Brian Connor
Encyclopedia
The Rev. Dr. Brian N. Connor is an American
pastor and exorcist
who also teaches people about spiritual warfare
.
Connor graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
in Louisville, Kentucky
and holds a doctor of ministry degree.
In 1985 the ministry of exorcism
was first introduced to him when he encountered a woman who was a third generation satanist. From then on he has been ministering to people with spiritual oppression.
He says of exorcisms that, "when one experiences it face-to-face -- when one sees evil
, smells it, feels it, has things thrown in his face, encounters evil prowling around like a lion -- then you know there's a spiritual warfare going on all around us."
In 1998, after twenty-seven years as a pastor at a South Carolina
Baptist
Church he left his ministry to become a full-time exorcist and run his deliverance ministry. Connor believes that spiritual oppression is a real part of biblical metaphysics
, which includes angels, demons and Satan
.
Connor states that even people who go to church regularly or minister can still be oppressed. "By belonging to Jesus Christ, we are forgiven in terms of salvation," he explains.
"We can still make wrong choices which open doors within us to satanic oppression by dabbling in the occult
, attempting to communicate with the dead, using crystals, accepting New Age
beliefs, following spirit guides, participating in rituals."
"Anytime someone reaches out to an evil spirit, that spirit puts down roots and will torment and oppress that person," Connor states.
On November 13, 2001, he appeared on Dateline NBC
casting demon
s out of an American baptist. He currently is working for the Good Shepherd Institute
where he helps people who are spiritually oppressed.
He has also been featured in Esquire Magazine, August, 2002 and FHM magazine, August, 2003 editions and seen on The History Channel
, A&E Channel
, Biography Channel and the The Learning Channel.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pastor and exorcist
Exorcist
In some religions an exorcist is a person who is believed to be able to cast out the devil or other demons. A priest, a nun, a monk, a healer, a shaman or other specially prepared or instructed person can be an exorcist...
who also teaches people about spiritual warfare
Spiritual warfare
Spiritual warfare is a range of activity by various Christian groups whereby Satanic demons are combatted, using a variety of methods depending on the group, but typically through prayer.-Range of practice, history, and methodology:...
.
Connor graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the oldest of the six seminaries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention . The seminary was founded in 1859, at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to Louisville...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and holds a doctor of ministry degree.
In 1985 the ministry of exorcism
Exorcism
Exorcism is the religious practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed...
was first introduced to him when he encountered a woman who was a third generation satanist. From then on he has been ministering to people with spiritual oppression.
He says of exorcisms that, "when one experiences it face-to-face -- when one sees evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
, smells it, feels it, has things thrown in his face, encounters evil prowling around like a lion -- then you know there's a spiritual warfare going on all around us."
In 1998, after twenty-seven years as a pastor at a South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church he left his ministry to become a full-time exorcist and run his deliverance ministry. Connor believes that spiritual oppression is a real part of biblical metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
, which includes angels, demons and Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
.
Connor states that even people who go to church regularly or minister can still be oppressed. "By belonging to Jesus Christ, we are forgiven in terms of salvation," he explains.
"We can still make wrong choices which open doors within us to satanic oppression by dabbling in the occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
, attempting to communicate with the dead, using crystals, accepting New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
beliefs, following spirit guides, participating in rituals."
"Anytime someone reaches out to an evil spirit, that spirit puts down roots and will torment and oppress that person," Connor states.
On November 13, 2001, he appeared on Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
casting demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
s out of an American baptist. He currently is working for the Good Shepherd Institute
Good Shepherd Institute
Good Shepherd Institute, also known as GSI, is a non-profit corporation for training and ministry in Christian spiritual warfare.- External links :* *...
where he helps people who are spiritually oppressed.
He has also been featured in Esquire Magazine, August, 2002 and FHM magazine, August, 2003 editions and seen on The History Channel
The History Channel
History, formerly known as The History Channel, is an American-based international satellite and cable TV channel that broadcasts a variety of reality shows and documentary programs including those of fictional and non-fictional historical content, together with speculation about the future.-...
, A&E Channel
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
, Biography Channel and the The Learning Channel.
Further reading
- The Post & Courier, "Skeptic ponders spiritual things in Heaven and Earth," by Michael Gartland, August 28, 2005
- Dateline NBC, April 27, 2005
- FHM Magazine, August 2003
- "Deliver Us From Evil," The Learning Channel, February 11, 2003
- Esquire Presents, 'What It Feels Like'. New York, Three Rivers Press, 2003
- Esquire Magazine, August 2002
- Dateline NBC, November 13, 2001
- The Observer, "Americans plagued by new demons," October 8, 2000
- "Exorcising the Devil", October 25, 1999
- Baptist Press, 27-year veteran leaving pastorate to launch 'ministry of deliverance', October 14, 1998