The Revival Fellowship was formed as a result of a 1995 schism with the Revival Centres International. At a Christmas church camp in 1994 Lloyd Longfield instituted a policy that sexual defaulters would be permanently excommunicated and could never be restored to fellowship. The Adelaide assembly, led by pastor John Kuhlmann, opposed the move - withdrawing from the Revival Centres with approximately half of the assemblies, a third of pastors and probably over half of the membership. Approximately half of the missions work in Papua New Guinea became part of the Revival Fellowship, as well as various other international assemblies.
Doctrine
Salvation
The Revival Fellowship teaches that one receives salvation by repentance, water baptism by full immersion, and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. They preach that the outward manifestation of a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. Scriptures quoted by the Revival Fellowship to justify its position on salvation include Acts 2, Mark 16:15-20, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-6 and John 3:1-21. Their doctrine regarding speaking in tongues emphasises glossolalia tongues over xenolalia tongues ; there is no official doctrinal stance on when this transition between known and unknown tongues should have occurred.
Miracles
The Revival Fellowship believe in miracles from God, and many claim to have experienced miraculous healings. Testimonies, consisting largely of stories about receiving the Holy Spirit and claims of healings and miracles, are often shared in fellowship meetings and publications. The Revival Fellowship has large groups in various Third World countries, including Papua New Guinea, where there are many claims of its members being healed of HIV/AIDS and being raised from the dead.
Bible Prophecy and Other Topics
Other topics are often preached or discussed, but they are not given the same emphasis as the salvation message and are not considered doctrinal. The Revival Fellowship preaches a historicist interpretation of Bible prophecy, and holds to the British-Israel doctrine as an important part of interpreting Bible prophecy, although racist elements of the teaching are denied. Other topics, including Bible Numerics, British Israel and prophecy related to the Great Pyramid of Giza and America are accepted. The Revival Fellowship is critical of the science of evolution and instead preaches creation though not believing in the literal six-day creation. In English speaking countries, the Authorized King James Versions or The Amplified Bible bible is preferred. Members prophesy to each other during gatherings through 1st person speech. This is understood by the congregation to mean that God is speaking his message to the church via the person doing the prophesying.
General meeting format
The Revival Fellowship typically holds a midweek meeting, either in smaller groups in people homes or at the local meeting halls. On a Sunday, the congregation met up for a meeting. The meetings usually follow a perspective structure. For examples; Community singing or "choruses" led by a song leader based on Christian themes. The chorus leader will ask the congregation for any prayers request? Afterwards, he asked one of the gentlemen to opening the meeting with a short prayer. The chorus leader will choose one of the members, to come to the front and share their testimony. Sermon or "talk" given by a pastor or a male leader using Bible references. The communion part of the meetings takes part every Sunday. While the church is singing a hymn, a small cup of grape juice and a usually a cracker. Two of the congregation are picked to blessed both the cup and the bread. Operation of the Spirituals Gifts or "Voice Gifts" of the Holy Spirit by church members. i.e. containing speaking in tongues, interpretation of that tongue and prophecy. The pastor will call up the oversights for the prayer line. They placed their hands on the shoulder of individuals who are seeking help while praying for a miracle. One of the gentlemen or more will go around with a bag for "tithing". Church Activities Announcements. Closing prayer. Social time after the meeting.
