{{Short description|2008 American Charismatic Christian revival}} The '''Lakeland Revival''', or '''Florida Healing Outpouring''', was a Pentecostal revival which took place from April until October 2008 in Lakeland, Florida, United States. The revival began on April 2, 2008, when evangelist Todd Bentley of Fresh Fire Ministries Canada was invited by Stephen Strader, pastor of Lakeland's Ignited Church, to lead a one-week revival, but remained there for over four months.
Ignited Church took a multimedia approach to publicizing the event, posting webcasts online. The revival streamed live via Ustream and received over 1 million hits in the first five weeks of transmissions. After the initial weeks, GOD TV, a Christian satellite channel, pre-empted its primetime programming and broadcast the Lakeland meetings nightly.<ref name="McMullen">{{cite news |author=McMullen |first=Cary |date=May 15, 2008 |title=Florida Outpouring: Internet Draws Thousands to Lakeland Revival |url=https://eu.theledger.com/story/news/2008/05/18/florida-outpouring-internet-draws-thousands-to-lakeland-revival/25943786007/ |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509034709/https://eu.theledger.com/story/news/2008/05/18/florida-outpouring-internet-draws-thousands-to-lakeland-revival/25943786007/ |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |access-date=April 16, 2025 |newspaper=The Ledger}}</ref> The revival attracted up to 10,000 attendees nightly and around 30,000 over the week.<ref name="christianitytoday1">{{cite magazine |last=McMullen |first=Cary |date=2008-08-12 |title=Leaving Lakeland |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/september/4.18.html |access-date=2018-04-03 |magazine=Christianity Today}}</ref> Through its airing on GOD TV, the revival became well known by Pentecostals and Charismatics worldwide.<ref name="faith-healing">{{cite web |last=McMullen |first=Cary |date=April 25, 2008 |title=Faith-Healing 'Outpouring' Overflows Venue |url=https://eu.theledger.com/story/news/2008/04/25/faith-healing-outpouring-overflows-venue/25815743007/ |access-date=April 16, 2025 |website=The Ledger |publisher=}}</ref> By May 29, Bentley's ministry estimated that over 140,000 people from over forty nations had visited, and 1.2 million had watched via the Internet.<ref name=hundreds-of-healings>{{cite news|url=http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/29/1075189.aspx|title=Revivalist Claims Hundreds of Healings|publisher=MSNBC|author=Rhee, Alice|date=May 29, 2008|access-date=June 10, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601001145/http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/29/1075189.aspx|archive-date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> By June 30, over 400,000 people from over 100 nations had attended.<ref name="Lake">{{cite news|url=http://tampabay.com/news/religion/article651191.ece|title=Todd Bentley's revival in Lakeland draws 400,000 and counting|last=Lake|first=Thomas|date=June 30, 2008|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|access-date=2008-07-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704145551/http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/article651191.ece|archive-date=July 4, 2008}}</ref>
As the revival grew, Strader requested the endorsement and support of New Apostolic Reformation leader C. Peter Wagner and his International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders, seeing Bentley as an apostolic leader. Though the movement's apostles were divided due to Bentley's volatility, Bentley and his revival gained the support of high-profile apostles, including Chuck Pierce and Ché Ahn, and under Wagner's leadership, a public "apostolic alignment" ceremony was held in June 2008 to bring him under their wing.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=Matthew D. |title=The Violent Take it by Force |date=October 2024 |publisher=Broadleaf Books |isbn=9781506497785 |location=Minneapolis |chapter=Chapter 2}}</ref>
In June 2008, ABC's ''Nightline'' carried out an investigative report on Bentley, specifically scrutinizing his finances and his divine healing claims. Some days after the broadcast, Fresh Fire Ministries released a statement announcing that Bentley was taking time off "to refresh and to rest," and their Lakeland broadcasts on GOD TV were put on hold. One week later, GOD TV announced Bentley would resume the Lakeland meetings and the broadcasts continued on July 18.<ref name="ABCNewsSearch">{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/FaithMatters/story?id=5338963&page=1 |title=Thousands Flock to Revival in Search of Miracles |publisher=ABC News|date=2008-06-09|access-date=2008-06-09}}</ref> Bentley's and Fresh Fire's leadership of the revival ended on August 11, but the revival continued until its last service on October 12, 2008, at Ignited Church.<ref name="endrevival">{{cite news | last = Ghiringhelli | first = Paul Steven | title = Lakeland Revival Officially Ends | work = Charisma Magazine | date = 2008-10-13 | url = http://charismamag.com/index.php/news/19488 | access-date = 2008-11-11 | url-status = bot: unknown | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090302150008/http://charismamag.com/index.php/news/19488 | archive-date = 2009-03-02 }}</ref>
