“A miracle happens here.”
It is the slogan of one megachurch in southwest Miami-Dade County, at the forefront of the burgeoning Christian “supernatural” movement.
It is a derivative of evangelical rooted in Pentecostalism, leaning far greater towards revelation and prophecy than the mainstream Christian churches, exerting a powerful outsized political influence.
That was recently evident in King Yes Ministries, a non-denominational megachurch whose top spiritual advisor, Pastor Paula Whitekane, has been a long-time visitor to President Donald Trump. The church held a three-day spiritual meeting called the “Supernatural School of Spirit.” There, Whitekane and other visiting pastors preached and directed to crowds of followers and local faith leaders on how to “walking the supernatural.”
King Jesus is just one of South Florida’s biggest churches soaked in the movement. Another Miami Megachurch, a prominent Haitian-American congregation with a glorious tabernacle, believes in its massive support with a focus on the supernatural. The non-denominational church opened a $60 million campus in northern Miami-Dade County last year.
It is not uncommon to hear pastors talk about “Dominion” theology and “spiritual war in the universe.” Sometimes they speak in tongues, do “rescue” or do things that most people know as exorcisms, and even drive away the power of the devil.
Religious scholars say branches erupt from a movement called “Independent Charismatic Christianity,” which gained momentum in the 1960s. Estimated millions of American followers hold the supernatural belief and goal of transforming secular society. They have increased their influence in American politics and support candidates for conservative leaders like President Donald Trump.
“The independent charismatic leader who was laughed at by mainstream religious rights leaders 20 years ago is now captain of the American culture war,” religious scholar Matthew Taylor wrote in his book, The Violent Take It By Fursion.
The Miami Herald spoke to Taylor to discuss some of the themes and ideologies found in these churches, and how they intersect with the American political world.
1. What is a supernatural church?
The term may refer to a church that is popular in charismatic Christian circles and where supernatural experiences (those not defined by logic or reason) occur.
But charismatic Christian worlds are also “diffusion” spaces, with many terms being interchangeable or sometimes defined in different ways from church to church, Taylor said.
“Sometimes the charisma will call themselves charismatic. Sometimes they will say they are full of spirit… Sometimes they will say they are Christians. Sometimes they will call themselves evangelicals.
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“Being charismatic means seeking a more supernatural dimension of Christianity… and that’s why they’re constantly emphasizing prophecy, and speaking in tongues, healing and miracles,” Taylor said.
The term “supernatural” is not new and has been in circulation for decades within the charismatic Christian movement. For example, there is the entire Christian media network. For example, “It’s supernatural! It’s been around for decades,” Taylor said, led by charismatic leader Sid Ross.
2. What are the main elements of the supernatural church?
One of the beliefs of uniting this Christian subculture is the idea that God speaks through prophecy. Many of the leaders of this movement are thought to be modern apostles or prophets, such as King Jesus and the Rev. Guillermo Maldonado of White Cane, who can “heal” or prophesy by their followers during their sermons.
As movements often operate without formal connections with more established denominations, leaders may vary in degrees of theological education, but they lean or cite movement mentors. Leaders often have 10 to hundreds of thousands of followers, or backgrounds of televangelism, and their success can depend on someone they know in a charismatic world, similar Hollywood operations.
Taylor, who interviewed many charismatic Christian leaders, describes them as “singular” and “incredibly persuasive.” “They are very socially skilled,” he said. “They are very good at reaching, teaching and providing these persuasive experiences to people.”
Many apostolic leaders believe that the Christian church has declined over the centuries, and that God brought them to revitalize the church through leadership backed by the Holy Spirit.
The general theme focuses on the “end,” or the second coming of Jesus, and the idea of ”Dominion,” or Christians who need to conquer various aspects of society.
It also focuses on promoting inner healing by living a more Christian lifestyle similar to Pentecostal churches. The promise of a better, healthier life can appeal to people suffering from addiction problems, health, physical or mental issues. Prosperity – Achieving financial wealth is also an important theme, and it works with economic gifts to the Church. The idea is common in many churches that ask members to “good enough,” but the movement emphasizes that more donations could mean more rewards.
3. Why is this movement growing?
Many followers find a sense of empowerment, satisfaction and community in the movement, Taylor says.
“There was even research on how Pentecostals and charismatic ministries around the world have empowered them and lifted people up from the existence of the lower class to many people by saying, ‘Hey, you have an agency’. ”
At the same time, Taylor points out that these experiences are “used in this extensive political project,” riding on the conservative political agenda and gaining more Christians.
Another theory of why it is so popular: in a modern industrialized world where knowledge is at the fingertips of all those who have smartphones, charismatic leaders can “reintroduce” the world for those who want a sense of mystery and wonder, Taylor said he refers to the concept of “disillusionment” popular by the philosophy counsel, Charles Taylor.
“People want a sense of sublime and powerful power in the universe.
According to Taylor, independent charisma is the fastest growing religious demographic in the United States and the world. Although followers are often interested in estimates of millions, or even hundreds of millions of people worldwide, in some estimates, the actual number is difficult to measure because the group is not tied to formal denominations.
“For those looking for anchors around the world, or for those looking for confidence or a sense of what their purpose is in life… they’re causing people to suffer it with itching,” Taylor said.
4. How is this different from Pentecostal sects?
Similarly, there is no by-law or bureaucratic oversight associated with a network of sects or churches with established hierarchies.
“They said, “The Holy Spirit needs to be unlimited. We need a fire for revival prayer,” Taylor said.
Pentecostalism, a movement within Protestant Christianity, is a sect that can be traced back as early as the 1900s, highlighting the symptoms of the Holy Spirit. In the early days of Pentecostalism, according to Pew Research, its followers were poor, mostly Angelo and African Americans, and women have always played a major role.
In the late 1940s, Taylor’s book suggested that various “healing evangelists” began traveling around the country, filling up tents and auditoriums that attracted tens of thousands of people. Some preachers like Oral Roberts were Pentecostal preachers who found their way on television to bring movement from tent to mainstream world.
In the 1950s, Roberts worked with preacher Kenneth Huggin to teach an ideology called the “word of faith” doctrine. The ideas found in doctrines have produced what is known today as the “Gospel of Prosperity.”
5. Does the movement have a broader mission?
Many religious scholars, Christians themselves, also point out that the movement has a spiritual impact on other uses. Leaders aim to have every impact, from popular culture and education to politics. It is the latter field that supernatural movements and other evangelicals have undoubtedly been the most successful.
For example, last week in King Jesus Ministry, Whitekane outlined the vision of a society transformed by Christian ideology, urging his followers to play a role in making it happen.
“You did not fit, you have come to take over. You have moved to your kingdom calling. It threatens those who do not understand God’s Word because their language, their understanding is not like you.
White Kane, one of the most influential voices of charismatic Christianity, was able to bring that ideology into the mainstream, and now head of the newly established White House Faith Office, has become American politics.
“Now our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will split the sky and return,” she said during her sermon. “This is not your home, this is your challenge. And you and I have to reap the harvest.”
The story was created from donors, including the Jewish and Muslim communities in South Florida, including Khalid and Diana Mirza, in partnership with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell, and with journalism fundraising partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editing control of this work.
