When the River Burst Against It

In a northern city in Argentina, four Catholic men fell to the ground in a most unusual way. Here is an account of the event by Protestant author C. Peter Wagner:

"In the city of Santiago del Estero, a local priest decided to oppose the [Evangelistic] crusade by invading the area with a religious procession. When they arrived, the four strong men carrying the statue of the priest's favorite virgin all fell to the ground under the power of the Spirit and the statue shattered into a thousand pieces. Two of the men spent the night in the hospital and the other two in [Evangelist Carlos] Annacondia's deliverance tent! This is warfare prayer in action."

Wagner, church growth expert and leading teacher of "spiritual warfare prayer," is gleefully describing here the fruit of specific prayer initiated by Protestants in what he unashamedly calls a "laboratory for relating strategic-level spiritual warfare prayer to evangelism." Strategic-level warfare prayer, according to Wagner, is prayer that seeks to defeat the "territorial spirits" ruling an area. (Another name for these demons would be 'strongmen'; hence the description of the four statue bearers as "strong men" has additional significance here. These men were part of a demonic procession. This point will become clearer as the facts are presented.) The laboratory Wagner prefers to test out this prayer technique in is the country of Argentina, and he is obviously delighted with the outcome. 'Revival' has hit Argentina says Wagner, and at last the Gospel is being preached to the people there. The gospel is in, idolatrous processions are out.

Wagner relates that before the Falkland war of 1982, "Argentines had been widely known as being indifferent or resistant to the gospel." Another writer relates how, because of the war," It was the sorrow and suffering of our nation that prepared hearts for the gospel." After the war the people sensed that "The church had failed them, Peronism had failed them. They were ready to try something different." And so they did.

Along with increased levels of Spiritism, Mormonism and other cults, Wagner says great evangelical growth occurred in Argentina. He suggests this evangelical growth was the result of both warfare prayer and the ministry of Carlos Annocondia, a wealthy businessman turned evangelist. It was outside one of Annocondia's revival services that the Spirit overcame the men in the procession and the statue was smashed.

While this single episode may be amusing to a Protestant with an aversion to Marian piety, it should cause Catholics to take notice. Evidently the lesson Wagner would have us learn here is that, at least in Argentina, the Holy Spirit does not approve of Marian processions. In fact, He disapproves so strongly that He sent two of the men in this procession to the hospital. Although Argentina was over 90% Catholic in 1974, C. Peter Wagner doesn't flinch when he writes that there was "little effective evangelization" in the Argentinean city of Adrogue before 1974.

There are currently people worldwide using Wagner's techniques to pray directly against some of the most ancient pietistic practices of both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. As hard as this may be to believe in this age of ecumenism, there is a war being waged in South America and the tools of this battle are spreading worldwide.

Prayer campaigns with names such as "Operation Queen's Domain" have been launched worldwide. C. Peter Wagner has written that:

"we consider the Queen of Heaven as a chief principality commissioned by Satan to keep unbelievers in spiritual darkness, and we have identified ancient Ephesus as one of her principal power centres where she formerly manifested in the person of Diana. We called it the "palace" because the temple of Diana (Artemis) in Ephesus syncretised, among other things, ancient Cybele worship, the Moon Goddess (Sin), and allegiance to Mammon(the temple was the first historical prototype of what we know today as the World Bank). Not surprisingly, Ephesus was also the site chosen by the church of that day for the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD which officially declared that Mary is the "mother of God." [Emphasis added]

Elsewhere, Protestant pastors in San Nicholas, Argentina, under the leadership of Prophetic Intercessor Cindy Jacobs, have declared war on the Queen of Heaven. Mrs. Jacobs did this upon receiving direct instructions from God.

Around the world, spiritual 'maps' are being drawn up detailing the 'spiritual strongholds' in cities. 'Prayer-walkers' are going through many cities, perhaps circling your Churches, Cathedrals and Marian sites, 'pulling down' the demonic influences of a what they see as a Gospel-less and corrupt Catholicism.

Like a river, this movement has flowed from South America and threatens to weaken any house whose foundation is not sure. In the Northern Hemisphere, the 'fruit' of this offensive bears names like the Toronto Blessing, the Brownsville Revival or, simply, The River.

Men and women who deny the Real Presence in the Eucharist and have no intention of submitting to St. Peter's successor lead these ongoing Christian services which claim supernatural visitations from God complete with manifestations such as: barking like dogs, roaring like lions, howling, uncontrollable laughter, orgasms, women laying on the floor with legs spread giving birth to 'ministries', shaking, being glued to the floor, deep bowing, literally vomitting up demons, gold dust falling from the ceiling, angel feathers falling from the sky, gold teeth and fillings, prophetic utterances, visitations by angelic beings, mist, fog, spiritual drunkenenss. The list could go on infinitely, because there simply is no limit on what will be accepted at these meetings. Everything is permissible in the River except the use of reason.

Almost beyond belief, Catholic Charismatic leaders are willing to share the stage with these same River leaders and are willing to promote an event with these people as the 'most significant assembly of Christians' in this Jubilee year. Leaders such as Father Michael Scanlan, Ralph Martin, Bishop Sam Jacobs, Father Tom Forrest and many others will encourage Catholics to sit under the ministry of men and women who regularly pray against the truths which Saints have died to protect. Charity demands that one assume these Charismatic leaders do not understand what C. Peter Wagner, Cindy Jacobs and the other River leaders believe and teach. Perhaps, then, a look might be beneficial for all?

Part Two of "A River Burst Against It" coming soon. ©Copyright Mark Connell 2000