Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
A number of emails have been coming in to me from a Walter Kambulow asking me, in caps no less, “SO DO THE WORLD A GREAT FAVOR AND LOOK INTO TORONTO AIRPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OR TORONTO AIRPORT CHURCH OF THE FLESH AS I CALL IT”.
I do not know the man, nor do I know much about the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship. I do remember, about 10 or 12 years ago, that the pastor of our church took a field trip to this “movement” and came back shocked at what was taking place. People were barking and clucking. Acting as though they were possessed. And not in a good way. Another weird cult.
Apparently, TACF are suing this Walter fellow for several million dollars. According to their statement of claim, Kambulow falsely and maliciously published, to specific individuals, which may or may not include me, and to the world at large on the internet false and defamatory words. The defamatory words apparently included things like adultery, rape, robbery, exploitation, embezzlement.
I am not a lawyer, so I cannot comment on the merit of the claim. However, Wikipedia has a fascinating entry on the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship which reads, in part:
The church is also the source of the so-called Golden Sword Prophecy. Another notable phenomenon that broke out there in March 1999 was the outbreak of allegedly instantaneous, allegedly medically documented dental ‘miracles’ including amalgam fillings or porcelain crowns being ‘supernaturally’ changed to high-quality gold.
At TACF Revival services, worshippers have exhibited unusual behaviours that they attribute to an encounter with God and the “fire of the Holy Spirit”?. The most common described behaviours include laughter (or “holy laughter”?), weeping, deep bowing, shaking, ‘drunkenness’, falling to the floor under the Holy Spirit’s power (aka “slain in the Spirit”?) and speaking in tongues. Other less common behaviours include manifestations that resembled roaring like lions and crying like an eagle. At one time the TACF website described it thus: “The Toronto Blessing is a transferable anointing. In its most visible form it overcomes worshippers with outbreaks of laughter, weeping, groaning, shaking, falling, ‘drunkenness,’ and even behaviours that have been described as a ‘cross between a jungle and a farmyard.'”
If that is what these folks at TACF stand for, then I would stay far away. Here is one perspective that claims the group is led by false teachers.
Why are you quoting stuff from 1994 and 1999? This is 2007 and things do change!
Find out what is going on there NOW and report on that instead. My life at 21 was quite different from what it is now at 56! Are you the same as you were as a teenager? (Unless you are a teenager!)
Just a suggestion from someone who refuses to go by “old news and hearsay”
Hello Sue. Thanks for dropping by the blog. TACF’s lawsuit is a few weeks old. The “stuff” from Wikipedia was edited in 2006 and 2007. And the other perspective referenced in the post was dated September of 2007. So, perhaps things have changed as some of the incidents do go back in time. Then again, the core “blessing” seems to be a constant.
Walter Kambulow still has not changed..
Walter he really does still have a a self esteem problem that makes him still wrongfully happy by bashing the others..
http://ct11a.tripod.com/
http://ct10a.tripod.com:80/index.htm
http://ct11a.tripod.com/whosinned.htm
http://the.truth.betrayed.tripod.com/index.htm
The whole scenario is also still pathethic too.. believers go to court against the other believers clearly not allowed by the Bible too..
no wise Christian persons able to resolve this all?
(1 Cor 6:7 KJV) Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
(1 Cor 6:8 KJV) Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
(1 Cor 6:9 KJV) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
(1 Cor 6:10 KJV) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
(1 Cor 6:11 KJV) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
(1 Cor 6:12 KJV) All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
The bashing of the Pentacostals by the non pentacostal evangelcials is also still immoral..
My undeniable last 50 years of evangelical experiences in Canada is that the reason so many of the Fundamental evangelicals are bashing the existence of the gifts of the Holy spirit, bashing Pentecostals, wrongfully speaking about them also now even experts on something they really do not know nor have experienced as well, plus twisting the Bible vessels too, is cause not only because they Fundamental evangelicals are personally frightened by this Pentecostal definition of the Holy Sprit, one they clearly have not known cause they very likely only firstly still give lip service to God, and have in reality not made Jesus Christ as lord. but they are still self, man centered..
