Early Influence in Nigeria
Franklin Hall was a widely known evangelist who enjoyed considerable influence in the early days of the healing revival in America. His teachings were first introduced into the country around 1973 and, as some of Hall’s books show, these teachings found one of the most fertile grounds in Nigeria. Many Christians on Nigeria’s campuses who embraced Hall’s teachings from his books were unaware of the controversies that trailed his ministry or his isolation from the mainstream of American Pentecostalism. Testimonies from around the world about the impact of Hall’s ministry excited them, and they considered his methods as a pathway to achieve the spiritual power they desperately sought.
Prayer, Fasting and the Quest for Power
They were, however, oblivious to the fact that the buzz was entirely restricted to Hall’s die-hard devotees; not discerning enough, many became prey to Hall’s eerie ideas. One of Hall’s emphases was the use of prayer and fasting as a means of generating spiritual power. Hall advocated prolonged fasts-twenty-one day fasts, forty-day fasts, and above. He preached that during these periods of fast all the negative effects of death could be expelled from one’s body and that therefore one would never fall sick or die.
Many students embraced this teaching with a desire for power more than immortality. Unfortunately, there were recorded cases of very prolonged fasts that resulted in severe health problems and, in a few cases, death. Some of these extreme cases resulted in embarrassing situations for Christian groups and their patrons who were held responsible by parents for leading their wards astray.
Body-Felt Salvation
One of Hall’s more bizarre teachings which became widespread in the country was that the salvation of man’s soul was only half salvation and that for man’s salvation to be complete his body had to be converted, an experience which he termed “body-felt salvation.” According to Hall, this body-felt salvation was capable of shielding a Christian from many natural laws and processes. Thus, anyone who received this would never get physically tired again, would never fall sick again, would be shielded from earthquakes, riots and wars and even overcome physical death.
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Open-Eye Worship and Campus Practices
Hall also preached that it was wrong for believers to close their eyes when worshipping as it could hinder their faith. Christians were supposed to practice what he called “open-eye worship,” approaching God just like they would a friend and saying “Hello Jesus” because God loved it. In line with Hall’s teachings, many students started claiming they could physically see Jesus Christ by anointing their eyes with eye salve according to Revelation 3:18. Also, some students, following Hall’s teachings, began to practice the rapture through specific physical motions. At conferences, and during time of prayer on campuses, students could be seen “jumping up and down, practicing the Rapture, trying to fly.”
Decline of Enthusiasm
Hall’s teachings were at first received with enthusiasm, and many zealously followed his instructions. With time, however, most charismatic groups began to entertain doubts and express concern about Hall. One of the members of the Tuesday group who had been a major advocate of his teachings received a revelation that they were false. He thereafter went from room to room to warn those who believed it to desist. Others received similar revelations. However, these feelings of discontent were limited to a few people as most still followed the teachings up to the time Hall visited Nigeria in July 1975. He held 36 meetings in several parts of the country.
Disillusionment at Mapo Hall
Many of those who attended his meeting at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, were disappointed. Much of the hype that had been generated by his books and reports from his ministry were discovered to be unreal and unfounded. In the words of one of the 137 participants, “the meetings were dry. Many who had been ardent followers of his teachings were disillusioned, and a special meeting was called immediately after the conference to re-examine the teachings. All the key issues were raised, and the brethren were told to go back and search to see if the teachings were in line with the scriptures. From this time, Hall’s teachings were rejected as false, but it had been a bitter experience which many regretted.”
Date: 27th September 2022
Title: Franklin Hall
Source: A Heritage of Faith: A History of Christianity in Nigeria
Author: Ayodeji Abodunde
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