Below you find past pressreleases about Tabernacle Ministries

Disclaimer: The written content of pressreleases contain reports as perceived by an independant journalist, and might therefore not reflect reality rightfully.

Wave, jump, dance for the Lord (Tabernacle Ministries: "We are not a cult")

written by Ydwine van der Molen, thursday october 21, 2004. Regional newspaper "De Woudklank" (Original Publication Language: Dutch)

GORREDIJK – "Praise the Lord!" Canadian singer Michael Larson calls out to the audience with raised hands: "Let's praise Him!" The spectators—who have come from all over the Netherlands and abroad—need little further encouragement. Swaying, jumping, and dancing, the predominantly white attendees of the "Signs and Wonders" conference at De Skâns bear witness to their faith through this musical worship.

With one up-tempo song after another from the four-piece band, the atmosphere is electric; anyone unaware of the context might easily imagine themselves at a pop concert. Hymns like "Amazing Grace" alternate with original material, and people of all ages can sing along as they please, thanks to the lyrics displayed on the projection screen to the left of the stage.

Larson knows exactly what he’s doing. At his cue, the audience stands, raises their hands, or falls silent. Suddenly, the words "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done" ring out, and the entire hall comes alive with movement once more. That single, repeated phrase seems to cast a spell over the crowd. To the right of the stage, an older man begins to dance as if age were no issue; cries of "Hallelujah!" echo throughout the hall; and during the final song—"Let it rain – Open up the floodgates of heaven"—neither the musicians nor the audience seem willing to stop. Larson is visibly moved, and—as befits an artist with a mission—he and his colleagues simply sit down among the audience after the performance.

Not long after, it is Patricia King’s turn; according to a press release from the organizing body "Tabernacle Ministries," she is a prophetess from Canada. Her spoken English remarks are simultaneously translated by a conference staff member: "Follow the Holy Spirit; where the Holy Spirit is, there is freedom" and "God wants a network to carry out God's will and works"—judging by their reaction, she is voicing the very thoughts of the believers present.

Fresh

As a speaker of modest ability, she pales in comparison to the star of this Saturday’s closing night: her American colleague, Matt Sorger. There are no breaks in the program, and while most attendees’ faces have turned tomato-red due to the desert-like climate inside De Skâns, this young revivalist preacher remains unaffected. Sorger looks enviably fresh right to the end, and even a skeptical observer would have to admit that this man has an unparalleled ability to captivate his audience.

Waving his arms, he projects his words—which are simultaneously translated—across the hall without a single stumble. He paces back and forth, smiling and constantly making eye contact with the audience; the unforced, natural quality of his performance is truly remarkable. He speaks of the Holy Spirit—whose presence opens the way for "Signs and Wonders"—and of anointing in its various forms. Matt Sorger constantly repeats his phrases, as if wanting to thoroughly saturate the listeners with them. Everyone present is asked to join hands to form an unbroken chain. Then, we are told to look at our hands and repeat after him: "Hands, you are anointed to cast out devils, to raise the dead."

Healed

It quickly becomes clear that his performance deeply affects many people. Some react with convulsive full-body movements, while others burst into raucous, even shrieking laughter. Bizarre muttering, sounding like a secret language, fills the air. Meanwhile, a great many believers have come forward to be healed by Sorger. A woman suffering from chronic pain says she is suddenly free of all discomfort, and as proof, she fluidly swivels her hips. "Thank you, Jesus," say Sorger and the woman. He places his hand on her head, and she falls backward with her eyes closed. Helpful hands catch her and place her head on a small cushion. This continues for some time until there is hardly any space left on the stage, but eventually, everyone simply wakes up: the lady whose ear—blocked for years—has suddenly cleared, and the gentleman who has been relieved of his psychological ailments. For good? Time will tell.

Calling

"Tabernacle Ministries" sounds suspiciously American, but appearances can be deceiving. "The name just came to me spontaneously," says founder Maurits Tuinenburg from Gorredijk. "It essentially means 'Tabernacle Ministries'." He felt called to liberate others from a certain religious rigidity and to teach them how to cultivate an intimate relationship with God. Since launching a year and a half ago, they have managed to reach many people, primarily through word-of-mouth. The group from Gorredijk demonstrated the potential of this outreach with their recent three-day conference: each of the nine sessions drew an audience of around 350 people.

"Everyone is welcome here," says team member Melliena Beckmann. "Catholics, Reformed Christians, and, of course, people seeking spiritual grounding outside the church. We aren't a cult, and it is certainly not our intention to lure believers away from existing churches; our gatherings can easily be attended alongside regular church services. Every three weeks, Maurits and his team hold a Sunday gathering in the space behind their home—an event open to everyone—and those interested can join a mailing list to stay informed about plans for future conferences. Conferences that will attract even more visitors, I’m certain of that."

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