New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) / C Peter Wagner network / 7-Mountain Dominionism
Umbrella charismatic-Pentecostal theological-political network systematised by C Peter Wagner (1930-2016) and Cindy Jacobs in the 1990s-2010s. Distinctive doctrines include self-appointed 'apostles' and 'prophets' as restored New Testament offices, 7-Mountain Dominionism (mandate to take over the seven 'mountains' of cultural influence: religion, family, education, government, media, arts, business), and spiritual-warfare territorial-mapping theology. Constituent organisations already in dataset include Bethel Church Redding, IHOPKC, Sean Feucht / Burn 24-7, Lance Wallnau ministries. Strong documented political-theological influence on the 6 January 2021 US Capitol attack.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
+2 for the demonstrated political-theological influence on the 6 January 2021 US Capitol attack, the network's documented self-appointed-apostle-and-prophet structure, and the 7-Mountain Dominionism worldview that has been documented as enabling thought-control across constituent Bethel, IHOP, Sean Feucht, Lance Wallnau congregations.
Profile facts
In context
The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is an umbrella charismatic-Pentecostal theological-political network that took its current form in the 1990s through C Peter Wagner's (1930-2016) systematisation of trends he had observed in the global Pentecostal scene since the 1970s. Wagner — a former Fuller Theological Seminary professor and Donald McGavran's missiologist successor — argued in his 1998 book The New Apostolic Churches that a 'second apostolic age' was emerging, with self-appointed 'apostles' and 'prophets' restoring offices the church had lacked since the post-apostolic period. Wagner co-founded the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (ICAL) in 1999 with Cindy Jacobs and others, providing the original organisational infrastructure for what subsequently became NAR.
Four distinctive NAR doctrines justify the dataset entry. (1) Restored apostles and prophets: self-appointed apostles (Wagner himself, Bill Hamon, Chuck Pierce, Cindy Jacobs, Lance Wallnau, Dutch Sheets, and many others) and prophets exercise authority over local congregations and parachurch organisations that nominally federate under their oversight. (2) 7-Mountain Dominionism: developed by Loren Cunningham (Youth With A Mission) and Bill Bright (Campus Crusade) in 1975, systematised by Wagner and Lance Wallnau in the 2000s, the doctrine teaches that Christians are mandated to take over seven 'mountains' of cultural influence — religion, family, education, government, media, arts, business — before Christ's return. (3) Spiritual-warfare territorial mapping: Wagner's Engaging the Enemy (1991) systematised the practice of identifying 'territorial spirits' associated with geographic regions and conducting 'spiritual mapping' and 'prophetic acts' (e.g. anointing-oil applications to government buildings) to displace them. (4) 'Latter Rain' / 'Joel's Army' eschatology: NAR adopts and modifies the 1940s-50s 'Latter Rain' eschatology, framing contemporary believers as the prophesied end-times army that will bring about Christ's return.
Documented coercive-control patterns are network-wide rather than localised to a single congregation. Constituent NAR-affiliated organisations already documented in this dataset include Bethel Church Redding (Bill Johnson), IHOPKC (Mike Bickle), Sean Feucht's Burn 24-7 / Let Us Worship, Bethel-affiliated Jesus Culture, and Lance Wallnau ministries. Each of these is independently evaluated; the NAR umbrella entry covers the theological-political framework that ties them. Patterns include: (a) loaded language (apostolic authority, prophetic decree, spiritual warfare, breakthrough, dominion); (b) thought-replacement through the 7-Mountain worldview; (c) total identity-replacement through 'prophetic destiny' framing; (d) financial extraction via tithing plus 'seed-faith' offerings; (e) severance from non-NAR family in some constituent congregations.
The political-theological influence on the 6 January 2021 US Capitol attack is the most consequential 2020s development. Matthew D Taylor's The Violent Take It by Force (Broadleaf Books, 2024) systematically documented the prophet-network (Dutch Sheets's 'Give Him 15' podcast, Lance Wallnau's 'Lion of God Decree', Jenny Donnelly, Sean Feucht's appearances) that promoted the 'stolen election' narrative and the 'Jericho Marches' that culminated in the 6 January attack. The Frederick Clarkson / Political Research Associates and Rachel Tabachnick archives provide additional documentation.
