- Toronto Blessing
The Toronto Blessing is a term coined by the British press to talk about the revival and resulting phenomena that began in January 1994 at Toronto Airport Vineyard Christian Fellowship, now known as
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF), aneocharismatic evangelicalChristian church located inToronto ,Ontario ,Canada . 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", "The Fire".Blessing
TACF pastors John and Carol Arnott were inspired by a revival in
Argentina to start a revival inCanada . They invited Randy Clark ofSt. Louis, Missouri , to minister at TACF in January 1994. Randy Clark has been influenced by the ministry ofRodney Howard-Browne , aSouth Africa n 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 techniques into TACF practice.The revival thust started has come to be known as the Toronto Blessing. It has proved immensely popular; some estimates are as high as 300,000 visitors.Fact|date=September 2008 Some visitors have carried the influence of the revival back to their home congregations. Areas that have become known for Toronto Blessing revivals worldwide include Pensacola, Florida, in the United States and Bath in England.
In particular one TACF teaching, the
Golden Sword Prophecy , [ [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/s01.html Apologetics research resources on religious cults and sects - "Golden Sword Prophecy" ] ] has been spreading amongst Charismatic churches.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. [cite web | last = Buttner | first = Charleen | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Latter Rain | work = | publisher = University of Virginia | date= 2001-07-19 | url = http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/Latrain.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = ]Debates
The Toronto Blessing has been the subject of controversy.
In his book, "Counterfeit Revival",
Hank Hanegraaf makes the case that the "Toronto Blessing" has done more damage than good. He expresses his view that Toronto was a matter of people being worked into altered states of consciousness where they obscure reality and enshrine abdsurdity.Mentions in Popular Culture
The "Toronto Blessing" was referenced in the 2004 episode "Careless."
References
External links
* [http://torontoblessing2.tripod.com/ Toronto Blessing]
* [http://www.bible.ca/tongues-audio-video-documentation.htm#tacf videos of the Toronto Blessing
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