Power Evangelism
Encyclopedia
Power Evangelism is the title of a book by Christian charismatic leader John Wimber
. The term is also applied to the movement and the process described in the book. The term power evangelism comes from Lonnie Frisbee
's ministry, he was known as the hippie preacher, some of his harshest critics for heavy use of the Holy Spirit
and the gifts of the Spirit
came from the churches he helped found. He also influenced many prophet
ic evangelists including Jonathan Land, Marc Dupont, Jill Austin and others.
Power evangelism is a form of evangelism
which relies on the supernatural power and gifts of the Holy Spirit
to reach new converts and work through born again Christians. It is not the way most churches practice evangelism currently which rely on an intellectual argument with the hope of salvation through logic and structured rituals. Many believe power evangelism is the way Jesus
operated although it is known he also was a great student of the Torah
. Although most Christians would believe that a person is brought to faith primarily through the action of God in the person of the Holy Spirit, in this form of evangelism supernatural events such as healings, words of knowledge
and speaking in tongues are a demonstration of the power, and therefore the reality, of God.
John Wimber
John Richard Wimber was a musician, charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, a neocharismatic Evangelical Christian denomination which began in the USA and has now spread to many countries world-wide.-Life and ministry:John Richard Wimber was the son of Basil...
. The term is also applied to the movement and the process described in the book. The term power evangelism comes from Lonnie Frisbee
Lonnie Frisbee
Lonnie Frisbee was an American Pentecostal evangelist and self-described "seeing prophet" and mystic in the late 1960s and 1970s...
's ministry, he was known as the hippie preacher, some of his harshest critics for heavy use of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
and the gifts of the Spirit
Spiritual gift
In Christianity, spiritual gifts are endowments given by the Holy Spirit. These are the supernatural graces which individual Christians need to fulfill the mission of the church. They are described in the New Testament, primarily in , , and . also touches on the spiritual gifts...
came from the churches he helped found. He also influenced many prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
ic evangelists including Jonathan Land, Marc Dupont, Jill Austin and others.
Power evangelism is a form of evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
which relies on the supernatural power and gifts of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
to reach new converts and work through born again Christians. It is not the way most churches practice evangelism currently which rely on an intellectual argument with the hope of salvation through logic and structured rituals. Many believe power evangelism is the way Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
operated although it is known he also was a great student of the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
. Although most Christians would believe that a person is brought to faith primarily through the action of God in the person of the Holy Spirit, in this form of evangelism supernatural events such as healings, words of knowledge
Word of Knowledge
In Christianity, the word of knowledge is a spiritual gift listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8. Among Pentecostal and charismatic Christians, it is regarded as a supernatural revelation of knowledge through the power of the Holy Spirit...
and speaking in tongues are a demonstration of the power, and therefore the reality, of God.