Chester Hensley

[stasis]

Chester Hensley is a folk legend among some people.

I hear tales of many miraculous things happening during his ministry. I've even heard it said that he was able to move the sun across the sky and direct the wind with his fingers. I guess some people actually believe these things, despite the fact that if the sun moved out of place a decimal of a degree everything on earth would be destroyed, let alone the actual concept that God would give someone the ability to jerk the sun around (or the Earth) just for kicks on a Tuesday afternoon in the park or something. I mean, it sounds like Elisha had nothing on this guy.

I understand that when Chester Hensley died (in a car accident, or of cancer... I've heard two different stories), his congregation placed his casket within a hexagram, aka 'star of david' or 'seal of solomon', and hoped he would rise from the dead. He didn't.

For a while it seems some people regarded him as a kind of Pentecostal or Charismatic super-saint after he died... Like William Branham, I suppose. Everyone thought they inherited his ministry, or had been passed 'the mantle'. In fact, I think some preachers in the SE Texas area still believe they are the 'chosen one'. I never knew the man personally. He may have been a pleasant person, but it sounds like the stories of his ministry have become more and more distorted over time after his death. I mean, I hear all kinds of fantastic tales... gigantic fireballs flying out of baptistries and floating around the auditorium... Thousands of people being miraculously healed of diseases, ditch water miraculously turning into gasoline (instead of wine) to fill an empty fuel tank.

I personally would have liked to see a quadraplegic suddenly grow four new limbs, but I tend to doubt that happened. I mean, God can do anything he wants, but i'll have a healthy skepticism regarding the tales I've heard.

I also heard a person who was a member of Chester's church say that one of the seals of Revelation were opened during one of his church services... The Sixth Seal, I believe. Which is odd, because I thought only the lamb was worthy to open the seals. Perhaps the lamb decided to announce it's opening one night or something... sounds sort of like a grand-opening ceremony where someone cuts a ribbon with a gigantic pair of scissors, only probably with lots of freaky yelling and such.

It's funny how you always hear of such amazing miracles from other people who heard it from someone else who heard it from someone else. EG "Brother so-and-so went on a missionary trip to the Congo and raised someone from the dead!" Not that I don't believe miracles can happen. Obviously God can do anything he wants to do.

I also heard that in his latter days Chester was on a 'Nazarite Fast', and wouldn't shave. Someone named Randy Clark reportedly lambasted him about this quite a bit. Of course, Randy Clark also married a lady who was trinitarian (her name is Renee, they're still married.), and Chester wasn't too big on trinitarians, so he prophesied that this marriage would destroy Randy's 'ministry'. Randy Clark now runs a big charismatic 'ministry' called Triumph Church in Nederland Texas where he tells people that Jesus wants them to get rich and that Christ's disciples were entrepreneurs. It's like Tony Robbins, but with select bible verses, and lots of people dancing around in tutus and swinging from the ceiling on cables and twirling on the platform. Entertainment factor: 10. I understand lots of Pentecostal churches have since started having younger converts dance on their platforms to enticing music, holding two sticks, swinging them around and making the sign of the cross with them. Perhaps this comes from Randy's approach. I hear at one point in his ministry Chester liked to make grand entrances, wearing white robes with spot-lamps shining on him (I thought we were supposed to receive our robes when we die.. you know... 'he who endureth to the end'). Maybe Randy Clark got his inspiration for dramatic performances from the case of Chester's robed entrance.

Then there is the other guy who was (might still be) having church in Chester's old building. Don't know much about him. 'The Ark'. I think the named changed though... might be wrong. All I know is he says another guy named Gary Armagh is his enemy. Gary Armagh was also thought to 'bear the mantle' of Chester Hensley. Gary Armagh ran a church called World Apostolic Revival which is no more. He hooked up with a woman in his congregation and got a divorce. That tends to degrade one's reputation in 'ministry'.

Overall, it seems some people tend to be more interested in sensationalism, signs and wonders than bearing their cross and living for God.

Perhaps Benny Hinn inherited the mantle.

Originally Posted by stasis

Chester Hensley is a folk legend among some people.

I hear tales of many miraculous things happening during his ministry. I've even heard it said that he was able to move the sun across the sky and direct the wind with his fingers. I guess some people actually believe these things, despite the fact that if the sun moved out of place a decimal of a degree everything on earth would be destroyed, let alone the actual concept that God would give someone the ability to jerk the sun around (or the Earth) just for kicks on a Tuesday afternoon in the park or something. I mean, it sounds like Elisha had nothing on this guy.

I understand that when Chester Hensley died (in a car accident, or of cancer... I've heard two different stories), his congregation placed his casket within a hexagram, aka 'star of david' or 'seal of solomon', and hoped he would rise from the dead. He didn't.

