During the first couple of hours at a Todd Bentley service, there's a very real procedure that takes place which whips people up into a frenzy and gets them into what could be described as an altered state of consciousness. Bentley's tools are effective. Like tribal shamans, he uses loud rhythmic sounds, then adds repetitious words and hypnotic music, again and again and again. This continues for long periods until the atmosphere has been created in which the people will accept anything Bentley says or does.
Pastor Gary Osborne described it in his article, "Revival" in Lakeland, Florida:
"The phrase 'stir yourselves up' was used repeatedly ...A woman led in prayer for the service and ...told the people to 'roar like a lion!' ...People everywhere shouted at the top of their lungs ...This same lady was jerking and twitching ...There was also much talk of 'birthing' and 'signs and wonders.' ...People were swaying and dancing ...There was a very sensual spirit...
People seemed to be in a trance all around me. If the worship leader said, 'raise your hands' everyone did so immediately. If he said, 'drop to your knees' they did. ...He tells the people to say to God, 'Intoxicate me, Lord.’ Now the people are getting truly wild and the leader says, 'Scream!!!'...Finally the worship leader falls to the floor himself."
