the church. Various manifestations occurred such as falling to the ground, weeping and violent shaking. The morning service was scheduled to finish at noon but continued till 4 p.m. Likewise the night service was extended and became a five-hour long service. The Pensacola Revival had begun.
Congregation members asked Hill to stay a several more days. This he did and began to cancelling appointments, including a trip to Russia. He decided to stay and moved his family to be near the revival. It is estimated that over 100,000 people have been saved and over 1 million people from all over the world have visited Pensacola since 1995. Hill continues to minister in the revival services Wednesday to Saturday nights at Brownsville Assembly of God to this day. Steve Hill is a leader in current revival. [see below for his latest activities.]
A few quotations from a website opposing this "revival":
Steve Hill quotations in italics
http://www.cephasministry.com/steve_hill.html
Steve Hill said "If you must analyze, then look at me, look at the musicians and singers, look at the congregation, look at the person to the left of you and to the right of you, and just analyze, analyze, analyze get it out of your system. Now let yourselves go: don't even think about what you are doing, forget about those around you and what they are doing. Release your mind release your spirit and let the mighty river of the "Holy Ghost" take you wherever He wants you to go." (Revival ... or Satanic Counterfeit?, Jimmy Robbins, 1996):
"In these latter days preaching and simply teaching the word is no longer sufficient, the Spirit has to get involved, through signs and wonders due to much sin that abounds." (What We Saw, Robert C. Gray, 12/14/96)
"When you ridicule those whose bodies are twitching or shaking under the influence of God's glory, beware! Have you forgotten that God's Word and the annals of Church history are filled with the supernatural dealings of our supernatural God?" God does deal with his creatures supernaturally, but God's Word is silent about God ever sending His Holy Spirit to produce these types of manifestations, except in judgment, and certainly not as a blessing or by laying on of hands. Church history is full of stories of these manifestations which have been roundly dismissed as unbiblical and demonic by former church leaders such as Edwards, Spurgeon, Tozer and many others. (Stephen Hill, The God Mockers, chapter 1, 1997 with comment by Sandy Simpson)
See more at the link above.
Hill has now started his own independent evangelistic organization, Together in the Harvest Ministries with headquarters in Dallas, TX.
ReligionToday 6/22/2000 (reported on http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/hill.html )
An evangelist who intended to preach just one sermon has left after 5 years of continuous revival meetings. Steve Hill is moving his ministry to Dallas after preaching hundreds of times at Brownsville Assembly of God, a Pensacola, Fla., church that has been the center of an international charismatic revival movement. About 3 million people have visited the church during that time, pastor John Kilpatrick said, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
...The revival fervor "didn't happen because of Steve and I know it sure did not happen because of me," Kilpatrick said. "God came down and kissed this place." Hill's final service June 18 turned raucous. "For almost 20 minutes people raced through the aisles, danced, laughed uncontrollably, jumped, jerked, and collapsed," the newspaper reported.
..."If somebody who is not Christian dropped in this morning, they would look at us and think we went bonkers," Kilpatrick said, according to the Journal. "Well, we have gone bonkers. People go bonkers over football and baseball. Why can't we go bonkers over Jesus?" He said he hoped that, even though crowds have diminished to about half what they were a few years ago, the revival will not stop, but go to "a different level."
It would seem that the following scripture might apply to this situation. Paul is talking about everyone in a congregation "speaking in tongues" at the same time. How much more applicable might his point be to people "going bonkers" via laughing uncontrollably, jumping, jerking and collapsing?
1Co 14:23 If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad? :24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all; :25 the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
Premier "healing evangelist" in the Hyper-Charismatic world of the present, part of the Healing Ministries movement. It is impossible to present a "succinct" overview of Hinn's ministry. A major profile for the Field Guide is in the production stage. Meanwhile, click here to see a video of an NBC Dateline special report on Benny Hinn.
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Hyper-Charismatic evangelist primarily responsible for the introduction of the "Holy Laughter" movement . It is impossible to present a "succinct" overview of Howard-Browne's ministry. A major profile for the Field Guide is in the production stage.
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Husband and wife team of "healing evangelists" known in Charismatic circles as the "Happy Hunters". They are perhaps best known for holding "Healing Explosion" revivals, which often include seminars in which they purport to teach others "how to heal". The Hunters are part of both the Word Faith movement and the Healing Ministries movement, and have written many books with typical themes for those movements.
David Cloud, in an 11/18/2002 article called "Beware the Happy Hunters" published by the Fundamental Baptist Information Service provides several samples from the writings of the Hunters:
“Spinal Stenosis: A narrowing of the spinal column around the spinal cord. ... Recommended Prayer: Command the spirit of arthritis to come out in the name of Jesus, command the spurs to dissolve with no problem to the spinal cord and command the spinal cord to open up in the name of Jesus. Then command the spirit of pain to leave in Jesus' name. Schizophrenia: A doctor had done research on Schizophrenia and discovered an inadequate blood supply to the thalamus gland, in the brain, when the patient is asked to think. Recommended Prayer: Command an adequate supply of blood to the thalamus gland so the patient will be able to think. Command the spirit to come out in the name of Jesus.”
It would seem that Jesus and Paul and Peter didn't understand this principle, for this sort of "healing technique" is nowhere to be found in the scriptures. Nor are there any documented cases of the Hunters actually healing anyone of these afflictions by this technique.
Cloud notes:
In the book How to Heal the Sick, the Hunters give instructions on how to heal baldness. This is interesting--because Charles Hunter is bald! They give instructions on how to heal eye problems--but Frances Hunter wears glasses to correct her eye problems!
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President of the Southwest Radio Church, spokesman of the "Watchman on the Wall" radio broadcast. Part of the End Times Prophecy movement, Hutchings has for many years been one of the more prolific "speculators" about the connection between current events and Bible prophecy. As with most other such speculators, his batting average is close to zero, but that doesn't prevent him from continuing to be viewed by many as an "expert on prophecy."
A little different twist on 1988 was offered by David Webber and Noah Hutchings in their 1974 book Prophecy in Stone. They proposed that the Tribulation would end about 1988-1992. A later book by these same authors (New Light on the Great Pyramid, 1985) pushed the schedule back a hair. Now the Tribulation was to begin in 1988. Other books and newsletters produced by the Southwest Radio Church (currently headed by Hutchings) have proposed a wide variety of other dates for various events associated with the return of Christ and the end of the present age.
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One of the most influential African-American Word Faith televangelists. Founder and pastor of the 28,000+ Potter's House church in Dallas, Texas, cited by some as the fastest-growing church in America. Author of many popular inspirational books on topics from family relationships to "charismatic gifts." Host of the Potter's Touch daily TV show broadcast by TBN. Jakes' website notes ...
In January, 1999, the New York Times named Bishop T.D. Jakes as “one of the top five evangelists most frequently cited by scholars, theologians, and evangelical leaders to step up the international pulpit behind the Rev. Billy Graham” while Time magazine featured Bishop Jakes on a September 2001 cover and named him “America’s Best Preacher.”
Although many might agree with this evaluation of Jakes' popularity and even preaching skills, opinions of the Biblical soundness of his teachings vary widely. The Personal Freedom Outreach (PFO) has a 1996 article on its website titled "Get Ready" for T.D. Jakes, the Velcro Bishop with Another Gospel. Although seven years old, nothing has changed in Jakes' ministry that would in any way alter the perspective of this article-- other than that he has written many more books and has an even bigger income. He still appears with and endorses the same Word Faith teachers noted below, in these excerpts from the PFO article.
Jakes gives deference to the ministries of Marilyn Hickey and Joyce Meyer. Both these “celebrated ministers” are heretical and promote Word-Faith doctrine without apology. How many erroneous camps can you occupy and still be considered a good example? In 2 John 9-11, we are commanded not to endorse heretical teachers in any way.
Jakes has also shared the platform at a September 1996 conference with Roberts Liardon. Any discerning Christian should want to stay as far away as possible from Liardon who claims he was transported to heaven and there met Jesus face to face and that he and Jesus had a water fight in the River of Life! Liardon further claims he was shown a building filled with unclaimed body parts (hair, eyes, skin, legs, etc.). This heavenly warehouse of unclaimed body parts is overstocked, according to Liardon, simply because here on earth believers have failed to appropriate them by faith. Liardon’s charade is either lunacy or sheer deception and should be given public rebuke, not public relations.
Jakes patronizes and clearly finds himself among the celebrities of the Charismatic camps. A full-color advertisement on the inside cover of the January Charisma announced that Jakes would appear at the August “Victory Word Explosion” in Tulsa, Oklahoma with Benny Hinn, Richard Roberts, Rod Parsley, Joyce Meyer and Jerry Savelle. With this roster, it might better be called “Heresy Explosion.”
... The Dallas Observer goes on to report:
“He says he is not embarrassed by this, even though his extravagant lifestyle has caused controversy in his hometown that will likely follow him to Dallas. His suits are tailored. He drives a brand new Mercedes. Both he and his wife Serita are routinely decked out in stunning jewelry. His West Virginia residence — two homes side by side — includes an indoor swimming pool and a bowling alley. These homes particularly caused the ire of the local folks. One paper wrote at length about the purchase and made much of their unusual features. A columnist dubbed Jakes ‘a huckster.’”
Yet, what is most disturbing about Jakes’ prosperity is not the wealth itself, but his false teaching about Jesus to justify his fortune. The Dallas Observer shares further:
“Besides, Jakes says — during an interview and in his sermons — Jesus was a rich man. He had to have been, in order to have supported his disciples and their families during his ministry.”
To add to his false and mythical Christ, Jakes brazenly says:
“The myth of the poor Jesus needs to be destroyed, because it’s holding people back.”
Jakes obviously perverts the true biblical picture of Jesus in an effort to advocate his own lifestyle. The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports:
“Jakes, who drives a Mercedes, has moved with his wife and their five children to a luxurious seven-bedroom home with swimming pool in the White Rock Lake area of Dallas. He said the home cost more than $1 million. ‘I do think we need some Christians who are in first class as well as coach,’ Jakes said.”
Sadly, in the case of so many prosperity teachers, they are the ones flying in “first class” by way of the donations of their impoverished flock while the latter fly in “coach” — or miss the flight altogether because they lack the money to even buy a ticket.
For more details regarding aspects of Jakes' ministry which cause many religious commentators concern, see the PFO link above.
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Popular prophecy pundit, part of the End Times Prophecy movement. His 1988 book Armageddon: Appointment with Destiny was based on his personal theories regarding the Jubilee cycles of ancient Israel, and strongly suggested 10/9/2000 as the probable date for the Return of Christ. This of course didn't pan out. His later prophetic speculations have emphasized the importance of the hotly debated— and now debunked—Bible Codes, starting with his 1996 book The Signature of God. In spite of virtually no verifiable positive record of speculating in advance anything of significance, and in spite of the miserable failure of the theories put forth in his 1988 book, he is still a "recognized prophetic scholar" in many circles. He appears regularly on TBN, as do fellow failed prophecy pundits such as Hal Lindsey, and is a coveted speaker at prophecy seminars and such. Why is he still viewed as a guru? That is as mysterious as his mysterious prophetic theories.
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One of the "Kansas City Prophets" group. Has been considered by many to hold the office of "modern prophet" and thus regularly receive direct revelations from God, along with Paul Cain, John Paul Jackson and Mike Bickle (Not the same Bob Jones that founded conservative Bob Jones University.)
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Prolific Charismatic speaker and writer viewed by many in the "Apostles and Prophets" movement as one of the most significant "modern Prophets." Founder of Morningstar Minstries, which publishes the Morningstar Journal and the Morningstar Prophetic Bulletin. From the official Morningstar website:
In 1991 we added the distribution of a quarterly publication, The MorningStar Journal. Edited by Rick Joyner, The Journal is devoted to imparting a prophetic vision, founded upon sound biblical teaching, with a broad historical perspective. Articles are included from a wide diversity of historical and contemporary writers who are having a significant impact on the church, The Journal continues to grow in popularity and is now distributed to Christian leaders around the world. We also publish and distribute The MorningStar Prophetic Bulletin, which is devoted to the distribution of strategic prophetic words, dreams and visions that have a more critical timeliness.
