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45-400: One writer offered this description of the revival in 1998: All told, more than 2.5 million people have visited the church's Monday prayer and Tues-through-Saturday evening revival services, where they sang rousing worship music and heard old-fashioned sermons on sin and salvation. After the sermons were over, hundreds of thousands accepted the invitation to leave their seats and rush forward to

90-457: A 3-year revival which saw about 250,000 visitors. The revival is also significant because the ministry of Steve Gray and a significant number of his followers remain active in Kansas City, where 85% of the congregation moved in 2000. The ministry he pastors, World Revival Church, emphasizes the attitude and mission of revival. In 2001 there was a mini-split which occurred between the leadership of

135-536: A Pensacolian named M. Loftin founded a newsweekly, the Pensacola Journal . The Journal converted to a daily format a year later. The two dailies competed fiercely, each driving the other to edge of bankruptcy in the struggle to be recognised as Pensacola's top daily newspaper. By 1922, the Journal was in dire financial trouble, and was eventually purchased by New York businessman John Holliday Perry, who at about

180-507: A Sunday, the revival began, evangelist Steve Hill was the guest speaker, having been invited by Kilpatrick. Later, Hill and Kilpatrick, told of "a mighty wind" that blew through the church, an account that quickly spread across the Pentecostal community. Kilpatrick had been talking "revival" for several months. As the nightly revival meetings continued, Hill canceled all plans to go to Russia, and preached several revival services each week for

225-557: A church in the Dallas area where he served as senior pastor. After a long bout with cancer, Hill died in March 2014. Cooley left in October 2003. Kilpatrick resigned as senior pastor in 2003 to form an evangelistic association of his own. Until 2006, the church continued to hold special Friday-night services that were a continuation of the revival. Bob Giovoni attended this with his wife and later became

270-575: A denominational decline. One follow-on revival, often called the Smithton Outpouring , occurred in the small town of Smithton, Missouri, at Smithton Community Church. It was significant because it was not connected with the Assemblies of God. The pastor, Steve Gray, visited the Brownsville Revival in 1996 while in the midst of personal turmoil, returned to his church of 150 members and hosted

315-493: A heightened inner awareness that the body's energy fades away and the person collapses to the floor". Slaying in the Spirit may occur in a variety of settings, including while a person prays in solitude. However, it usually occurs in group settings, including small prayer groups, religious conferences or retreats, regular church services and large healing crusades . In church services or healing crusades, attendees may be invited to

360-421: A large area in front of the stage-like altar. Here, they "get right with God." . . . Untold thousands have hit the carpet in repentance. After the altar call, pastors and leaders would pray for anyone who desired to be prayed over some fell to the ground some shook under the power of God's presence some lay in a state resembling a coma, sometimes remaining flat on the floor for hours at a time. Some participants call

405-560: A professional hypnotist stated that "This is something we do every day". Beginning with the First Great Awakening that impacted Protestant Europe as well as Britain's American colonies in the eighteenth century, bodily movements became a prominent and controversial part of Protestant revivalism . Supporters of the revivals within various denominations including Presbyterians , Congregationalists , Baptists and Methodists argued that trembling, groaning, screaming and falling to

450-615: A videotape of the Father's Day service that sparked the revival showed it was far less dramatic than later claimed. The News Journal began a four-month investigation after former members told reporters that all was not as it appeared at the church. The series won George Polk awards from such groups as National Headliner, the Scripps-Howard Foundation, and the Society of Professional Journalists . Brownsville Assembly of God responded to

495-580: Is owned by Gannett , a national media holding company that owns newspapers such as USA Today and the Arizona Republic , among others. The heritage of the News Journal can be traced back to 1889, when a group of Pensacola businessmen founded the Pensacola Daily News . The Daily News printed its first issue on 5 March 1889, with an initial circulation of 2,500 copies. Then, in March 1897,

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540-517: Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira , which has a quite different connotation. The 1967 film Holy Ghost People by Peter Adair documented an Appalachian Pentecostal church service in which several people were slain in the Spirit. Pensacola News Journal The Pensacola News Journal is a daily morning newspaper serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida. It is Northwest Florida 's most widely read daily. The News Journal

