Contemporary worship is a form of Christian worship that emerged within Western evangelical Protestantism in the twentieth century. It was originally confined to the charismatic movement, but is now found to varying extents in a wide range of churches, including many that do not subscribe to a charismatic theology. Contemporary worship is generally characterised by the use of contemporary worship music in an informal setting. Congregational singing typically comprises a greater proportion of the service than in conventional forms of worship. Where contemporary worship is practiced in churches with a liturgical tradition, elements of the liturgy are frequently kept to a minimum. The terms ''historic worship'', ''traditional worship'' or ''liturgical worship'' are sometimes used to describe conventional worship forms and distinguish them from contemporary worship.

History

Historically, the contemporary worship phenomenon emerged from the Jesus Movement in North America in the 1960s and the “Charismatic Renewal Movement” in Australia and New Zealand during the 1970s and 80’s. The function of music in services, the style of songs, their performance, the explicit theology of the lyrics, and the theology implied by these aspects distinguish “contemporary worship” from traditional worship in practice, and theological background. Contemporary worship music takes a significant part of the service time and repetition of phrases reinforces the theological content of the service. The impact is heightened as creeds and formal prayers are seldom used. Theologically, contemporary worship music is influenced by Pentecostal and evangelical theologies. However, the phenomenon has influenced all major denominations to some degree. There is a wide variety in practice between churches.

Contemporary worship is intrinsically related to the contemporary Christian music industry.

Controversy

The shift towards contemporary worship has been a source of significant controversy (sometimes called 'worship wars') in many churches. Whilst some disagreements have primarily resulted from a resistance to changes to the accustomed style of worship, more substantial concerns have also been raised.

The musical style of contemporary worship is very much influenced by popular music, and the use of modern instruments is commonplace. Objectors feel that this style of music is 'worldly' and associated with an immoral lifestyle. A small number of theologians oppose it based on their interpretation of the regulative principle of worship.

Additional controversy results from the lyrical content of much contemporary worship music, which differs from traditional hymnody and often reflects a charismatic theology. The increasing influence of this music is seen as introducing charismatic teachings by the back door. In addition, criticism has been made of the simple wording of many contemporary worship songs, which is felt to be banal and lacking in depth.

Finally, critics have argued that contemporary worship services are actually 'entertainment', claiming that the increased amounts of music (often played by a band) and lack of intercession, create the atmosphere of a concert or performance.

Opposition to contemporary worship has been most vocal from the conservative evangelical wing of the church, which also opposes the charismatic movement.

Practical details

Block worship

Contemporary worship normally includes a number of songs sung in succession, with little or no intermediate speaking. In more traditional forms of worship, it would be normal for hymns to be interspersed with prayers, readings, liturgical items, etc. The traditional practice is sometimes referred to as a 'hymn-prayer sandwich' and the contemporary form 'block worship' or the 'praise and worship'.

Worship leader

A notable feature of contemporary worship is the worship leader. A worship leader is normally a musician (often a guitarist or pianist) with good singing ability whose role it is to lead the congregational singing. Many composers of contemporary worship songs are also worship leaders. The worship leader has a prominent role in contemporary worship services and is responsible for much of the spiritual direction of the meeting and often will choose the songs that will be sung. This can be contrasted with traditional churches, where the entire service is normally led by a member of the clergy. Also, in many cases, the worship leader is responsible for recruiting, assigning, and training other musicians to compose a worship band or team.

Worship band

The style of contemporary worship music is influenced by popular music and not suitable for the traditional church organ. Most churches adopting contemporary worship therefore have a ''worship band'' or ''praise band'' to provide music during their services. Other terms such as ''worship team'', ''worship group'', ''praise team'', or ''music group'' are also used. Worship bands are most common in evangelical denominations, but can also be found among other Christian denominations. Most worship bands are church-based and seldom play outside their own churches. However, some contemporary Christian music bands also act as worship bands for events, and may label themselves as such.

Worship bands have varying compositions and use a variety of non-traditional church instruments. In the 1970s and 1980s, a folk music style was commonplace with acoustic string or woodwind instruments being popular. Today, the influence of rock music is widespread and the use of electric instruments has increased.

Worship bands normally also include vocalists and a worship leader and usually lead congregational singing replacing the traditional church choir and pipe organ, although occasionally churches use both bands and choirs. A worship band can create a contemporary sound to the worship that younger worshipers can identify with. Worship bands may also be utilized with the rationale that some non-churchgoing visitors will feel more comfortable.