The CLCI 26 (High) reflects the network-wide thought-replacement, the documented political-theological radicalisation, and the loaded-language identity-replacement patterns, while remaining below the Extreme threshold reserved for organisations with severance, total information control, and exit-cost enforcement.
Recovery resources
- Pivec & Geivett, 'A New Apostolic Reformation?' resources — Holly Pivec's ongoing NAR documentation and resources
- Political Research Associates — Frederick Clarkson and Rachel Tabachnick's institutional archive
- Religious Trauma Institute — Religious-trauma clinical research
- ICSA — International Cultic Studies Association — NAR archive
See the full curated list at /resources.
Notable public ex-members
- Matthew D Taylor (academic critic)
- Holly Pivec
- Doug Geivett
Legal cases & controversies
- Documented political-theological influence on 6 January 2021 Capitol attack
- Numerous constituent-organisation lawsuits independent of NAR umbrella
Evidence by BITE axis
- Self-appointed 'apostles' and 'prophets' exercising authority over networked congregations
- Spiritual-warfare territorial-mapping practices including 'prophetic acts' at government buildings
- Documented political-theological influence on 6 January 2021 US Capitol attack (Taylor, 2024)
- Network includes Bethel, IHOPKC, Sean Feucht, Lance Wallnau — each with independent BITE profile concerns
- 7-Mountain Dominionism: mandate to take over seven 'mountains' of cultural influence
- 'Joel's Army' / 'Latter Rain' eschatology framing believers as end-times army
- Loaded language: apostolic authority, prophetic decree, breakthrough, dominion, decree
Lifton's 8 criteria of thought reform
Robert Jay Lifton's 1961 framework, complementary to BITE. Criteria this group exhibits according to the cited sources.
- Loaded LanguageThought-terminating clichés and in-group jargon that compress complex ideas into shorthand.
Timeline
- 1975Loren Cunningham (YWAM) and Bill Bright (Campus Crusade) develop original 7-Mountain concept
- 1991C Peter Wagner publishes 'Engaging the Enemy' on spiritual-warfare territorial mapping
- 1998Wagner publishes 'The New Apostolic Churches' systematising the framework
- 1999Wagner and Cindy Jacobs co-found International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (ICAL)
- 2000sNetwork rapidly expands; Bethel, IHOPKC, Sean Feucht, Lance Wallnau emerge as major NAR-aligned ministries
- 2016C Peter Wagner dies
- 2020-2021NAR prophet network promotes 'stolen election' narrative culminating in 6 January 2021 Capitol attack
- 2024Matthew D Taylor's 'The Violent Take It by Force' systematically documents NAR 6 January role
Evidence matrix
Structured sources cross-linked to the claims they document. Tiered per the source hierarchy. For free-text citations see the Sources section below.
Sources
- Matthew D Taylor, 'The Violent Take It by Force' (Broadleaf Books, 2024) search ↗
- Frederick Clarkson, Political Research Associates archive search ↗
- Rachel Tabachnick documentation archive (talk2action.org) open ↗
- Holly Pivec & Doug Geivett, 'A New Apostolic Reformation?' (Lexham, 2014) search ↗
- C Peter Wagner, 'The New Apostolic Churches' (Regal, 1998) — primary doctrinal text search ↗
- André Gagné, 'American Evangelicals for Trump: Dominion, Spiritual Warfare, and the End Times' (Routledge, 2024) search ↗
- Tabachnick & Clarkson, 'The Christian Right Resurgent' Political Research Associates report search ↗
- From Christian Reconstruction to Christian Nationalism: What the Media Need to Know about the 75-Year Effort to Establish Theocracy in the U.S. — Journal of Media and Religion (2024) — https://doi.org/10.1080%2F15348423.2024.2408124 open ↗
- Our man at the top: How the Seven Mountains Mandate and Paul Weyrich’s Last Testament have shaped the presidency of Donald Trump — Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses (2025) — https://doi.org/10.1177%2F00084298251392087 open ↗
- The New Apostolic Reformation: The critical reflections of the ecclesiology of Charles Peter Wagner — https://doi.org/10.4102%2Fhts.v72i3.3240 open ↗
- The Rise of “Independent Network Charismatic” Christianity — The Rise of Network Christianity (2017) — https://doi.org/10.1093%2Facprof%3Aoso%2F9780190635671.003.0001 open ↗
- The militarization of prayer in America: White and Native American spiritual warfare — Journal of Religious and Political Practice (2016) — https://doi.org/10.1080%2F20566093.2016.1085239 open ↗
- Charisma and Faith — To the Ends of the Earth (2013) — https://doi.org/10.1093%2Facprof%3Aoso%2F9780195386431.003.0008 open ↗
