Toronto Blessing
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The Toronto Blessing is a term coined by British churches to describe the revival and resulting phenomena that began in January 1994 at Toronto Airport Vineyard Christian Fellowship, now known as Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF), a neocharismatic evangelical Christian church located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1] Participants in the conferences and meetings sponsored by TACF have reported healings, incidents of personal transformation and a greater awareness of God's love. It has also been referred to as The Father's Blessing, The Anointing, The Awakening, The River, and The Fire.
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[edit] History
TACF pastors John and Carol Arnott were inspired by a revival in Argentina. They invited Randy Clark of St. Louis, Missouri, to minister at TACF in January 1994. Randy Clark has been influenced by the ministry of Rodney Howard-Browne, a South African preacher, founder of the Rodney Howard-Browne Evangelistic Association in Louisville, Kentucky, and the earliest known proponent of the “holy laughter” revival phenomenon, and introduced some of his approach into TACF practice.
Some visitors have carried the influence of the revival back to their home congregations. Areas that have become known for Toronto Blessing type revivals worldwide include Pensacola, Florida, in the United States and Bath in England. The Blessing has become known for ecstatic worship, including what is known as falling or resting in the Spirit, laughter, shaking, and crying.[1] One TACF teaching, the Golden Sword Prophecy, has been spreading among Charismatic churches.[2]
The peak of Toronto Blessing prominence in the Christian community occurred in the mid to late 1990s. Since that time it has faded from public view, although the proponents of Discernment Ministries would suggest that these kinds of events are simply part of a wider theological cycle that has existed continually throughout modern era Pentecostalism / Charismatism. [3]
[edit] Debates
The Toronto Blessing has been the subject of controversy.
In his book, Counterfeit Revival, Hank Hanegraaff makes the case that the revival has done more damage than good. His view is that Toronto was a matter of people being worked into altered states of consciousness where they obscure reality and enshrine absurdity.
[edit] Mentions in Popular Culture
The "Toronto Blessing" was referenced in the 2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Careless."
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bowker, John (1997). "Toronto Blessing". The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-TorontoBlessing.html. Retrieved on 2008-12-21.
- ^ Apologetics research resources on religious cults and sects - "Golden Sword Prophecy"
- ^ Buttner, Charleen (2001-07-19). "Latter Rain". University of Virginia. http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/Latrain.html.