Projected lyrics

The charismatic movement also resulted in large numbers of songs being written. It became impractical for churches to use hymn or song books, as a single book rarely contained all the material they wanted to sing, and the turnover in songs was rapid.

Hence many churches that adopt a contemporary style of worship project the words to the songs onto one or more screens. Originally, this was done using an overhead projector or occasionally a slide projector, but as video projectors fell in price and improved in performance, it became more popular to use a computerised system. Specialised software, known as worship presentation programs, was developed to generate the images for display.

Creative arts

Contemporary worship often includes other elements not found in conventional forms of worship. Drama, typically in the form of short sketches, is sometimes used to highlight a topic of teaching. Dance is commonplace and includes both choreographed and improvised dance as both an expression of worship and again for teaching purposes. Occasionally short videos or film clips are shown.

See also

Contemporary worship music

Christian worship

List of notable contemporary worship songs

List of Christian worship music artists

Hymn

Contemporary Christian music

CCLI

Worship Leader Praise Awards

References

Also: ;Pro contemporary worship

''Contemporary Worship Music: A Biblical Defense''. John M. Frame, P & R Publishing, 1997. ISBN 0875522122.

;Anti contemporary worship

''Worship in the Melting Pot''. Peter Masters, Wakeman Trust, 2002. ISBN 1870855337.

''Stones for Bread: A Critique of Contemporary Worship''. A. Daniel Frankforter, Westminster John Knox Press, 2001. ISBN 0664222846.

;General - not categorized

''Selling Worship - How What We Sing Has Changed The Church''. Pete Ward, Paternoster, 2005. ISBN 1842272705.

''Worship In The Spirit''. James H. S. Stevens, Paternoster, 2002. ISBN 1842271032.

''America's Worship Wars''. Terry W. York, Hendrickson, 2003. ISBN 156563490X.

''Putting an End to Worship Wars''. Elmer L. Towns, Broadman & Holman, 1997. ISBN 0805430172.

''Worship in Spirit and Truth''. John M. Frame, P & R Publishing, 1996. ISBN 0875522424.

''Blended Worship: Achieving Substance and Relevance in Worship''. Robert E Webber, Hendrickson, 1996. ISBN 1565632451.

''Guiding Your Church Through a Worship Transition''. Tom Kraeuter, Emerald Books, 2003. ISBN 1932096086.

External links

Evangelistic Worship - discusses both contemporary and historic worship

Music, trends, and the church - argues in favor of blended worship

Contemporary worship vs biblical worship - critical article from Fundamentalist Baptist News Service

Style and Substance - critique of contemporary worship

Worship Leader Magazine - resource for discussion of contemporary worship by leading artists and theologians

Category:Christian liturgy, rites, and worship services

ja:コンテンポラリー・ワーシップ

Bold text

Coordinates	54°45′″N55°58′″N
name	Matt Redman
background	solo_singer
birth name	Matt Redman
born	Watford, 1974 (age 37)
origin	Chorleywood, England
instruments	vocals, piano, guitar
genre	WorshipContemporary Christian
years active	1993–present
label	Survivor Records sixstepsrecords
website	http://www.mattredman.com/
notable instruments	}}

Matt Redman (born 14 February 1974) is an English Christian worship leader, songwriter and author based in Brighton. He was one of the main worship leaders associated with the Soul Survivor youth organisation.

He has worked with Newfrontiers, Passion Conferences, Hillsong London, is an artist for Survivor Records (sixstepsrecords in the US) and is a member of Compassionart a charity founded by Martin Smith.

He appeared with Hillsong London for a song on their 2005 album Jesus Is; he co-wrote and sang the song "Greatest Gift".

Many Contemporary Christian music (CCM) artists such as Matt Maher, Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, David Crowder Band, and Tree63 have covered a number of Redman's songs. Some of his most popular songs include "Heart Of Worship", "Let Everything That Has Breath", "Once Again", "Undignified", "Better Is One Day", and the 2005 Dove Award-winning "Blessed Be Your Name" (Worship Song of the Year). He regularly works alongside other Christian artists such as Phatfish and Chris Tomlin.