The ministry also hosts numerous "Prophetic and Apostolic" Conferences and Councils. Both Joyner's own "prophetic" pretensions and those of other individuals he promotes and is affiliated with are hotly contested by many critics. Joyner has charged in many books, articles and tapes that other Christian ministries and teachers who question the validity of the current hyper-charismatic "revival movements" such as the Toronto Blessing and other "signs and wonders" movements are fighting against a true "move of God" and thus may incur the wrath of God. Joyner's influence in many Charismatic circles is so significant that a major profile for the Field Guide is in the production stage.
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Popular speaker in End Times Prophecy circles. Has a Hebrew Roots emphasis. Declared dogmatically in 1996 that the Great Tribulation would occur in 1997.
(Click on name above to go to a more extensive profile.)
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(1867-1948) Early pioneer of the Word Faith movement, whose writings were extensively plagiarized by Kenneth Hagin ... word for word ... in numerous Hagin publications. Examples of this word for word plagiarism can be seen at:
http://www.banner.org.uk/wof/kenyon.html
Common sayings in the Word Faith movement such as "What I confess, I possess" were originated by Kenyon. The following bold and controversial statement which appears in Hagin's "The Incarnation,"(The Word of Faith, December 1980) was originally published in Kenyon's, The Father and His Family : "Every man who has been 'born again' is an Incarnation, and Christianity is a miracle. The believer is as much an Incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth."
Kenyon's own religious roots were not in the Pentecostal movement of his time, but in the teachings of various "metaphysical" groups such as Christian Science. An extensive investigation and documentation of Kenyon's formative years and influence on the Word Faith movement is available in D.R. McConnell's 225-page book A Different Gospel ( c. 1988, updated 1995), Hendrickson Publishers Inc. .
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Pastor of the Brownsville Assembly of God Church in Pensacola FL who invited Steve Hill to speak there in 1995 and thus ignited the "Brownsville/Pensacola Outpouring", a clone of the Toronto Blessing movement.
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(1907-1976) One of the most famous female evangelists of the Healing Ministries movement. Kuhlman modeled her preaching style and flamboyant personal appearance on earlier woman evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. Beginning her preaching career as a "tent evangelist" in the 1920's, by the late 1940s Kuhlman had inaugurated her "miracle healing" crusades which she took to some of the largest meeting halls in the country and finally on to TV. She claimed huge numbers of people were miraculously healed at her meetings over the years, although, as with almost all such healing ministries, no hard documentation of any specific healings of organic conditions seems to be available anywhere.
Contemporary healing evangelist Benny Hinn considers Kuhlman his primary mentor, and he obviously models his stage presence and appearance (he consistently wears all-white suits at his meetings, she typically wore long white dresses) and other aspects of his ministry on her example. For instance, old-time healing evangelists such as Oral Roberts typically encouraged people who needed healing to come forward so that he might lay hands on them with the expectation that at that point the healing would come. Kuhlman used the same method now employed by Hinn: People in the audience decide from where they sit that they have been healed as a result of their attendance at the meeting. And Kuhlman and Hinn would ask any who were convinced that they had experienced such a healing to come forward and declare it, explaining their affliction and its symptoms, and what has now convinced them that it is gone. After their declaration Kuhlman, as Hinn does now, would reach her hand toward them and most would fall backwards in what is termed being "slain in the spirit."
In fact, Hinn is so enamored of the memory of Kuhlman that he has mentioned visiting her gravesite (as well as that of Aimee Semple McPherson) and believing that he received more of the "anointing" for his own allegedly miraculous manifestations there.
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Co-author of the hugely-successful Left Behind series of books, which fictionalize LaHaye's speculations regarding End Time prophecy. Since La Haye was a well-known author and speaker before publication of this series, many readers may be unaware that his role in production of the books has not been one of "writer," but merely "consultant." Jerry B. Jenkins, listed on the book jackets as co-author, has really done the actual nuts and bolts of the creative process that resulted in the series. As the FAQ on Jenkins' own website puts it:
http://www.jerryjenkins.com/faqs.html#LB7
How do Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye work together? Who writes what?
The book series was Dr. Tim LaHaye's idea. He asked Jerry Jenkins to write a series of novels to fit his view of the End Times. And that's exactly what Jerry did. Dr. LaHaye is the biblical expert and prophetic scholar and Jerry Jenkins is the author who writes the books.Prior to involvement with the Left Behind series La Haye was most famous as a Christian motivational author and speaker on family living and emotional and psychological well-being topics, frequently collaborating in books and speaking engagements with his wife Beverly. Beverly La Haye, an individual author of a number of books in her own right, has also had her own outreach ministries which have included anti-abortion advocacy, promoting various pro-family causes, and hosting an award-winning talk show in the 1990s. Tim La Haye has also authored a number of non-fiction books emphasizing his own prophetic speculations.
Many of La Haye's teachings in all of these areas, as well as the theological and Biblical foundation of the Left Behind series of books and movies, have been controversial for a long time. The book series is based on a conviction regarding what is called the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, which is not accepted by many Bible students and teachers. And many of his writings regarding psychological topics, such as his 1966 book Spirit Controlled Temperament, are viewed by some critics as attempts to wed unproven secular psychological theories with Biblical concepts in ways that are not theologically sound.
A detailed overview of the history of La Haye's career, with an examination of some of the controversial areas of his teachings can be seen at the Biblical Discernment (BDM) website at:
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/lahaye/general.htm
The author of this Field Guide Who's Who Digest does not necessarily agree with all of the doctrinal positions of the authors of the BDM site, including their approach to the validity of the theory of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Nor should inclusion of the website address be considered an endorsement of all of the opinions stated on the website. But the documentation regarding LaHaye's ministry in this overview may be useful to the reader who wishes to know more about what LaHaye does teach and practice.
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Brothers who originally became notable in the End Times Prophecy movement as hosts of their television show, This Week in Bible Prophecy, on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. They were also authors of a number of books on prophetic themes. They left behind their TV career to branch out into motion picture production. Their "Cloud Ten Productions" studio has now made several "Christian" movies, including bringing the first of the Left Behind (Tim La Haye and Jerry Jenkins) books to the big screen.
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Pentecostal/Charismatic evangelist and author specializing in the topic of prayer and "spiritual warfare." Lea is the founder and former pastor of the Church on the Rock of Rockwall, Texas and former dean of the school of theology at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He first came to national prominence in the 1980s via publicity in the media regarding his evangelistic crusades emphasizing "coming against territorial spirits" in metropolitan areas.
In October 1990, Lea organized a crusade in San Francisco, sponsored by Jubilee Christian Center of San Jose and its pastor Dick Bernal, to be held beginning Hallowe'en evening. Plans at first included a march by up to 10,000 Christians through the streets of San Francisco, in a show of resistance to what they believed to be the rulership of the supernatural demonic "strongman" over the area. Warned by local authorities and other Christian organizations that this might lead to unpleasant or dangerous physical confrontations with other groups marching in the area that night, the plans were changed to hold all rally activities completely indoors at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium. A news interview at the time noted:
http://www.holysmoke.org/wicca/witchhou.htm
"Larry and I are beginning to look like a couple of wackos," says Bernal. "The misconception is that we're a bunch of narrow-minded goody-two-shoes. San Francisco's a city where everybody has parades; I wanted our people to be a presence, too. We weren't going to call down fire on anybody; it was not going to be a confrontation, just a little show of force.
"But the war on Satan will go on - inside the auditorium. There won't be any pussy-footing around," Bernal promises. "There'll be singing, preaching and speaking in tongues. It'll be wall-to-wall spiritual warfare."
Bernal, a former ironworker and self-described hell-raiser who says he was born-again a dozen years ago, has gained some fame himself as a televangelist and spiritual warrior.
After the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, Bernal traveled to Beijing and in a much-publicized ceremony, annointed the stones of the square with oil to drive the devil out. He also has prayed to cast the devil out of several sites in the South Bay, including the San Jose Mercury News. "
There are no records to show that this "spiritual warfare rally" had any lasting affect at all on the San Francisco area. But there was one significant result from the crusade-- the alleged conversion of a man named Eric Pryor, who claimed at the time to be a witch and an influential force within the occult movements of America. Pryor had come to public attention just before the crusade by claiming to be organizing a counter-demonstration to Lea's efforts. Yet within days, he became a member of Bernal's congregation. For the next few years, Lea used Pryor's amazing conversion story as part of his ministry efforts. And Pryor went on to become a regular speaker on the Spiritual Warfare circuit within the Charismatic movement.
Lea continued his efforts during the following year, which included more crusades and his own regular television show. Then on November 21, 1991, the ABC show PrimeTime with Diane Sawyer ran an investigative reporting piece on several televangelists, including Larry Lea.
Here's how one article about televangelism in 1994 summed up the show and its aftermath for Lea:
CRI Christian Research Journal Fall 1994
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/crj0188a.txt
Lea's most embarrassing moment may have been when ABC ran videotape of the televangelist persuading viewers that when his house burned to the ground he was left virtually homeless, losing everything he and his family had but the clothes on their backs. When Prime Time cut to Lea's other, unmentioned home -- a mansion filled with furniture and other valuables -- his fate was sealed. Donations dropped off, churches canceled his appearances, and for many Lea became persona non grata.
His ministry crippled and floundering in up to $800,000 in debt, Lea left Tulsa and in February [1994] assumed the pastorate of friend Jerry Barnard's Christian Faith Center in La Mesa, California. According to staffers at Barnard's office, Lea's organization -- now called "The Prayer Ministry" -- is on the rebound and looking like "the old Larry Lea."
In an April appeal letter, the unrepentant evangelist reminds his followers of "the horror of the 'Prime Time' television program that ABC-TV aired nationwide" and "the lies and distortions about me and about our ministry that they spoon-fed to an unsuspecting American public." Lea describes a prophecy in which Pentecostal leader Jack Hayford compared him to the biblical Joseph, condemned to languish in "a prison of disbelief" in North America for two years.
For Lea, the predicted release came in February at the "National Conference on Prayer & Spiritual Warfare" in Anaheim, California. At the conclusion of Lea's message, Fuller Seminary church growth specialist C. Peter Wagner unexpectedly approached Lea on the platform and, "as a representative of the Body of Christ," asked the stunned televangelist to forgive the church for believing Satan and his "false reports."
In the words of the appeal letter, "IT'S A NEW DAY....the headline over our ministry is now the same as the headline over Joseph's life: FALSELY ACCUSED, FULLY EXONERATED....We've been set free from the chains of disbelief and confusion that have sought to bind our ministry here in North America!" Lea then summons his "worldwide Prayer Army" to give to "Operation Goliath," his debt-reduction campaign, urging them to "obey the Lord" even if He impresses them to give "an amount that seems impossible."
Unfortunately, the record does not show at all that Lea's record was "fully exonerated."
Another issue brought to light by the PrimeTime program was the conversion of Pryor. The report alleged that there were many questions about the credibility of Pryor's claims about his past, as well as the circumstances surrounding his "conversion" and his later connection to Bernal's church. Details of this saga can be seen at the following links. Included are details of a phony "marriage ceremony" performed at Bernal's church in which Pryor and his live-in lover were supposed to become man and wife. Yet at the time, Pryor was still legally married to a former wife. More questions involved Pryor's financial windfall from going around giving his "testimony," and the denial by those involved in such groups as Wicca that Pryor ever had any influence in any Wiccan, occult or New Age movement in the US.
One report from that time period gives evidence of the reason for concerns about the financial matters:
The "PrimeTime Live" report also cited a Herb Caen column in the San Francisco Chronicle saying Pryor made $100,000 last year. Pryor vigorously denies it, maintaining that he's only virtually penniless. His only sources of income, he says, are "love offerings" from the church and people moved my his preaching - as well as sales of "From Pagan to Pentecost," a $25 video version of his purported transformation. He gets $3 in royalties per sale.
Pryor also says he spends one day a month passing out money to homeless people and inviting them to listen as he spreads the word. "I do this because I've been there and I care," he tells them, "and this is my way of serving the Lord I call king of my life, Jesus."
As Pryor is making his case, Bernal enters the room to offer his support. At the same time, however, the minister clearly is taken aback by Pryor's flashy attire, extravagant jewelry and Rolex watch. "You're supposed to be penniless," Bernal says with a chuckle, "and you're sitting here dressed like a riverboat gambler."
Later, Pryor explains that his watch, gold chains, and bejeweled rings - some real and some fake - are all simply more "love offerings."
