From a message addressed to Richard Riss
Richard,
My ongoing thanks for all that you
do to keep the information on renewal blessings flowing. If you think it
appropriate, please send this announcement through the Awakenings List.
I have completed a 50-page monograph inspecting the "fruit" of the Blessing based on the two surveys (1995 and follow-up in 1997) conducted through TACF. I will be giving a workshop on the findings at Catch the Fire on Saturday afternoon. The workshop will be held on Saturday, in rooms 5/6 on the upper level of TACF's mail building at 272 Attwell from 2:30 until 4:30. This is a newly scheduled addition to the CTF conference.
I am also attaching the introduction
and summary found in the new monograph.
Thanks again, Richard. Let me know
if you need more information.
INSPECTING THE FRUIT:
A 1997 SOCIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
OF THE TORONTO BLESSING
Margaret M. Poloma, Ph.D.
The University of Akron
New and revised independent social scientific report on the effects of the Toronto Blessing based on a 1995 survey of over 900 participants and a 1997 follow-up of over 350 persons who agreed to participate by providing their names and addresses at the time of the original survey.
Prologue. About the Fruit Inspector--and Method of Inspection
Part One. Inspecting the Plants: Demographics and Descriptions
Part Two. Inspecting the Fruit: Healing and Empowering
Part Three. Weeding and Watering: Other Sociological Observations
Summary. Points of Note
Margaret M. Poloma, Ph.D. 1997
Department of Sociology
The University of Akron
Akron, Ohio (USA) 44325-1905
e-mail: mpoloma@uakron.edu
Monograph may be secured from the
Bookstore; Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship; 272 Attwell Dr.; Toronto,
Ontario, Canada M9W 6M3. Phone: (416)674-8463; Fax: (416)674-8465 Website:
http://www.tacf.org
Monograph may not be reproduced without
permission from the author.
INSPECTING THE FRUIT:
A 1997 SOCIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
OF THE TORONTO BLESSING
Despite the controversy and debate that has attacked the renewal/revival in its various styles and dress, the latest movement of the Holy Spirit continues to attract new followers. Books, videos, and testimonies abound that demonstrate the fruit of the movement. This report complements other available material in demonstrating the wide scope and depth of the effects reported through other media.
Inspecting the Fruit is a sociological report based on two extensive surveys of visitors to the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship. The first survey was conducted in 1995; the second (a follow-up of the original respondents) in 1997. The detailed results are presented within these pages demonstrating that the renewal has indeed changed lives.
The renewal has been a source of a deeper relationship with God for nearly all respondents, has been a factor in emotional, relational, mental and physical healing, and has empowered many to reach out in new ministry and service. This monograph details the statistical results of the two extensive surveys, providing evidence in detailed fashion that will allow the reader to join in the fruit inspection process. It will confirm for those blessed by the renewal that they are not alone in what they have experienced. For those who have not yet become involved, the findings hopefully will provide an incentive to taste of the renewal and to join with those who are proclaiming the goodness of the Lord experienced through the Father's Blessing.
Points of Note
Part 1. Demographics and Descriptions
1995 Sample of 918 Respondents
_ 20 different countries represented,
with most respondents from the U.S. (54%), Canada
(26%) and England (11%)
_ 40 different denominations and sects,
including
--Independent or non-denominational
churches (28%)
--Pentecostal (20%)
--Anglican or Episcopal (15%)
_ Average education level of college
graduate or equivalent
_ 18 % pastors; 4% spouses of pastors;
and 30% in other church leadership positions
1997 Follow-up Sample of 364 Respondents
_ Compared with 1995 sample on 30
variables for demographics,
manifestation types and levels, personal
attitudes toward the renewal, and reported renewal effects
_ Only four items out of thirty analyzed
showed small differences between the two samples
--men slightly more likely to have
responded to the 1997 questionnaire
--older respondents slightly more
likely to respond to the 1997 questionnaire
--English respondents slightly less
likely to respond than Americans or Canadians
--those reporting healing from clinically
diagnosed mental health problems
slightly less represented in the 1997
questionnaire
_ Follow-up sample judged to be a
good representation of the larger 1995 sample
Description of Charismatic Identity
and Manifestations
_ 95% self-identified as "Charismatic
or Pentecostal Christians"
_ 60% from congregations were Spirit-filled
Christians made up at least 75% of the membership
_ 85% reported speaking in tongues
_ Shift in expression of physical
manifestations from 1995-97
--decrease in laughter and being drunk
in the spirit
--increase in weeping
--increase in other bodily and audible
manifestations
_ Different emotional responses attached
to selected salient manifestation
--manifestations and emotional responses
are widely varied
--varied findings suggest the responses
are not due to hypnosis or suggestibility
_ Overwhelming positive emotional
expressions of love,, peace, joy and gratitude reported after visit to
TACF
Part 2. Healing and Empowerment
Spiritual Healing (becoming aware
of one's sinful condition and experiencing forgiveness)
_ Central to the holistic healing
process
_ Related, in part, to frequency of
prayer by prayer team, the experience of physical
manifestations, and reporting positive
emotional responses attached to the salient manifestation.
_ Related to having a fresh revelation
of God's love
--Over nine out of ten persons reported
coming to know the Father's love in a new
way as a result of the renewal (1995)
--Over nine out of ten reported a
positive change in their relationship with God as
a result of the renewal (1997)
_ Related to experiencing inner or
emotional healing, healing of clinically diagnosed
mental health conditions, and healing
of physical problems
--88% of married sample more in love
with their spouses (1995)
--similar figure (89%) reported in
1997 of "positive change" in marital
relationships
Outreach, Service and Empowerment
_ Spiritual healing experiences pivotal
in accounting for increases in outreach, service, and empowerment
--Increase in prophetic gifting, deliverance
and healing ministry (1997)
--Increase in service and outreach,
including giving to missions, offering personal
assistance to others, works of mercy,
and leading others to Christ
_ Higher levels of manifestations
(although not any particular manifestation)
related to reported increases in empowerment
but not service/outreach.
Part 3. Other Sociological Observations
_ Vast majority (94%) of 1995 respondents
still actively involved in the renewal
--86% attended at least one renewal
conference in 1996
--82% involved in local renewal site
--49% involved at home church
--94% more sure than ever that their
experiences of God are real
--only 6% reported the renewal passed
them by without touching them
_ Divided opinions on renewal
--56% asserted renewal at least as
strong as it was in 1995
--51% believe renewal has impacted
larger church
--47% claim renewal "most important
thing" in life
_ Differences in acceptance of implicit
theology
--46% satisfied with balance of theology
of blessing and theology of suffering
--58% comfortable with end-times eschatology
--65% comfortable with prophetic thrust
of renewal
--72% satisfied with range of biblical
renewal teaching
_ Denominational differences in acceptance
of implicit theology
--least likely to be accepted by respondents
from mainline traditions
--most likely to be accepted by Pentecostals
and new denominations
--slightly less likely to be accepted
by pastors
_ Significant minority experiencing
personal spiritual dissatisfaction (desolation)
--younger people slightly less satisfied
with spiritual state than older people
--those reporting greater general
dissatisfaction (1995) less spiritually satisfied
--those reporting feelings of frustration
when leaving TACF (1995)
--those less likely to accept implicit
renewal theology less spiritually satisfied
82% believe the best is yet to come