THE STUDIO FLOOR WAS WALL-TO-WALL BODIES!
In the wake of the 'Toronto blessing' there were some startling and unexpected manifestations of Holy Spirit power at an evangelical radio station in Florida
On new year's day, 1995, Randy Clark, one of the Toronto pastors, was preaching at Melbourne, and for six nights 1,200 people crammed into a building designed for 900, with an overflow outside.
As they prayed and worshipped God, the Holy Spirit visited them in a mighty way. There were several dramatic healings, including a man with severe spinal injuries, and many fell down under the power of God's presence. Weeping and laughter mingled as hundreds came forward for prayer. This series of meetings, planned to last two weeks, was still being held six months later.
Within the first week of the revival, Randy Clark and a pastor from the Melbourne Tabernacle went to Vero Beach, Florida, to be interviewed on the Christian radio station WSCF (FM92). An account of that visit was later given in a letter from Jon Hamilton, manager of the radio station, from which we quote extracts.
"The interview was innocent enough at first, but when we turned to a discussion of the Holy Spirit's manifest presence, something began to happen in the control room. Gregg, the DJ, who was sitting behind me listening, began to weep. I looked over my shoulder just in time to see Gregg stand up, only to crash to the floor directly in front of me on the console, where he lay shaking for several minutes.
"We formed a circle and Randy Clark began to pray for us one by one. I heard a thud, opened my eyes, and there was Bart on the floor. What amazed me most was that he was the most sceptical - he just didn't accept these things.
Within seconds, one after another staff members went down. When he prayed for me, an electric sensation shot down my right arm and my hand began to tremble uncontrollably. My heart pounded as I became aware of a powerful sense of what I can only call God's manifest presence.
"It was now 10.30. I switched on the mike and found myself praying that God would touch every listener in a personal way. With some hesitation I invited anyone who was faced with a desperate need to come on down the studio and we would pray for them. This was the first time we had ever made such an invitation. Within minutes the first listeners began to arrive, and this is where everything went hay-wire!
"The first person I prayed with was a man with tremendous needs. In my head I was thinking, 'You've got nothing worth giving him,' but, as I placed my hand on his shoulder, he shook and slumped to the floor. Other staff members found the same thing. It didn't matter who did the praying, whenever we asked the Lord, He immediately responded with visible power. I didn't know whether to be terrified or thrilled.
"Soon we ran out of room. The radio station floor was wall-to-wall bodies, some weeping, some shaking, some completely still. We moved across to the church building, and some teachers at the Indian Christian School asked us to pray for certain children. As we prayed, many kids fell to the floor, some uttering praises to God, others lying completely immobile. The crowd continued to grow, with people forming queues.
"Then I saw a local Baptist pastor walk in, and I must confess I thought 'O boy, now I'm in trouble!' He silently surveyed the room, and with a tone of voice scarce above a whisper, said: 'This is God. For years I've prayed for revival. This is God!' More local pastors began to arrive: Lutheran, Independent, Assembly of God. Yet it did not seem to matter who did the praying. This was a nameless, faceless, spontaneous move of God. There were no stars, no leaders and, frankly, no organisation.
"At this point we began broadcasting live from the church. Amazingly, unchurched, unsaved people were now showing up. Person after person told us: 'I'm not really part of any church', and later found themselves kneeling in profound belief. Sometimes people would jump up and announce that they had been healed of some physical problem: arthritis, neck pain, stomach disorders - were all reported to us as healed.
"We have received at least a dozen verified comments from credible people who told us that when they switched on the radio, they were suddenly overwhelmed by the presence of God. Car drivers told us that the presence of God was so strong in their cars that they were forced to pull off the road.
"I have lost count of the numbers of people who have told me of the change God has worked in their life. Even more amazing is what is occurring in our local churches. At least a dozen churches, from different ends of the theological spectrum, are already experiencing a powerful move of God. It's almost like a tidal wave has hit this area of Florida."
Source: A History of the Worldwide Awakening of 1992-95 by Richard Riss - posted on the Internet.
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