Archive

This page contains some aspects of Revival Centre history. Some good memories, but also some things the leadership would rather you forgot. How did the Revival Centres begin? How did Lloyd get saved? Why did the Split happen? You will find some answers here.

Origins of the CRC to 1945

On 1 Jan. 1901, Agnes Ozman started speaking in tongues at a Bible College in Topeka, Kansas. In Methodist and Holiness circles, gifts such as 'tongues' began to re-appear in the church. Azuza Street in Los Angeles served as an early focal point for the movement. Several loose groups began to appear, such as the Assemblies of God in 1914. Early Australian 'Pentecostals' were the Harris family, and their ministry became associated with the Assemblies of God. In November 1941, their son Leo Harris met Thomas Foster (who was associated with the British-Israel World Federation). When Leo Harris received a prophecy in 1945 to begin a work in Australia, he began the Commonwealth Revival Crusade (now Christian Revival Crusade), where he taught the peculiar mix of Pentecostalism and British Israel.

From 1945 To 1958 (the Pre-ARC CRC)

A 1949 convert was salesman / electrician Lloyd Longfield. Very quickly, and took over the ministry with the new assembly in Geelong and in Melbourne replacing Tom Foster in a split. In 1958 there was a division between him and Leo Harris (over the same 'deliverance' issues and the Adelaide building of Sunrise House), and Lloyd went his own way with groups in Melbourne, Geelong, Springvale, Ballarat, Colac, Canberra, and Sydney. Tom Foster and Leo Harris later re-united in the Crusade work.

Uncategorised Archive - unindexed scans.

Lloyd Longfield 'slain in the Spirit' - Flames of Revival. Apparently Lloyd dropped to the floor (onto his knees?) and according to one interview (Fred Needham) also reportedly starting wailing. He then prayed for Tom Foster's wife, and she was healed from a long-standing illness.
Lloyd Longfield splits from the Revival Crusade - Flames of Revival
Noel Hollins' articles on salvation - written before he split from the CRC with Lloyd. He used to believe that tongues was not salvation, as he explains here.
Tom Foster writes about the CRC split
NRC Magazine reports on the Split in Melbourne

From 1958 To 1972

After the 1958 split with Leo Harris, Longfield and Hollins' work grew (thou characterised by schisms - c/f Gal.5:20). In 1972, Noel Hollins (Lloyd's main co-worker in Geelong) split, despite Lloyd pleading with him to stay. Hollins' group, however, remains independent and isolationist to this day.

Uncategorised Archive - unindexed scans.

Change in Salvation Teaching - from what I can tell, the RC change in salvation teaching happened in 1962 (earlier than previously thought), with issues of VOR given over completely to the tongues teaching.
Change in the Christmas teaching - Christmas was first said to be pagan in Dec. 1960, and was outlawed in some years afterwards.
Kuhlmann
Moon - 'Moon is Red' means Russians will take over the moon. Scientists on Moon to attack Earth with radio controlled satelites.
VOR 1960 - interesting 'cults' issue. Also has the standard 'communist menace' articles of the time, and mentions Kuhlmann.

First 'Article of Faith' -the Revival Centres have changed what they believe several times. This is the first version of their 'Articles of Faith', which had a less emphasis on tongues and acknowledged the Godship of Christ.
Voice of Revival (Issue 1) - note the different salvation teachings.
Geelong Internal Problems - early moves to set up Hollins as the main leader in Geelong were challenged by the elders of Geelong, who were dismissed after asserting they should have more control in the assembly. The eldership in Geelong left (also taking some other groups) and was later re-integrated into the CRC with Leo Harris.
Assembly Guidelines - some of the continuous set of rules common in cults.

From 1972 To 1995

The 1980's were the heyday of the Revival Centres with assemblies scattered throughout the world, fast growing assemblies in PNG, and the Melbourne HQ residing in the prominent 'Forum' theatre in central Melbourne. In 1990, the Christian Assemblies split (Euro assemblies) away from Australia after long running power sharing disagreements. In 1992, Fred Needham also split away and took NZ assemblies over morals questions. In 1995, there was a large split between with the Adelaide and Melbourne assemblies, over some events in London. Longfield had introduced a rule that disfellowshipped fornicators and never allowed them to return to fellowship. John Kuhlmann took over half of Lloyd's assemblies and called them the 'Revival Fellowship'. In 1996, Kuhlmann's group had had several pastors leave from Adelaide, and NSW groups such as the Sydney group split in 1997. In 2000, its Melbourne assembly split (and formed the Melbourne Gospel Fellowship). In the new Millenium, the Revival Centres, with diminishing membership, have lost much of their influence. Lloyd stepped down as leader in 2000, after the failure of the 6th day prophecy, and his son Simon now runs what remains of the Revival Centres.

Uncategorised Archive - unindexed scans.

