Word: costas
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...recent years Swaggart has built a surprisingly large and significant following abroad, especially in Latin America. In January he packed the 80,000-seat National Stadium in Santiago, Chile. Last week he wound up a swing through the Central American nations of El Salvador and Costa Rica, and later this year will visit Brazil, Uruguay, Panama and Honduras...
...three-day revival meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica, the 25,000-seat ^ National Stadium overflowed with spectators for each of three meetings. In San Salvador, more than 50,000 people jammed Flor Blanca Stadium for each of Swaggart's three rallies. The free-admission programs presented Swaggart at his spellbinding best, even though the words of the non-Spanish-speaking minister had to be filtered through a translator. At the end of each sermon, thousands came forward to be saved. Typewriter Repairman Juan Pablo Campo, celebrating a previous born-again commitment, noted, "I used to smoke, dance, drink...
...Protestants have increased in number from 12 million to 30 million since 1978. Most of them have joined Evangelical and Pentecostal groups rather than such older mainline denominations as the Presbyterians and Methodists. In El Salvador, Protestants claim 800,000 worshipers, more than double the number in 1980; in Costa Rica, they have increased by one-fifth, to 330,000, since...
While Latin American Catholicism struggles with problems like a serious clergy shortage, the Protestants are amply staffed and funded from the U.S. Swaggart says he has funneled $8 million into El Salvador and Costa Rica alone for welfare and church aid. Says Jesuit Father Jon Sobrino, an exponent of liberation theology: "The sects have taken advantage of the weaknesses of the Catholic Church, and the church doesn't know what to do." Asked to explain his impact across Latin America, Swaggart allows, "Problems, persecution, difficulties -- these have always been catalysts that make people seek God. We put hope in people...
...have cordial relations with all the CentalAmerican governments They have been very criticalof Sandinista abuses," he said. "They have notpublicly supported U.S. aid." The FDN leader citeda Gallup poll showing widespread suppoprt for U.S.aid to the contras in Honduras, Costa Rica, andGuatemala...