‘School of Supernatural Ministry’ Booming in Australia Despite Hoax Claims

California based Evangelist Bill Johnson is bringing miracles to Australia

Each week, a number of “Supernatural Ministry” schools scattered throughout Australia offer training in everything from healing the sick to raising the dead, and with clients church-goers paying up to $720 a pop, education in supernatural healing is big business.

But US evangalist Bill Johnson of Bethel Church, based out of California, already knows this, which is why he came to Australia in the first place.

Johnson, who has claimed to see gold dust and angel wings falling from the ceiling of a church in a direct sign from God, targeted Australia in recent years as a community ripe for the picking God’s love, after coming under fire in his own country for what other theologians and skeptics called unethical sale of “miracles” which could not be proven.

That hasn’t deterred believers from flocking in the hundreds (1800 a week, in fact) to the Nexus Church, in Brisbane, for courses on  supernatural healing, including one aimed specifically at children in the 9-12 year old age range. They declined to comment on the story for reporters.

Greg Muller, a pastor from Fernvale Community Church, pulls in $300 from each of the 50 students taking the courses, but told the Courier-Mail that he doesn’t offer any guarantees because, “everybody’s walk with God is different.” He followed up with, “certainly, we’ve seen miracles take place,” before launching into a story about God healing a young boy without nasal passages before his very eyes.

“It’s just a miracle. There’s no medical explanation . . . it’s just a short prayer and God does it,” he said.

Despite the lack of guarantees, and an apparent lack of miracles (at least when reporters are present), attendance at the supernatural schools shows no signs of slowing down, the flood-battered communities of Queensland proving eager consumers for miracle peddling preachers.

For California’s Bill Johnson, who’s ministry sells other churches their branded “Supernatural School of Ministry” training DVDs for $7000 per church, business is good.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is currently reviewing the courses for possible breaches of consumer protection laws.

For more on the “supernatural ministry” trend sweeping Australia, including a heart wrenching visit to one of the actual healing sessions, visit The Courier-Mail.

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