Redman started leading worship at St Andrews, Chorleywood, moving to help start up Soul Survivor alongside Mike Pilavachi and was the worship leader for the Soul Survivor Church in Watford. According to founder Mike Pilavachi, the Soul Survivor festivals (which began in 1993) grew out of worship sessions with him and the then 15-year-old Redman. Redman lead worship at the early Soul Survivor festivals, returning to lead worship again in 2011.

In 2002, after a sabbatical in America recording ''Where Angels Fear To Tread'', Redman moved to Brighton to work with Terry Virgo at the Newfrontiers church, CCK. He has been involved in their 'Newday' and 'Together on a Mission' conferences.

In 2004 Redman joined a new church plant, The Point, also in West Sussex, led by Will Kemp.

In 2008 Matt and Beth Redman along with their daughter Maisey and three sons, Noah, Rocco and Jackson moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to plant a church with Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin. Their fifth child, Levi, was born on 18 January 2010. In August 2010 Redman and his family returned to the UK. They have now joined a church down in Brighton called "St.Peters"

On February 18 and 19, 2011, Redman joined Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, and Nathan and Christy Nockels at LIFT - A Worship Leader Collective. His new live album, ''10,000 Reasons'', was recorded during this event.

He has authored and edited multiple books on Christian worship, including ''The Unquenchable Worshipper'' and the book ''Facedown'' which accompanied the album of the same name. His latest book ''Mirror Ball'' relays his thoughts and experiences of 'living boldly and shining brightly for the glory of God'.

Discography

Audio albums

''Wake Up My Soul'' (1993)

''Passion For Your Name'' (1995)

''The Friendship And The Fear'' (1998)

''Intimacy'' (1998), released as ''The Heart Of Worship'' in USA (1999)

''The Father's Song'' (2000)

''Where Angels Fear to Tread'' (2002)

''Facedown'' (2004)

''Blessed Be Your Name: The Songs of Matt Redman Vol. 1'' (2005)

''Beautiful News'' (2006)

''We Shall Not Be Shaken'' (2009)

''Ultimate Collection'' (2010)

''10,000 Reasons'' (2011) (UK chart peak: #149)

Video albums

''Facedown'' (DVD, 2004)

Passion event albums

''The Road To OneDay'' (2000)

''OneDay: Live'' (2000)

''Sacred Revolution: Songs From OneDay 03'' (2003)

''Hymns: Ancient and Modern'' (2004)

''How Great Is Our God'' (2005)

''Everything Glorious'' (2006)

''The Best of Passion (So Far)'' (2006)

''Live From Passion 07 Pt. 2'' (2007)

''God of This City'' (2008)

''Awakening'' (2010)

''Here for You'' (2011)

Awards

;Dove Award wins

2005: Worship Song of the Year: "Blessed Be Your Name"

2006: Praise and Worship Album of the Year: ''Blessed Be Your Name: The Songs of Matt Redman Vol. 1''

2007: Children's Music Album of the Year: ''VeggieTales Worship Songs''

2007: Special Event Album of the Year: ''Passion: Everything Glorious''

Notes

http://www.mattredman.com/bio.php

Bibliography

The Unquenchable Worshipper, (2001)

Where Angels Fear to Tread, (2002)

The Heart of Worship Files, (2003)

Facedown, (2004)

Inside Out Worship, (2005)

Blessed Be Your Name (with Beth Redman), (2005)

Mirror Ball, (2011)

See also

Tim Hughes

Mike Pilavachi

Chris Tomlin

External links

Survivor Records

sixstepsrecords

Matt Redman (Official Site)

Interview at Christian Music Today

Interview @ Premier.tv

Category:Living people Category:English guitarists Category:English Pentecostals Category:British performers of Christian music Category:Christian religion-related songwriters Category:English songwriters Category:Contemporary worship music Category:1974 births

de:Matt Redman fr:Matt Redman nl:Matt Redman pl:Matt Redman pt:Matt Redman ru:Редман, Мэтт sv:Matt Redman

Amy Evans (24 October 1884 – 5 January 1983) was a Welsh soprano and actress known for her performances in oratorio, recitals, and opera. She also made some music recordings beginning in 1906. In 1910, she played the leading role of Selene in W. S. Gilbert's last opera, ''Fallen Fairies'' and sang at the Royal Opera House the same year and thereafter. She played Princess Helena in ''A Waltz Dream'' at Daly's Theatre in 1911.