585-489: The Skeptical Inquirer , observed the use of slaying in the Spirit during a Benny Hinn healing crusade in 2001. He compared the practice to hypnosis , writing that participants "merely engage in a form of role-playing that is prompted by their strong desire to receive divine power as well as by the influence of suggestion that they do so   [...] In short, they behave just as if 'hypnotized. ' " According to Nickell,

630-569: The Brownsville Revival at the Brownsville Assembly of God . The paper had initially written glowing reports about the revival, but after former members told the paper that all was not as it appeared, the News Journal began a four-month investigation that revealed the revival had been "well planned and orchestrated" from the very start. It also called many of the claims made by the church's leaders into question, and delved heavily into

675-516: The News and the Journal to Gannett, then based in Rochester, New York , for $ 15.5 million. Like many U.S. afternoon newspapers in the post-war period, the News sustained declining circulation. Finally, in 1985, the News and Journal merged into a single morning newspaper under the News Journal name. The paper gained nationwide notoriety in 1997 and 1998 with a series of investigative reports about

720-587: The Second Great Awakening of the early nineteenth century, Peter Cartwright and Charles G. Finney also recorded similar behavior. In the twentieth century, "prostrate trance" became chiefly associated with Pentecostalism and its offshoots. The term "slain in the Spirit" was used in this context as early as 1920 by American healing evangelist Maria Woodworth-Etter , whose ministry was often accompanied by this phenomenon. In her book The Holy Spirit , published in 1920, she wrote: "It will come to pass in

765-442: The "disciplined use of ecstasy", including the regular occurrence of slaying in the Spirit. Regarding the sacramental undertones of slaying in the Spirit, Wacker writes: In those situations Christ's physical death and resurrection was re-embodied—not just reenacted but literally re-embodied—night after night, before the very eyes of believers and nonbelievers alike. In one account after another we read that prostrate worshipers covered

810-480: The 1980s, it experienced another surge in visibility due to the influence of John Wimber , an evangelical pastor and founder of the Vineyard Movement . Christians who support the practice cite biblical evidence for its authenticity and use. Michael Brown quotes a number of scriptures which he claims support the practice of being slain in the Spirit. Wayne Grudem states that while the phrase "slaying in

855-623: The Brownville Revival Church and the leadership of the Brownville Revival School of Ministry. This split for many marked the end of the Revival. This led to the creation of The F.I.R.E. School of Ministry (Fellowship for International Revival and Evangelism) under the former leader of B.R.S.M., Dr. Michael Brown. B.R.S.M. continued to offer classes for several years before being merged into a Ministry of Tommy Tenney. As of Sep 2018

900-542: The Fire School of Ministry was still operating in Concord NC. The meetings were criticized by some Christians and by the local news media. The Pensacola News Journal ran a series of investigative articles which focused on the donations raised during the meetings and where those funds went, as well as the claims of miraculous healings at the services and the spontaneity of the revival's beginnings. The newspaper revealed that

945-585: The Spirit" is not found in Scripture, there are a number of instances where people are described as falling to the ground or falling into a trance in the presence of God. Christians who oppose the practice dispute the interpretation of those Bible passages, arguing that there is no biblical precedent and that the practice may be satanic in origin. Those skeptical of the practice have explained it as being caused by hypnosis , autosuggestion , or peer pressure . Christians who lean toward cessationism tend to refute

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990-563: The aisles when baptized in the Holy Spirit ). In 1989, Margaret Poloma noted that some pastors and even high ranking leaders within the Assemblies of God USA , a Pentecostal denomination, were critical of the practice. Slaying in the Spirit saw a resurgence during the 1960s and 1970s due to the influence of the charismatic movement , which disseminated Pentecostal beliefs and practices among mainline Protestants and Roman Catholics . During

1035-579: The behavior to demonic activity. Analyzing accounts of early Pentecostal religious ecstasy, historian Grant Wacker concluded that communal cues helped religious communities determine whether specific incidents were instigated by the Holy Spirit or not. Other explanations of the phenomenon have also been proposed, such as autosuggestion , peer pressure, or a desire to experience what others have experienced. In addition, sociologists note that similar phenomena, such as spirit possession and trance , can be found in other religions. Joe Nickell , writing in

