The Revival Fellowship

Let's Talk About Sects

The Revival Fellowship is a Pentecostal Australian sect that believes in Bible Numerics, a thoroughly debunked theory about numerical patterns found within the Bible. It also teaches British Israelism, generally considered to be unscientific and ahistorical and by some as a justification for racism. The Fellowship would say its teachings are in line with 'complementarianism', though women have no place in the hierarchy or leadership of the organisation. Over the years since it formed from a schism with Revival Centres International in the 1990s, the offshoot (as well as the RCI itself) has faced numerous accusations from former members that it operates as a cult.

Full research sources listed here. You can support us on Patreon. Sarah Steel's debut book Do As I Say is available on audiobook now.

Links:

• Heart of Fire: The Story of Australian Pentecostalism — by Barry Chant, House of Tabor, 1984
• The British-Israel Myth - Christian Identity and the Lost Tribes of Israel — by Nick Greer, 2004
• Revival Stories & Document Archive — “a historical document archive and collection of stories of members and former members of the Revival Centres groups of churches”, accessed October 2024
• An Open Letter from Paul Longfield (son of Lloyd Longfield) — 27 November 1988 letter and undated letter
• Forum for ex-members of Revival Churches — accessed September/October 2024
• Revival On the Air Today — Revival Fellowships podcast featuring interviews with John & Janet Kuhlmann in 2019
• Leaving a Revival Church Is Hard, but It’s Worth It — by Mark Darbyshire, Medium, 20 July 2022
• The link between gender inequality and violence against women — Our Watch, accessed October 2024
• Letter to the Adelaide Revival Fellowship — by Jean and Frank O’Flaherty, 20 January 1998
• Ivan Panin and Friends — Australian National University webpage that includes links to Panin’s Panic, the program created by Brendan McKay in 1997
• Papua New Guinean revivalist churches push dangerous campaign for 'faith-healing' of AIDS — by Liam Cochrane, ABC News, 22 July 2014

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