My question is about the European Conservative Laestadian Church in particular, but also about the Laestadian Lutheran Church (LLC), the American branch of the Laestadians. I believe Conservative Laestadrianism is a fairly recent revival movement within the Finnish (Evangelical) Lutheran Church. They are very strict and consider themselves to be the only "true" Christian faith. Although Wikipedia has a short article about it , I can't find any meaningful information about their beliefs, only that the central teaching is the declaration of forgiveness of sins. Going through this rite will result in receiving the Holy Spirit. I had never heard about this religious denomination till this morning, when I was assigned a question about them. The focus of the question is on their Christian values and beliefs. Any insights would be appreciated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Laestadianism EDIT: I have opened the question up to include the Laestadian Lutheran Church (LLC), the American branch of the Laestadians. Perhaps this will enable access to their theological beliefs.

Amidst the 70s War protests, Feminist "bra burning, Sexual revolution, Hippie rebellion, New Age infusion, and Drug abuse, there arose the **Jesus Revolution** movement! Instead of going along with the cultural motto, *Tune in, turn on, drop out*, there were heard shouts of *Praise the Lord!* and worship singing accompanied with guitars, in the city parks--as well as baptisms in the fountains! The phenom took over America so much that the **Face of Jesus** even made it on the cover of TIME magazine! So, was this all just an adjunct to the hippie culture of the 70s, or was it a genuine break-away movement that became a life of its own? And since it was Christian based, did it benefit Christianity by producing lasting commitments to the principles of the Christian religion? That is, was there: - a rise in church attendance - increase in spiritual worship - more charitable giving - unity among the church family - establishment of new church congregations - respect for the older generation - change in moral life-style - greater desire to do Bible study - established prayer life Was this movement a genuine, religiously beneficial phenomenon for the Christian Church? Were existing denominations edified, as well as new congregations created that enlarged the Kingdom of God? What do the registry documents of denominations reveal concerning new membership?

Which Christian denomination did it spring from, if any? Or was it a spontaneous rising from the youth culture, meeting a need of sorts? Perhaps in answering this, it would help to know which denominations "assimilated" them the most? (Evangelical denominations, charismatic churches, modernist main-line churches). If the movement was independent, spontaneous, which denominations reached out to them to help them assimilate? Do many of them remain independent of all main-line or evangelical churches? Or are most Jesus People assimilated into denominations, and no longer an identifiable Christian sub-group? P.S. For those who did not live during those times: The Jesus People Revolution was a movement of, originally, hippies, then many other young people, who became turned off by the pagan lifestyle rampant in youth culture in the 70s...and who saw hope, meaning, and joy, in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Many were delivered from drug addiction, immorality, and a rebellious attitude...and returned to productive lives in their families, and neighborhoods. The movement was so large and influential that the face of Jesus made it to the cover of TIME magazine! Because of the hippie-style of living, it was hard for some denominations to assimilate them back into church life, though.