1080-470: The church told local news reporters that it did not keep records of the healings. In 1997, the leaders of the revival—Hill, Kilpatrick, and Lindell Cooley (Brownsville's worship director)—went to several cities (Anaheim, Dallas, St. Louis, Lake Charles (Louisiana), Toledo, and Birmingham) and held like meetings. They named this ministry "Awake America". The primary part of the revival ended in 2000 when Hill moved on to pursue other works. In 2003, Hill founded

1125-516: The church's finances. The News Journal had a peak daily circulation of 64,041 and a Sunday circulation of 81,633 in 2002, declining to a daily circulation of 29,981 and a Sunday circulation of 47,892 in 2015. After over a century, the production departments moved to Mobile, Ala., on 2 June 2009. In August 2014, the Pensacola News Journal moved to its new headquarters at 2 N. Palafox St. The longtime headquarters at 101 E. Romana St.

1170-473: The church, even going as far as to threaten to leave the church if it didn't accept the revival. Supporters of the revival would also cite prophecies by Dr. David Yonggi Cho , pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church , as evidence that the revival was inspired by God . According to Cho, God told him he was "going to send revival to the seaside city of Pensacola, and it will spread like a fire until all of America has been consumed by it." On Father's Day June 18, 1995,

1215-516: The claim that this practice is scriptural such as Calvinist pastor and author John MacArthur who argues that the practice is neither described nor prescribed specifically in the Bible and that it is, at best, of satanic origin. Some within Charismatic Christianity critique the practice, such as David Pawson , a Bible teacher and charismatic Christian, who states the closest Biblical reference

1260-399: The coverage of the backlash, allegations of racism arose against Marlette for a cartoon he drew while in college, including the use of racial epithets. Marlette was quoted as saying the objections of racism against him came solely from irrational and unreasonable readers. The coverage of the incident raised questions about the paper's hiring practices. Marlette left the paper shortly after

1305-462: The early 1950s, the News Journal had developed into one of the most modern and efficient newspaper operations in the Southeast . Under the leadership of Perry's son, John Holliday Perry, Jr., who succeeded his father in 1952, the News Journal continued to expand. Perry Publications, Inc., eventually owned 28 newspapers throughout Florida. On July 1, 1969, the younger Perry announced he was selling

1350-401: The experience being " slain in the Spirit ." Others simply refer to receiving the touch of God. Regardless of what they call it, these people are putting the "roll" back in "holy roller." In 1993, two years before the revival began, Brownsville's pastor , John Kilpatrick, began directing his congregation to pray for revival. Over the next two years, he talked constantly about bringing revival to

1395-421: The faith of those who are "open" to such power; of allowing a person to be close to, "touched by," or "spoken to" by God (sometimes via embodied imagery); of preparing a person to receive and exercise a spiritual gift ; or of healing. Not all incidents of falling or swooning in Pentecostal and charismatic churches are attributed to the Holy Spirit. Besides the possibility of fraud, charismatics may also attribute

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1440-496: The floor. The stories sometimes stated and often implied that no one was left standing, which suggests that prostration gained a ritualistic significance comparable, perhaps, to kneeling or genuflecting in liturgical church traditions. The frequency of slaying in the Spirit and the importance that Pentecostals placed on it decreased over time as Pentecostals attempted to shed the stereotype of being " Holy Rollers " (a derogatory term derived from instances of people literally rolling in

1485-502: The front of the church or other venue to receive prayer from a minister or a team of ministers. Often, the prayer is accompanied with the laying on of hands and anointing with oil . Those being prayed for perceive the Spirit of God upon them and they fall, usually onto their backs. In most cases, their fall is broken by ushers or "catchers". Once fallen, a person may lie on the floor face up and eyes closed for several seconds to several hours in some cases. People who have experienced

1530-414: The ground "as dead" were signs of divine power in those who were becoming aware of their own sinfulness . This bodily agitation, as well as the problem of sin and guilt, was resolved through a conscious conversion experience , which was marked by peace and joy. John Wesley , the founder of Methodism, considered falling down and other bodily movements to be natural (not supernatural ) human responses to

