I love the history of God’s movements. It stirs my heart and creates a hunger to see God move in power again in my lifetime. I have read many revival history books and so many stories of the men and women God has used in profound ways. The one thing that I have noticed consistently is that those men and women God chose to use and pour his Spirit and power on were messy and broken people. Some of them finished well, and others didn’t. We know that is a consistent theme throughout the whole Bible. God isn’t afraid of our humanity. Instead he partners with messy humans to see his Kingdom expand. Does our sin and brokenness affect his plan? Yes and no. Certainly there are grave consequences, and we see that played out in the Scriptures. Yet God’s Kingdom keeps moving forward. Take the person of King David. He was a man after God’s own heart. 1 Kings 15.5 says, “For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life -- except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.” David was faithful and yet committed a gross sin of adultry and murder. There were severe consequences for his family, and yet his family brought forth the Messiah.
Lonnie Frisbee certainly fits into this category of men and women -- messy and broken, yet used powerfully by God. As a young man, he looked for “religious experiences” by using LSD. But while tripped out on the drug in the late 60s, he saw a vision from God and surrendered his life to him. After his incredible conversion, he was used greatly by God in the late 60s and through the 70s. He was a very unusual guy. He grew his hair long to look like Jesus, and he would wear unusual clothing.
During his ministry, he met a preacher named Chuck Smith, who was starting a small church called Calvary Chapel. Before Lonnie came to his church, there wasn’t much movement of the Spirit, but when they partnered, Lonnie began teaching regularly on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Many hippies came to the church, and a movement was started. He also had a direct influence on Greg Laurie, who has gone on to have a huge mega church and an influential ministry.
After his time at Calvary, which had a messy ending, Lonnie traveled the world and had a powerful ministry, especially in South Africa. After his world travels, he met John Wimber and came alongside his ministry.
John Wimber led the Vineyard Movement for many years and taught concepts that changed the way Christians think about the Kingdom of God, two of which had great impact. First, John demonstrated how the gifts of the Spirit work. He taught that all believers could proclaim and demonstrate the Kingdom. He taught people to hear God, give prophetic words, and pray for the sick to be healed. This affected Sam McVay, who leads Disciple Nations and many other leaders in different movements. Sam would say that John taught him how to be a good Bible man, but to also see the Spirit move.
Second, the Vineyard has had an amazing worship movement. During our college days, the top songs we all sang were from the Vineyard. The songs were sung all over the world and had a big influence on the modern worship movement.
But a huge catalyst of the Vineyard movement was Lonnie Frisbee. On Mother’s Day in 1980, John asked Lonnie to share his testimony, and then Lonnie led some ministry time. He simply said, “Holy Spirit come,” and the Holy Spirit fell on the room, and the power of God was manifested in many. It was the beginning of the Vineyard operating in a new level of power and anointing.
It was all from a broken man. While I believe Lonnie tried his best to be faithful to Jesus, he could never totally heal from his past. He died from AIDS in 1993.
Why do I share all of this?
First, I am praying 40 years later that God would again release the Spirit in power. Our country desperately needs a move of God. I am praying every day for the Spirit to come again and release his power on his people.
Second, I am grateful the Lord uses messy individuals. While it’s not an excuse to stay in our sin, we are called to walk in holiness. But praise God that the Lord Jesus continually forgives us and wants to use those who have broken pasts to do great things in the Kingdom.
Below is a picture of Lonnie and Chuck Smith at a baptism as well as a picture taken recently at the same location from Greg Laurie’s church.
I’ve also included a link to a YouTube video of John Wimber describing that Mother’s Day evening.
Here is a documentary where I learned more about Lonnie’s life and also a book that he wrote.
Biography
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