After Evans married Scottish baritone Fraser Gange in 1917, the two frequently performed together in concert and on tour, moving to the United States in 1923. In 1975, at age 91, Evans gave her last performance. Living to the age of 98, she was one of the last surviving cast members of a W. S. Gilbert production.

Biography

The birthplace of Amy Evans is variously given as Ynyshir or nearby Tonypandy, Wales. While not of upper-class descent, Evans came from a home less humble than accounts of her ancestry often suggest. The usual description of her father, Thomas Vaughan Evans, as a coal miner, although not altogether inaccurate, somewhat understates his standing; he was an official in the Naval Colliery Company. Moreover, Amy was the product of a musical household in which singing was valued, as her mother, Leah, and her grandmother both were active and recognized as church singers.

Besides general studies at her local board school, Evans had some early singing lessons with Ivor Foster. In 1896, she began vocal studies with David Lloyd, organist and choirmaster of St. Andrew's Church in Tonypandy and a recognized pianist in South Wales. In recognition of Evans's musical promise, local benefactors inaugurated a fund to further her musical education. In 1899, at age 14, Evans won the soprano prize at the Welsh National Eisteddfod in Cardiff, Wales for a performance of "Hear ye, Israel" from Mendelssohn's ''Elijah''. Presenting her with the award was the celebrated Welsh tenor Ben Davies, who described her as "a great natural singer" and foretold a stellar future for her, assuming "proper training".

Early career

Evans began a concert career, and ''The Times'' wrote of one of her recitals, "Miss Evans's clear, high soprano voice was admirably suited" to the songs. The soprano's scanty documented recording career began in 1906, when she made a few cylinders for Edison Bell and began a series of vertical cut discs for Pathé. The latter included the first roughly complete recording of Gilbert and Sullivan's opera ''The Yeomen of the Guard'', in which she sang the roles of Elsie and Kate.

This early Savoyard association would prove prophetic: on 3 January 1910, Evans replaced Nancy McIntosh in the leading role of Selene in W. S. Gilbert's unsuccessful last opera, ''Fallen Fairies'', with music by Edward German, which Charles Workman's company had premiered on 15 December 1909 at the Savoy Theatre in London. Although Evans received favourable notices, McIntosh's dismissal provoked an acrimonious dispute among Gilbert, German, and Workman. Gilbert forbade Workman ever again to appear in one of his works in the United Kingdom, and neither Gilbert nor German would write another work for the musical stage. ''The Musical Times'' wrote: :"The part of 'Selene', the fairy queen, in the Gilbert-German opera 'Fallen Fairies' is now being played with great success by Miss Amy Evans, a young singer who has made a name on the concert and Eisteddfod platforms in Wales, but who is new to the stage. She sings a new song, the words of which are by Sir William Gilbert and the music by Edward German. This song has been the subject, first of an injunction, and then of a mysterious law suit brought by Sir William against the Savoy management. It is now restored to the performance by mutual consent." ''The Times'' noted, "She has a delicate but beautiful voice. Her high notes, both ''fortissimo'' and ''pianissimo'' are of very pure quality.... As an actress, she has a good deal to learn [but] there is... a kind of gentle sincerity that fits the part well".

After further concert appearances, she was next at the Royal Opera House in ''Siegfried'' in at the end of April 1910 playing Waldvogel. Also in 1910, Thomas Edison's National Phonograph Company issued the last documented commercial recordings by Evans, a group of four-minute cylinders.

In 1911, Evans played Princess Helena opposite Lily Elsie in a revival of ''A Waltz Dream'' at Daly's Theatre. Thereafter, she returned to her concert career, although she had brief associations with Covent Garden and the Philadelphia-Chicago Grand Opera Company in the years leading up to World War I. For example, she was Micaela in ''Carmen'' at Covent Garden in 1912, and in Chicago she joined Rosa Raisa, then at the outset of her career, as one of the flower maidens in ''Parsifal'' during the 1913-1914 season.