1575-542: The last days," says the Lord, "that I will plead with all flesh, with the sword and fire, 'and the slain of the Lord shall be many.'" (See Isaiah 66:16.) The sword is the Word of God. The fire is the Holy Spirit. The slain of the Lord are those who fall under conviction or who fall like dead men under the power of God. Historian Grant Wacker argues that early Pentecostals replaced the liturgies and sacraments of traditional churches with

1620-428: The next five years. Hundreds of those who attended services were moved to renew their faith during Hill's sermons. In time, the church opened its doors for Tuesday-through-Saturday evening revival services to accommodate the thousands of people who arrived and waited in the church parking lot before dawn for a chance to enter the packed sanctuary, some even camping overnight waiting for the doors to open . By 1997, it

1665-472: The paper's allegations by publishing a paid advertisement (thus shielding them from a response from the paper) in the News Journal entitled, "The Facts of The Brownsville Revival". Hank Hanegraaff, a well known cessationist and author of the book Counterfeit Revival , criticized the revival for "serious distortions of biblical Christianity" in the meetings, comparing the physical manifestations to pagan practices. J Lee Grady, editor for Charisma Magazine,

1710-614: The pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Pensacola During the revival, nearly 200,000 accepted Christianity, and by the Fall of 2000 more than 1,000 people who experienced the revival were enrolled at the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry. Thousands of pastors visited Brownsville and returned to their home congregations, leading to an outbreak of mini-revivals that helped the Assemblies of God recover from what some saw as

1755-416: The phenomenon report different degrees of awareness ranging from total consciousness to complete unconsciousness. They also report feelings of peace and relaxation. While lying down, they may speak in tongues , laugh, weep or speak praises to God. According to anthropologist Thomas Csordas: In Charismatic ritual life, resting in the Spirit can serve the purposes of demonstrating divine power; of exhibiting

1800-461: The power of the Holy Spirit . Other terms used to describe the experience include falling under the power , overcome by the Spirit , and resting in the Spirit . The practice is associated with faith healing because individuals are often slain while seeking prayer for illness. Sociologist Margaret Poloma has defined slaying in the Spirit as "the power of the Holy Spirit so filling a person with

1845-605: The same time also acquired papers in Jacksonville and Panama City . Two years later, Perry bought the Daily News and merged the two newspapers' operations. For the next six decades, the Pensacola Journal continued to appear mornings and the Pensacola News afternoons, with a combined Sunday edition as the Pensacola News Journal . John H. Perry developed the News Journal into an extremely popular and successful newspaper. By

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1890-401: The supernatural "testimony" or "witness" of the Holy Spirit in conversion. Occasionally, Wesley attributed bodily movements to Satan 's attempt at disrupting the conversion process, but at other times, he described bodily movements as natural human responses to God's love . Wesley, George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards all record instances of people falling during their ministries. During

1935-461: Was common to have lengthy and rapturous periods of singing and dancing and altars packed with hundreds of writhing or dead-still bodies from a variety of ages, races and socioeconomic conditions. As the revival progressed, the testimonies of people receiving salvation were joined by testimonies of supernatural healings . In Steve Hill's words, "We're seeing miraculous healings, cancerous tumors disappear and drug addicts immediately delivered." However,

1980-534: Was critical of the division that had grown within the leadership at the last stage of the revival. He also reported that numerous former attendees now attend local Baptist churches. Slain in the Spirit Slain in the Spirit or slaying in the Spirit are terms used by Pentecostal and charismatic Christians to describe a form of prostration in which an individual falls to the floor while experiencing religious ecstasy . Believers attribute this behavior to

2025-516: Was demolished in 2015 by its new owners, Quint Studer's Daily Convo, who will build apartments, retail shops and a new YMCA on the site. In mid-2023, Pensacola News Journal moved out of the 2 N. Palafox St. building. The new mailing address is 101 N E Street according to the contact us page on pnj.com. In March 2024, the newspaper switched from carrier to postal delivery. In 2021, the paper faced national backlash for an allegedly misogynistic cartoon drawn by its cartoonist, Andy Marlette. During

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