Directory of Contemporary Worship Musicians - Way of Life Literature

“Most people who attended the unusual series of meetings inLakeland, Fla., LAUGHED UNCONTROLLABLY while theSouth African preacher told stories about modern-daymiracles. ... e infectious laughter, he said, was a sign of theHoly Spirit’s presence. ... It wasn’t long before a few folks wereROLLING IN THE AISLES--LITERALLY, COULDN’T SAY AWORD. ... A Hispanic pastor from Tampa, aer he approachedthe microphone, began laughing so hard he fell on the floor. Hewas still lying there when the morning session ended at 2:30p.m. Falling on the floor was a common occurrence thataernoon. More than a thousand people formed a line in thechurch’s expansive circular lobby so that Howard-Brownecould touch them and impart a dose of Pentecostal joy. Fewwere le standing aer the evangelist passed by. ousandsmore people arrived for an evening service, nearly filling themain floor of the 10,000-seat facility. ... As in the morningsession, THE AUDIENCE LAUGHED TO LOUD DURINGHOWARD-BROWNE’S SERMON THAT HE FINALLY PUTDOWN HIS BIBLE AND JOINED IN THE FUN. DaleBrooks, an Assemblies of God minister from Tampa whocanceled his own worship services so his parishioners couldattend the meetings, told the Tampa Tribune that he hopedfolks wouldn’t find fault with the Lakeland experience. He saidhe tells people, ‘DON’T FIGHT IT. ENJOY IT. WALK IN IT.DON’T TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT’” (Charisma magazine,August 1993).Howard-Browne calls himself the “Holy Ghost Bartender”because of the drunken phenomenon that has accompaniedhis ministry. An estimated 100,000 people attended theHoward-Browne meetings (not to mention those who viewedthe services on the church’s television broadcasts). Peoplebegan to flock there to receive the “anointing.” ManyPentecostal and charismatic leaders made the journey,including Oral Roberts’ son Richard, Marilyn Hickey, andCharles and Frances Hunter. Richard Roberts said he and hisfamily ended up on the floor laughing at every Howard-Browne meeting. On the flight back to Tulsa from his trip to319