If you review Ignite’s Facebook page (you do not have to be a member to see it), you will get a feel for what a tent revival is all about. Wikipedia defines it as “a gathering of Christian worshipers in a tent erected specifically for revival meetings, healing crusades, and church rallies.” Traditionally, they have been held by “Pentecostal or Holiness Christians who not only adhered to evangelicalism, but believed in speaking in tongues, healing the chronically ill, and in some cases resurrecting the dead.”
Generally, Catholics are only welcomed at these events in order to be converted or “saved.” So why would a Catholic parish encourage its members to attend an evangelical revival? Why not hold a type of revival for Catholics? Why not collaborate with other area parishes for events and retreats? Why not build up Catholicism in our community? We could even invite our non-Catholic neighbors. We do believe that we are the true Church, don’t we?
Interestingly, this particular revival is being run by Dr. Wayne Gwilliam’s Destined to Win Ministries. This is the evangelical minister who spoke at All Saints Parish in May. If you read Dr. Gwilliam’s April 26 post, he includes Deacon Dean’s letter to the area’s Catholic leaders, asking them to encourage their parishioners to attend the revival. These leaders were also asked to have lunch with Dr. Gwilliams at Rogers Hall.
I don’t know who attended the luncheon, but the other Twin Tiers parishes have so far declined to place the revival invitation in their bulletins.
Note that Dr. Gwilliams used a photo of St. Vincent de Paul’s Church in his post. I wonder if he knows that this church was almost sold two years ago. Or if he noticed the For Sale sign outside of Immaculate Heart of Mary’s Church. --Susan M.
Admin note: Susan's first post can be found here.
Looks like the Deacon is looking for a future under the Big Top.
ReplyDeleteIs there no end to this? We must pray for the souls of DD and the people who attend this thing. Write to the Bishop. Register your displeasure with the parish office. This is like setting off a bomb in the midst of the flock, a cancer has been unleashed. Our parish is weak in catechisis and there are people who are at risk to this kind of shenanigans.
ReplyDeletePlease pray for our priests, too. They are having to deal with this on an up-close level.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this problem has been developing in the parish for quite some time. Take it from a convert, the Catholic faith has been so watered down in this parish as to be nearly indistinguishable from a Protestant service. When this is done and certain staff and parishioners do not differentiate between a Catholic Mass and a tent revival, souls will and are being lost.
Yesterday was the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I heard a homily in which the priest suggested we give cards to our Protestant friends. He said that generally, Protestants accept the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Of course the Sacred Heart speaks to Jesus' sacrifice for us, which he noted is exemplified by the Eucharist. He said that if you can get a Protestant to carry a card with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that often their thoughts will begin to turn to the Eucharist--the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps we need to carry such cards ourselves, and pass them along to staff members.
In any case, saying a daily Rosary for our parish can do wonders.
what excellent ideas. I think I am going to have to find some Sacred Heart of Jesus cards now. God Bless!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it is obvious our parish administrator's interests are not limited to Catholic presenters. It is not surprising. Are you saying experiencing events of other faiths is wrong? Why Part Three: Why don't you write much on our refreshing new Pope?
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if the administrator's interests were somewhat focused on Catholic presenters, however. Surely you agree that Catholic presenters are more likely to have a fuller grasp of the Truth, of Church teaching and so on?
ReplyDeleteWould you care to write a post about Pope Francis? I would be happy to post it...
I'm perplexed. It's definitely surprising that a person in Catholic leadership (a deacon and an administrator) would be bringing in an evangelical speaker and supporting a tent revival. Anyone is free to experience other faiths, but to have a church leader encourage parishioners to do so?
ReplyDelete