Missouri revival pairs traditional with 'cutting edge,' upsetting some and inspiring others. Evangelist Wayne Neal's sermons mix the elements one would expect of a Holy Ghost Pentecostal revival, but the Southern Baptist church setting is raising eyebrows in Marshfield, Missouri, and beyond. Neal hops and skips across the platform at Calvary Baptist Church in the small town near Springfield. He paces the center aisle while telling a story. Sometimes Neal speaks in tongues.
Children dance joyfully near the platform.
The focus of the New Testament is on Jesus. Despite criticism, Hicks and Neal say their cooperation is biblical. Fellowship Withdrawn Hicks believes prayer is a key to the church's growth and revival. Children are also important members of the prayer team, and they worship with intensity. A recent Tuesday-night service lasted a typical three hours, starting with extended worship, shifting to testimonies from the congregants, preaching by Neal, more worship, and ministry time that included several attendees falling over.