Some say that the practice of speaking in tongues is not an appropriate way of praying on a digital platform. Others think it is acceptable.

"Pentecostal theology is all about being led by the Holy Spirit," said Heidi Campbell, "so the idea of the Holy Spirit moving through the computer or having a spiritual experience through the computer is very acceptable." Read more

On Monday and Tuesday, Miami-based "Apostle" Guillermo Maldonado and his 36 crew members turned the Pettigrew Green Arena into a place of supernatural encounters.

Organisers said a man who was unable to hear was able to hear again, a man who could previously not bend over due to a back problem could bend again and a person who suffered multiple sclerosis for 12 years was cleared of their symptoms. Continue reading

But Christians in East Africa are now taking stock of their practice after after a full immersion baptism turned tragic in northern Tanzania.

Two Christian farmers, aged 30 and 47, died as their pastors attempted to baptize them in the fast-moving current of the Ungwasi River in Rombo District in the Kilimanjaro region. Continue reading

Though I made the case for this in a HuffPost blog almost a year ago, the Argentine pontiff's penchant for Spirit-centred Catholicism has been one of the most underreported aspects of his dynamic papacy.

Francis's spirited participation in the 37th Annual Convocation of the Charismatic movements along with some 50,000 Catholics at Rome's Olympic Stadium leaves no doubt that he is the first ever Charismatic pope.

Like their Pentecostal brethren who inspired the movement, Catholic Charismatics practice a pneumacentric form of Christianity centred on the transformative role of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Charismatic worship is a high-octane affair involving, upbeat music, dancing, speaking in tongues and even unsanctioned exorcisms on occasion.

While the Catholic Charismatic Renewal enjoyed papal endorsements from both of Francis's immediate predecessors, the Argentine pope became the first to attend an annual Charismatic convocation.

Through both his actions and words, the Latin American pontiff wholeheartedly embraced the Renewal.

Francis participated in the worship service in Charismatic style, kneeling in prayer, waving his hands in rhythm to the emotionally-charged songs of praise and in singing Charismatic hymns.

Verbally, the dynamic pope called the Charismatic Renewal "a great force" for the Catholic Church, repeating the phrase that at first in Argentina he viewed them as a "samba school," a typically derogatory expression in his native country that conjures up the unrestrained exuberance of Brazilian carnival. Continue reading.

R. Andrew Chesnut, Ph.D., holds the Bishop Walter F. Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies and is Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Source: Huffington Post

Image: VCU/YouTube

Not perhaps the sort of words that you'd expect from the Pope.

But then again, who would have predicted that the Pontiff would film an informal video message on a friend's iPhone for broadcast to the attendees of an American Pentecostal leaders' conference?

‘We have to encounter one another as brothers,' Pope Francis also said in the short film.

Referring to the Old Testament reunion of Joseph with his brothers, he continued: ‘We have to cry together as Joseph did. These tears will unite us. The tears of love.'

The film was shown in February 2014 at a gathering of leaders brought together by Kenneth Copeland, who has been criticised for his prosperity theology.

Pope Francis made the film with his Anglican friend, Bishop Anthony Palmer, who formerly worked alongside Copeland, but since 2003 has worked among Catholics in Italy.

After watching the Pope on screen, the entire conference prayed for him in tongues, and Copeland filmed a live message of blessing [on Palmer's iPhone again] to send back to the Holy Father.

You can watch the entire stereotype-smashing event on YouTube.

‘I couldn't believe it… Talk about breaking taboo,' said Kristina Cooper, editor of the UK's Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) magazine Good News, of the event.

Michelle Moran, chair of CCR England and Wales, explains that the Pope wasn't necessarily aligning himself with Copeland's theological or doctrinal stances, however. Continue reading.

Source: Christianity Magazine

Image: YouTube

The church may have lost privileged status in many nations, and is dropping some market share to a rapidly growing Pentecostal movement.

But the combination of increasing religious freedom and competition is also fuelling a Catholic renewal movement, and equipping the church with the community-based revival necessary to meet challenges from the prosperity gospel movement to the secularisation of many Latin American nations, analysts say.

Not to mention that concern over Pentecostal successes played a role in the election of the first pope from Latin America, an Argentinian archbishop who is winning widespread regional acclaim for his humble, pastoral approach.

Greater attendance at Mass. The flowering of a Catholic charismatic movement with lay leadership and culturally sensitive worship that also shares the Pentecostal commitment to evangelism. And a revered global leader emerging from its ranks.

A church in Latin America that was in danger of becoming a stale religious monopoly - witness the malaise throughout much of Western Europe - is reasserting itself in what is a vibrant religious landscape from Mexico to Brazil, according to some researchers. Continue reading.

David Briggs writes the Ahead of the Trend column for the Association of Religion Data Archives. He is executive director of the International Association of Religion Journalists.

Source: Huffington Post

Image: The annual celebration of Saints Peter and Paul in San Ana, Bolivia, Stephen Davies

The principal guest speaker, Father John Rae from New Zealand, encouraged Christians, in his sermon at the National Gymnasium, to continue in their walk with God and never to lose sight of what their faith could do.

Rae said he was encouraged by the people that attended.

"I'm enjoying it immensely, I'm so pleased with the response of the people, I love their praise. Their praise is absolutely extraordinary .. I'd love to take all these people back to New Zealand with me .. they just make a meeting, they really do".

At the convention, the advisor to the National Charismatic Renewal Group, Father John Crispin, took the opportunity to assure Archbishop elect Father Peter Loy Chong that the members were ready to carry out his wishes when he becomes the Archbishop.

"We know that in a few weeks you gonna get hands laid upon you and you are gonna be our Archbishop..when you are Bishop we will love you to call on us to help to animate and give life to the church", said Crispin.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• FBC
• FBC
• Image: FBC

Father Marcelo Rossi, a nationally known singer, TV host and actor, is campaigning to stem the exodus of the faithful from the Catholic Church in Latin America's biggest nation.

His Mother of God sanctuary, a warehouse-like space that is not yet completed, will seat 6000 people and have standing room for 14,000 more. Outside there is space for 80,000 people who could watch Mass on video screens.

Father Rossi, whose concerts fill stadiums, has been described as an unusual combination of Catholic doctrinal orthodoxy and secular showmanship.

The rock-star priest is not a formal member of the Charismatic Renewal, but in an interview two years ago he credited this movement with showing him his mission.

"When I rediscovered my Catholic faith, it was during a period in which the Church [in Brazil] was submerged in partisan politics, under the influence of the theology of liberation … which ended up leaving a huge void," he said.

"I had just lost a beloved relative and I was desperately looking to hear the Word of God, but all I heard at church was politics. An experience with the Charismatics showed me immediately what God wanted me to do.

"My calling is to spark among Brazilians the love for the Church, the Eucharist and Mary, all devotions downplayed by [Liberation theology] and undermined by Evangelical groups," he added.

Brazil still has a bigger Catholic population than any other country, but the proportion of its 192 million people identifying as Catholic has fallen in 10 years from 74 to 65 per cent.

A study last year by the Getulio Vargas Foundation found that those leaving the Catholic Church are now more likely to avoid organised religion altogether rather than join one of the evangelical churches that previously attracted many Catholics.

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