I’m at my parents house in South Carolina waiting to return to my wife tomorrow. We just returned from being in Lakeland, FL at the healing outpouring for 3 days. I’m still processing what I experienced, but I will offer some of my thoughts, however random they might be.

Todd Bentley, from what I witnessed, is a genuine man of God who is of godly character, sound doctrine, and a mighty hunger for God. While his ministry style didn’t always make me comfortable, I didn’t feel that he was trying to manipulate people or drawing attention to himself. I felt that he has a great compassion for people and a desire to see God be glorified. Any “hype” is probably his way of stirring up faith and hunger in people and not exhibitionism.

I saw genuine miracles. He reported that there have been 20 people raised from the dead in connection with the outpouring. He actually retracted one report because they discovered that it was bogus. While we were there, we witnessed people having deaf ears opened, being freed from chronic pain, and coming out of wheelchairs. One man testified that he was on the verge of suicide because of pain from cancer in his body. His friend flew him down to Lakeland and he was free from pain. Seeing God rescue this single father of two was truly miraculous.

The funny thing about miracles is that you really have to believe the people when they say that their back hurts or whatever. Tears in the eyes, friends with the healed on stage, and empty wheelchairs and abandoned hearing-aids definitely help you to believe in the healings. Yet the fact remains that skeptics will always find a way to not believe.

As the revival is being broadcast on GodTV in 213 countries and on the Internet every night, I think it is going to impact more people than any other revival to date. Those who cannot come for whatever reason are able to experience it through media. The remarkable thing is that many have been healed by watching on the Internet.

There is a lot of talk about this being the beginning of the end-time healing revival that will touch the ends of the earth. While I believe that this is true, I believe that we have many years ahead of us. While many were healed on stage, there were more who were not healed. This isn’t a negative on the revival, but a reality check to see that what is happening in Lakeland is only a little power.

I am grateful and awed by what is happening, but I am hungry for more. The trip has given me confidence that what is happening in Lakeland is real and it is from God. But I am also emboldened to see that the ministry of intercession is pivotal for birthing moves of God that will increase in power and expression. I feel renewed to believe for great things in my city and in my day.