Letter to the Adelaide Revival Fellowship

- A letter to The Revival Fellowship {previously known as The Revival Centres} 20th January,1998.

So many people, young and old, over many years, but especially the last two years, have walked away from a place of worship, that some had attended ten, twenty or even more years.

They had found the Lord there, obeyed His Commandments, been baptised, received the Holy Spirit, and many were healed by the Lord of many maladies. But they chose, for a number of reasons, to move away from this particular place of worship. Why? Firstly, the majority of these people have not "fallen away", or "moved out", they have "moved on".

Secondly, I would like to truly help you to understand the reasons why we, and many others, have left; this is with no malice but with a true desire to help you understand, and to help you within your Church. We were not asked to leave the Revival Fellowship, we left of our own free will'

"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Jesus said. John 8 v 31, 32

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13 v 34, 35

Unfortunately, we have been driven away from your place of worship, because we have been witness to so many examples of lack of LOVE shown to ex-members. Cases of marriages being deliberately and heartlessly "broken up" by Pastors, advising the currently "in the Lord" man or woman, to discourage any encounter or even association with the "wayward" wife or husband - whose only "sin" in some cases, was to have preferred to worship God elsewhere. We know of much heartbreak, involving children of these marriages, caused by "advice" from the "over-sight".

Cases of members being "put-out" for a year (and sometimes more) because of adultery or similar sins. Oh yes! We know you're "tough", you have said so from the platform, many times! But where is the concern and compassion for these people, that Jesus showed us in His parable of the prodigal son - Luke 15 v 11 - 32? Where is the welcome back to these people, after the year is up? Unfortunately the stigma of their "fall" stays with them in a self-righteous assembly - (not all, but many) - please, think deeply on this.

Pastor Darryl Williams is extremely offensive, outrageous and repulsive in his interrogation of young "fornicators" (as assessed by him), by his asking them extremely personal questions, with no proof, such as, whether or not oral sex had taken place. We feel that he is overstepping his pastoral duties in this respect.What audacity!

"Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase." Jeremiah 23 v 1 - 3

Your pastors are no different to the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus's day in their condemnation and judgement of other people. For example I refer to John 8 v 1 - 11.

One of your Pastors said to us at a certain time, that "a Spirit-filled person cannot sin".This is nonsense! After all - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3 v 23) and even after receiving His Holy Spirit, we still need His everlasting mercy and forgiveness, and must always "walk on" with Him. "The devil as a roaring lion,walketh about,seeking whom he may devour;" 1 Peter 5.v 8. The Revival Fellowship stress most fervently that one must speak in tongues to be saved. But Jesus said in John 3 that except a man be born of water and of the Holy Spirit,he cannot enter the kingdom of God.Even in Mark 16,v 15-18, Jesus says "He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;" At no time did Jesus say that speaking in tongues was a condition for salvation! How can anyone {Pastor or not}say that, this or that person,has not received the Holy Spirit? Only God knows the heart of man, and only He chooses who will be in His Kingdom. So much importance is placed on "the speaking of tongues" in the Revival Fellowship,but where is charity {love}?

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,and have not charity I am become as sounding brass,or a tinkling cymbal" 1Corinthians 13 v.1.

You know, we were deeply hurt and disgusted, when a Pastor, from the platform, said - of dear Fred Hollows, who died of Cancer, and had spent his life, caring for the restoration of sight in literally hundreds of indigenous people, with great love - "Is he going to make it?" Also of Mother Thesa who has devoted her whole life to loving and caring for the dying,desperately poor, people of India, the question was asked "by the Pastor "will she make it?". God will decide, not man, on that great and terrible Day of the Lord, who will or will not "make it".

Therefore "Judge not ,that ye be not judged." Matthew 7 v.1.

If wisdom is lacking, it is because of a lack of understanding. Both love and wisdom seem to be lacking.

Understanding that an ex-member of your Church can worship and praise the Lord, and fellowship, and be mightily up-lifted in the Spirit, alongside many Spirit-filled and born-again Christians in another place of worship, outside of the Revival Centre.

We feel welcome, and loved at this Church we now attend. We can show our emotions there, sometimes shedding a tear, as we are moved by the surging in our hearts for our great love of our Lord. We raise our hands in praise to the Lord, which was not a custom at the Revival Fellowship,and not approved of..

We were hurt, very deeply, a few months ago, when we were told, in no uncertain terms, that we would "not be welcome" at the funeral of a greatly respected friend, at the Revival Fellowship.

This was, we were told, because we had "accused the Church of not showing love".

What better way of indicating how correct we were in saying so!

Open your eyes, open your ears, open your hearts, and be part of the great revival going on around you; and forgiveness and love, the true Spirit of God.

You have lost so many wonderful people from your assembly - I won't name them, you know who they are - some who were hurting and offended, and gave their all to the Lord, and to the Revival Fellowship, physically as well as spiritually, for little, or no thanks or recognition (not that they expected it).

But these people are still walking on with the Lord, praising Him, and worshipping Him, and being tremendously uplifted in the Spirit, so much more than was ever experiences in the Revival Fellowship in latter years.

Don't miss out on this great out-pouring of the Spirit, which is going on all around you.

With great love and concern for our fellow Christians,

Jean O'Flaherty and Frank O'Flaherty