Brian Connor (pastor)
The Rev. Dr. Brian N. Connor is an American pastor and exorcist who also teaches people about spiritual warfare.
Connor was born May 23, 1946 in Charleston, South Carolina to his parents George Connor and Mary Connor.
Connor graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and holds a doctor of ministry degree.
In 1985 the ministry of exorcism was first introduced to him when he encountered a woman who was a third generation satanist. From then on he has been ministering to people with spiritual oppression.
He says of exorcisms that, "when one experiences it face-to-face -- when one sees evil, smells it, feels it, has things thrown in his face, encounters evil prowling around like a lion -- then you know there's a spiritual warfare going on all around us."[1]
In 1998, after twenty-seven years as a pastor at Southern Baptist churches in Maryland and South Carolina he left his ministry to become a full-time exorcist and run his deliverance ministry. Connor believes that spiritual oppression is a real part of biblical metaphysics, which includes angels, demons and Satan.
Connor states that even people who go to church regularly or minister can still be oppressed. "By belonging to Jesus Christ, we are forgiven in terms of salvation," he explains.[2]
"We can still make wrong choices which open doors within us to satanic oppression by dabbling in the occult, attempting to communicate with the dead, using crystals, accepting New Age beliefs, following spirit guides, participating in rituals."[2]
"Anytime someone reaches out to an evil spirit, that spirit puts down roots and will torment and oppress that person," Connor states.[2]
On November 13, 2001, he appeared on Dateline NBC casting demons out of an American baptist. He currently is working for the Good Shepherd Institute where he helps people who are spiritually oppressed.
He has also been featured in Esquire (August 2002) and FHM (August 2003) and seen on The History Channel, A&E Channel, Biography Channel and The Learning Channel.
Death
Connor died on Saturday, November 8, 2014.[3] Aside from his mother, Mary Connor, He is survived by his wife June Christopher Connor of Folly Beach; 2 daughters, Amy Connor Bradley and husband Dr. Raymond J. Bradley of New Bern, NC, Carey Connor McNamara and husband Dr. Robert McNamara of Mt. Pleasant; the girls' mother, Faye Vickery Connor of Mt Pleasant, a step-son, Jonathan "Jay" Argoe Jr. of Folly Beach; brother James "Jim" Connor and wife Janet of Floyd, VA; grandchildren, Caroline, Samuel, and Benjamin Bradley, and Connor McNamara.
References
- '^ Baptist Press, 27-year veteran leaving pastorate to launch 'ministry of deliverance, Todd Deaton, October 14, 1998
- ^ a b c Baptist Press, 27-year veteran leaving pastorate to launch 'ministry of deliverance', Todd Deaton, October 14, 1998
- ^ http://www.obitsforlife.com/obituary/999352/Connor-Reverend-Brian.php
Further reading
- The Post & Courier, "Skeptic ponders spiritual things in Heaven and Earth," by Michael Gartland, August 28, 2005
- Dateline NBC, April 27, 2005
- FHM Magazine, August 2003
- "Deliver Us From Evil," The Learning Channel, February 11, 2003
- Esquire Presents, 'What It Feels Like'. New York, Three Rivers Press, 2003
- Esquire Magazine, August 2002
- Dateline NBC, November 13, 2001
- The Observer, "Americans plagued by new demons," October 8, 2000
- "Exorcising the Devil", October 25, 1999
- Baptist Press, 27-year veteran leaving pastorate to launch 'ministry of deliverance', October 14, 1998