For a while it seems some people regarded him as a kind of Pentecostal or Charismatic super-saint after he died... Like William Branham, I suppose. Everyone thought they inherited his ministry, or had been passed 'the mantle'. In fact, I think some preachers in the SE Texas area still believe they are the 'chosen one'. I never knew the man personally. He may have been a pleasant person, but it sounds like the stories of his ministry have become more and more distorted over time after his death. I mean, I hear all kinds of fantastic tales... gigantic fireballs flying out of baptistries and floating around the auditorium... Thousands of people being miraculously healed of diseases, ditch water miraculously turning into gasoline (instead of wine) to fill an empty fuel tank.

I personally would have liked to see a quadraplegic suddenly grow four new limbs, but I tend to doubt that happened. I mean, God can do anything he wants, but i'll have a healthy skepticism regarding the tales I've heard.

I also heard a person who was a member of Chester's church say that one of the seals of Revelation were opened during one of his church services... The Sixth Seal, I believe. Which is odd, because I thought only the lamb was worthy to open the seals. Perhaps the lamb decided to announce it's opening one night or something... sounds sort of like a grand-opening ceremony where someone cuts a ribbon with a gigantic pair of scissors, only probably with lots of freaky yelling and such.

It's funny how you always hear of such amazing miracles from other people who heard it from someone else who heard it from someone else. EG "Brother so-and-so went on a missionary trip to the Congo and raised someone from the dead!" Not that I don't believe miracles can happen. Obviously God can do anything he wants to do.

I also heard that in his latter days Chester was on a 'Nazarite Fast', and wouldn't shave. Someone named Randy Clark reportedly lambasted him about this quite a bit. Of course, Randy Clark also married a lady who was trinitarian (her name is Renee, they're still married.), and Chester wasn't too big on trinitarians, so he prophesied that this marriage would destroy Randy's 'ministry'. Randy Clark now runs a big charismatic 'ministry' called Triumph Church in Nederland Texas where he tells people that Jesus wants them to get rich and that Christ's disciples were entrepreneurs. It's like Tony Robbins, but with select bible verses, and lots of people dancing around in tutus and swinging from the ceiling on cables and twirling on the platform. Entertainment factor: 10. I understand lots of Pentecostal churches have since started having younger converts dance on their platforms to enticing music, holding two sticks, swinging them around and making the sign of the cross with them. Perhaps this comes from Randy's approach. I hear at one point in his ministry Chester liked to make grand entrances, wearing white robes with spot-lamps shining on him (I thought we were supposed to receive our robes when we die.. you know... 'he who endureth to the end'). Maybe Randy Clark got his inspiration for dramatic performances from the case of Chester's robed entrance.

Then there is the other guy who was (might still be) having church in Chester's old building. Don't know much about him. 'The Ark'. I think the named changed though... might be wrong. All I know is he says another guy named Gary Armagh is his enemy. Gary Armagh was also thought to 'bear the mantle' of Chester Hensley. Gary Armagh ran a church called World Apostolic Revival which is no more. He hooked up with a woman in his congregation and got a divorce. That tends to degrade one's reputation in 'ministry'.

Overall, it seems some people tend to be more interested in sensationalism, signs and wonders than bearing their cross and living for God.

Perhaps Benny Hinn inherited the mantle.

Only one problem with this story... the girl that Randy Clark married, Renee... was in the UPC she was not Trinitarian.. she was from Vicksburg, MS

[stasis]

Originally Posted by Dr. Vaughn

Only one problem with this story... the girl that Randy Clark married, Renee... was in the UPC she was not Trinitarian.. she was from Vicksburg, MS

I had actually heard she was Trinitarian, and about the supposed 'prophecy' from people who were once fairly close to Chester Hensley. Even so, I stand corrected. Thanks for the clarification.

[Steve Epley]

I passed by the old church last week.

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I passed by the old church last week.

Elder, you do a lot of "Passing" lol.. you must be a travelling man

[jbigg]

Originally Posted by stasis

Chester Hensley is a folk legend among some people.

I hear tales of many miraculous things happening during his ministry. I've even heard it said that he was able to move the sun across the sky and direct the wind with his fingers. I guess some people actually believe these things, despite the fact that if the sun moved out of place a decimal of a degree everything on earth would be destroyed, let alone the actual concept that God would give someone the ability to jerk the sun around (or the Earth) just for kicks on a Tuesday afternoon in the park or something. I mean, it sounds like Elisha had nothing on this guy.

I understand that when Chester Hensley died (in a car accident, or of cancer... I've heard two different stories), his congregation placed his casket within a hexagram, aka 'star of david' or 'seal of solomon', and hoped he would rise from the dead. He didn't.