# Introduction My question is inspired by the fascinating phenomenon of revivals and the testimonies of supernatural healings that usually accompany them. Just to give you an idea, the Wikipedia article on the [Brownsville Revival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownsville_Revival) says: > The Brownsville Revival (also known as the Pensacola Outpouring) was a widely reported Christian revival within the Pentecostal movement that began on Father's Day June 18, 1995, at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida. Characteristics of the Brownsville Revival movement, as with other Christian religious revivals, included acts of repentance by parishioners and a call to holiness, inspired by the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Some of the occurrences in this revival fit the description of moments of religious ecstasy. **More than four million people are reported to have attended the revival meetings from its beginnings in 1995 to around 2000**. > One writer offered this description of the revival in 1998: > > All told, **more than 2.5 million people have visited** the church's Monday prayer and Tues-through-Saturday evening revival services, where they sang rousing worship music and heard old-fashioned sermons on sin and salvation. After the sermons were over, hundreds of thousands accepted the invitation to leave their seats and rush forward to a large area in front of the stage-like altar. Here, they "get right with God." . . . Untold thousands have hit the carpet in repentance. After the altar call, pastors and leaders would pray for anyone who desired to be prayed over some fell to the ground some shook under the power of God's presence some lay in a state resembling a coma, sometimes remaining flat on the floor for hours at a time. Some participants call the experience being "slain in the Spirit." Others simply refer to receiving the touch of God. Regardless of what they call it, these people are putting the "roll" back in "holy roller." > > — Steve Rabey And regarding healings: > By 1997, it was common to have lengthy and rapturous periods of singing and dancing and altars packed with hundreds of writhing or dead-still bodies from a variety of ages, races and socioeconomic conditions. **As the revival progressed**, **the testimonies of people receiving salvation were joined by testimonies of supernatural healings**. **In Steve Hill's words, "We're seeing miraculous healings, cancerous tumors disappear and drug addicts immediately delivered**." However, the church told local news reporters that it did not keep records of the healings. In 1997, the leaders of the revival—Hill, Kilpatrick, and Lindell Cooley (Brownsville's worship director)—went to several cities (Anaheim, Dallas, St. Louis, Lake Charles (Louisiana), Toledo, and Birmingham) and held like meetings. They named this ministry "Awake America". But then we see an interesting connection. Evangelist [Steve Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Hill_(evangelist)) was the main preacher during the Brownsville Revival, and if we investigate Steve Hill's past, we find that Hill "imported" this "revivalist fire" from Argentina, when he was exposed to the Argentine Revival and the ministry of [Carlos Annacondia](https://www.amazon.com/Listen-Me-Satan-Carlos-Annacondia/dp/1599792346) . According to https://renewaljournal.com/2011/07/22/evangelist-steve-hill-bysharon-wisemann/ : > Since Sunday 18th June, 1995 hundreds of thousands of lives have been changed as a direct result of the Pensacola Revival in Florida, USA. **The spark that ignited the revival was an evangelist named Steve Hill**. > > [...] > > **In Argentina that Hill first saw Carlos Annacondia minister to tens of thousands of people**. In his first Annacondia meeting out in the middle of a soccer field he witnessed fifteen to twenty thousand people ‘craving God’. **Although he always had the desire for evangelism, Hill believes that he received the evangelistic anointing from Annacondia, who has lead over two million people to Jesus, when he laid hands on him**. > > **Hill was involved in the Argentine Revival, seeing multitudes saved and healed**. For seven years he helped plant seven churches in Buenos Aires and Southern Argentina during this revival. He also planted churches and conducted church crusades in several other countries such as Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Spain, Russia and Belarus. And when we investigate the Argentine Revival, we find books such as [Listen to Me, Satan!](https://www.amazon.com/Listen-Me-Satan-Carlos-Annacondia/dp/1599792346) that makes very similar claims about supernatural healings: > This is the true story of Carlos Annacondia, whose faithfulness, devotion, and faith in signs and miracles brought about an awakening in Argentina that has spread throughout the world and continues to this day. **Annacondia's ministry is marked by the same signs and wonders of the early church—sick bodies are healed, bondages are broken, the demonized are set free, oppression is lifted—and he knows these subjects as very few people do**. > > Listen to Me, Satan! is full of amazing testimonies that will renew, inspire, and charge your faith. It's the story of how one man confronted the devil, in the authority of the name of Jesus, and experienced extraordinary results. Join him on his journey from the poor villages of Buenos Aires to a global ministry, and find victory and freedom in your own life as well. ________ # Question I mentioned the Brownsville Revival and the Argentine Revival as two notable examples I'm aware of which were intimately connected to each other, in which millions were reached by the gospel and where probably thousands of people claimed to have received **supernatural healing**, among other extraordinary experiences and manifestations. But speaking of all modern revivals in general from any part of the world (Africa, Asia, etc.), **have any claims of extraordinary healings in such revivals been medically confirmed?** **Note:** by *medically confirmed* I mean that a certified physician confirmed, through a trustable protocol of medical examination, that the healing did in fact take place, that is, that the person had a disease at some point in the first place and that later on said disease was found to be absent, meaning that some kind of unexpected healing had to have happened in between. ____ Related: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/82583/50422

> 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 **So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls**. [Acts 2:38-41 ESV] How was Peter able to preach the gospel in such an effective and impactful way that thousands converted in a single day? What was his secret? What is the secret to bring about revival? Do any denominations teach the principles to become revivalist Christians, so that the Christian may be an effective soul winner in a world where naturalism and skepticism are so rampant?

In looking at historical cases of revival it seems like most seem to occur right in the midst of some disaster or general societal upheaval. Of course, the occasion for revival taking place shouldn't be confused with the source of revival. That would be a genetic fallacy. The source of revival is God and the power of his word. But if the occasion is important to remove obstacles for God to work than that's another story.