My other related experiences is that both the Pentecostal and non Pentecostal churches have the same number of bad pastors who cheat, lie, steal, slander, commit adultery, abuse I now as well.. so all this while issues is merely the kettle calling the pot back still too.. you all need to do some serious personal repentance in realty
http://groups.msn.com/AFOLLOWEROFCHRIST
http://groups.msn.com/AFOLLOWEROFCHRIST2
http://groups.msn.com/HolySpiritCome
Hi Paul,
Thanks for dropping by the blog.
The list of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 includes wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Similar lists appear in Ephesians 4:7-13 and Romans 12:3-8. These gifts are used to enable the church.
The concern that I have with certain charismatic expressions of “gifts”, such as those demonstrated at TACF, is that it appears to focus on the personal and emotional experience of the individual. And the manifestation of these “gifts” looks to be little more than strange and bizarre behavior.
Well Hello Richard Cleaver.
I to have the same name Richard Cleaver… althought I am not as close to retirement as you are.
I have been to the Toronto Airport Church and I am quite familiar with the Pentecostal faith. If you go to this website http://www.trinitypcvictoria.org you will see that I am pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Victoria BC Canada. If you are ever in town come and visit.
My lineage can be traced through generations of inscribed tomestones found at the Anglican Church cemmetary in Mount Pleasant Ontario and a lot of my relatives settled in the Brant County Area… specially Paris Ontario which was my home town for twenty years.
Our family traces back to England although I have never been there. How about you? Where do you trace your family roots to?
On another note… I think the pictures you are taking are fantasic… and that camera you wanted for Christmas would be the perfect gift. I see that you have a deep appreciation of creation and the wonder of it through your pictures… one of the pleasures of being a Christian is the freedom to marvel the greatness of God through the spectacular creation… for fear of boring you I will close with a blessing… God be with you and your family this Christmas… and may He supply all your needs through Christ Jesus our Lord… Amen.
Hello Richard!
How nice to hear from you and thank you for posting on the blog.
In my younger years, I was a member of a Pentecostal church.
Like you, my family traces back to England. My father was born in Manchester. His name was Walter and his mother’s name was Elizabeth.
Thank you for your kind feedback on my photography and for your blessing. I will be out to the west coast in April and I will likely head over to Victoria. If I do, I will be sure to drop in at Trinity and say hello.
Dear Richard,
It’s been a while since this blog was posted, but I just want to say thank you for taking the time to share this information.
I have been a Christian for 7 years now and have been attending a fairly conservative non-denominational church since my coming to Christ. In our church there is not much expression or encouragement on the use of the “spiritual gifts”, although it is spoken of at times.
For the last few years (about 2) I’ve really felt as though there was something missing, so I’ve been seeking. I’ve found that the Lord intends for us to walk in more power and authority than many of us, as Chistians, are walking in. I know there is more, but I also don’t neglect the fact that I have the Holy Spirit in me as a believer in Jesus Christ (although I may not have received His “filling” or “baptism” of His Spirit).
My husband and I were considering going to a conference held by one of the pastors of TACF in Colorado this March. He and I have both had some concerns and now, due to this post and some other information we have come across, we’ll be reconsidering.
I do agree with you that the spiritual gifts, as written in Scripture, are to be used for the building up of the body, not for some strange showcase. I have never read anything in the Bible that describes followers of Christ barking like dogs or clucking like chickens, nor do I see any reason for such behavior, as this would in no way bring edification to the body of Christ… or anyone else for that matter.
Your post and your patience with those in disagreement (above) is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your boldness and willingness to continue it in love.
In Christ,
Stephanie Sanchez
Hi Stephanie,
I’ve been seeking for the same thing for the past few years. I met a woman who used to attend the Airport Fellowship, and she has some grave concerns about it. However, I’ve recently read about some individuals who appear to be more positive examples of a truly Spirit-filled ministry, though I don’t know any of them personally. Check out Hedi and Rolland Baker’s website (Iris ministries).
I went to work at this place, and I could not wait to get out. My feelings were that the goings on were not right. I felt like the people were brain washed. it was like being in prison for me. I ran out of the door, literally.