For a while it seems some people regarded him as a kind of Pentecostal or Charismatic super-saint after he died... Like William Branham, I suppose. Everyone thought they inherited his ministry, or had been passed 'the mantle'. In fact, I think some preachers in the SE Texas area still believe they are the 'chosen one'. I never knew the man personally. He may have been a pleasant person, but it sounds like the stories of his ministry have become more and more distorted over time after his death. I mean, I hear all kinds of fantastic tales... gigantic fireballs flying out of baptistries and floating around the auditorium... Thousands of people being miraculously healed of diseases, ditch water miraculously turning into gasoline (instead of wine) to fill an empty fuel tank.

I personally would have liked to see a quadraplegic suddenly grow four new limbs, but I tend to doubt that happened. I mean, God can do anything he wants, but i'll have a healthy skepticism regarding the tales I've heard.

I also heard a person who was a member of Chester's church say that one of the seals of Revelation were opened during one of his church services... The Sixth Seal, I believe. Which is odd, because I thought only the lamb was worthy to open the seals. Perhaps the lamb decided to announce it's opening one night or something... sounds sort of like a grand-opening ceremony where someone cuts a ribbon with a gigantic pair of scissors, only probably with lots of freaky yelling and such.

It's funny how you always hear of such amazing miracles from other people who heard it from someone else who heard it from someone else. EG "Brother so-and-so went on a missionary trip to the Congo and raised someone from the dead!" Not that I don't believe miracles can happen. Obviously God can do anything he wants to do.

I also heard that in his latter days Chester was on a 'Nazarite Fast', and wouldn't shave. Someone named Randy Clark reportedly lambasted him about this quite a bit. Of course, Randy Clark also married a lady who was trinitarian (her name is Renee, they're still married.), and Chester wasn't too big on trinitarians, so he prophesied that this marriage would destroy Randy's 'ministry'. Randy Clark now runs a big charismatic 'ministry' called Triumph Church in Nederland Texas where he tells people that Jesus wants them to get rich and that Christ's disciples were entrepreneurs. It's like Tony Robbins, but with select bible verses, and lots of people dancing around in tutus and swinging from the ceiling on cables and twirling on the platform. Entertainment factor: 10. I understand lots of Pentecostal churches have since started having younger converts dance on their platforms to enticing music, holding two sticks, swinging them around and making the sign of the cross with them. Perhaps this comes from Randy's approach. I hear at one point in his ministry Chester liked to make grand entrances, wearing white robes with spot-lamps shining on him (I thought we were supposed to receive our robes when we die.. you know... 'he who endureth to the end'). Maybe Randy Clark got his inspiration for dramatic performances from the case of Chester's robed entrance.

Then there is the other guy who was (might still be) having church in Chester's old building. Don't know much about him. 'The Ark'. I think the named changed though... might be wrong. All I know is he says another guy named Gary Armagh is his enemy. Gary Armagh was also thought to 'bear the mantle' of Chester Hensley. Gary Armagh ran a church called World Apostolic Revival which is no more. He hooked up with a woman in his congregation and got a divorce. That tends to degrade one's reputation in 'ministry'.

Overall, it seems some people tend to be more interested in sensationalism, signs and wonders than bearing their cross and living for God.

Perhaps Benny Hinn inherited the mantle.

You are crazier than most of the stories you've heard.

[stasis]

Originally Posted by jbigg

You are crazier than most of the stories you've heard.

Okay.

[winklebottom]

wow...lots of "stories" and hear-say...I wonder how much is truth. All I know is in the 70's, I saw many recieve the holy ghost in revival. And he kept my attention, which for a teenager that was hard to do!!

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by winklebottom

wow...lots of "stories" and hear-say...I wonder how much is truth. All I know is in the 70's, I saw many recieve the holy ghost in revival. And he kept my attention, which for a teenager that was hard to do!!

Well, you have made your feelings obvious, all that I know is that I saw the results of his ministry in CA, and it was tragic. A lot of lives were destroyed.

[stasis]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

Well, you have made your feelings obvious, all that I know is that I saw the results of his ministry in CA, and it was tragic. A lot of lives were destroyed.

If you have time, I'm interested in hearing what happened in CA.

The reason why is because I'm beginning to find that most of the preachers who associate themselves with the name 'Chester Hensley' are charlatans who teach a lot of false doctrine, and have very shady pasts, and exercise extreme influence over their congregations who follow blindly. Overall some of them are extremely proud individuals who blatantly conflict with the word of God. One in particular even said 'scriptures don't matter', and 'I don't need to read that' when certain doctrines were questioned with the Word of God... of course, the excuse was 'the letter killeth, the spirit giveth life' (a scripture they and most other people don't even understand), basically anything they teach is perfect and they expect everyone to believe 'the spirit revealed it to them', even when it goes against the fullness of scripture.

The general attitude borders on 'Papal Infallibility'.

Long ago I had a very high respect for some of them and believed everything they said, but thankfully I'm beginning to see things the way they really are. Their preaching is a stage performance where they get attention. As you, I've seen a lot of lives destroyed... and I want to understand more about the whole topic because it has affected my life so much.