On 3 July 1917, Evans married Scottish baritone Fraser Gange (1886–1962). From that point forward, while Evans continued to sing solo engagements, such as her participation in the premiere of the Delius Requiem on 23 March 1922, she frequently performed together with her husband in concert, as when the couple undertook a 187-performance tour of Australia from March to December 1920 and a tour of the British provinces in 1921 and 1922. In 1922, Herman Klein from ''The Musical Times'' wrote, "Mrs. Amy Evans, Mr. Fraser Gange and Mr. Harold Samuel were heard together with the band of the Grenadier Guards under Lt G.F. Miller, at a charity concert at Queens Hall, and it is an opportunity to praise Miss Evans as one of the best of our sopranos. She allies sonorous tone with a ringing delivery and her voice is even throughout its range."

Later years

Evans and Gange continued performing together after moving to the United States in 1923 and enjoyed success in major concert venues, such as Town Hall in New York City. Indeed, within four months of their arrival in New York, the couple on 5 March 1924 sang a public joint recital there at the Lotus Club. They again toured Australia and New Zealand during a six-month period in 1928. Around that time, Evans made her last, and only electric, recordings, none released, for Columbia Records. On 27 March 1932, Evans sang in Bach's ''Mass in B Minor'' with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Serge Koussevitzky, together with Gange, Margarete Matzenauer and Richard Crooks. This was Gange's last appearance with the orchestra, with which he had formed a regular association. Evans also pursued her solo career in the United States. For instance, on 9 March 1930, she was the first woman to sing at the Harvard Club of New York in New York.

In 1949, Evans and Gange moved from New York to Baltimore, Maryland, where Gange, who by now had developed a successful academic career, taught full-time at the Peabody Conservatory. In 1975, a 91-year-old Evans gave her last documented performance, when she sang before the Welsh Women's Clubs of America, although by that time she was undoubtedly long retired.

When she died at age 98 in Baltimore, Evans was one of the last surviving cast members of a W. S. Gilbert production and possibly the last surviving player in an original run of a Gilbert production.

Recordings

Few recordings of Evans are known, more than half being of duets or ensembles rather than solos. Aside from a small label's reissue of the ''Yeomen'' set described below, none has appeared on compact disc. The first Evans recordings were cylinders issued by Edison Bell as part of its Welsh series in 1906. The titles included the following:

''Y Deryn Pur''

R.S. Hughes: ''Llam y Cariadau''

Joseph Parry: ''Hywel a Blodwen'' (duet with John Roberts)

In the same year, and carrying on into 1907, Evans recorded six individual center-start disk record sides for Pathé. The only solo was "Angels Ever Bright and Fair" from Handel's ''Theodora''. Another recording was the trio from Gounod's ''Faust'' with tenor Alfred Heather and baritone Bantock Pierpoint. The rest were duets with baritone Francis Ludlow:

Lionel Monckton: ''A Country Girl''—"Boy and Girl" and ''The Cingalee''—"You and I"

André Messager: ''Véronique''—"The Donkey Duet" and "Swing Song"

The second year of that association with Pathé included her participation as Elsie Maynard and Kate in the first nearly complete recording of Gilbert and Sullivan's ''The Yeomen of the Guard''. Other cast members were Bantock Pierpoint, Ben Ivor, Francis Ludlow, and Emily Foxcroft; like Evans, all but Ivor assumed multiple roles. Substituting for the orchestra was the Band of the Scots Guards, reflecting common practise among recording companies, as technology of the day captured wind instruments far better than strings. Of six sides on which she appeared, only one featured Evans in a solo, "The Prisoner Comes", from the Act I finale.

Evans returned to the studio, and to cylinders, once more in 1910, when she recorded four solo numbers for Edison on four-minute cylinders: Thomas Moore's "The Last Rose of Summer", Guy d'Hardelot's "The Dawn", James Lyman Molloy's "The Kerry Dance", and Hermann Lohr's "I Wish I Were a Tiny Bird." No further recording sessions involving Evans are known in the acoustic era, although at some unknown time she recorded at least one cylinder for Edison in the earlier two-minute format: "Within a Mile of Edinboro Town" by James Hook.

In August and November 1926 and January 1927, Evans made recordings for Columbia using the new electric recording technology. None of them saw release. According to Evans, the masters were destroyed when the truck in which they were traveling overturned, but in approximately 2001 a private collector found three test pressings from the series. In all her earlier recordings aside from the ''Yeomen'' set, her accompaniments, as was common practice at the time, would have been by anonymous studio musicians, but information on the labels may suggest the identity of her piano accompanist in the test pressings. Each is inscribed by hand with the name Bergh, probably a reference to Arthur Bergh, then an active studio accompanist for Columbia who accompanied Fraser Gange in some of his recordings. Appropriately for the woman who would one day be the last surviving Savoyard, one song was by Arthur Sullivan, "My Dearest Heart". The other two were "A Brown Bird Singing" by Hayden Wood and "I Wonder if Love Is a Dream" by Dorothy Forster.

