ARCHIVE
PAGE
This page contains some aspects of Revival Centre history.
Some good memories, but also some things the leadership would
rather you forgot. How did the Revival Centres begin? How did
Lloyd get saved? Why did the Split happen? You will find some
answers here. If you have any interesting history stuff that
could go on this page, contact the Webmaster.
FROM
ORIGINS UNTIL 1945
On 1 Jan. 1901, Agnes Ozman
started speaking in tongues at a Bible College in Topeka,
Kansas. In Methodist and Holiness circles, gifts such as
'tongues' began to re-appear in the church. Azuza Street in
Los Angeles served as an early focal point for the movement.
Several loose groups began to appear, such as the Assemblies
of God in 1914. Early Australian 'Pentecostals' were the
Harris family, and their ministry became associated with the
Assemblies of God. In November 1941, their son Leo Harris met
Thomas Foster (who was associated with the British-Israel
World Federation). When Leo Harris received a prophecy in
1945 to begin a work in Australia, he began the National
Revival Crusade (now Christian Revival Crusade), where he
taught the peculiar mix of Pentecostalism and British Israel.
Leo Harris comes to the Lord - Flames
of Revival extract
Tom Foster's Testimony
Leo Harris meets Tom Foster - Flames
of Revival
How British Israelism came into the Revival
Centres
Leo Harris describes the beginning of the
Crusade
FROM 1945 TO 1958
A 1949 convert was salesman
Lloyd Longfield. Very quickly, he had caused a division
between Tom Foster and Leo Harris, and took over the ministry
with the new assembly in Geelong and in Melbourne. In 1958
there was a division between him and Leo Harris, and Lloyd
went his own way with Melbourne, Geelong, Port Lincoln and
Canberra. Tom Foster and Leo Harris later re-united in the
Crusade work.
Lloyd Longfield 'slain in the Spirit'
- Flames of Revival. Please note that there does seem
to be some confusion among people who remember the event as
to whether Lloyd fell on his back or just to his knees.
Lloyd Longfield splits from the Revival
Crusade - Flames of Revival
Tom
Foster writes about the CRC split
Tom
Foster writes more about the CRC split
FROM 1958 TO 1995
After 1958, Longfield's
work grew slowly and was characterised by schisms (Gal.5:20).
In 1972, Noel Hollins (Lloyd's main co-worker in Geelong)
split, despite Lloyd pleading with him to stay. Hollins'
group, however, remains independent and isolationist to this
day. In 1990, the Christian Assemblies split (Euro
assemblies). In 1995, there was an immense split between with
the Adelaide and Melbourne assemblies. The ostensible cause
of division was a doctrinal disagreement regarding
forgiveness of fornicators. Less discussed causes revolved
around an event a few months earlier concerning London, and
involved a family member of one pastor. John Kuhlmann took
over half of Lloyd's assemblies and called them the 'Revival
Fellowship'. In 1996, there was another split in Adelaide.
The Revival Centres - a brief history
of the movement to 1976. An extract from Heart of Fire
by Barry Chant (a must buy!). Approaches the history from
quite a pro-Revival Centre viewpoint. A few errors, but
currently the only history of the movement. A book is
currently being written that will provide a more in depth
assessment.
Voice of
Revival (Issue #1) - note the different salvation
teachings.
Geelong
Internal Problems - early moves to set up a hierarchy
with Hollins and Longfield were challenged by some dissenting
elders.
Assembly
Guidelines - some of the continuous set of rules common
in cults.
Stawell
Assembly Splits
Auckland
Assembly Splits - differences over the change in teaching
regarding baptism.
PNG
Assemblies Split
Adelaide Split - One of the letters
circulating during the split. I have removed some names, etc.
to save a few people from embarrassment. The letter does not
necessarily represent the views of this Web page.
Feb '95 Brisbane Courier - a bit more
about the Revival Centre / Revival Fellowship split.
Interview with Darcy Ryan. This articles only really
'scratches the surface'.
REVIVAL CENTRE
PAMPHLETS
I was of two minds as to whether I should put a whole lot
of Revival Centre pamphlets on line, as I don't want to be
responsible for spreading false doctrine. I have to be very
clear that I believe these pamphlets contain a lot of
rubbish. In particular, I apologise in advance for the almost
paranoid denunciation of other religious groups. I have also
noticed that if a Greek word is elaborated on in the
pamphlets, it is almost always translated incorrectly.
