Church History · 1994 and 1995

The Toronto Blessing and the Brownsville Revival

In January 1994, revival meetings broke out at the Toronto Airport Vineyard church, known for holy laughter. On Father's Day 1995, the Brownsville Revival began in Pensacola, Florida, with a strong call to repent. Millions came to each, and Christians strongly disagreed about them.

Read it in the Bible: Acts 2:1 to 21 Acts 3:19 1 Thessalonians 5:19 to 21 1 John 4:1 Matthew 7:15 to 20

Two of the most talked about revivals of the 1990s happened about a year and a half apart. The Toronto Blessing began on January 20, 1994, at the Toronto Airport Vineyard church in Canada. It became famous for holy laughter, people falling down and other unusual signs. The Brownsville Revival began on Father's Day, June 18, 1995, at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida. It was known for long altar calls and a strong message of repentance. Millions of people visited the two churches. Christians were deeply divided over what was going on, and both sides had sincere reasons.

What Was the Toronto Blessing?

John and Carol Arnott pastored a small Vineyard church near the Toronto airport. They invited Randy Clark, a Vineyard pastor from Saint Louis, to speak for a few nights in January 1994. About 120 people came to the first meeting. Then things began to happen that no one had planned.

People laughed for long stretches, cried, shook or fell to the floor, which many called being slain in the Spirit. Some said they were healed. A few people made animal sounds, like roaring, which drew the most criticism. The meetings went on night after night for years. Visitors flew in from all over the world. British newspapers nicknamed it the Toronto Blessing, and the name stuck.

The revival spread to other churches. One was Holy Trinity Brompton in London, the Anglican church that runs the Alpha course. Its leader, Nicky Gumbel, later said the revival gave Alpha a kick start.

Why Did the Vineyard Separate From Toronto?

The Vineyard movement, led by John Wimber, had welcomed spiritual gifts from the start. Even so, its leaders grew uneasy. They were concerned about some of the more extreme manifestations, about how meetings were run and about whether there was enough Bible teaching and oversight. In December 1995, the Vineyard released the Toronto church from its association.

The church became Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship in 1996 and later Catch the Fire Toronto. Years later, at the 20th anniversary in 2014, leaders from both sides offered apologies and forgiveness, which many saw as healing the old split.

What Happened at the Brownsville Revival?

Brownsville Assembly of God was a Pentecostal church in Pensacola, pastored by John Kilpatrick. Starting in 1993, Kilpatrick led his church to pray for revival. On Father's Day 1995 he invited evangelist Steve Hill to preach. Earlier that year, Hill had visited Holy Trinity Brompton in London, one of the churches touched by Toronto, during its own season of revival.

That Sunday, hundreds of people came forward to pray at the altar, and the service went on for hours. Hill canceled his plans to go to Russia and stayed for about five years. The church began holding revival services Tuesday through Saturday. People lined up in the parking lot before dawn, and some camped overnight, to get a seat.

Brownsville's style was a bit different from Toronto's. There were still people shaking and falling, but the main focus was on repentance and holiness. Hill preached hard against sin and urged people to come forward and get right with God. Worship leader Lindell Cooley led the music, and Michael Brown led a ministry school that trained over 1,000 students.

Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, Acts 3:19

Organizers reported that more than four million people attended from 1995 to about 2000. Many stories of changed lives, healed marriages and broken addictions came out of those years. The nightly revival ended around 2000, though some special services continued until 2006.

Why Were Christians Divided About These Revivals?

Supporters pointed to real fruit. Many people said they had fallen more in love with Jesus, repented of sin or found new joy. A survey of Toronto visitors in 1995 found that nearly 90 percent said they were more in love with Jesus than ever. Supporters also noted that physical reactions show up in earlier revivals. During the First Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards wrote about people crying out and fainting, and he argued that such signs are neither proof for nor proof against a true work of God.

Critics raised serious concerns. Writers like Hank Hanegraaff and pastors like John MacArthur argued that holy laughter and animal noises have no clear model in Scripture, and that experiences were being placed above Bible teaching. In 1997 the Pensacola News Journal ran a long investigation into Brownsville. It questioned how money was handled, whether some healing claims were real and whether the first service had been as dramatic as later told. The church strongly disputed the series.

Many Christians landed in the middle. They believed God touched people in real ways at both places, while also believing some things were human excitement or got out of hand. That is often how revivals look, a mix of God's work and human mess.

How Should Christians Judge a Revival?

The Bible gives clear tests. Look at the fruit over time. Test everything by Scripture. Keep what is good.

Do not extinguish the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 to 21

By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:16

Both halves of Paul's advice matter. Do not shut down the Spirit, and do not swallow everything. Test it.

Why Do the 1990s Revivals Matter Today?

The Toronto Blessing and the Brownsville Revival shaped a generation of charismatic and Pentecostal leaders, worship music and ministry schools. Many people who are pastors or missionaries today trace their calling to one of those nights.

They also remind us that hunger for God is real. People drove across the country and waited in parking lots at dawn because they wanted more of Him. Whatever you think of the shaking and the laughing, that hunger is something every church could use more of. Just keep a Bible open while you are hungry.

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Questions People Ask

What was the Toronto Blessing?

The Toronto Blessing was a revival that began on January 20, 1994, at the Toronto Airport Vineyard church, led by John and Carol Arnott with speaker Randy Clark. It was known for holy laughter, falling and other physical signs, and it drew visitors from around the world for years.

When did the Brownsville Revival start?

It began on Father's Day, June 18, 1995, at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida, when evangelist Steve Hill preached for pastor John Kilpatrick. Nightly meetings ran until about 2000, and organizers reported more than four million visitors.

Why did the Vineyard cut ties with the Toronto church?

In December 1995, Vineyard leaders released the Toronto church over concerns about extreme manifestations, how meetings were run and a lack of oversight. The church became Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship and later Catch the Fire.

Were the 1990s revivals real?

Christians disagree. Supporters point to changed lives and similar signs in past revivals. Critics say some practices had no basis in Scripture and that some claims were exaggerated. Many believe God truly moved while human excitement also played a part.

Sources

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