References

External links

Information and photo about a 1911 postcard of Evans

Advertisement for 1929 Evans-Gange recital at New York's Town Hall

Notice of a 1932 performance with the Harvard Glee Club and the Radcliffe Choral Society

Photos of Lily Elsie and Evans in ''A Waltz Dream''

Programme, dated 3 January 1910, from ''Fallen Fairies'', showing Evans as Selene

Category:1884 births Category:1983 deaths Category:Welsh actors Category:Operatic sopranos Category:Gilbert and Sullivan performers Category:Welsh female singers Category:Welsh opera singers

Coordinates	54°45′″N55°58′″N
name	Paul Baloche
name	Paul Baloche
background	solo_singer
birth name	Paul Baloche
birth date	June 04, 1962
origin	Camden, New Jersey, USA
instruments	Vocals, Piano, Guitar
genre	WorshipContemporary Christian
occupation	Worship leader, singer-songwriter
years active	1992–present
label	Integrity
associated acts	Don Moen, Rita Baloche
website	leadworship.com
notable instruments	Acoustic guitar }}

Paul Baloche (pronounced ; born on June 4, 1962) is an American Christian music artist, worship leader, and singer-songwriter. A native of Maple Shade, New Jersey, Baloche is currently the worship pastor at Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, Texas. Baloche composes on piano and acoustic guitar, favoring guitar when leading worship. His wife, Rita Baloche, is also a Christian songwriter. Baloche is one of the writers for Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith from Delirious?.

Several Christian artists, such as Michael W. Smith and SONICFLOOd, have recorded Baloche's songs. Many of his songs are among the most performed songs in services according to CCLI, a company that handles copyright licensing of Christian songs and other resource materials for use in churches. Among them are "Open the Eyes of My Heart" (ranked number 2) and "Above All" (ranked number 22), cowritten with Lenny Leblanc. "Above All" was nominated for Song of the Year in both the 2002 and 2003 Dove Awards, and in 2002, Michael W. Smith's recording of that song won Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year. Baloche was also nominated for Songwriter of the Year in 2002. In 2009, Baloche won a Dove Award for Inspiration Recorded Song of the Year as coauthor of "A New Hallelujah" with Michael W. and Debbie Smith.

Baloche uses his position as a recording artist to provide resources for churches. His catalog of six albums is focused on providing worship music for the listener to worship along with, and for churches to use in their own services. His albums are released by Hosanna! Music, a division of Integrity Music. Through Integrity, Baloche has also written a book, ''God Songs'', and released instructional DVDs that cover a variety of issues central to contemporary worship, such as music styles, music theory, creating flow in worship, and guitar techniques (including his methods on open chord voicings). In addition to his material output, Baloche participates in several seminars for worship leaders and musicians throughout North America and Asia.

The 2006 release ''A Greater Song'' is a live recording featuring songs by Baloche, some cowritten with worship artists including Matt Redman ("A Greater Song") and former Integrity Music president Don Moen ("Thank You Lord").

The 2009 release ''Glorious'' featured the single "Just To Be With You," which Baloche explained "is simply about intimacy with God."

Discography

''He is Faithful'' (1992)

''First Love - Hosanna! Music'' (1998)

''Open the Eyes of My Heart'' (2000)

''God of Wonders - Hosanna! Music'' (2001)

''Offering of Worship'' (2003)

''A Greater Song'' (2006)

''Our God Saves'' (2007) – reached #39 on the top Christian albums charts in 2007.

''The Writer's Collection'' (2008)

''Live in Asia'' (2009) ''(Recorded live in Seoul, South Korea and labeled by Integrity Asia)''

''Glorious'' (2009)''

References

External links

leadworship.com – Official website

Instructional Resources

Paul's Myspace page

Artist's Label Page

Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Songwriters from New Jersey Category:American performers of Christian music Category:People from Camden, New Jersey Category:Contemporary worship music

Coordinates	54°45′″N55°58′″N
Name	Todd Bentley
Birth date	January 10, 1976
Birth place	Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Evangelist
religion	Charismatic Christianity
Spouse	Shonnah Bentley (? – 2009)Jessa Hasbrook Bentley (2009 – present)
Footnotes	}}

Todd Bentley (born 10 January 1976) is a Canadian Christian evangelist. He was the key figure of the Lakeland Revival. After a brief period of retirement connected with the breakdown of his marriage and subsequent re-marriage, he has returned to ministry.

