All Things Are Possible: The Healing and Charismatic Revivals in Modern America

by David Edwin Harrell Jr.

“The first book to tell the story of the enterprisers who have personal followings . . . a missing link in the chain of American religious movements.”—Martin E. Marty, author of October 31, 1517: Martin Luther and the Day that Changed the World   Written by a Professor Emeritus at Auburn University, this is the first objective history of the great revivals that swept the country after World War II. It tells the story of the victories and defeats of such giants of the revival as William Branham, Oral Roberts, Jack Coe, T. L. Osborn, and A. A. Allen. It also tells of the powerful evangelists who carried on the revival, including Robert Schambach and Morris Cerullo. Those who lived through the great revivals of the 1950s and 1960s will be thrilled to read about those exciting days, and those interested in the religious history of the United States need to read this book to see what has led us up to this present moment in time.   “Harrell has obviously attended countless rallies, read sheafs of literature, and personally interviewed many of the principals. He . . . tell[s] the story in a largely biographical format. This makes for lively reading.”—The New York Times Book Review   “A book about healing revivalists that takes them seriously and treats them fairly.”—Journal of Southern History   “Will be a definitive work for some years to come.”—Reviews in American History   “Will attract readers interested in the reasons behind the various fat and lean periods among revivalists.”—Publishers Weekly   “Harrell’s book will doubtless be the definitive work on the subject for a long while—who else will wade through Healing Waters and Miracle Magazine with such fastidious care?”—Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Church History, Religion, Christian, Biography, History, Theology, Christianity

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1975

About the author

Breeden Eminent Scholar in the Humanities David Edwin Harrell, Jr., Auburn University.

Reviews

[RANGER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant history of the healing, signs and wonders revival in mid-20th Century America; a pleasure and an inspiration to read
I recently re-read this book for about the fifth time having first read it when I went into ministry back in the mid-90s. It inspired me then and still does all though this is not an "inspirational" book per se. It's a "warts and all" history, eminently readable and extremely well-researched, of the post-WWII healing revival and the tent evangelists that set the pace. The author, David Edwin Harrell, Jr., is a church historian and academician with a Church of Christ background. Theologically this could have put him at odds with the Pentecostal nature of the revival. Maybe even make him hostile. But I find his writing style to be thoroughly objective. He is not out to prove or disprove anything but to tell the story of the revival. So he never denies that miracles occurred. Yet he is also unafraid to tackle the human shortcomings, errors, flaws, frauds and questionable practices that gave the revival so much negative publicity. The revivalists were men, after all, with personality quirks, character flaws, egos and issues. As a Christian, I found this aspect of the book to be very inspiring. God, after all, uses imperfect men to fulfill His perfect plan. The Bible warns believers over and over again in the prophets, in the Gospels and in the epistles that deceivers and false shepherds are a part of the spiritual landscape of a fallen world. We are not to be deceived but to test every spirit. But we are also to recognize that "men of God" are still men, with fallen natures, struggling to have faith to believe that "all things are possible" when we put our faith in God. Again, this is not a "Christian" book, it's a secular history, written by an academic. And it is a very fine history indeed. Highly recommended for those who study religion and the Church. An unbeliever could read this without feeling like he is reading a lengthy evangelical tract... because this is a secular history of a religious movement characterized by spiritual, physical and psychological manifestations. Believers will call them miracles, that's all. The church history in this book has become lost to the modern church (It's hard to believe now but people like William Branham, A.A. Allen, Jack Coe and Oral Roberts were once household names. At least religious households. And on television!). That is unfortunate because the current religious environment in America was shaped by the men and women of this movement, for good or for bad. For this reason alone, serious students of American cultural, social and religious history should seek this one out and read it. Over and over again. Like me. Highly, highly recommended.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

An attempt at an unbiased record of the Pentecostal revivals of (mostly) the 1950s thru the early 1970s. Interesting and non-judgmental.

[David Blankenship · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been longer and shorter at the same time. Longer in that I wanted more detail on some of the leading evangelists and more insight on what was the mindset of the crowds and why the crowds diminished after 1958. But it could have been shorter, in that many entries of minor evangelists were unnecessary. Also interesting to see some names that still are popular 40 years after this was written such as Joel Osteen's father and Jimmy Swaggert.

[Walk By Faith Dave J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative...a great read...

Interesting to see that inspite of all the flaws we have, God still loves us so. So many great men and women of God from various backgrounds, with many frailties yet, the anointing changed them into a different person. Jesus will judge each and everyone of us individually as believers. Our works will be tested by His judgement and whether or not it's valuable or wasted, we shall know.

[A.J. Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well researched and written book on a fascinating subject and period in American religious history. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject.

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Harrell's book because John Wimber recommended it in the bibliography of his Signs and Wonders and Church Growth Course. The course was famously taught back in the 80's at Fuller Seminary School of Mission, it helped stirred the beginnings of the Third Wave Movement. Though Harrell believes that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased with the apostolic age (Church of Christ member), he objectively recounts the famous healers, their ministries, the miracles and the struggles of the post World War Two healing movement. The book focuses primarily on the lives of Oral Roberts and William Branham, the two most prominent Pentecostal healers of their day, but others are discussed as well. Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders today would do well to read Harrell's account, we would gain many insights from the successes and failures of the past.

[Michael Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview of the Christian healing and Charismatic revivals in America covering 1947-1974. The work covers the early traveling tent meeting pioneers; included are such well-known evangelists as Oral Roberts, Jack Coe, A.A. Allen and Morris Cerullo - and many others. A fascinating, balanced portrayal.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book from a secular perspective honest and accurate.