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Writers use the terms “revival” and “revivalism” in various ways.  Webster's Third New International Dictionary defines the term “revival” as “a period of religious awakening: renewed interest in religion” with “meetings often characterized by emotional excitement....” “Revivalism” is “the spirit or kind of religion or the methods characteristic of religious revivals.” Some authors, and especially Calvinists, define revival as an unplanned event that reflects God's initiative, and revivalism as a humanly orch…

The so-called apostolic movement, apostolic-prophetic movement, or New Apostolic Reformation, has grown since the 1990s from small beginnings among pentecostal and charismatic Christians to become a significant factor in World Christianity. Demographers Todd Johnson and Gina Zurlo (2019, 934–5) estimated that some 44 million Christians belonged to “apostolic churches,” defined as “pentecostal” communities stressing a “complex hierarchy of living apostles, prophets and other charismatic officials…

Kenneth Hagin (1917–2003) was perhaps the best known leader and teacher in the “Word of faith” or “positive confession” movement, which is closely associated throughout the world with the so-called prosperity gospel or prosperity theology. The prosperity emphasis in global Pentecostalism today has much to do with Hagin’s nearly seventy-year-long preaching and teaching ministry. American religious historian Kate Bowler (2013) states that Hagin, while not alone in his views, was the most powerful theological influence of the prosperity gospel.Hagin was primarily known as a …

From a century’s retrospect, the global Pentecostal-Charismatic movement displays a complex pattern, rendering it difficult to settle on an adequate taxonomy and terminology (Anderson 2010). Until recently, Pentecostal-Charismatic historiography was largely based on North American developments. The twentieth-century history was thought to fall into three phases—(1) a “Pentecostal” era (later called “classical Pentecostal”), beginning around 1901, expanding through the Azusa Street Revival in Los…

The International House of Prayer (IHOP) was founded by Mike Bickle in 1999 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, “to partner in the Great Commission by advancing 24/7 prayer and proclaiming the beauty of Jesus and His glorious return.” IHOP views itself as “an evangelical missions organization that is committed to praying for the release of the fullness of God’s power and purpose, as we actively win the lost, heal the sick, feed the poor, make disciples, and impact every sphere of society—family, educ…

The Latter Rain Movement (LRM) was a charismatic Christian revival of the 1940s that—though rejected by denominational pentecostal churches in Canada and the USA—exerted a lasting influence on the development of global charismatic Christianity. The revival broke out on 14 February 1948 (Valentine’s Day) at the Sharon Orphanage and Bible College—a small pentecostal orphanage and school in the remote region of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. It…

John Wimber (1934–1997) was a musician, adult convert, pastor, teacher, author, and church founder. He was associated with the “signs and wonders” movement, contemporary Christian worship music, and the Association of Vineyard Churches. Born in Kirksville, Missouri, USA, into a working-class family, he showed musical talent early in life, and in 1962 organized and played keyboard with The Righteous Brothers. Wimber was converted in 1963 and abandoned his musical career just when it was poised to take off.Ordained by the California Yearly Meeting of Friends (Quaker) in 19…

Bethel Church is a non-denominational charismatic megachurch based in Redding, California, USA, pastored by Bill Johnson, and as of 2019 attracting some nine thousand weekly attendees. On its website Bethel calls itself  “a community of believers passionate about God’s manifest presence,” who “believe that God is good and our great privilege is to know and experience him,” and who “exist to ignite individual hearts until Heaven meets Earth.” The congregation exerts a global influence through its…

Oral Roberts (1918–2009) was a preacher, revivalist, healer, radio and television evangelist, and university founder. He is one of the most consequential figures in the development of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity. His story is emblematic of changes that occurred from the 1930s to the early 2000s. Roberts was part of a post-World War II generation of American Christians that no longer wanted to perpetuate the small, sectarian congregations they had been raised in. Through accommodating hi…

Overview The English word “revival,” together with its foreign equivalents (Ger. Erweckung, Fr. réveil, Sp. avivamiento, Chin. fen xing, Kor. bu hung), refers to a period of time in which a community of Christians undergoes renewal and revitalization. It has been defined as “a period of religious awakening: renewed interest in religion,” with “meetings often characterized by emotional excitement”; also, “revivalism” is “the spirit or kind of religion or the methods characteristic of religious revivals” (Webster’s Third New International Dictionary). To call a religious gat…