The Lakeland Revival was in many ways similar to revivals that occurred in the 1990s, notably the Toronto Blessing in Canada and the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida. However, the Lakeland Revival had a greater focus on divine healing, was much shorter than the previous two revivals, and was nearly inseparable from Bentley.<ref name="Reed" /> The revival displayed many "ecstatic manifestations", and some participants claimed "esoteric experiences", such as divinely inspired visions and prophecies. In addition to claims of numerous miraculous healings, "leaders' claims that at least 25"<ref name="christianitytoday1"/> cases of resurrection of the dead took place away from the stage.<ref name=PentecoLakeland>{{Citation| last = Hunt | first =Stephen| title = The Florida 'Outpouring' Revival: A Melting Pot for Contemporary Pentecostal Prophecy and Eschatology?| journal =PentecoStudies | volume =8| issue =1| page=38| year =2009| doi =10.1558/ptcs.v8i1.37}}</ref>
==Background== Ignited Church was founded in 2005 by most of the main body of Carpenter's Home Church, a once-prominent, now defunct, Assemblies of God megachurch, whose longtime senior pastor, Karl Strader, is the father of Ignited Church's founder and senior pastor, Stephen Strader.<ref>[http://ignitedchurch.com/pastor-stephen-strader- Stephen Strader's biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620083717/http://ignitedchurch.com/pastor-stephen-strader- |date=2016-06-20 }} at Ignited Church's Website</ref> In the 1990s, Carpenter's Home Church experienced revivals influenced by the Toronto Blessing and Rodney Howard-Browne.<ref name=PentecoLakelandp41>Hunt 2009, p. 41.</ref>
==Services== The main focus of the services were divine healing of conditions such as cancer, deafness, diabetes, and paralysis.<ref name=faith-healing /> Testimonies of miraculous healings were common at the Lakeland meetings.<ref name="Reed">{{cite news|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-07-11-revival-healing_N.htm |title=Religion Today |last=Reed |first=Travis |date=July 10, 2008 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=2008-07-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522124900/http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080710%2FAPA%2F807100752&template=apart |archive-date=May 22, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="McMullen2">{{cite news|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20080622/NEWS/806220412/1410%26title%3DFlorida_Outpouring_Revival_Concerns_Pentecostal_Leaders|title=Florida Outpouring Revival Concerns Pentecostal Leaders|last=McMullen|first=Cary|date=June 22, 2008|newspaper=The Ledger|access-date=2008-06-24|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032744/http://www.theledger.com/article/20080622/NEWS/806220412/1410%26title%3DFlorida_Outpouring_Revival_Concerns_Pentecostal_Leaders|url-status=dead}}</ref> Faith healing is inspired by biblical New Testament accounts of Jesus healing the sick; the contemporary practice of faith healing is important for Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians.<ref>{{cite web|author=Barnes & Noble |url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/faith-cure-nancy-a-hardesty/1111409647/2681923345027?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Marketplace+Shopping+greatbookprices_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP24104 |title=Faith Cure: Divine Healing in the Holiness and Pentecostal Movements |publisher=Barnesandnoble.com |date= |access-date=2018-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Barnes & Noble |url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-things-are-possible-david-edwin-harrell/1110992220?ean=9780253013422&st=PLA&sid=NOK_DRS_NOOK+EBooks_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP75008 |title=All Things Are Possible: The Healing and Charismatic Revivals in Modern America by David EdwinJr. Harrell | NOOK Book (eBook) | Barnes & Noble® |publisher=Barnesandnoble.com |date= |access-date=2018-04-03}}</ref> The hope of supernatural healing explains some of its popularity, as there were many first-person accounts of miracles.<ref name="McMullen2" /><ref name="Smith">{{cite news|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080718/NEWS01/807180458|title=Evangelist Todd Bentley brings healing ministry to Louisville|last=Smith|first=Peter|date=July 18, 2008|publisher=The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)|access-date=2008-07-30}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76WDKzS7Yog |title=Lakeland Revival Miracle Healings Continue - CBN.com |publisher=YouTube |date= |access-date=2018-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjW6d9KQFVo |title=Stephen Strader - Stories from Lakeland |publisher=YouTube |date=2009-10-15 |access-date=2018-04-03}}</ref>