Whatever the ultimate truth about the situation at the time, things went downhill for Pryor from that point on:
http://www.pfo.org/francisfrangipane.htm
"Yet, the Pryor saga gets worse. While Pryor was receiving up to $20,000 per appearance he was arrested in 1994 for spousal abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. Shortly after, he went back to drugs and the occult. In October 1998, Pryor, the wife beating occultist, was charged with battery, spousal abuse, and being under the influence of narcotics. Pryor is a habitual batterer and criminal."
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/11.05.98/mpnews4-9844.html
November 1998 Silicon Valley Metro:
"Pryor's situation started heading south, so to speak, on October 24--just a few days after a Metro interview in which he professed to have returned to Satanism after an eight-year stint preaching at San Jose's Jubilee Christian Center. That evening Pryor and his wife had an argument in the communal home where they live in the Santa Cruz mountains. When the argument moved into the hallway and Pryor began shoving and hitting his wife, according to witnesses, tenant Barbara Abbot intervened. She says Pryor ripped her glasses off and stepped on them, and she beat a hasty retreat back to her room.
When she came out later to retrieve them, she says, Pryor threatened to kill her and kicked her in the leg and in the groin, leaving bruises. And the next morning, Abbot says, while she was making lunch in the communal kitchen, Pryor told her never to come between him and his wife and said, "I will slit your throat."
Deputy Christine Swannack responded to Abbot's call at about 2pm on Sunday afternoon and arrested Pryor on charges of battery, spousal battery, and being under the influence of narcotics--most probably heroin, according to her report, as well as alcohol.
Four years ago, while still at Jubilee, Pryor did time in the Santa Clara County jail after a violent fight with his then-wife Sarah, in which he threatened to slice her face up with an eight-inch knife so no one else would "want" her. That marriage ended, and Pryor is back with his first wife. "
In spite of the enthusiasm expressed in the 1994 Larry Lea letter above, the set-backs to Lea's ministry started by the PrimeTime expose' led to continued deterioration of the ministry and his family life. This led to a divorce from his first wife in 1999 after 26 years of marriage. He married again three years later. Lea no longer has a television program or an extensive Internet presence. The website of Larry Lea ministries seems to just offer his books for sale, without even a schedule for speaking engagements. And the website of Jerry Barnard's ministry no longer shows any direct involvement by Larry Lea.
For more details on the Pryor story:
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/10.29.98/pryor-9843.html
The Witch Who Switched back. October/November 1998 Silicon Valley Metro paper online
In Charisma magazine, 1988, Lea was quoted making the following assertion:
"Several years ago one of my dear pastor friends said, "Larry, when I was praying for you the other day, I had a vision. I saw you with great big 'Mickey Mouse' ears. Everything else about you looked normal except for those elephant-sized ears. When I asked the Lord to tell me what the vision meant, the Spirit of the Lord spoke back to me and said: 'Larry Lea has developed his hearing. He has developed his spiritual ears."
(Quoted from Charismatic Chaos by John F. MacArthur, p. 67, citing Larry Lea, Are You A Mousekateer, as published in Charisma, August 1988, 9)It would appear that Larry Lea's friend was in error and not "hearing" from the Lord at all to arrive at his interpretation of his "vision". For the fruit of Lea's ministry from that point on in time shows very little evidence that Lea had the sort of spiritual discernment that such Big Ears would indicate.
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The first "Messianic Jewish" teacher, author and TV evangelist widely accepted in Protestant circles. Has had his own TV show since the 1970s. Shares lessons on such topics as "Christ in the Passover." Is not a "Torah observant Messianic"—one who still adheres to the requirements of Jewish law. Takes the approach of most of those Jews involved in such evangelical Protestant outreach groups as Jews for Jesus—retaining some Jewish cultural trappings and family traditions, but, for instance, observing Christmas.
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End Times Prophecy pundit, author of the all-time best-selling prophetic speculation book The Late Great Planet Earth ( © 1970). In spite of the fact that almost none of the specific dogmatic speculations of that book panned out (including the "end" coming in 1988 since that was 40 years since the birth of modern Israel) as he speculated, he has written many more prophetic speculation books since then. And in spite of the fact that almost none of the specific dogmatic speculations of those books have panned out as he speculated, he continues to be widely honored in many religious circles as a prophetic speculation expert, and continues to issue almost all his opinions dogmatically. There is no accounting for why such failures at prophetic speculation are considered "credentials" for such pundits. He has his own regular prophetic speculation news show on TBN ("International Intelligence Briefing"), has a website humbly called "hallindseyoracle.com", and is a regular guest speaker on religious TV shows and for Prophecy conventions.
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Webauthor of the Beth Emet website, which appears at first, with it's headline "Returning to the Faith of Yeshua (Jesus)," to promote a standard "Hebrew Roots of Christianity" perspective. But further reading clarifies that Lyons is totally opposed to the New Testament, claims it was a concoction of the early Roman Catholic Church, and that we can have no clear picture of the "Historical Jesus" at all since all the records about Him are, according to Lyons, hopelessly corrupt.
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Former Roman Catholic Dominican Priest who is a well-known leader in both the Healing Ministries movement and the Deliverance Ministry movement. MacNutt evidently left the priesthood some time back under a special dispensation which allowed him to marry and yet still be in good standing as a layman in the Roman Catholic Church. But his current ministry efforts are totally ecumenical, and he often appears with and endorses teachers from many Protestant Pentecostal and Charismatic healing and deliverance ministries. He is on the Board of Trustees of the "International Charismatic Bible Ministries." The Chairman of the Board of Trustess of the ICBM is Oral Roberts, and other trustees include Benny Hinn, Marilyn Hickey, Morris Cerullo, Rodney Howard Browne, and many other well-known hyper-charismatic teachers. MacNutt has particularly noted that he considers Kathryn Kuhlman to have been a major mentoring influence for his own efforts.
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Former member of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong. Now has his own small Canadian ministry called Patriots of the Kingdom. Has a very small following, evidently mostly spreading his material through email and unsolicited mailings of ministry literature to addresses gathered from other Sabbatarian Church of God publications. Main claim to fame in exWCG circles is his assertion that the weekly Sabbath is not from sunset to sunset, but only from sunrise to sunset on Saturday. Claims special prophetic insight into the exact time of Christ's return: From a 2000 POTK newsletter (asterisks added to point out most significant claim)—
"While I hope the information provided will convince you that Christ expects us to "know the day and the hour", my status or skill at writing is not the issue. What is of primary importance, is your submission to the Holy Spirit, and your diligence in studying God's Word, without the prejudice of previous opinions, coloured by their source. When you have PROVEN where the place of safety is, HOW God will punish the wicked, and know the events to take place on the "Day of the Lord," KNOW without question the right day and time to keep Passover, and how to "count Pentecost" then and only then, are you ready to accept and PROVE the countdown to the triumphant return of Jesus Christ. For us to TELL YOU would be merely "spiritual titillation" inviting mockery by scoffers.(II Peter 3:3, Matt.7:6) ***If you study with us***, I am confident the Holy Spirit will in time, reveal it."
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Deceased founder of the Christian Research Institute, and author of Kingdom of the Cults, probably the most widely-read book on non-mainstream Christian religious groups. The CRI under the leadership of Martin, and now under the leadership of Hank Hanegraaff, has been a leading investigator and documenter of the teachings and activities of such groups. Martin's definition of "cult" was not the same as that used in this Field Guide. He emphasized mostly "doctrinal orthodoxy" in evaluating religious groups. Thus even if a group used extreme methods of control, and indulged in spiritual abuse, if the leadership promoted standard historical Christian theology it would likely not be subject to scrutiny as a possibly spiritually unhealthy organization. However, since a large proportion of those groups investigated by CRI actually have indulged in questionable tactics in attracting and keeping followers, much of the research of the organization has been helpful even to those who do not share the exact same perspective on what constitutes sound Biblical doctrine. In general, the documentation provided by CRI appears to be objective, and it is quite easy to sort out the specific facts under consideration from the subjective opinions and evaluation of the CRI authors.
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Founder and CEO of the Promise Keepers Movement. Former University of Colorado football coach. Member of James Ryle's Vineyard congregation.
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(1890-1944) Flamboyant Pentecostal woman evangelist, played significant part in the history of the Healing Ministries Movement. Founder of the Pentecostal denomination International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Involved in a major scandal in 1926. Here is how one website summarizes the incident, which pretty well lines up with most historical accounts:
McPherson, a radio evangelist whose eloquence and showbiz flair drew thousands to her Los Angeles temple every week. When not giving sermons, "Sister Aimee" liked to swim. On May 18 [1926], leaving her secretary on the beach, she swam out into the ocean and didn't come back. There was a huge uproar. A massive search failed to turn up the body. The newspapers churned out extras as ten thousand followers kept vigil on the shore.
Rumors swirled. Some said she hadn't drowned but had been eaten by a sea monster; others said the whole thing was a publicity stunt. She was sighted more times than Elvis—16 times in one day, in locations all over the country. The coroner refused to issue a death certificate. On June 20, McPherson's mother received a ransom note from "the Avengers" demanding $500,000.
Three days later the evangelist showed up in Agua Prieta, Mexico, just across the border from Douglas, Arizona. She told a bizarre story. She had been wading in the surf when a couple lured her into their car with a story about a dying child. She was chloroformed, driven to a two-room shack in the desert, and held there by two men and a woman. A few days later the men left, then the woman announced she was going into town for supplies. McPherson cut her bonds on the jagged lid of a five-gallon syrup can. Once free, she walked across the desert for 17 hours before collapsing inside the gate of a house.
But the story was fishy. The shack she'd described could not be found. Despite her supposedly lengthy trek, she was not dehydrated or sunburned, and her dress showed no signs of sweat. Her shoes weren't scuffed or worn except that she had somehow contrived to get grass stains on them in the desert. She was wearing a watch given to her by her mother that she hadn't taken to the beach, and so on. The cops searched halfheartedly for the kidnappers while hundreds of reporters tried to figure out what McPherson had really been up to. Soon it was reported that she had spent ten days in the seaside resort town of Carmel, California, with Kenneth Ormiston, her radio engineer, with whom she was thought to be having an affair.
A grand jury hearing on the kidnapping turned into an interrogation of McPherson. A woman claimed she had been bribed by McPherson and her mother to say that she, not the evangelist, had been with Ormiston in Carmel. Despite McPherson's protestations that she was an innocent victim, she was indicted for obstruction of justice, along with Ormiston and others. The story filled the newspapers for months and became an embarrassment for Los Angeles civic leaders. Finally William Randolph Heart's Examiner reported that the district attorney was dropping the charges. The DA declared he was doing no such thing but eventually took the hint, saying the evidence was too confused to permit prosecution.
What really happened? The story doesn't make sense any way you look at it. McPherson's kidnapping yarn was silly, but if all she wanted was a tryst with Ormiston there were a dozen easier ways to have one than faking an abduction. I've yet to hear a persuasive account of the whole mess. McPherson returned to preaching but remained a controversial figure for the rest of her life, dying of a sedative overdose in 1944.
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Formerly a high-ranking minister in the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) under founder Herbert W Armstrong (HWA). Merdith attended Armstrong's Ambassador College as a young man, was ordained as an "evangelist rank minister" by Armstrong upon graduation in 1952, and served in numerous capacities at the church's Headquarters in Pasadena for many years. These included writing extensively for the Plain Truth magazine and other church publications, and eventually positions of administration over other ministers. At one time he was believed to be in line, right after Herbert Armstrong's son Garner Ted, to inherit leadership of the WCG if something happened to the elder Armstrong. But he fell out of favor with HWA before Armstrong's death. Thus, even though Garner Ted Armstrong had been put out of the WCG several years before HWA's death, Meredith never achieved the position of top leadership to which he evidently believed he was entitled.
HWA died in 1986, and was succeeded as dictatorial leader of the WCG by Joseph Tkach, Sr., who in short order began dismantling the doctrinal base of the church. In the early 1990s, Meredith left the organization and founded his own rival group, the Global Church of God (GCG), which restored all of the doctrines of HWA. Although some ministers and members who joined his group were hoping for a more "collegial" style of church leadership, Meredith obviously intended to re-create the one-man rule that was HWA's policy. By 1998 a struggle for leadership within the GCG led Meredith to pull out and form another split, which he dubbed the "Living Church of God". Once again he was the undisputed leader. The Living Church of God, with several thousand members throughout the world, supports Meredith's evangelistic efforts through the Tomorrow's World magazine and television show.
