To the Ends of Earth: Pentecostalism and the Transformation of World Christianity by Allen Heaton Anderson

Author:Allen Heaton Anderson [Anderson, Allen Heaton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780195386424
Amazon: 0195386426
Published: 2012-10-17T17:33:12+00:00

Pentecostal denominations have sometimes had an uneasy and ambiguous relationship with international healing evangelists, who usually operate independently. Their healing campaigns, which contributed to the growth of Pentecostalism in many parts of the world, developed in North America after the Second World War and had their peak in the 1950s. David Harrell considers the period 1947–58 to be the period of

“the great healing revival” in the United States that “dwarfed the successes of earlier charismatic revivalists; it had a dramatic impact on the image of American pentecostalism and set off a period of world-wide pentecostal growth.” This may be overstating the case, for it does not account suffi

ciently for the eff orts of indigenous and denominational pentecostal leaders. At fi rst, healing evangelists enjoyed support from most pentecostal denominations, but some were embroiled in controversies that embarrassed the denominational leaders and caused them to distance themselves from these healers. Indeed, many of these evangelists themselves found it more expedient to work independently and reported remarkable healings and miracles in their campaigns. William Branham (1909–65) and Oral Roberts (1918–2009) were the best known and most widely traveled. Branham’s sensational healing services, which began in 1946, are well documented. He was the pacesetter for those who followed before he became involved in doctrinal controversies that continue among his “Branhamite” followers. A. A. Allen (1911–70) died an alcoholic. Tommy Hicks (1909–73) was responsible for revival meetings in Buenos Aires in 1954 at the behest of President Juan Per ó n, which 400,000 people were reported to have attended. T. L. Osborne (1923–) had large crowds at his campaigns in Central America, the Caribbean, Indonesia, and East Africa. By 1960, Oral Roberts had become the leading pentecostal evangelist, increasingly accepted by mainline denominations, and one of the most infl uential pentecostals in the emergence of the Charismatic movement. His moving from the Pentecostal Holiness Church to the United Methodist Church in 1969 marked the end of the relationship between healing evangelists and denominational pentecostals, who were becoming increasingly critical of the evangelists’ methods, particularly their fund-raising and often lavish lifestyles. Sometimes the 07_Allan_Ch06.indd 152

8/14/2012 6:14:03 PM

OUP UNCORRECTED PROOF – FIRST-PROOF, 08/14/12, NEWGEN

Full

Gospel

153

emphasis on the “miraculous” has led to shameful showmanship and moral decadence, exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims of healing, and triumphalism. 10

However, pentecostals regard “signs and wonders” to be such an indispensable part of their evangelism that without them their preaching is powerless. They consider this evidence that the apostolic power is as available as it had been in the time of the New Testament. These ideas were promoted in pentecostal periodicals. Elisabeth Sexton wrote that unbelievers would be convinced by “the supernatural manifestation of His power in His saints” and that the world had the right to expect signs to follow their ministry. William Burton in the Congo wrote that Christ’s command to heal the sick had never been withdrawn. His apostles continued his healing and miracle ministry to the end of their lives. The present days were “apostolic days” and God was still sending apostles to the nations of earth.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.