_2 What's Going On In Toronto?

WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING by Pastor Bill Randies What’s Going On In Toronto?

Canadian Broadcasting’s "Sunday Morning" radio program recently did a story on what is happening in Toronto. I was grateful for that because when I was trying to describe the "Toronto Blessing" to a congregation in Michigan, I could tell I was stretching the borders of my own credibility. The congregation had a hard time believing that tens of thousands of people were coming from all over the world to a little church in Toronto, to "get touched" by the Spirit, laugh uncontrollably, roar like lions, be paralyzed, and shake violently. I could see that look of disbelief on their eyes, but was relieved when two ladies made it known to the congregation that they were from Toronto, and yes, it’s all true and even more. They then produced a taped segment of CBC’s "Sunday Morning." Here are some of the quotes, (interspersed by moaning, laughter of an unnatural nature, and prayer in tongues).

Planes land every few minutes at Toronto’s Pearson Airport, right over the top of Toronto’s Vineyard Church. There are over 600 Vineyard Churches around the world, but the Toronto branch has such a direct line to the Holy Spirit, some Matthew,000 people from around the world have flown in to "do carpet time," giggle with "The Holy One," and speak in tongues. Staid and more established churches have been looking on with alarm and jealousy, and if they aren’t jazzing up their own services, they are denouncing the airport church as the work of the devil.

Now keep in mind that this is a secular news program, I don’t think the Airport Vineyard would ever say that they have a special line to the Holy Spirit, nor do I know of them referring to "giggling with the Holy One." The radio report was incredible, however. You could hear the maniacal laughter in the background, mixed with common worship songs, moans, crying and some shrieking. The reporter in a hushed, reverent voice says, A young woman is lying on the floor with her eyes closed, as she speaks her body jerks ever so slightly. All around her people are laughing or crying or shaking uncontrollably ...[ You hear maniacal, forced, shrill laughter]... This is what the Vineyard Church calls the Holy Spirit’s joy of laughter. They aren’t laughing at anything being said, they are just laughing ... Toward the end of the radio program, I felt shivers run down my spine when I heard a deep, throaty, growl; of a woman, "prophesying" in what sounded like a lion’s voice, "I will rescue my children, I will go after them and I, I will rescue them..."

I want to know, What is Going on in Toronto?