Meredith was famous in the WCG for the bombastic and dogmatic way he wrote and spoke about Bible Prophecy, as well as a number of controversial areas such as race relations. Articles by Meredith in the Plain Truth in the mid-1960s promoted the idea that God had ordained racial segregation in the Bible.
Here are samples of Meredith's pronouncements from the 1960s, during a time when Herbert Armstrong was dogmatically declaring that Christ would return to earth in 1975, and that the WCG's members would be taken to a "place of safety" by 1972 where they would ride out the worst years of the "Great Tribulation."
"Frankly, literally dozens of prophesied events indicate that this final revival of the Roman Empire in Europe-and its bestial persecution of multitudes of Bible-believing Christians-will take place within the next seven to ten years of your life!"
(The Plain Truth, Feb. 1965, p. 48.)"Bible prophecy indicates that the final attack on the U.S. and Britain by this coming 'Beast' power could easily be launched perhaps as early as the spring of 1972-or earlier ...."
(The Plain Truth, May 1965, p. 45.)"After 1965, we are destined to run into increasing trouble with the Gentile nations. America and Britain will begin to suffer from trade embargoes imposed by the brown and oriental races.... We will begin to experience the pangs of starvation and the scarcity of goods!"
(The Plain Truth, August 1957)"You might as well wake up and FACE FACTS! The world you live in won’t be here 15 years from now!"
(The Plain Truth, December 1963)In spite of the fact that none of these predictions turned out to be true, Meredith to this day continues to make similar dogmatic predictions:
We are going to be spanked by the Great God [spanking is a recurrent theme with Rod]… World War III is coming up… I am God’s servant and God’s witness… I myself, Mr. Ames and others, may be killed or martyred… We are at that time now… We are entering the last generation… those under 20 years of age are undoubtedly living in the last complete generation of this world’s society. (Tomorrow's World broadcast, 2001, "Is this the last generation." )
Founder (1960s) and authoritarian head of the Assemblies of Yahweh denomination. Publishes the Sacred Name Broadcaster magazine and uses a shortwave radio tower to disseminate his Sacred Name Broadcast radio program around the world.
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One of the most influential women Word Faith teachers. Offers common sense advice and her own personal inspirational approach to healing emotions and relationships, but unfortunately mixes them with hard-core Word Faith doctrinal teachings. Disseminates her teachings via the Life in the Word radio and TV broadcasts, many audio tape collections, and numerous books.
An excellent in-depth four-part series of investigative reports regarding the history and activities of Meyer's ministry can be seen at the St. Louis Post Dispatch newspaper's website at:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/joycemeyer.nsf/
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Hebrew Roots teacher with prophetic ministry. Speculates extensively on various conspiracy theories. Promotes the "Bible Codes," and the belief that angels had sex with women before the Flood of Noah.
As noted on
http://cultlink.com/plagiarism/plgchart.htm
...Admitted plagiarizing a portion of Professor Edwin Yamauchi (Miami of Ohio) University) 1982 book, Foes From the Northern Frontier in his own 1992 book (co-written by [Hal] Lindsey) titled The Magog Factor.
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One of the founders of the controversial so-called "Shepherding Movement" of the Charismatic renewal of the 1970s, along with Ern Baxter, Charles Simpson, Derek Prince, and Don Basham.
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Pentecostal/Charismatic author and televangelist, part of the Word Faith movement, who specializes almost exclusively in fund-raising--on his own TV show and the shows of other televangelists. He learned the "seed faith" principle from his mentor, Oral Roberts, and enthusiastically promotes it throughout all of his own efforts in writing and preaching. Some religious commentators compare Murdock's money-solicitation tactics to those of discredited televangelist Robert Tilton. The comparison is apt. Like most popular Word Faith televangelists, Murdock lives an unabashedly lavish life-style, which has brought his ministry's non-profit status under scrutiny by the press and tax authorities. And like many of the others, although it might be difficult to pin on him charges of technically illegal actions, the ethics and Christian integrity of his ministry seem to well deserve such scrutiny and criticism.
A three-part investigative report regarding Murdock's ministry, reprinted from the Fort Worth Star Telegram newspaper, beginning 3/2/2003 is online at:
An in-depth evaluation of Murdock's teachings as they compare to the Scriptures is online at:
http://www.letusreason.org/Popteac19.htm
Sample excerpts:
On LeSea’s telethon [Lester E Summerall Evangelistic Association's TV network] to raise the funds he appeals in unusual manners by saying the blessing is only for 120 or for 70 people. Using biblical numbers that people recognize he abuses the context they were used in explaining to them that it is the Holy Spirit that is giving him this number. He prompts a certain number of people to quickly go to the phone. He explains they need to call in now while he is on the program, don’t hesitate now is the time, don’t miss the opportunity (If they hesitate and think about it they may certainly change their mind). Whether they are the 5, 13, 25, 40, 70, 100 or 120; different numbers are used all the time as he says God is leading him to give them a blessing for their seed. He asked the Holy Spirit to show him 120 people who would sow a $200 seed (June 18, 2001). Another time he asks the Lord to give him twelve unusual seed sowers of $1,000 each on his program. I wonder, if more than twelve give a $1,000 seed does he say we can’t accept this money and return it saying the Lord only told me 12? I don’t think so, do you!
... Murdock even offers upgrades on your seed - on one Telethon “there is somebody who called in the last 24 hours ... the Holy Spirit is telling you to upgrade your seed.” “The Holy Spirit is telling you come back to the telephone dial the 1-800 number… The Holy Spirit is telling you right now to upgrade your seed. When you change your seed you change your harvest.” But if you don’t do this quickly you will miss the opportunity. Like a sale at the shopping center people are prompted by Murdock’s advertising to move on this quickly or lose their opportunity for a miracle harvest. Now there are upgrades to seed faith, but its not free. Again I ask if there such a promise in Scripture? He then tells the people “the thousand dollars you keep wouldn’t make you debt free, if you kept the thousand you still owe everything you owe.” Not if you’re saving it to pay off a debt; but the truth is if you give Murdock the thousand dollars you’re way more in debt than when you first started. Something to seriously think about.
... Murdock says “There is about 6 levels of sowing that I have had uncommon blessing, one of them was one thousand seed”
Murdock gives a powerful significance to certain amounts of the seed “There’s been 5 levels of uncommon reaping in my life. One was a $58 seed I’ve been telling you about. One was $100, $200, $1,000 and $8,500. The thousand dollar seed broke the back of poverty in my life.” Nobody can sow this thousand dollars for you, you say Mike I never sowed any seed like that. That’s why you never reaped from that kind of harvest.” (Keys to the Kingdom LeSea).
“In the name of Jesus I speak four supernatural uncommon miracles in your life” He then tells the listeners to plant a $1000 seed.
“There is an uncommon anointing even right now on the thousand dollar seed through this ministry.” In my experience I believe there is the greatest anointing on a thousand dollar seed right now that there has ever been on any telethon on any service I’ve ever spoken” (Lesea fund raiser19 97 video tape).
When his convincing has not worked He resorts to manipulate his viewers by thinking it’s the devil who holds them back “Whatever seed stops you, that’s what Satan has purchased your future for, if Satan can stop my giving at $1,000 faith that’s where Satan has found the price tag on my future.”
...“I broke the back of poverty with a thousand dollar seed, its what you can walk away from you mastered. If you can walk away from a thousand dollars you’ve mastered greed for the rest of your life. Satan can’t torment you.”
Is he kidding! What kind of a promise is this? Can a thousand dollars given to Murdock or his ministry actually make one free from greed their whole life? Where does Holy Scripture ever say such a thing? I guess for these people who so earnestly give it does not have to be in Scripture but said by the mouth of a prosperity prophet. If someone has a lot of money $1,000 is a drop in the bucket how would this affect their greed? He’s making this all up and the naïve and gullible believe it! Better know your Bible before you give away all your money to people like this.
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Founder and spokesman for the Shepherd's Chapel ministry and television program. The program has been on local Public Access channels late at night for many years. In recent years it has shown up on an increasing number of commercial stations, both secular and religious. Casual viewers who don't follow the program consistently seem to view it as just a nice old gentleman helping Bible students to carefully study the Bible verse by verse. Only those who commit more diligently to listen to all the programs and send for extra recordings of "deeper studies" will finally realize that Murray's "exegesis" of Bible passages is extremely idiosyncratic, his interpretations range from fanciful to fanatical, and are laced with both racism and anti-semitism ... and much more. A more extensive profile on Murray is currently being prepared for the Field Guide.
Prominent leader in the Reconstructionist or "Kingdom Now" movement. Son-in-law of the late R. J. Rushdoony, considered the father of the reconstructionist movement.
He is most famous for his many failed predictions, including his prognostications regarding the "Y2K" computer bug. Here is a sample excerpt from one article in January 1999 about his predictions:
WASHINGTON -- For decades Gary North has made a living predicting modern society will end in panic and ruin. In 1980, he forecast rationing of housing and a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. He warned his followers to buy "gold, silver, a safe place outside the major cities." Then AIDS became the threat: "In 1992, we will run out of available hospital beds.... The world will eventually panic," he wrote in 1987. Now North has found Y2K and a skittish audience receptive to predictions of doom. A recent advertisement for his Remnant Review newsletter proclaims: "A bank run like no other will bankrupt banks all over the world in 1999." If you fork over $225 for a 24-issue subscription, North will cheerfully equip you with "the tools you need to build untouchable wealth." His advice is familiar, if unsurprising: Close your bank accounts, sell your stocks. Buy guns, gold, and grain. Move to a remote cabin where you can survive the collapse of Western civilization, safe from riots and hungry looters.
"The code is broken. It cannot be fixed. The panic is inevitable. It's a question of when," he wrote on garynorth.com last month. "Through his Web site he can help to fan the flames of Y2K panic to create social disorder so the social systems of the world crash. It's out of the ashes of those systems that he thinks the kingdom will rise," says Frederick Clarkson, author of the book Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy. Nope. It's none other than the Kingdom of God and the return of Jesus Christ, events that North believes won't happen until a Draconian biblical law is imposed for a thousand years. For North, there's no better way to pull the plug on an ungodly society than fanning the flames of Y2K panic. "He wants to make sure the banking system crashes. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy," Clarkson says.
See the website linked above for more details. You can read comments from that same website made after North's Y2K predictions failed miserably at:
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(1870-1937) The first person to allegedly receive "the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues" in the "Pentecostal movement" that began in 1900. She was at the Bethel Bible School led by Charles Parham in Topeka, Kansas. Parham later recorded that on December 31, 1900, he laid hands on her and prayed that she would receive "the baptism" and "speak in tongues." And she allegedly immediately began "speaking in the Chinese tongue."
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Anglican teacher and prolific writer. Author, contributing author, or editor of over 140 books, a number of them considered "classics" in the field of popular Christian/inspirational writing. Has been Senior Editor of Christianity Today magazine.
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International evangelist who has patterned his highly successful ministry after that of Billy Graham. Born in Argentina, he moved to the US as a young man, attended Multnomah School of the Bible, and began a career in public evangelism in the 1960s. Although his ministry is centered in the US, his evangelical efforts in South America have earned him the nick-name "the Billy Graham of South America." The main thrust of his ministry since 1999 has been what are called "Festivals," large, free evangelistic extravaganzas held in metropolitan areas.
Envision the biggest party you’ve ever attended. Multiply attendance by 100 or even 1,000. Now add two full days of fun, awesome Christian bands, world-class skateboarding demos, and opportunities to see your friends and family come to Jesus Christ. That, my friend, is a Luis Palau Festival.
Since 1999, more than 2,490,000 people worldwide have enjoyed Luis Palau’s “Great music! Good News!” festivals. A festival offers fun for the whole family—fantastic food, top Christian musicians, a VeggieTales children’s area complete with Bob and Larry, and a 10,000 square-foot skate park featuring some of the best professional skaters and BMX riders.
These festivals are sponsored by local churches in the area around where the festival will be held, with plans taking up to two years to put in place. As with Billy Graham, Palau's version of the Gospel is so "doctrinally neutral" that it is not uncommon to find such diverse groups as Roman Catholics, Charismatics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Nazarenes, and more cooperating in bringing Palau's Festival to town.
