CRC Churches International

CRC Churches International, formerly known as the Christian Revival Crusade, is a Pentecostal Protestant Christian denomination founded in New Zealand and Australia by Leo Harris in Adelaide with assistance from Thomas Foster in Melbourne.[1][2][3]

CRC Churches International
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationPentecostal, Evangelical
FounderLeo Harris with assistance from Thomas Foster
Origin1944 NZ, 1945 Australia
Official websitehttp://www.crcchurches.org/
Development of the CRC Churches International in Australia (click to enlarge)
CRC International Conference, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, 2010

Converted under the itinerant ministry of South African, Frederick Van Eyck, Harris' father became an Apostolic Church pastor before they both assumed ministry within the Assemblies of God.[4] Harris was influenced by the British-Israel views of Thomas Foster, whose identification of Anglo-Saxon nations with the ten lost tribes of Israel prompted him to adopt a historicist eschatology.[5] With the subsequent cancellation of his ministry credential and the increasing post-war popularity of his pro-British views throughout parts of Australia and New Zealand, the 'National Revival Crusade' was launched organisationally in Adelaide in 1945 and was active in Melbourne.[6]

The movement later became known as the Christian Revival Crusade before finally taking its current name.[7][8][9]

With a strong focus on classical Pentecostal distinctives such as Baptism in the Holy Spirit, faith healing and deliverance ministry,[10] the CRC grew and sought to establish a new constitution in 1958 which triggered the departure of churches forming the Revival Centres International (who viewed Spirit Baptism with the evidence of speaking in tongues as essential for salvation).[11] Nevertheless, growth continued including a significant influence in Tasmania.[12] Later departures of churches, some of which saw new movements emerge, were all unrelated to the declining popularity of the British-Israel teaching which has not appeared in official publications since the early 1970s.

International growth (principally in Papua New Guinea and in South-East Asia under Barry Silverback, recognised with an Order of Australia medal for his services[13]) has seen some 600 churches globally and 120 in Australia under the leadership of Bill Vasilakis with the stated goal of having a presence in every nation by the CRC's centenary in 2045.[14] The CRC reports that it has a presence in some 50 nations.[15] Other influential ministers in the CRC include Ken Chant, founder of Vision International College in Sydney, and Barry Chant, a popular author and the founder of Tabor College Australia which has had campuses in several capital cities.

References
  1. Chant, Barry. (1984). Heart of Fire. Unley Park, S.A. p. 186.: House of Tabor. ISBN 0-94933-005-1.CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. Hughes, Philip. (1996). The Pentecostals in Australia. Canberra, A.C.T.: Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-64435-805-X.
  3. Christianity – Pentecostalism at ABC Religion & Ethics. Archived from the original on 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  4. Cooper, Dudley. (1995). Flames of Revival. Endeavour Hills, Victoria. pp. 11-16.: Christian Revival Crusade. ISBN 0-95925-621-0.CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. Cooper, Dudley. (1995). Flames of Revival. Endeavour Hills, Victoria. pp. 17-22.: Christian Revival Crusade. ISBN 0-95925-621-0.CS1 maint: location (link)
  6. "Revival Crusade is Creating Interest". The Age (30298). Victoria, Australia. 7 June 1952. p. 12. Retrieved 10 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. Chant, Barry. (1984). Heart of Fire. Unley Park, S.A. p. 194.: House of Tabor. ISBN 0-94933-005-1.CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-25. Retrieved 2012-07-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. Piggin, Stuart. (1996). Evangelical Christianity in Australia. Melbourne, Vic. p. 103.: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19553-538-3.CS1 maint: location (link)
  10. Tory Shepherd (29 July 2014). "Adelaide head of CRC Churches International Bill Vasilakis linked to influential Schools Ministry Group to deliver SA public school pastoral care". The Advertiser. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  11. Jupp, James. (2009). The Encyclopedia of Religion in Australia. Port Melbourne, Victoria. p. 598: Cambridge. ISBN 978-0-521-86407-7.CS1 maint: location (link)
  12. Companion to Tasmanian History.
  13. "2012 Queen's Birthday Honours". Sydney Morning Herald.
  14. International Strategic Directions 2010-2015. Seaton, S.A.: CRC Churches International Australia. 2009. p. 3.
  15. Cronin, Mike (September 2012). "Missions". CRC Annual Report: 1.
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