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218 Appendix A priest (the former pastor of one of my graduate students) who was actively involved in gay and lesbian rights as well as with the cause of the homeless in Atlanta. Although I initially felt that inviting Temple to join VanCronkhite and Ortega (both of whom were involved in conservative denominations that were less than sympathetic to anyone advocating gay marriage or ordination) might be a recipe for disaster, the lunch together was memorable and spiritually uplifting. VanCronkhite, a vivacious man who looked younger than his fifty years, took the lead, sharing his vision of the Kingdom of God and the pivotal role of the poor and homeless. Even Temple’s volunteering information about his role in the struggle for gay rights in the Episcopal Church could not dampen the contagious enthusiasm that permeated the meeting. Temple indicated that his beliefs resonated with BnF’s vision but that it probably would not be wise for VanCronkhite to team up with him; the latter responded, “I am not here to judge anyone. I know that God has brought us together—and we have work to do! How about we pray?” There in a Cuban restaurant we clasped hands around the table as David led us in prayer. The presence of the Spirit seemed palpable. I would later record in my journal, “I felt as if I were on holy ground.” My first meeting with VanCronkhite and Ortega left me impressed with the man and the ministry. In my experience, bringing up the issue of gay rights generally brought about argumentative retorts supported with select Bible passages, not a call to intimately shared prayer. Moreover, the personal spiritual therapeutic focus of much of the middle-class American revival currently under way placed little emphasis on the cause of the poor in North America. While short-term mission trips to developing nations where revival fires were burning was encouraged by some renewal leaders, little was said by most about the plight of the poor in American cities. VanCronkhite was different. His charismatic piety was reflected not only in his sprinkling of glossolalic prayer or “praying in tongues” into seemingly secular conversations, but also in his encouraging others to “walk in the supernatural,” expecting to be an instrument of healing and prophetic words. I was intrigued enough with VanCronkhite and his unusual ministry to return to Atlanta for two other events that summer. I attended a general revival conference in August where I again met with Ortega, Temple, and VanCronkhite. My next trip occurred a short month later when I attended a BnF-sponsored conference on the urban poor. VanCronkhite described the gathering in the conference brochure as follows : “Blood-n-Fire invites you to ‘If I Have Withheld.’ You will hear from Appendix A 219 gifted men and women leading the restoration of our cities and then be able to put into practice what was heard and imparted. Come prepared to be spiritually ‘ruined’ for life. Truly a life changing experience. Focus will be on Compassion for the Poor and the Father’s Heart.” One of the speakers was Jackie Pullinger, a missionary who for over two decades had worked with the poorest of the poor in Hong Kong. Unlike many charismatic or neo-Pentecostal conference speakers, Pullinger challenged rather than comforted. In the midst of a revival that focused first on “feeling God” through paranormal “signs and wonders” and then on “saving souls,” Pullinger combined the belief and practice of the “miraculous ” with a biblical perspective, calling for an active involvement in the plight of the poor. Statements like, “How rude to go after people just for their souls! You go on loving people whether they believe in Jesus or not. You love them simply because he died for them just as he died for you,” would leave many Evangelicals speechless, convinced that Pullinger was carrying things to an extreme. Others, like VanCronkhite, who called Pullinger his “spiritual father,” were refreshed and challenged by her spiritual insight and commitment. Over the next four years I would return periodically to Atlanta to stay connected with what was happening at BnF. On two occasions VanCronkhite came to Akron, Ohio, where I lived and where a minister of a new Vineyard church plant was considering making his church an affiliate of BnF. That never came to be, but VanCronkhite did bring his message and ministry to a conference sponsored by that congregation, and I was able to observe him, the reception of his...

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