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Word Faith televangelist. Pastor of independent Charismatic World Harvest Church in Columbus, Ohio, which supports Parsley's Breakthrough television show and associated Breakthrough Ministry. Particularly noticeable for his Old-time-fire-and-brimstone, flamboyant, bombastic, dripping-sweat preaching style which is full of gratuitous theatrical posturing and gesturing and lots of "oratorical devices" such as catchy phrases emphasizing alliteration of sounds. The official Breakthrough Ministry website is at http://www.breakthrough.net/ .
A detailed overview of the history of Parsley and his ministry, with an evaluation of some of his specific teachings in light of the scriptures, can be seen at
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Referred to in his own circles as "Bishop Earl Paulk." Foremost popular preacher in the Kingdom Now movement, and one of those men recognized in the Modern Apostles and Prophets movement as a bonafide modern prophet. Pastor and chief "prophet" of the independent Charismatic Cathedral at Chapel Hill (formerly Chapel Hill Harvester Church) in Decatur, Georgia. Paulk was embroiled in 2001 in an ongoing scandal involving allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Paulk and others on the staff of the Cathedral. Serious accusations have continued to be featured in news reports about Paulk's ministry until the present time (2006) and seem to have contributed to the replacement of Paulk as Senior Pastor of the church by his nephew D.E. Paulk in August 2006. At that point, Paulk's regular TV program, normally broadcast on Trinity Broadcasting Network and on the Internet, disappeared from the broadcast schedules.
Details of the allegations are available in a Christianity Today article at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/003/3.23.html
And a video clip from a CNN investigative TV report can be seen at
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Former popular Word Faith television evangelist, part of the Healing Ministries Movement , who was exposed as a fraud in 1987. He claimed to have an astounding "gift of the word of knowledge" whereby he would call "complete strangers" out of the audience at healing crusades and reveal personal details about them and their ailments. A team of investigators led by James Randi discovered that associates of Popoff would actually gather information about those in the audience before the meetings began, note it down in writing and give it to Popoff's wife. She would then sit in a trailer outside the meeting hall in front of a television monitor showing the audience. And when the meeting began, she would broadcast information to a hidden transmitter in Popoff's ear, identifying for him people in the audience that he could call up for his "performance," and feeding him information about them that he could use to astound them and the audience. Randi appeared on TV and played for a live audience a recording his investigators had made of Popoff's wife's voice broadcasting such information to him.
This revelation destroyed his ministry at the time. Astonishingly, however, Popoff has evidently resurrected his ministry, and now has a website promoting it again, including offers for a number of Word Faith books he has written, and descriptions of his new TV program, international crusades and more.
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One of the most popular Black Word Faith televangelists. Protégé of Kenneth Hagin, alumni of Hagin's Rhema Bible Institute. Pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles, California, which supports his Ever Increasing Faith broadcasts and ministry.
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One of the founders of the controversial so-called "Shepherding Movement" of the Charismatic renewal of the 1970s, along with Ern Baxter, Charles Simpson, Bob Mumford, and Don Basham.
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Former professional stage magician ("The Amazing Randi") who has used his knowledge of sleight-of-hand and other magic tricks in recent decades to expose the deceptive and unscrupulous methods of some evangelists, such as Peter Popoff. His James Randi Educational Foundation also deals in investigating non-religious claims of paranormal abilities, pseudo-scientific gadgets, etc., such as the "spoon-bending" of Russian Uri Geller.
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Founder and pastor of Believers In Grace Fellowship. Pentecostal author who writes in-depth critical refutations of what he believes to be serious aberrations promoted by leading teachers in the HyperCharismatic Movement.
The following books by Randles can be ordered at
http://www.believersingrace.com/store/books.php
Making War in the Heavenlies (re: "spiritual warfare")
Weighed and Found Wanting (re: the "Toronto Blessing")
Beware of the New Prophets (re: "Modern Apostles and Prophets")
Mending the Nets (re: Modern Gnosticism)
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Former member of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong. Was employed for a time as a research writer at the WCG headquarters. Left during the turmoils in that organization in the late 1970s. Formed his own ministry, Cornerstone Publications, in the early 1990s, distributing a magazine and sermon tapes mostly to former WCG members. In 1999 it was discovered that many of his sermon tapes, which sounded like dynamic extemporaneous preaching, were actually created by him secretly recording himself doing dramatic "interpretive reading" of portions of various books by Christian authors. A number of these books were from hyper-charismatic and/or Word Faith teachers such as Rick Joyner and Rod Parsley. These were not "adaptations" of the ideas or examples in books ... he read them word for word, using inflections that even indicated, at times, that he was "searching for just the right word to express a thought" ... when the next word he was going to say was there all along, right in front of him in the book. He would, at times, change just words and phrases in the reading to apply incidents to himself or adjust doctrinal positions to align more with those of his listeners. And he might digress occasionally to add his own interpretations or thoughts. But most of the time he read whole paragraphs and pages word for word.
When confronted privately by friends and colleagues about this deception, he first denied the extent of the problem, blatantly lying about it to even his close friends and associates, referring to it as occasionally neglecting to "properly cite sources." When the documentation of some of the incidents was finally made public, he confessed to a small portion of the problem, but has continued to the present to conceal from his supporters the full scope of his extensive word-for-word plagiarism, which had continued for almost a decade, from the time of the publication of his very first Cornerstone magazine. The expose' of this situation caused many of his long-time supporters and some of his closest associates to abandon support of his ministry, as he adamantly chose to not deal honestly with the matter. Details of the situation are covered in the following two articles.
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Pentecostal author whose writings emphasize critical evaluation of the Spiritual Warfare movement and the Ecumenical movement within Pentecostal and Charismatic circles. Reddin was for many years a professor of the Assemblies of God Central Bible College.A condensation of much of the information in her best-known book Power Encounter: A Pentecostal Perspective (Opal L. Reddin, editor, revised edition, © 1999) can be read at:
http://www.zyworld.com/Discernment/1999_SeptemberOctober.pdf
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Pioneer "healing" televangelist. He was the first to broadcast tent healing services on the fledgling television medium in the early 1950s. He popularized the concept of the term seed faith, encouraging his audiences to believe that, if they "sowed a seed" of financial contributions to his ministry, they would reap financial and health blessings from God. He founded Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which opened in 1965. The Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association currently produces the daily "Something Good Tonight--Hour of Healing" TV program which is hosted by Roberts' son Richard Roberts. He is an active part of the Healing Ministries movement and Word Faith movement. And he endorses and participates in activities which promote the Toronto Blessing and the Holy Laughter movement.
A 1985 book review of a biography of Roberts, investigating the history of his ministry and evaluating some of his claims, can be seen at:
http://cnview.com/on_line_resources/the_life_and_ministry_of_oral_roberts.htm
Some interesting quotes from Roberts can be seen at:
Patti Roberts, first wife of Oral Roberts' son Richard, wrote a 1983 book, Ashes to Gold, about her experiences in the Roberts' clan before her divorce from Richard. In it she shared her perspective on the "seed faith" doctrine as taught by Oral:
"The seed-faith theology that Oral had developed bothered me a great deal because I saw that, when taken to its natural extremes, it reduced God to a sugar daddy. If you wanted His blessings and His love, you paid Him off. Over and over again we heard Oral say, 'Give out of your need.' I began to question the motivation that kind of giving implied. Were we giving to God out of our love and gratitude to Him or were we bartering with Him?" (p.63)
"The distinction may appear to be too subtle and I know Oral thought I was splitting hairs, but it seemed supremely important to me. If we give to God because we think that by giving we have somehow placed Him in our debt and He is now required to come through for us and meet our needs, we have, I believe, perverted the heart of the gospel. Our only motive for giving should be love. When we encourage people to give in order to have their needs met or so that they will receive "a hundred fold return" I believe we are appealing to their sense of greed or desperation, neither of which seemed admirable to me. It was a wonderful fund-raising tool, but I believe it gave people a very unbalanced view of a very important biblical principle. At the time I was taking a humanities course from the university and my professor was discussing Martin Luther and the Reformation. When we started looking at the abuses in the Catholic church that Luther had wanted to reform, I began to see parallels in our situation. Luther was incensed by the church's practice of selling indulgences - offering forgiveness of sin and a shorter period of time in purgatory in return for gifts to the church. I had a very difficult time distinguishing between the selling of indulgences and the concept of Seed Faith inflated to the degree to which we had inflated it. Of course, Oral was more subtle. He never promised salvation in exchange for gifts to his ministry, but there were still many people who believed that God was going to look at them in a kindlier way and perhaps that son would get off drugs or they would get their drunken husband into heaven if they gave money to Oral Roberts." (p. 120,121)[ Return to alphabetic index ]
Son of pioneer healing televangelist Oral Roberts. Now that Oral Roberts is in his late 80s, Richard has taken over as CEO of Oral Roberts University and the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. And he is the host of the OREA's television program, "Something Good Tonight--Hour of Healing." He is an active part of the Healing Ministries movement and Word Faith movement. And he endorses and participates in activities which promote the Toronto Blessing and the Holy Laughter movement.
A 1983 book by Roberts' first wife Patti, Ashes to Gold, gave an interesting glimpse into the inner workings of the Roberts empire. A telling quote from that book:
"I know a lot of people were blessed and sincerely ministered to by what we sang on TV, and by what we said - but the overall picture, I’m afraid, seemed to say, ‘If you follow our formula, you’ll be like us,’ rather than, ‘If you do what Jesus says, you’ll be like Him.’ It was certainly more exciting to follow us, because to follow us was to identify with success, with glamor, with a theology that made everything good and clean and well-knit together. To identify with Jesus, however, meant to identify with the cross."
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Founder (1960) of the first US Christian television network, the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Robertson is the host of CBN's "flagship" program, "700 Club." He is also founder of Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, and the American Center for Law and Justice, described on his website as "a public interest law firm and education group that defends the First Amendment rights of people of faith. The law firm focuses on pro-family, pro-liberty and pro-life cases nationwide."
Because Robertson often focuses on political or prophetic topics in his broadcasts, many viewers are not aware that his basic theological positions are squarely in the middle of the Charismatic Word Faith camp. He also promotes the Toronto Blessing and Holy Laughter movements.
Useful documentation on his ministry can be seen at the following link. Please note that linking to this site does not indicate a blanket endorsement of the opinions and evaluations of the author of the material there. But the documentation can stand on its own, and the reader can come to his/her own conclusions regarding the significance of the facts as weighed against the teachings of the Bible.
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/robertson/general.htm
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Former member of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong. Started an independent ministry in about 1995 called the Church Outreach Program. Self-proclaimed only spokesman for God on earth at this time.
(Click on Roenspies' name above for a longer profile elsewhere in the Field Guide.)
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Self-styled "Messianic Rabbi" who predicted dogmatically in 2000 that the Day of the Lord would begin that year on the Feast of Trumpets. (Click on name for longer profile elsewhere in the Field Guide.)
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Messianic Jewish host of Messianic Vision, nationally syndicated radio, TV and publishing ministry. His radio programs feature interviews with an extremely wide variety of teachers, preachers, prophetic wannabees, promoters of theological novelties such as the Bible Codes, and much more. Roth is particularly influential in four different religious circles: his ministry provides "Messianic" material aimed at "sharing the Gospel with Jews," emphasizes Hebrew Roots study topics for non-Jewish Christians, promotes a variety of speculative prophecy teachers in the End Times Prophecy movement, and promotes the manifestations of the more radical fringes of the Charismatic movement such as Holy Laughter and the Toronto Blessing.
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Considered the father of the Christian Reconstruction/ Kingdom Now movement. Father-in-law of Gary North. Died 2001.
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Bible teacher of the 1800s and early 1900s who created the magazine Zion's Watchtower and Herald of the Coming Kingdom, the precursor to the Watchtower magazine of the Jehovah's Witnesses of today. Author of many articles and books used as part of the doctrinal foundation of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Writings also accepted by a number of rival groups to the Jehovah's Witnesses, such as the Dawn Bible Students, as their primary doctrinal foundation.
(Click on Russel's name above for a major profile of the Watchtower movement, including details about Russell.)