Official History Paper.
Old Forgiveness Acticle.
PNG Report - shows about 7500 members in 1989.
Date Predictions - Armageddon hype of 1980's. Durant here goes into detail how Jesus will return by 2001. See also LL's beliefs here.
QLD RCI History
Misc Rules / Pastors Notes & India
splits

June 1984 VOR - predicts end of world in 2001.
Zodiac

The Revival Centres - a brief history of the movement to 1976. An extract from Heart of Fire by Barry Chant.
Armageddon - the 1980's were filled with Armageddon hype, in which Russia was meant to attack the Middle East for some reason, and start a nuclear war, sometime before 17 September 2001.
Stawell Assembly Splits
Auckland Assembly Splits - differences over the change in teaching regarding baptism and a moral dispute.
PNG Assemblies Split
Adelaide Split - One of the many caustic letters circulating during the split. I have removed some names, etc. to save a few people from embarrassment. The letter does not necessarily represent the views of this Web page.
Feb '95 Brisbane Courier - a bit more about the Revival Centre / Revival Fellowship split. Interview with Darcy Ryan. This articles only really 'scratches the surface'.
Letter - sent in 1998, by an ex-member disputing not being allowed to visit the funeral of a friend.
The RCI 'Jubilee' Fraud - Paul Longfield writes regarding the RCI 1999 'Jubilee' claim.
Whitehorse Gazette RCI Article - Local Melbourne Newspaper raises concerns about the new RCI building in their area. Troy Waller, Sue Durrant, Lloyd Longfield interviewed.
A Statement by Ted Patmore- Long time Lloyd's Right Hand Man.
A Statement by Paul Longfield- Lloyd's son.
Letter About the Sydney Split - 1991
Fiji Assembly Splits
The Euro-Split. Scott Williams Speaks the RCI / ACA split. This is a large letter, like 18 pages
Recent Revival Fellowship Pamphlet on 'seperation'. This new pamphlet shows that they havent really changed at all.
Recent RCI Stuff some internal memos, etc.

Revival Centre Info Mailouts

Archive of the 'Revival Observer' (most issues), a counter-RC mailout done by the 'Revival Network' in 1997.

Revival Observer Archive - issues 1 to 17.

Sound Gallery

Enter the Sound Gallery - hear some Revival Centre talks and comments.

Old Revival Centre Pamphlets

I just decided to upload a selection of pamphlets that are historically important, interesting, or otherwise useful to have on-line. You will probably find more pamphlets on some of their Web sites. Most of these pamphlets are rubbish.

What We Believe - the elaborated beliefs of the Revival Centres International and Fellowships.
Fellowship Rules - one set of Church laws (there are others), penned by Longfield.
What Time is it Now? - This is the controversial pamphlet in which Lloyd gave a date (17th Sept 2001) by when the Lord would be 'ruling in Zion' (the second coming).
Why do the Revival Centres Remain Separate? - a justification pamphlet for why the Revival Centres do not allow members to fellowship with other believers. The reason given is doctrinal disagreement, however this is disproved when we consider that the various RC groups with identical theology will not mix.
Welcome to the Revival Centres - a self written 'glowing' description of things in the Centres (see the real state of affairs in testimonies).
Pyramid of Cheops - God's Witness in Stone - explains RC pyramidology. Some RCs have been removing this pamphlet over the last few years. Problems with this pamphlet explained here.
The War on Doctrine - more self-righteous Church knocking?
Church Discipline - the Unmentionable - discipline in the Revival Centres.
The Hiring & the Firing - another (!) paranoid attack on the Pentecostal Church. Lloyd seems obsessed with problems in the Pentecostal Churches (perhaps he should stop pointing out the speck in other eyes?)
How the Christian Church Began - quite a strange conception of 'how the Church began'. This pamphlet tries to justify the problems of who was preaching the tongues message before Lloyd. Truth is, no one proclaimed the tongues gospel until some United Pentecostal preachers came up with it in the 20^th Century.
This is That! - salvation pamphlet. Problems with this pamphlet explained here.
Believing is more than Believing - salvation pamphlet. The title says it all! To 'disprove' John 3:16, etc., does RCI need to warp logic and Greek? Problems with this pamphlet explained here.
Arguments and Explanations - more 'salvation' stuff. Written to combat legitimate questions asked by newcomers.
The Gifts of the Spirit - 1Corinthians 12 stuff. Explains RC view that all have all the gifts.
Water Baptism : the Answer of a Good Conscience - explains the Revival Centre teaching that baptism is necessary for salvation.
"As Thou Hast Believed" - actually, a pretty good pamphlet on healing.
1-2-3 of Healing - another interesting healing pamphlet.
Britains Bible Heritage - one of the more lengthy BI pamphlets. Problems with this pamphlet explained here.
Daniel's Prophecies - a bit of interesting RCI eschatology.
Ezekiel Identifies Russia - another strange teaching. One Centre eschatology teaching is that Russia will soon invade the Middle East! Why they would want to do this is not explained.
World Signs of the Last Days - more interesting eschatology. This Revival Centre pamphlet claims that cars are described in the Bible!
Bible Numerics - explains the controversial view that a mathematical code is found within the Bible text.
Drink Drink Drink - explains the Revival Centre abstinence teaching. Problems with the pamphlet explained here.
Don't be an Easter Bunny - history of Easter.
The Pope & the Church - anti-Catholic pamphlet.
Mary - Mother of Jesus - another anti-Catholic pamphlet.