Biography

Early life

Bentley was raised mainly in Gibsons, British Columbia, a small community on the western coast of Canada. Bentley's parents divorced while he was a child and he struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. At the age of 15, he was convicted of sexual assault, and at age 17, Bentley was hospitalized after an overdose of amphetamines and hallucinogenic pills.At age 18 Bentley changed his lifestyle completely, due to his conversion to Christ, and it was soon after this that he began his Christian ministry.

Even though the criminal records of juvenile offenders in Canada are normally protected from public disclosure, in 2001, the now-defunct ''Report Newsmagazine'', disclosed Bentley's teenage criminal activities, calling his behavior "heinous." Bentley later said that the ''Report Newsmagazine'' article was, in substance, true: "'They were sexual crimes,' Bentley admits. 'I was involved in a sexual assault ring. I turned around and did what happened to me. I was assaulted too.'" This led to heated debate in the Christian media, asking whether ''Report NewsMagazine'' had acted correctly in publicizing Bentley's crimes, and whether this affected Bentley's position as an evangelist.

Fresh Fire Ministries

In 1998, the Fresh Fire Ministry group asked Bentley to give his testimony at one of their weekly meetings. Soon after, Bentley took over the leadership of the group, which became more of a revival movement. The religious services became focused on renewing the faith of believers and converting nonbelievers and began to highlight Bentley's vibrant preaching style, music, and dramatic descriptions of salvation and judgment. Bentley's talent for this kind of preaching made him popular as a guest evangelist and speaker. He traveled to India, Africa, and South America taking part in religious crusades and revivals.

Leadership of Lakeland Revival

Beginning on April 2, 2008, Bentley was invited by Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignited Church, Lakeland, Florida, to lead a one-week revival. The revival quickly became a religious and media phenomenon, attracting up to 10,000 attendees nightly with Bentley as the primary preacher. In addition to showcasing Bentley's evangelism, the revival featured colorful light shows and power-chord Christian rock music. The Ignited Church also took a multimedia approach to publicizing the event, posting webcasts online. The revival streamed live via Ustream – which received over 1 million hits in the first five weeks of transmissions. After the initial weeks, GOD TV, a religious satellite channel, decided to pre-empt its primetime programming and broadcast the Lakeland meetings nightly.

The revival brought in thousands, and with that many other revivalists. At one point, Bentley began to pray for and commission many of them to duplicate his model for modern day revival. Ryan Wyatt was one. Another was Evangelist Hamilton Filmalter, who was commissioned by Bentley to begin the Portland Outpouring. Filmalter teamed up with Reverend Aaron Winter the founder of Hearts of Fire International Ministries and they began to witness many of the same things that were taking place in Lakeland. However, by the time these other revivals turned up in other cities, Bentley had stepped down from Fresh Fire Ministries.

Bentley was criticized in mainstream media and on internet blogs for occasional violence done to participants, in the tradition of Smith Wigglesworth. 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 elderly woman was intentionally kicked in the face. Bentley held that the Holy Spirit led him to such actions, saying that those incidents were taken out of context and adding that miracles were happening simultaneously.

On 9 July 2008 ABC News' ''Nightline'' broadcast an investigative report on Bentley focusing on his faith healing claims, finances, and criminal past. Following the report, Bentley took time off from the revival but returned on 18 July 2008. Five days later, Bentley and Strader announced that Bentley would be leaving the revival permanently and that his last day would be 23 August 2008.

An important aspect of many of the meetings that Bentley has led, involves prayer for miraculous healing. The New Testament records many incidents of Jesus healing the sick; belief in its contemporary practice is important for Pentecostal and charismatic Christians. Healing testimonies were common at the Lakeland meetings. The hope of supernatural healing explains some of its popularity, as there were many first-person accounts of miracles. The lack of medical corroboration of the healings was questioned by mainstream media; the ''Nightline'' report concluded that "not a single miracle could be verified."