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Head of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and dictatorial leader of the Jehovah's Witnesses movement after the death of Charles Taze Russell. Coined the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" for the movement. (Click on Rutherford's name above for a major profile on the Jehovah's Witness movement, including details about Rutherford.)
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Vineyard leader, Pastor and mentor of Bill McCartney (founder of the Promise Keepers movement). Viewed by some as a "prophet." Prophesied, among other extremely unusual things, that the Beatles got their musical gift from God. Details at: http://www.seekgod.ca/ryle.htm
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Popular Word Faith preacher, teacher and author. Founder of Jerry Savelle Ministries International and host of the Adventures in Faith weekly TV program. Savelle is a disciple of Kenneth Copeland, and is primarily a regurgitator of the standard Word Faith (healing and prosperity) teachings of Copeland and other long-time Word Faith teachers, rather than an innovator in any way in either content or delivery style.
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Founder and pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California and televangelist on the Hour of Power television program. Although Schuller started out as an ordained minister of the Reformed Church, the "Gospel" that he now preaches has little in common with either that denomination or most of the rest of Christianity. He has abandoned almost any reference to such standard Biblical themes as sin, repentance, regeneration, salvation or the central role of Jesus as Lord and Savior, other than in name only. For the central point of his message is the importance of human self-esteem. The teacher who most influenced his own perspective on religion was fellow Reformed minister Norman Vincent Peale, and his Power of Positive Thinking theme. Schuller embellished on Peale's teachings and dubbed his own version " Possiblity Thinking." And he does not just "add" some positive/possibility encouragement and inspirational messages to standard Gospel preaching. He has abadoned virtually all Biblical theology to re-create God in the image of his own "success motivation" paradigm.
Although he uses terms that sound biblical, he gives them his own idiosyncratic definitions, which twist their meaning almost beyond recognition. And although for some strange reason he is accepted with open arms in many Protestant Christian settings, including in particular the Charismatic movement, his theology is so eclectic and ecumenical that he can just as easily cooperate with Roman Catholics, Muslims, Unitarians and just about any other group.
Catholic connections:
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/schuller/general.htm
In 1972, Schuller "invited Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen to his pulpit and joined with Catholic bishops at their Mass at the Annual Mary's Hour at the Los Angeles Sports Arena" (David Beale, S.B.C. House on the Sand, p. 144). During the Pope's visit to Los Angeles in 1987, Schuller "played the papal hoopla on [his church's] giant-sized screen for people to come watch." Schuller said: "It's time for Protestants to go to the shepherd [Pope] and say 'what do we have to do to come home?'" (11/15/87, Calvary Contender). When Schuller was planning for the building of his Crystal Cathedral, he made a special trip to Rome to ask the Pope's blessing on the building plans (Foundation, March-April 1990).
Muslim connections:
Chicago Tribune, 11/2/2001 http://www.apologeticsindex.org/news1/an011104-06.html
Schuller's first interaction with a Muslim group came four years ago, when Mohammed invited him to give the opening sermon at the Muslim American Society's New Jersey convention. And in 1999, he was asked by the grand mufti of Syria to preach in Damascus.
"When I met the grand mufti ... I sensed the presence of God," he wrote in his autobiography.
The two men, he said, focused on similarities, not differences.
"We didn't discuss theological details that might distract us ... from hearing the voice of a crying child," he said.
Nor did they talk about whether non-Christians were going to hell.
"In a world with crying children we have no time," he said.
"The purpose of religion is not to say, 'I have all the answers, and my job is to convert you.' That road leads to the Twin Towers. That attitude is an invitation to extremists," he said.
After Sept. 11, he said, the emphasis should move from proselytizing "to just trying to help everybody who had hurts and hopes."
Some sample typical quotes from Schuller's classic book Self-Esteem: The New Reformation, 1982:
Self-Esteem:
Self-esteem then, or "pride in being a human being," is the single greatest need facing the human race today.
I strongly suggest that self-love is the ultimate will of man¾ that what you really want more than anything else in the world is the awareness that you are a worthy person.
Do not fear pride: the easiest job God has is to humble us. God's almost impossible task is to keep us believing every hour of every day how great we are as his sons and daughters on planet earth.
Sin:
I am convinced that the deepest of all human needs is salvation from sin and hell .... We come now to the problem of semantics. What do I mean by sin? Answer: Any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of his children of their right to divine dignity.
I could offer another complementing answer, "Sin is that deep lack of trust that separates me from God and leaves me with a sense of shame and unworthiness." I can offer still another answer: "Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem. "
Any analysis of "sin" or "evil"... that fails to see the lack of self-dignity as the core of the problem will prove to be too shallow. Classical Reformed Theology declares that we are conceived and born rebellious sinners. But that answer is too shallow. It ignores the tough question: Why should love-needing persons resist, rebel against, and reject beautiful love? The answer? We are born nontrusting. Deep down we feel we are not good enough to approach a holy God.
Jesus' view of sinners:
He never did call them "sinners." He saw great possibilities in each of these men. How He tried to give them the sense of self-worth and dignity that they deserved! After all, they were human beings, descendants of God.
Christ always tried to give man's self-image a boost. When he met immoral people He never called them sinners. Never!
He believed in the dignity of the individual. So He never called a person a sinner. He always saw the individual as a saint.
"Take up your cross":
"The classical interpretation of this teaching of Christ on 'bearing our cross' desperately needs reformation...."
"The cross Christ calls us to bear will be offered as a dream... an inspiring idea that would incarnate itself in a form of ministry that helps the self-esteem-impoverished persons to discover their self-worth through salvation and subsequent social service in our Savior's name..."
"So the proclamation of possibility thinking is the positive proclamation of the cross!..."
"Christ was the world's greatest possibility thinker. Do we dare follow him?"
These and other quotations can be seen at:
http://www.issuesetc.org/resource/archives/gudel2.htm
Another website with overview and evaluation of Schuller's ministry:
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/schuller/general.htm
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Evangelist from Liverpool, England who is a major player in the Toronto Blessing and Holy Laughter movement. His main claim to fame is the selection of incredible video clips available on the Internet of some his "drunk in the spirit" pulpit shenanigans from the Toronto Airport Fellowship meetings . In these he behaves no differently from someone literally drunk on alcohol, complete with ignorant, ludicrous manifestations such as crowing like a rooster right in the middle of reading the scriptures. He ... and his apologists ... claim that this behavior is proof that he is powerfully under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Here is a transcript of portions of his performance ...
"Ok before we take off, clapping, lets get the reading done. Luke, LUKE. (Laughing) Chapter TWOOOOOOO. I tell you what... Lets look at chapter 1. Settle down please, Ladies and Gentlemen! Luke chapter 1 and verse 5. Lets go back to the reading... Luke chapter 1 verse, verse, verse, Chockadodaldoooo. Oh dear, haahah. Luke chapter 1 verse CHOCKADODALDO. For those of you having difficulty with that manifestation like myself... That's a wake up call. Zacharius was in the sanctuary when, ZACHARI. Zacharius was a member of the Dubabupida. Division. service corpse. One day Zacharius was going about his work in the temple Cockadodaldoo. Verse 10. praying, PRAYING!! for I have come to the god has herd your prayer WOW... WOWWWWW. God hears PRAYER! Verse 14 ladies and gentlemen, settle down now, settle down."
"... you know I . WOWHOO. I've been going through different stages of drunkenness. and the stage I'm at, at the moment is Slouching. I've gone through the hick up stage. I've gone through the phase of heckling the preachers. um. I am a sign and a wonder. When a prophet told me there was an anointing for me coming pre-1994, I thought great. But when that anointing came, it came in a package I didn't expect. It came in a package of offence. I've come to the conclusion that my gift is offending people. what can you do? You know I mean. I think Christians are to sensitive anyway you know, always winging. but it is a gift. I don't need to even say anything. um. I SHOT THE SHERIFF. AND I SHOT THE DEPUTY TOO! WOW, the sheriff is legalism. and the deputy is religion.(cheering) Um. that's good isn't it? that's copyrighted now. you can't copy it. heheh. I didn't ask for this. no I didn't. The problem was when I came through the doors November 1994. And the Lord said to me, "What do you want John"? I said I want to get drunk. I just forgot to tell him how long. Now I don't mind being drunk. Its great. But I said to the Lord. I don't like looking drunk, you know your eyes get blood shot. and he said to me. John, You see some of think God doesn't talk like that but he's very, he is a fun God. Lets get the fun back into church. And he said John, you see the rock stars on breakfast TV, they always wear sunglasses. so he said get yourself a pair of sunglasses. I call these glasses glory shades. I'm sure Moses would have worn them if they had them in the old testament. Whoahhh, Now hang in please, hang in. fasten your seat belt. we may have a bit of turbulence tonight. and you might want to run, but hang on in. lets go back to the reading."
Much more can be not only read but seen on video in The John Scotland Video Collection
http://www.cephasministry.com/tongues_video_doc_scotland.html
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Pentecostal layman who founded in 1951 the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International (FGBMFI). The FGBMFI was instrumental in introducing the practices and beliefs of the old-time Pentecostals into "respectable" circles, thus paving the way for the rise of the current Charismatic movement. To understand the full impact of this, see the Field Guide entry on the difference between the terms Pentecostal and Charismatic.
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One of the founders of the controversial so-called "Shepherding Movement" of the Charismatic renewal of the 1970s, along with Ern Baxter, Bob Mumford, Derek Prince, and Don Basham.
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Orthodox Jewish rabbi who is the most prominent apologist for Judaism against Christianity. Founded a ministry called Outreach Judaism which distributes his tapes and writings on "disproving" the Messianic claims of Jesus. These are widely circulated in both Jewish circles and in some ex-Christian circles.(Click on Singer's name above for more details.)
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Founder and senior pastor of the Calvary Chapel Church of Costa Mesa, California and teacher on the nationwide radio program The Word for Today. Smith was one of the earliest pastoral supporters of the "Jesus Movement" of the late 1960s and early 1970s. His Calvary Chapel Church, started in 1965 with only 25 people, is now the central headquarters church in a Calvary Chapel movement which has hundreds of affiliated churches around the world. The late John Wimber, founder of the Vineyard Movement association of churches, was at one time a pastor of a Calvary Chapel affiliate, breaking with Smith's organization in 1977. The Calvary Chapel movement is charismatic in many ways, but rejected some of the more flamboyant of the charismatic manifestations that were beginning to be promoted by Wimber and others who helped establish the earliest Vineyard chuches. As with many such Charismatic organizations founded by men with strong personalities, the leadership model of the Calvary Chapel Churches is one of tight control from the top down both on the national level and on the individual congregational level.
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Radio evangelist, editor of the Newswatch magazine and head of the Church of God Evangelistic Association. Former member of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong. Self-styled primary spokesman for God on earth today. Broadcasts, sermon tapes and writings emphasize world news events as fulfillment of Bible prophecy, with particular emphasis on the British Israel theory. (Click on Smith's name above to go to a more extensive profile.)
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Nineteenth Century founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons. (Click on Smith's name above to go to a more extensive profile.)
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Founder and self-proclaimed super-apostle of the Twelve Tribes Messianic Communities, over which he evidently has total authoritarian control. Below him are other apostles, and then levels of elders and deacons--who are also to be obeyed without question by all in the local communities. As of 2001, there were approximately 2,500 people reported living in 25+ such communities in the Northeastern US, Missouri, Colorado, Canada, Australia, Europe (France, Spain, Germany, England), and South America (Brazil, Argentina).
As with many founders/leaders of exclusivist, authoritarian groups, Spriggs has proclaimed that he has restored "true" Biblical faith, which has been missing from the world for 1900 years. One former member described the level of commitment necessary to join the group this way:
http://neirr.org//mcquotes.html
"To enter salvation you must....
Give up all your possessions to The Body (not to charity - like monks, etc.)
Give up your spouse and children if they don't come with you.
Give up your mind and all your opinions.
Obey the elders and shepherds without question.
Give up your parents and relatives and only visit them (with permission) if they do not oppose The Body.
Give up any dreams or aspirations you ever had.
Give up all previous spiritual faith/beliefs/practices.
Publically renounce Christianity, if you were heavily involved in it.