Participants in the revival were also known to sing, laugh, and shout ecstatically, and many would fall down under the influence of the Holy Spirit, according to revival leaders.<ref name=faith-healing />
== Finances == The Lakeland Revival did not charge for attendance, but attendees could contribute to voluntary offerings that funded building and staff expenses.<ref name="ABCNewsSearch"/> The event changed venues on a number of occasions, starting at the Ignited Church and sister church in Auburndale, and moving to the $15,000-per-night Lakeland Center and Marchant Stadium. After outgrowing its previous venues, the revival meetings moved to an air-conditioned tent that seated 10,000.<ref name=hundreds-of-healings /> On August 3, the revival meetings returned to Ignited Church. "A spokeswoman for the revival, Lynne Breidenbach, said the offerings have covered their enormous operating costs. Before the move to the airport grounds, she said the ministry paid a daily rental fee of $15,000 for the local convention center, as well as comparable fees for use of a stadium. His spokesperson didn’t know how much the current setup costs. The offerings, said Breidenbach, have not contributed to a significant infusion of cash for Bentley or his ministry." During the revival, Bentley's spokesperson said that Bentley continued "to draw his standard salary, set by his board, from his office in Canada. It is a modest salary and is in the five-figure range", and that Fresh Fire Ministries is audited annually.<ref name=hundreds-of-healings /> A newspaper in Vancouver reported that Bentley owned a home in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, a 2007 GMC Sierra, and a 2003 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Act=read&status=revival&Id=147&pid=954&bid=923|title=''Province'' article retained at Fresh Fire Ministries|author=|date=|website=FreshFire.ca|access-date=May 6, 2017}}</ref>
Bentley said that he would open the books for independent auditors.<ref name=hundreds-of-healings /> However, requests for financial disclosure from ''World Magazine'' were met with a comment that Bentley was "too busy keeping up with what God is doing"<ref name=sameoldscam /> to provide financial information.
==Decline and impact== {{Main|Todd Bentley}} Bentley severed his association with and departed the revival under controversial circumstances on August 11. He admitted to his staff in August that he and his wife were separating and resigned from Fresh Fire Ministries.<ref name=endrevival/> The revival continued with visiting speakers at Ignited Church until October 12, 2008. While Ignited Church continued to proclaim ongoing revival services after this date, the previous worldwide interest had faded.
The revival's impact was widespread due to the Internet and satellite television. Stephen Strader has said that Ignited Church will launch an International Apostolic Center and Ignited Network of Ministries, designed to bring together Lakeland-inspired revivals by Todd Bentley to launch the Portland Outpouring.<ref name=endrevival/> Evangelist Hamilton Filmalter was commissioned.<ref name="cnnw.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnnw.com/MinistryinaBigTent.html |title=Ministry in a Big Tent |access-date=2010-09-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919195046/http://cnnw.com/MinistryinaBigTent.html |archive-date=2010-09-19 }}</ref>
== Controversy == The revival generated some controversy among members of the Christian community, as some leaders questioned (or even outright rejected) its authenticity.<ref name=sameoldscam>{{cite news|url=https://world.wng.org/2008/06/same_old_scam|title= Same old Scam? |author1=Leonard, Rusty |author2=Cole, Warren|date=2008-06-30|access-date=June 30, 2008}}</ref> There was even criticism from inside the Charismatic/Pentecostal part of the Church. For instance, in response to concerns raised over the revival, George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God USA, of which Ignited Church is a member, issued a statement on revival in June 2008.<ref>McMullen, Cary (2008). [http://www.theledger.com/article/20080622/NEWS/806220412?p=3&tc=pg "Florida Outpouring Revival Concerns Pentecostal Leaders"]. ''The Ledger''. Page 3-4. Accessed 14 January 2011.</ref> While not mentioning Lakeland specifically, the statement cautioned against over-emphasis on charismatic manifestations and miracles, stating that "Miraculous manifestations are never the test of a true revival. Fidelity to God's Word is the test".