Lakeland!

I'm assuming readers of this blog are folks who'd be hip to what's happening in Lakeland, FL.

But, lest you feel like the one un-hip reader, there's a healing revival happening there that, thanks to the power of the internet, has gone bigger than perhaps comparable healing revivals in recent years in Pensacola and Toronto.  Many thousand people a night, from all over the world, are congregating in a big tent and being preached to and prayed for by, among others, Todd Bentley. 

Todd is one fascinating guy.  He's young (32 now, if my math holds), converted at 18 from a colorful and by his own admission criminal past, and he quickly became an in-demand revival preacher.  We had him at our church several years back and, while I very much appreciated the faith and perhaps healing power at the gathering, he alienated quite a few people with what I've learned are his characteristic mannerisms--loud shouts as he prays for sick people (a characteristic shout: "BAM!") and expressive laying on of hands (he's not against pushing people over).

A good friend who visited Lakeland, who's had horrible health problems, smiled as he saw me and asked if I noticed anything different about him.  I did--his hearing aids were gone.  At Lakeland, the speaker had encouraged people just to receive whatever healing they were looking for right at their seats.  My friend put his fingers in his ears and asked God to heal them.  He hasn't worn his hearing aids since.  His hearing still isn't perfect...but he tells me it's as good without the hearing aids as it previously was with them.  My friend with Stage 4 colon cancer is there as I write this.  I'll keep you posted on what happens with him.

Lots has been controversial about Lakeland.  Nightline did a less-than-flattering look at it.  Todd Bentley does alienate some folks.  It's loud and Pentecostal.  One pastor compellingly talked with me about the ill effect Lakeland has had on many churches he knows. Their parishioners either go to Lakeland or watch its services on this internet TV station, GodTV.  And then they go to their pastors and say, "That's the real church right there.  Why aren't we like that?" And when the church won't or can't become like that (as of course it can't--churches have a much broader mandate than we see at Lakeland), the parishioners leave in a huff or foment revolt against the pastor.  My friend says the pastors he talks to hate Lakeland.

So...some texture.  That said, it's done no harm I can figure out at least on our end.  And my friend has jettisoned his hearing aids, and that makes me pretty happy.  And my friend with cancer is inspired to go there, and that makes me happy at the very least for the promise of healing of something so serious.

Last week I got acquainted with Mike Morrell and his blog on zoecarnate.com, which I've enjoyed, not least for this thoughtful blog on Lakeland, complete with a trove of links for more information.   One of Mike's commenters then pointed to Seth Barnes' very impressive set of links about Lakeland. Or you can take a gander at what Wikipedia says about Lakeland or Todd Bentley. 

What's your take on Lakeland?