Become a literal slave with no rights, no civil liberties of any kind.. Freedom of movement, Education, Media access, Freedom of religion, Etc. it's all gone."The most complete description of the group is probably the material at the site of the New England Institute for Religious Research:
The site authors note that they had been studying the group since 1994 when they were contacted by a woman attempting to leave the group:
That encounter began an odyssey for us that has involved literally thousands of hours of research and investigation as we have tried to understand this relatively "new religious movement." We have not taken this lightly and have tried to leave "no stone unturned" in seeking to understand this group. We have visited seven of their communities numerous times (Bellows Falls and Island Pond, Vermont; Boston and Hyannis, Massachusetts; and Providence, Rhode Island; Gorham, Maine; Buffalo, New York), interviewed at least 75 current members, members who left and came back to the group, a variety of other "friends " of the Community, close to two dozen ex-members from around the country, distressed relatives of current members, law enforcement officials, lawyers, newspaper reporters and university academics. We studied all the written data we could find including hundreds of news articles dating back to the early '70's in Chattanooga, Tennessee where the group began. We gathered court records, reports from various government agencies, and correspondence to and from the group. We have also collected their own printed materials...Freepapers, InterTribal News, booklets, tracts and other works produced for the public's consumption. Finally, but most significantly, many people gave us hundreds of the "teachings" of their "apostle," without which it would have been difficult to put all that we have found into perspective.
We decided to put our research into writing and on the Web for four reasons. First, there is literally nothing written on Twelve Tribes that is helpful in understanding who they are, how they began, and what they believe. Second, their impact belies the actual size of the group. Third, it has become very evident, upon reviewing all that we have learned, that many lives have been devastated by involvement with Twelve Tribes. Fourth, they are a classic study of how a group begins with the best of intentions but, over time, evolves into something far different than what was originally intended. The "apostle" of the group, Elbert Eugene Spriggs, essentially has a "direct pipeline" to God and no real accountability. This is a very dangerous combination in any situation.Another helpful overview of the history, teachings and practices of the Twelve Tribes group can be seen at:
And a large collection of articles and documentation regarding Spriggs and the Twelve Tribes group can be seen at:
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Radio evangelist on the Overcomer broadcast, self-styled "God's Last Day Prophet to America." Dictatorial, authoritarian founder and leader of several Overcomer Communities where followers live in a communal lifestyle. Recently embroiled in scandal involving serious allegations of sexual and other abuse by Stair, which has resulted in a significant proportion of the residents of the Overcomer Communities defecting from the organization.(Click on Stair's name above to go to a more extensive profile.)
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Historian who has, more than any other modern author, methodically chronicled the rise of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement in America. He was originally ordained in the Pentecostal Holiness denomination, later served as General Secretary for that group. He has been Dean of the School of Divinity at Regent University (institution founded by televangelist Pat Robertson) since 1994. Unlike many authors in the Pentecostal tradition, Synan holds an earned PhD, from the University of Georgia. Among his books are The Century of the Holy Spirit: 100 Years of Pentecostal and Charismatic Renewal, 1901-2001 (Thomas Nelson), The Old-Time Power (Centennial Edition), and Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition (Eerdmans).
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James Tabor, currently a Professor at the University of North Carolina, is a former employee of Ambassador College and the Worldwide Church of God, although he severed ties with that organization many years ago. Still, he is a popular figure among former WCG members, a number of whom assume his background gives him a similar understanding to their own about the Bible. He has particularly gathered support among such folks for his "Original Bible Project," a new translation of the Bible in progress which purports to be more historically and linguistically accurate than previous translations because it takes into consideration more carefully the Israelite and Judaic background underlying the writings. However, most are unaware that Tabor no longer accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, nor does he accept the New Testament as inspired scripture.(Click on Tabor's name above for more details.)
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One of the most prolific "date setters" in End Time Prophecy movement history.
http://www.dhushara.com/book/rebirth/comment/kingdom
[Taylor,] One of America's most prominent prophecy teachers, organised a [1988] tour of Israel to coincide with Whisenant's date, [which predicted the Rapture to occur that year] priced $11,850 including 'return if necessary'. His publicity material used the possibility of Rapture from the Holy Land as a sales pitch: 'We stay at the Intercontinental Hotel right on the Mount of Olives where you can get the beautiful view of the Eastern Gate and the Temple Mount. And if this is the year of our Lord's return, as we anticipate, you may even ascend to Glory from within a few feet of His ascension."
It is surprising anyone would have paid attention to him by this time--Taylor had set no fewer than ten dates for the Rapture from 1975 through 1988. He then went on to make other predictions for 1989, 1992, and 1994. His death has likely been the only thing holding him back from continuing to set false dates right up to the present.
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Popular Bible teacher, founder of Berachah Church in Houston, Texas, referred to by his students as "Colonel Thieme". The emphasis of Berachah is the dissemination, primarily by a huge collection of tape recordings, of Thieme's unusual teachings. The Berachah website notes that "Thieme teaches from the original languages of Scripture in the light of the historical context in which the Bible was written. He has developed an innovative system of vocabulary, illustrations, and biblical categories designed to communicate the truths of God’s Word." Although the doctrinal statement of Berachah Church would be "orthodox" by the standards of many Protestant denominations, many of Thieme's actual teachings are very controversial, and many if not most of his devoted students believe him to be the only ultimate source for accurate Bible interpretation. These students are referred to by themselves and by Berachah as "tapers," since their primary function seems to be to listen daily to Thieme's recordings. The tapes (and now MP3 files), currently over 11,000 hours of recording according to the Berachah website, are provided free of charge to all who request them, at the rate of 20 every three weeks. One of his most controversial teachings is the "Doctrine of Right Pastor." The implication of this doctrine is that each Christian has one and only one pastor who can provide him or her with proper guidance and teaching, and that thus each Christian should seek out that pastor and give him total loyalty and obedience. Given the extreme emphasis on Thieme's own idiosyncratic doctrinal interpretations in the Berachah scheme of things, it seems obvious that his students believe only Thieme himself or those he has personally taught can possibly qualify as such a pastor. A number of websites evaluate some of Thieme's teachings, but the definitive analysis and overview of his earliest years is a book titled Bob Thieme's Teaching on Christian Living originally written in 1978 by Dr. Joe Wall as a Th.D. dissertation at Dallas Theological Seminary. It can be downloaded from the Net at no charge at
A Yahoo forum provided for former followers of Thieme is at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reboundtolife/
Description:
This group is intended to serve as a forum for people who believe they have been harmed or at least negatively affected in some way by the teachings of R.B. Thieme, Jr. of Berachah Church in Houston TX or one of the many Thieme related ministries or groups all over the world. Anyone with an interest in Thieme's teachings, pro or con, is welcome to comment. No slander or personal attacks will be tolerated. Foul or filthy language is not welcome. Abuse of or attacks on commenters is not welcome. Anyone is welcome to share their personal experiences within the "Thieme groups" but you do not have to have been a member or participant to express your feelings or concerns. The founder of this group was a faithful follower of Thieme for many years and finally became convinced that he was teaching some serious error and left. It was very helpful to me to read others' personal testimonies on the Internet so I founded this group to give a home to those of like mind. I hope to keep the level of discussion high and edifying to all, whether they agree or not with the teachings or practices of Thieme or his church. His nonbiblical "innovative" vocabulary makes it hard for "outsiders" to understand what we are talking about sometimes. If you recognize words and phrases such as "Rebound" "Bible doctrine" "Right pastor-teacher" "Textual criticism" "corrected translation" "Right man/right woman" "divine discipline" and even "triple compound divine discipline" then you are in the right discussion group. As I have said elsewhere, ABUSE CAN HAPPEN IN BIBLICALLY CONSERVATIVE, INDEPENDENT CHURCHES and no man or institution however beloved or learned is beyond falling into error or even heresy, so SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY TO SEE IF THESE THINGS ARE SO is absolutely vital no matter where you go to church or whose teaching you listen to. Anyone who has a need to discuss these matters is welcome.
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Popular Word Faith evangelist, founder of Dwight Thompson World Outreach Ministries. Thompson is one of the inner circle on Paul and Jan Crouch's Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and regularly appears on Praise the Lord shows and telethons on TBN. He has an extensive audio tape ministry which distributes his standard Word Faith (healing and prosperity) teachings.
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One of the most obnoxious televangelists in history, with the most ludicrous style of soliciting funds on his show ... which was mostly what he did on that show. Indeed, what he still does--for even though he was exposed as a greedy, unethical and conscienceless charlatan on national television in 1991, leading the to downfall of his ministry, he has made a startling comeback.
An article from 5/3/2003 in the Tulsa World newspaper summarizes Tilton's fall:
http://www.trinityfi.org/press/tulsaworld02.html
In 1991, ABC-TV's "PrimeTime Live" program reported that Tilton's Word of Faith World Outreach Center Church, then based in Dallas, was making $80 million a year from followers through its direct mail campaign. At the time, Tilton's television show, "Success-N-Life," was broadcast by 200 stations nationwide and his church claimed 10,000 members.
"PrimeTime Live" suggested Tilton's ministry engaged in mail fraud and showed contributors' letters, many of them requests for help, in a trash Dumpster outside Commercial Bank of Tulsa. A Tulsa recycler said he also found thousands of prayer requests for Tilton's ministry among the waste sent to him by a company that handled Tilton's mail.
The program sparked an investigation by the Texas attorney general and numerous lawsuits. Stations canceled Tilton's television program until it eventually went off the air.
He divorced his first wife, Marte Tilton, in 1993, and married evangelist and former beauty queen Leigh Valentine the following year.
Two years later, his first wife sued for more than $1 million and his marriage to Valentine ended in a bitter public feud. Valentine alleged Tilton, in a drunken rage, verbally abused her, claimed he was the pope and thought rats were eating his brain. She eventually lost her claim to church assets.
Tilton has since married a Florida woman, Maria Rodriguez.
Tilton sold his Dallas church in 1999 for $6.1 million. At the time, headlines dubbed Tilton a "beleaguered TV preacher" and news coverage portrayed a man beset by marital and financial problems. But he was already well into his comeback.
During testimony in his divorce from Valentine, Tilton testified that he was bringing in about $800,000 per month and living aboard a $450,000 yacht in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Records show the 50-foot yacht, named the Liberty Leigh, was registered to Tilton.
The Tulsa article offers several examples of solicitation letters sent to Tilton's mailing list, including the following two:
A thick mailing includes a large poster of Tilton with one hand raised and his eyes closed tightly, surrounded by 21 squares marking a calendar. The mailing includes 21 stickers that recipients are to peel off and affix each day to the poster. It also includes a red "prayer of agreement miracle cloth" and three forms that recipients can return along with financial donations during each week of the 21-day prayer "campaign."
Tilton is pictured throughout the mailing grimacing in prayer, on his knees praying and clutching a red cloth and praying.
"Take the enclosed poster of me and my hand and put it up on your refrigerator or a mirror . . . somewhere so that you'll see it every day. Then every day for the next 21 days . . . lay your hand on top of mine and agree with me for your miracle," the letter states.
The letter also directs recipients to trace their hand on a "miracle request" form and return it with the red prayer cloth. Tilton promises to take the requests and cloths "to my prayer room or my prayer altar on my daily TV program, Success-N-Life."
The letter ends by requesting "your best financial gift as an expression of appreciation."
"You don't buy God but all throughout the Bible, when people came to God with prayer requests, they always brought a quality offering."
~~~~~
"I must tell you boldly: God wants to make you rich. . . . God wants to make a millionaire out of certain ones who receive this letter. Is it you?"
The letter includes a large slip of paper fashioned into a $1 million bill and a penny glued to the reverse side. The bill includes a checklist of desires, including a new home, new car, a piece of real estate or money for vacation.
"I want you to put a checkmark on the back of the Million Dollar Bill of what you need or desire, and send it back to me, along with a Seed Faith Gift of $200. . . . This ministry has given you spiritual food, so it's time to pay your tithes."
Who would respond to such blatantly phony pitches for money? A woman who worked on a temporary assignment opening letters for Tilton's ministry is quoted in the Tulsa article regarding the letters which accompanied donations to the ministry:
"You cannot help but read them," she said. "All these letters were like, 'Pray for me,' because they were terminal or their son is terminal or there was no money for food . . . desperate situations."
She said nearly all of the letters she opened were from rural Florida or rural Georgia and they often contained cash in odd amounts.
"There would be like $17, and the letter would say, 'I realize I have to give $2 more than I usually give.' "
She described the letter writers as lonely homebound people in rural areas wanting help from God.