Though, remember that Lloyd Longfield can be very persuasive
even when he is working with very little (compare 2Peter
2:1-3). In the end, I just decided to upload a selection of
pamphlets that are historically important, interesting, or
otherwise useful to have on-line. You will probably find more
pamphlets on some of their Web sites.
What We Believe - the elaborated
beliefs of the Revival Centres International and Fellowships.
Fellowship Rules - one set of Church
laws (there are others), penned by Longfield.
What Time is it Now? - This is the
controversial pamphlet in which Lloyd gave a date (17th Sept
2001) by when the Lord would be 'ruling in Zion' (the second
coming).
Why do the Revival Centres Remain
Separate? - a justification pamphlet for why the Revival
Centres do not allow members to fellowship with other
believers. The reason given is doctrinal disagreement,
however this is disproved when we consider that the various
RC groups with identical theology will not mix.
Welcome to the Revival Centres - a
self written 'glowing' description of things in the Centres
(see the real state of affairs in testimonies).
Pyramid of Cheops - God's Witness in Stone
- explains RC pyramidology. Some RCs have been removing this
pamphlet over the last few years. Problems with this pamphlet
explained here.
The War on Doctrine - more
self-righteous Church knocking?
Church Discipline - the Unmentionable
- discipline in the Revival Centres.
The Hiring & the Firing - another
(!) paranoid attack on the Pentecostal Church. Lloyd seems
obsessed with problems in the Pentecostal Churches (perhaps
he should stop pointing out the speck in other eyes?)
How the Christian Church Began -
quite a strange conception of 'how the Church began'. This
pamphlet tries to justify the problems of who was preaching
the tongues message before Lloyd. Truth is, no one proclaimed
the tongues gospel until some United Pentecostal preachers
came up with it in the 20th Century.
This is That! - salvation pamphlet.
Problems with this pamphlet explained here.
Believing is more than Believing -
salvation pamphlet. The title says it all! To 'disprove' John
3:16, etc., does RCI need to warp logic and Greek?
Problems with this pamphlet explained here.
Arguments and Explanations - more
'salvation' stuff. Written to combat legitimate questions
asked by newcomers.
The Gifts of the Spirit - 1Corinthians
12 stuff. Explains RC view that all have all the
gifts.
Water Baptism : the Answer of a Good
Conscience - explains the Revival Centre teaching that
baptism is necessary for salvation.
"As Thou Hast Believed" -
actually, a pretty good pamphlet on healing.
1-2-3 of Healing - another
interesting healing pamphlet.
Britains Bible Heritage - one of the more
lengthy BI pamphlets. Problems with this pamphlet explained here.
Daniel's Prophecies - a bit of
interesting RCI eschatology.
Ezekiel Identifies Russia - another
strange teaching. One Centre eschatology teaching is that
Russia will soon invade the Middle East! Why they would want
to do this is not explained.
World Signs of the Last Days - more
interesting eschatology. This Revival Centre pamphlet claims
that cars are described in the Bible!
Bible Numerics - explains the
controversial view that a mathematical code is found within
the Bible text.
Drink Drink Drink - explains the
Revival Centre abstinence teaching. Problems with the
pamphlet explained here.
Don't be an Easter Bunny - history of
Easter.
The Pope & the Church -
anti-Catholic pamphlet.
Mary - Mother of Jesus - another
anti-Catholic pamphlet.
REVIVAL CENTRE
INFO MAIL-OUTS
I will archive here occasional recent mail-outs. You can
subscribe to all our mail-outs by filling in the form on the
home page, or sending a message with subject line 'Subscribe
Observer' to revinfo@geocities.com. If you want a previous
specific issue, please email the same address with subject
line 'Back Issue Revival Observer', and write what you want.
Recent edition of Revival Observer
REVIVAL CENTRE
ADDRESS DATABASE
This section may be useful if you want to do a mail out or
two of some evangelistic material. We have a stack of other
addresses in database form. Please write if you are planning
to do a mail out.
Revival Fellowship leaders
