Christianity: Details about 'Christian Outreach Centre'
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home
|
Christian Outreach Centre is an international movement of churches founded in 1974 by former Methodist minister Clark Taylor. Taylor launched the first congregation with 25 people in his house in Brisbane, Australia. The meetings were characterised by lively worship, including clapping and dancing, and an emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit. They regularly included "altar calls" in which people would come to the front of the meeting to receive prayer. The church grew radidly over the next few years, moving several times as it outgrew its venues. It gained a reputation for welcoming marginalised people, including the homeless, drug addicts and ex-criminals. By 1977 Christian Outreach Centre numbered over 1000 people, and began planting new congregations in nearby towns. The television programme "A New Way of Living", produced by the church, included many apparent claims of miraculous healing. By 1985, the Brisbane church met in a purpose-built 5000-seat auditorium. By 1988, the movement had grown to 136 congregations, including groups in New Zealand and the Solomon Islands as well as Australia. In 1990, following the resignation of Clark Taylor, Neil Miers was appointed International President. Christian Outreach Centre now numbers over 1000 congragations in over 30 countries worldwide.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||