Yes, inexplicably, Tilton has been able to make a successful comeback into televangelism. He is using the same type of goofy gimmicks he used over a decade ago to get people to send money ... and sadly they are still doing the job. The Tulsa World article includes the following amazing details of Tilton's current status:
More than 10 years after his ministry collapsed in scandal, Robert Tilton is reaching millions of television viewers with his pitches for money, living comfortably in south Florida and maintaining a connection with Tulsa.
Far from shrinking into obscurity, Tilton is reaping millions from his mailing list and daily shows on Black Entertainment Television. He has formed two companies, bought a 50-foot yacht and purchased a $1.3 million piece of oceanfront property in Miami Beach through his company, records show.
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Founder of Banner Ministries, Webauthor of the http://www.banner.org.uk website. Provides extensive documentation on the individual teachers, leaders and groups of the Charismatic Renewal and Revival movements, and critical commentary and rebuttal of many of their teachings.
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Televangelist specializing in End Times Prophecy speculations. Van Impe prides himself on the amount of scripture he has committed to memory--especially from the prophetic sections of the Bible, and promotes himself as "The Walking Bible" because of his ability to quote exact passages without notes during extemporaneous speaking. Van Impe and his wife Rexella co-host his daily television program, Jack Van Impe Presents. The show emphasizes almost totally speculation on connections between current world events and trends and Bible prophecy.
Two areas of concern which critics have about Van Impe's ministry:
1. His propensity to strong speculation on specific timing of the Second Coming: he has proposed numerous dates over the past three decades. In the early 1970s, he insisted that the Russians were going to conquer America by 1976. As with most bold prophecy speculators, the failure of that speculation didn't cause him to miss a beat. He came back year after year with fresh speculations. By 1999 he was predicting that Christ would return some time between 2001 and 2012. He always claims, as do most bold prophecy speculators, that he isn't a "prophet" in the Biblical sense, but that his speculations are based on Bible study and insight from God. Unfortunately, also like most bold prophecy speculators, those who are enamored of his ministry ignore the numerous failures in his speculations and continue to view him as a "prophecy expert" ... even though almost none of the details of any of his speculations have ever panned out.
The following website provides transcripts of several Van Impe programs in which he speculates strongly on the imminency of the Return of Christ, coming very close to "setting a date" a number of times. It also provides documentation on several areas of concern about his teachings
The following article chronicles a number of strong speculations made by Van Impe, starting in 1976.
http://www.ministryserver.com/rwsr/part05_Famed_false_prophets.htm
2. His surprising about-face in the mid-1980s regarding the Roman Catholic Church: in the early years of his ministry, he promoted the standard Baptist perspective that the RCC was identified with the End Time "false religion" which would be aligned with the Beast Power of Revelation and would persecute true Christians. In recent years, he has begun regularly praising Pope John Paul II on his show, quotes enthusiastically from the Catholic catechism, and chastizes any Protestants who do not believe that they ought to seek "unity" with Catholics.
"We [Roman Catholics & himself] agree on the great fundamentals of the faith, ...I've been reading the Catholic Catechism, 2,865 points, backed with 5,000 to 6,000 verses of Scripture. This is the Word of God. Of course there are some things where I don't agree. But I find many of these things in our Protestant churches as well. But this thing blessed my heart. This piece of literature, saturated with the precious Word of God." (12/94 tape)
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Key figure in the "Church Growth Movement"and major player in Charismatic circles promoting power evangelism, spiritual warfare, signs and wonders, modern apostles and prophets, and more. Wagner was formerly Professor of Church Growth at the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary. He coined the term Third Wave. He was at one time a close associate of Vineyard founder John Wimber, and he and Wimber created the Fuller course on "Signs, Wonders and Church Growth" which has impacted churches all over the world.
An interesting collection of quotes from Wagner on a variety of controversial topics can be seen at:
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Author of the book "88 Reasons Why the Rapture May Be In 1988". (Click on Whisenant's name for an extended profile. )
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Woman viewed as a prophetess by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Authored many documents in the 1800s and early 1900s perceived as directly inspired by God, and providing much of the doctrinal foundation of the SDA denomination. (Click on White's name for a profile of the SDA movement with extensive info on White.)
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Co-author of The Cross and the Switchblade (1963), a book about his efforts as a young pastor to reach gang members in New York City with the Gospel. It was made into a movie in 1969 starring Pat Boone as Wilkerson. He is currently pastor of Times Square Church, an 8000-or-so-member church which he planted right on Broadway in New York city in order to be in the center of evangelism opportunities. At one time he was most well-known for his Teen Challenge outreaches around the world that minister to troubled youths with illegal drug use and other problems. But in recent years Wilkerson has come to be viewed by many primarily as a "prophetic voice" in the modern Charismatic movement. This has not been based merely on strong Bible teaching, but on his claims of direct, divine inspiration for specific warnings he has issued about End Times events. Unfortunately, many if not most of his dogmatic prophetic claims have failed to come to pass as predicted. This would include the claims in His 1973 book The Vision, in which he shared what he claimed was a direct, divine vision from the Lord of soon-coming calamities on America. Depending on what you think "just ahead" and "very near future" mean, after 35 years it is questionable if this was truly a "vision from God," or just, as with many such prognosticators, some personal speculation on what the future may bring.
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Founder of the Association of Vineyard Churches and author of many popular contemporary praise and worship songs. Wimber was a close associate of C. Peter Wagner at Fuller Theological Seminary, with whom he created the Fuller course on "Signs, Wonders and Church Growth" which has impacted churches all over the world. An excellent overview of the history of Wimber's ministry and some concerns it has raised even within Charismatic circles can be found on the Internet at http://www.geocities.com/Bob_Hunter/9.htm
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Amateur archaeologist whose claims to have discovered, or definitively identified, numerous objects and sites with Biblical significance have been extremely controversial both before and after his death in 1999. These included the remains of the "real" Noah's Ark, the graves of Noah and his wife, the "real" site of the crossing of the Red Sea (with debris from the Army of Pharoah at the bottom of the Red Sea at that spot), the "real" sites of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Ark of the Covenant--with the blood of Jesus on the Mercy Seat where it allegedly dropped down through a crack in the rock above from the "real" site of the crucifixion. These claims and more are examined in the major profile on Wyatt in this Field Guide. Click on Wyatt's name above to go to that profile.
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Amazing Facts radio broadcast
An outreach of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination.
Christian Research Institute (CRI)
Ministry founded by the late Walter Martin, now headed by Hank Hanegraaff.
Church of God Evangelistic Association
Outreach of David J Smith
Church of God, International
Church organization founded by the late radio and TV evangelist Garner Ted Armstrong in 1978. Armstrong was removed from the CGI in 1997 and founded the Intercontinental Church of God, now headed by his son Mark Armstrong. The CGI is no longer affiliated in any way with the Armstrong legacy.
Dawn Bible Students
A religious group based on the teachings of Charles Taze Russell, but not affiliated with the Jehovah's Witness denomination. Several splits in Russell's organization after his death led to a number of such groups, with the Dawn Bible Students being the largest which is still active.
Intercontinental Church of God
Church organization founded by the late radio and TV evangelist Garner Ted Armstrong in 1998 which provided the primary support for his radio and television outreach. Since his death in 2003, the ICG supports his family's efforts to continue his ministry via old audio and video tapes.
Lion and Lamb Ministries
Outreach of Monte Judah.
Review and Herald Publishing
The primary publishing arm for many years of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination. Many Adventist writings do not openly mention the connection of the writer to the SDAs. But if a reader notes that a book or other material is published by Review and Herald, it is safe to assume the content is approved by the leadership of the denomination as in line with the doctrinal beliefs of the organization ... and not contrary in any way to the writings of SDA prophetess Ellen G White.
Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN)
Largest and most successful Christian TV cable and satellite network. Founded by Paul and Jan Crouch. Primarily promotes Word Faith teachings, along with prophetic speculations. Claims currently to air on 2500 television stations, 17 satellites, thousands of cable systems around the world.
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
The organization providing the formal leadership for the group known as Jehovah's Witnesses.
Church denomination founded by Herbert W Armstrong. Originally named the Radio Church of God until 1967. After Armstrong's death in 1996, his successors introduced an extreme revision of the basic foundational doctrines of Armstrong, and as a result, tens of thousands of members left to form rival organizations.
Apologetics Index
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/
Self-description from the website:
"Apologetics Index / CounterCult.com provides research resources on religious cults, sects, new religious movements, alternative religions, apologetics-, anticult-, and countercult organizations, doctrines, religious practices and world views. These resources reflect a variety of theological and/or sociological perspectives. The site provides information that helps equip Christians to logically present and defend the Christian faith, and that aids non-Christians in their comparison of various religious claims. Issues addressed range from spiritual and cultic abuse to contemporary theological and/or sociological concerns. AI also includes ex-cult support resources, up-to-date religion news, articles on Christian life and ministry, and a variety of other features."
Cross + Word Christian Resource
The Cross + Word website is the outreach of Tricia Trillin. Started in 1995 specifically to address what Tricia and her associates believed to be the negative impact of the "Toronto Blessing Movement," it now has extensive documentation and commentary on all aspects of the general Charismatic "Renewal and Revival Movement." An index of the articles on the website is at http://www.banner.org.uk/contents.html
Believers In Grace Fellowship
http://www.believersingrace.com/
Website of the ministry of Bill Randles. Includes ordering information for Randles' books, as well as a number of short articles by Randles and others dealing with aspects of the Charismatic movement.
Rick Ross's Website
Description on the site:
"This website was created to offer the public a resource of information concerning controversial and/or potentially unsafe groups, which may have drawn some concern, attention and/or interest. Some groups listed and/or mentioned may have been called "cults." But the mention and/or inclusion of a group or leader within this website does not define that group as a "cult" and/or necessarily denote an individual, organization or group mentioned as either destructive and/or harmful. Instead, visitors to this website must exercise their own judgment after reviewing and considering the information provided.
Here you will find an archive that contains thousands of documents, which includes news stories, related research, reports, court records, book excerpts, personal testimonies and hundreds of links to outside reference resources."
Watchman Fellowship
http://www.watchman.org/subindex.htm
Description on the site:
Watchman Fellowship is an independent Christian research and apologetics ministry focusing on new religious movements, cults, the occult and the New Age. We serve the Christian and secular community as a resource for cult education, counselling, and non-coercive intervention.
Watchman Fellowship began in 1979 and now has representatives in several states. We have served almost every denomination including Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, Assemblies of God, Church of God, Lutheran, Nazarene, etc., as well as schools, law enforcement agencies and civic groups.
Watchman Fellowship, Inc. believes that religious freedom is an important and precious right in our country. The right to worship according to one's own conscience is and should be constitutionally protected. But, freedom of worship does not mean total freedom of practice. For instance, Satanists are free to believe whatever they want, but they are not allowed to practice human or animal sacrifice.
Also, there are many groups operating which engage in the use of deception, fraud, manipulation, coercion, control, and exploitation. The constitutionally protected right of free speech serves as a check and balance against these abuses.
When deception, control, and fraud are present, a person's freedom of choice is undermined. It is always right to publicly and privately expose these practices. The one exposing error or abuse has the responsibility to be accurate.
Concerning a person's right to choose, we believe that a real choice is one based on access to all the information, and understanding both or all sides. The cults typically try to block their members and the public from having access to this information. We have found that most cults have used deception, control, cover up, and dishonesty with their own members and the people they are trying to convert. This deception includes some or all the following: the group's history, false prophesy, false scholarship, a distortion of true church history and doctrine, and destructive practices of the group.
As Christians, we do believe that "we are our brother's keeper." Like the watchman on the wall (Ezekiel 3:17), we have the responsibility to sound a warning against the deception and destructive spiritual abuse practiced by cultic groups. In sounding such warning Watchman Fellowship also has a principled commitment to accuracy.
Unless otherwise noted, all original material on this Field Guide website
is © 2001-2006 by Pam Dewey.Careful effort has been made to give credit as clearly as possible to any specific material quoted or ideas extensively adapted from any one resource. Corrections and clarifications regarding citations for any source material are welcome, and will be promptly added to any sections which are found to be inadequately documented as to source.
Pam Dewey
Pam Dewey
Pam Dewey