<ref>Assemblies of God USA (2008). [http://agchurches.org/Sitefiles/Default/RSS/AG.org%20TOP/WoodRevivalStatement.pdf Statement on Revival]. Page 3. Accessed January 14, 2011.</ref> A noted Charismatic Bible scholar, theologian, author, and publisher, Steven Lambert, published a series of scathing articles soon after the meetings began, denouncing them as "wildfire," i.e., a false revival or movement, and demonstrating characteristics of the occult and cultism, remonstrating their principals, participants, and promoters, as well as repudiating the doctrines and practices fostered by and under the auspices of the meetings' organizers and participants.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lambert|first1=Steven|title=Florida Wildfires And Lakeland Wildfire|url=http://www.spiritlifemag.com/florida-wildfires-and-lakeland-wildfire/|website=Spirit Life Magazine|date=16 May 2008 |publisher=Real Truth Publications|access-date=15 February 2018|ref=Lambert, article#1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lambert|first1=Steven|title=False Unity and the Lakeland Revival Cult (Part 1)|url=http://www.spiritlifemag.com/false-unity-and-the-new-lakeland-revival-cult-part-1/|website=Spirit Life Magazine|date=7 July 2008 |publisher=Real Truth Publications|access-date=15 February 2018|ref=Lambert, article#2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lambert|first1=Steven|title=False Unity and the Lakeland Revival Cult (Part 2)|url=http://www.spiritlifemag.com/false-unity-and-the-lakeland-revival-cult-part-2/|website=Spirit Life Magazine|date=26 August 2008 |publisher=Real Truth Publications|access-date=15 February 2018|ref=Lambert, article#3}}</ref>
Religion scholar Matthew D. Taylor states that the event "raised searching questions about [C. Peter Wagner's] whole [New Apostolic Reformation] paradigm" as a number of the movement's prophets and apostles had supported Bentley because of personal revelations ostensibly from God. Wagner received backlash, and some apostles left the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders afterward.<ref name=":0" />
Other Christian leaders challenged Bentley because they view Charismatic and Pentecostal doctrine as being essentially heretical.<ref name=hundreds-of-healings /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/john-macarthur-takes-on-charismatic-movement-with-strange-fire-conference-97968/ |title=John MacArthur Takes on Charismatic Movement With 'Strange Fire' Conference |publisher=Christianpost.com |date=2013-06-15 |access-date=2018-04-03}}</ref> Some criticism stemmed from some of Todd Bentley's unorthodox practices, which included shouting "Bam, Bam!" while praying for the sick<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=061808~Bam%21+Pow%21+When+Prayer+Ministry+Gets+Violent+|title=Bam! Pow! When Prayer Ministry Gets Violent|date=June 18, 2008|work=Charisma Magazine Online|access-date=July 14, 2008|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026111254/http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=061808~Bam%21+Pow%21+When+Prayer+Ministry+Gets+Violent+|archive-date=October 26, 2008}}</ref> and testifying to having had visions of an angel named Emma.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=051408~Honest+Questions+About+the+Lakeland+Revival|title=Honest Questions About the Lakeland Revival|date=May 14, 2008|work=Charisma Magazine Online|access-date=July 14, 2008|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026111240/http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=051408~Honest+Questions+About+the+Lakeland+Revival|archive-date=October 26, 2008}}</ref> Bentley's most controversial claims consisted of over twenty-five cases where he said the dead were raised away from the stage.<ref name=aparticle /> In an effort to verify reported healings, Bentley's staff said they welcomed as much documentation as people were willing to give, including verification from doctors.<ref name=hundreds-of-healings /> ABC's ''Nightline''<ref name="ABCNews070908">{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/FaithMatters/story?id=5338963&page=1|title=Thousands Flock to Revival in Search of Miracles |author1=Kofman, Jeffrey |author2=Yiu, Karson |author3=Brennan, Nicholas | date = July 9, 2008 | publisher=ABC News | access-date= July 7, 2008}}</ref>{{verify source|date=December 2016}} reported that "Not a single claim of Bentley's healing powers could be independently verified." However, the ''Charlotte Observer'' reported on the same series of meetings, "The revival's media relations staff has tried to document healings. They e-mailed the Observer information on 15 people reportedly healed, providing phone numbers for each and noting that 12 had received medical verification. The Observer contacted five, plus three whose names were not provided, including Burgee. Each said God had healed them through, or related to, Bentley and the Lakeland services."