Introduction

CHAIRMAN:

Good evening, everyone. And allow me to introduce to you our speakers for our debate concerning, “Are the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit possessed today?” On my left (on your right), the pastor of the Praise Temple in Raleigh North Carolina, Marie D Battle, and on my right is Duncan Heaster from Vilnius, Lithuania. I suspect he’s probably not originally from Lithuania but we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. He kind of has an English accent, but we won’t hold that against him too much.

I would like to explain the format to you this evening, so that you’ll understand how this debate will be carried out. We will allot 25 minutes to Duncan to begin with, to deny the proposition. We will then allow Marie 25 minutes to affirm the position (or the proposition). We will then have a 5-minute break. After that break, we will have a 10-minute rebuttal by Duncan and then a 10-minute rebuttal by Marie. After that we will have 10 minutes of question & answer by each of the speakers, Duncan and Marie. We will alternate questions for a total period of 20 minutes. Now if you’ll notice, there are boxes on each side of the stage. If you have a question for either Duncan or Marie, please write that question down and put it in the appropriate box. Of course, the question for Duncan over here (points to Duncan’s box), a question for Marie over here (points to Marie’s box). And I will sort through those and make sure they get the questions and they’ll have the opportunity to look them over and answer. To finish, we will allow each of the debaters 5 minutes of summary; Duncan going first, and then we’ll let Marie have the last word.

I have a handy little timer here, and we’re going to hold very strictly to the time limits. About 2 minutes before the time is up I will signal to each of the speakers that they have about 2 minutes before the time is up. So with that in mind, let us know (staying seated) let’s bow our heads in prayer and offer the Father’s blessing on this evening.

PRAYER

Our most righteous and eternal heavenly Father, hallowed be they name. Heavenly Father we approach thy throne of mercy to offer unto Thee all thanksgiving, praise, honor and glory. Heavenly Father, we pray that Thou would look down upon this evening, that Thou would bless it, that Thou would give us all respectful and reverent hearts before Thee. That the things that we do and say here this evening would redound to thine honor and Thy glory. We pray, as always, for Thy Kingdom to soon come, and Thy will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. For we ask our prayers and give Thee all thanksgiving and praise through the name of Thy son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Now what we will do because of the situation with the microphone, is I will let Marie have the microphone from here, and she will address you seated. And with that we’ll call upon Duncan to start us off.