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The New Orleans ’87 conference is a window into the one-world church that is being built today by a great blending and merging of all denominations. The official title was The North American Congress on the Holy Spirit and World Evangelization.
I had opportunity to attend this conference with media credentials with Dennis Costella of Foundation magazine.
All of the major elements of the end-time “church” were present: a shallow gospel with a focus on a “sinner’s prayer,” unconcern for a regenerated conversion experience with clear biblical evidence, downplaying or redefining repentance, a judge not philosophy, lack of zeal for sound doctrine, neglect of contending for the faith, rejection of biblical warnings, evangelicals joining with Roman Catholics, contemporary worship music, charismaticism with its emphasis on experience and emotions, acceptance of Pentecostal heresies such as gibberish tongues and “prophecies,” a plethora of Bible versions with the resultant weakening of biblical authority, unconcern for biblical modesty, a capitulation to worldliness in general, and an emphasis on entertainment. (For full documentation of these things see the free eBook Charismatic Confusion, section one “Strange Things in New Orleans,” www.wayoflife.org.)
There were between 35,000 and 40,000 in attendance. Some 40 denominations were represented and fifty percent were Roman Catholic. A Roman Catholic, David Sklorenko, was the director of the Congress, and a Pentecostal, Vinson Synan, was chairman.
On the first night of the meeting, Kevin Ranaghan introduced Synan and said, “Isn’t it a wonderful thing for a Catholic to introduce a Pentecostal!”
A Roman Catholic mass was conducted every morning. On Saturday evening, Synan, encouraged the attendees to attend the mass on Sunday morning, saying, “If you want to see something beautiful, come see a spirit-filled Catholic mass.”
Priests and nuns were everywhere, and Roman Catholic books dominated the literature sales areas. There were books on the mass, books about Mary shrines such as Fatima and Lourdes, books by the popes, books on the rosary. All sorts of Mary statues, rosaries, crucifixes, and medallions were on sale.
The final speaker was Catholic priest Tom Forrest, who came from Rome as a representative of Pope John Paul II. Forrest literally brought the crowd to its feet when he proclaimed that the world must be evangelized by all denominations working together.
But what does Tom Forrest mean by “evangelization?” In one of his messages he said that he “evangelizes” by walking through the streets of Rome and praying a decade of the rosary for every person he passes! I wonder why I can’t find that type of evangelism anywhere in the book of Acts?
I also heard Tom Forrest speak at Indianapolis ’90 where he said he praises God for purgatory, because it is the only way he can get into heaven. Any man who believes in purgatory does not believe in the sufficiency of the blood atonement of Jesus Christ!
How is it possible to “evangelize” when one doesn’t know even the ABCs of the gospel?
While non-Roman Catholic charismatics are satisfied not to proselytize Catholics away from Catholicism, the Roman Catholic leaders who are involved in the Charismatic movement often speak plainly of their goal to proselytize everyone into the Catholic Church.
During the afternoon Catholic sessions in New Orleans, Forrest said, “Our job is to make people as richly and as fully Christian as we can make them by bringing them into the Catholic Church. ... No, you don’t just invite someone to become a Christian. You invite them to become Catholics.”
Many “evangelical” leaders and organizations participated in the New Orleans conference. Consider a few examples:
- Charles Kraft and Peter Wagner of Fuller Seminary
- Floyd McClung (Youth With A Mission)
- John Wimber (head of the Vineyard churches)
- E.V. Hill (Baptist pastor)
- The Gaithers
- James Robison
- Every Home for Christ
- Fuller Theological Seminary
- Jews for Jesus
- U.S. Center for World Mission
- Wycliffe Bible Translators
Every individual and organization that participated in these congresses signed a unity statement that said in part, “We accept one another as brothers and sisters in our one Lord, Jesus Christ. ... Among our churches, denominations, groups and ministries, there may have been times of tension, opposition and conflict. We wish to put these times behind us, by the grace of God” (New Orleans ‘87 General Congress Handbook).
(For full documentation of this conference, see the free eBook Charismatic Confusion, section one “Strange Things in New Orleans,” www.wayoflife.org.)
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