Divorce issue

Bentley announced his separation from his wife, Shonnah, in August 2008, and resigned from the Board of Fresh Fire. A statement released by the remaining Board members said "Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff", and that he would 'refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life'.

Some of Bentley's Christian contemporaries called for Bentley to step down in the wake of the scandal, stating that Christian leadership is incompatible with marital unfaithfulness. In response, a committee made up of Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, and Bill Johnson was formed to oversee the process of spiritually restoring Bentley's family. In November 2008, the Board of Fresh Fire announced that Bentley was not submitting to the process. On March 9, 2009, Rick Joyner announced that Bentley had remarried.

A 2009 ''Charisma magazine'' interview with Rick Joyner refuted adultery claims while characterizing the relationship as wrong and premature. Joyner told ''Charisma'' that the new couple was committed to their marriage and would “continue to serve the Lord in the best way that they can.”

Theology

Bentley highlights scriptural passages in his sermons. He emphasizes that spiritual or supernatural encounters in an individual's life are gifts from the Holy Spirit. He has stated that his priority is to help people experience the presence of God. He wants the "Holy Spirit to manifest His glory in such a way that people can't deny the presence of a living God and they have a true born-again experience". He also says: "Miracles and healings are evidence [...] they are signs of the Kingdom, and if we don't have signs then all we have is a bunch of theology."

Bentley's testimony includes an account of visiting Heaven and meeting with Paul the Apostle. He has also preached about an encounter with an angel he called 'Emma' at an Assemblies of God church in 2001. The female angel gave him a vision of gold coins, and Bentley states this was a sign of his future financial stability. In response to criticism about the Biblical inspiration of a female angel, Bentley wrote that it was God's choice, and not his own, that an angel appeared to him in that manner.

Pastor Strader of Ignited Church who invited Bentley to Lakeland said: "We watch over everything. Everything that happens on the platform is scriptural [...] The nightly message has been totally 100 percent nothing but Jesus. People are saved, people are healed, and Jesus is being glorified. [...] Even some of my so-called friends are questioning my integrity, but they never come to the services. It's not fair just to watch [them] on TV."

Joel's Army

Bentley has sponsored an internship program called 'Joel's Army' in addition to having the words "Joel's Army" tattooed across his sternum with military dog tags demonstrating a level of commitment to the Latter Rain doctrine of the Manifest Sons of God, (or Man-Child Generation) as preached by William M. Branham and George Warnock. The program's doctrine was associated to an interpretation of Revelation 12 that in the last age before Jesus returns, there will be a generation of especially endowed Christians who will be able to do many miracles, and will usher in the reign of God. This is in the tradition of William M. Branham and the healing revivals of the 50s, overlapping with Latter Rain Movement theology. Bentley's association with Paul Cain, an associate of Branham and himself a healing evangelist of the 50s, is a further connection to the movement. Joel's Army has been connected to Dominion Theology and Fivefold ministry thinking, and has been described as a "rapidly growing apocalyptic movement" prophesied to become an "Armageddon-ready military force of young people with a divine mandate to physically impose Christian "dominion" on non-believers.

Appearance

Bentley's physical appearance has been noted for being very unconventional for that of an evangelist. He has dozens of tattoos, multiple facial piercings, and a preference for t-shirts over ties. Bentley's preaching style is also flamboyant, known for mannerisms like shouting 'Bam!' during his delivery.

Bibliography

''The Journey into the Miraculous'' (Shippensburg: Destiny Image, 2008)

''The Reality of the Supernatural World: Exploring Heavenly Realms and Prophetic Experiences'' (Shippensburg: Destiny Image, 2008)

''Kingdom Rising: Making the Kingdom Real in Your Life'' (Shippensburg: Destiny Image, 2008)

See also

Apostolic-Prophetic Movement

Bill Johnson

Paul Cain

Rick Joyner

James Goll

John Paul Jackson

References

External links

Fresh Fire Ministries

Todd Bentley resigns from Fresh Fire Ministries

Todd Bentley's restoration

Todd Bentley & the End-Times Apostasy a critical look at Todd Bentley's ministry and teachings

Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian people convicted of child sexual abuse Category:Canadian television evangelists Category:Charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity Category:Christian mystics Category:Christian revivalists Category:Converts to Christianity Category:Members of the clergy convicted of rape Category:People from Gibsons, British Columbia

et:Todd Bentley simple:Todd Bentley