<ref>{{cite journal | author = Chandler, Charles | date = June 19, 2008 | title = Tattooed Preacher Says God Heals Through Him | journal = The Charlotte Observer | url = http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article8988545.html | access-date = December 24, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Pantagraph ap article">{{cite news | author = Reed, Travis | date = July 28, 2008 | title = Florida Revival Drawing Criticism—And Thousands of Followers | agency = Associated Press | location = Bloomington, IL | work = The Pantagraph | url = http://www.pantagraph.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/florida-revival-drawing-criticism-and-thousands-of-followers/article_0fe92491-afdd-51ee-9ccf-2f2d39d3b52a.html | access-date = December 13, 2015 }}</ref> Strader responded to the Nightline report with the following statement, "Strader said privacy concerns and laws forbidding the release of medical records have prevented revival officials from releasing complete information about the identities and conditions of people claiming to be healed."<ref name="McMullenQuit">{{cite news|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20080723/NEWS/807230424%26title%3DRevival_Evangelist_to_Fold_His_Lakeland_Tent|title=Revival Evangelist to Fold His Lakeland Tent|last=McMullen|first=Cary|date=July 23, 2008|publisher=The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida)|access-date=December 13, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304224022/http://www.theledger.com/article/20080723/NEWS/807230424%26title%3DRevival_Evangelist_to_Fold_His_Lakeland_Tent|url-status=dead}}{{link note |note=3 free articles allowed before subscription required}}</ref> World Magazine also reported on looking into the validity of healing claims with mixed results.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cole |first=Warren |url=https://world.wng.org/2009/05/heal_or_heel |title=Heal or heel? | WORLD News Group |publisher=World.wng.org |date=2009-05-23 |access-date=2018-04-03}}</ref>
At times, the healing services were criticized in mainstream media and on Internet blogs for the occasional violence done to the participants,<ref name="Lake"/><ref name=aparticle /><ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=http://www.goodnewsfl.org/local.asp?page=bc/0608/front/todd.asp |title=The Good News of South Florida - Local |website=GoodNewsFl.org |access-date=May 6, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705114329/http://www.goodnewsfl.org/local.asp?page=bc%2F0608%2Ffront%2Ftodd.asp |archive-date=July 5, 2008 }}</ref> in the tradition of Smith Wigglesworth.<ref>Todd Bentley ''The Reality of the Supernatural World'' (Shippensburg: Destiny Image, 2008) 263</ref><ref>William Hacking ''Smith Wigglesworth: A Life Ablaze With The Power Of God'' (Tulsa: Harrison House, 1972) 46 "Wigglesworth said, "Close your eyes." Then he commanded, "In the name of Jesus come out of him!" He struck the man in the stomach, sending him halfway across the front of the hall."</ref> Todd Bentley was known to forcefully kick, hit, smack, or knock over participants. In one incident, a man was knocked over and lost a tooth. In another, an older woman was intentionally kicked in the face. Bentley held that the Holy Spirit led him to such actions,<ref name="Lake"/><ref name=autogenerated2 /> saying that those incidents were taken out of context and adding that miracles were happening simultaneously.<ref name=aparticle>{{cite news | last = Reed | first = Travis | title = Florida revival drawing criticism-- and thousands of followers | agency = Associated Press | date = July 28, 2008 | url = http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/07/28/values/doc488dfebc26cae983553158.txt | access-date = August 17, 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081025193705/http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/07/28/values/doc488dfebc26cae983553158.txt | archive-date = October 25, 2008 }}</ref> Trevor Baker, who had invited Bentley to the Revival Fires Church in Dudley (UK), also defended these actions, saying: "He never does anything like that without first asking for the person's permission."<ref>"US Child Sex Offender Is Coming to Preach in the Midlands; HE CLAIMS TO CURE VICTIMS BY BEATING THEM", ''Sunday Mercury'' (Birmingham, England), July 6, 2008</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|2}}
== External links == {{External links|date=May 2017}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517155954/http://www.ignitedchurch.com/ Ignited Church] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDEsXVUQeLo Lakeland Revival Documentary]
Category:Christian revivals Category:Charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity Category:Angelic apparitions Category:Resurrection Category:Supernatural healing