- God's Super-Apostles: Encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement — https://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-magazine/2015/a-new-reformation open ↗
- Spirited Things: The Work of 'Possession' in Afro-Atlantic Religions — https://www.academia.edu/44631740 open ↗
- The eschatological worldview of C. Peter Wagner and the New Apostolic Reformation — https://www.academia.edu/104200600 open ↗
- A Leading Figure In The New Apostolic Reformation (Interview of C. Peter Wagner) — https://www.npr.org/2011/10/03/140946482/apostolic-leader-weighs-religions-role-in-politics open ↗
- The Product — The Rise of Network Christianity (2017) — https://doi.org/10.1093%2Facprof%3Aoso%2F9780190635671.003.0004 open ↗
- Meet the New Apostolic Reformation, cutting edge of the Christian right — https://www.salon.com/2024/01/02/meet-the-new-apostolic-reformation-cutting-edge-of-the-christian-right/ open ↗
- In existential midterm races, Christian prophets become GOP surrogates — https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2022/11/05/lance-wallnau-mastriano-christian-prophets/ open ↗
- Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying to Sway the Election and Change the Country — https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-ziklag-secret-christian-charity-2024-election open ↗
- Speaker Johnson's close ties to Christian right — both mainstream and fringe — https://www.npr.org/2023/11/15/1211536399/speaker-johnson-christian-nationalism-evangelical open ↗
- The Radical Evangelicals Who Helped Push Jan. 6 to Wage War on "Demonic Influence — https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/01/january-6-insurrection-mike-johnson-evangelical-christian-apostolic-reformation.html open ↗
- Another Provocative Flag Was Flown at Another Alito Home — https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/22/us/justice-alito-flag-appeal-to-heaven.html open ↗
- The Woman Who Bought a Mountain for God — https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/06/christian-movement-new-apostolic-reformation-politics-trump/674320/ open ↗
- The Problem of Marjorie Taylor Greene — https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/17/magazine/marjorie-taylor-greene.html open ↗
- Speaker Mike Johnson says separation of church and state is a 'misnomer — https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/speaker-mike-johnson-says-separation-church-state-misnomer-rcna125181 open ↗
- GOP Rep. Boebert: 'I'm tired of this separation of church and state junk — https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/28/lauren-boebert-church-state-colorado/ open ↗
- The Problem of the Christian Assassin — https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/opinion/minnesota-killings-boelter.html open ↗
- The Evangelicals Engaged In Spiritual Warfare (Interview of Rachel Tabachnick) — https://www.npr.org/transcripts/139781021 open ↗
- The Desecrations of Michael Flynn — https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/10/michael-flynn-maga-christian-trump/671852/ open ↗
- Mike Johnson Has Ties to a Christian Movement That Played a Key Role in Spreading Trump's Big Lie — https://www.motherjones.com/mojo-wire/2023/11/mike-johnson-big-lie-trump-election-denial-new-apostolic-reformation/ open ↗
- Breakaway believers warn PC party of 'Dominionist' religious movement — https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/dominionist-religious-movement-christian-conservatism-1.6916154 open ↗
- How a miracle-obsessed megachurch conquered a California city — https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/how-bethel-megachurch-conquered-redding-18170873.php open ↗
- The Rise of the New Apostolic Reformation and its Implication for Adventist Eschatology — https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/church-history-pubs/25/?utm_source=digitalcommons.andrews.edu/church-history-pubs/25&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages open ↗
- Chapter Five. The self-understanding of the spiritual mapping movement — Spiritual Mapping in the United States and Argentina, 1989-2005: A Geography of Fear (2009) — https://doi.org/10.1163%2Fej.9789004170469.i-370.38 open ↗
- Trump allies warn of 'demonic territory,' 'Satanic portal' over Biden WH — https://www.newsweek.com/trump-allies-warn-demonic-territory-satanic-portal-over-biden-wh-1706705 open ↗
- The ReAwaken America Tour unites conservative Christians and conspiracy theorists — https://www.npr.org/2022/11/02/1133477897/reawaken-america-brings-together-some-of-the-u-s-most-prolific-conspiracy-theori open ↗
- Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies 'distorting Christianity — https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/14/roger-stone-michael-flynn-distorting-christianity-reawaken-america open ↗
- Vance Appears at Event of Evangelical Leader Who Spoke of Harris's 'Witchcraft — https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/28/us/politics/vance-lance-wallnau-witchcraft.html open ↗
- Inside the Christian TV show rallying Trump superfans with apocalyptic warnings — https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/flashpoint-trump-republican-christian-tv-show-rcna150303 open ↗
- Christian Demonology in Contemporary American Popular Culture — Social Research: An International Quarterly (2014) — https://doi.org/10.1353%2Fsor.2014.0054 open ↗
- From Republican Party to Republican Religion: The New Political Evangelists of the Right — Political Theology (2012) — https://doi.org/10.1558%2Fpoth.v13i5.634 open ↗
- America's Own Taliban — http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/07/20117259426336524.html open ↗
- She's a Prophet. She's a Theocrat. She's the Most Powerful Lobbyist You've Never Heard Of — https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/08/abby-abildness-lobbyist/ open ↗
- Pentecostal leaders slam Christian nationalism, NAR beliefs — https://www.newsweek.com/pentecostal-leaders-disavow-christian-nationalism-stark-statement-1753287 open ↗
- One Man's Foray Into the Heartland of the Far Right — https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/books/review/the-undertow-jeff-sharlet.html open ↗
- Michael Flynn's ReAwaken roadshow recruits 'Army of God — https://apnews.com/article/reawaken-america-tour-michael-flynn-910e83b515185751be82868b227ca22e open ↗
- Full-Time Faculty - Mark Clatterbuck — https://www.montclair.edu/religion/faculty-and-staff/#:~:text=Mark%20Clatterbuck%2C%20associate%20professor%2C%20received,of%20religion%20and%20environmental%20justice open ↗
- American Evangelicals for Trump (2023) — https://doi.org/10.4324%2F9781003358718 open ↗
- The Evangelicals Engaged In Spiritual Warfare — https://www.npr.org/2011/08/24/139781021/the-evangelicals-engaged-in-spiritual-warfare open ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Where a source includes its own URL, the open ↗ link opens it directly; otherwise search ↗ runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
Change history
Substantive edits logged per the score-updates policy.
- 2026-05-20Score band scheme migrated from 4 bands to 5 (Minimal 0–5 / Low 6–12 / Moderate 13–20 / High 21–30 / Extreme 31–40). No CLCI value changed; the new Minimal band was carved out of the bottom of the previous Low band.
Key terms in this profile
Relevant hubs
Curated entry points on CLCI Hub for situations connected to this group.
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Frequently asked questions
Q.Is New Apostolic Reformation a cult?
CLCI Hub deliberately avoids the binary label "cult." Instead it places groups on a transparent 0–40 spectrum of documented control using Steven Hassan's BITE model (Behaviour, Information, Thought, Emotional). New Apostolic Reformation scores 26 out of 40 — "High Control", at high confidence. The score describes documented control patterns, not a judgement of members' sincerity or beliefs; many members do not personally experience the patterns listed.
Q.What is New Apostolic Reformation's CLCI score?
New Apostolic Reformation scores 26 out of 40 on the Cult-Like Control Index, which falls in the "High" band. That total is the sum of four BITE axes — Behaviour 5, Information 6, Thought 7, Emotional 6 — plus a signed modifier of +2 for aggravating or mitigating factors.
Q.Why does New Apostolic Reformation score 26 on the CLCI?
The score reflects publicly documented patterns including: Self-appointed 'apostles' and 'prophets' exercising authority over networked congregations; 7-Mountain Dominionism: mandate to take over seven 'mountains' of cultural influence; Spiritual-warfare territorial-mapping practices including 'prophetic acts' at government buildings; Documented political-theological influence on 6 January 2021 US Capitol attack (Taylor, 2024). These map onto the BITE axes of behaviour, information, thought, and emotional control, and a signed modifier of +2 is applied for factors such as financial demands, leadership accountability, and exit costs. Every claim is backed by the citations in the Sources section on this page.
Q.How reliable is the New Apostolic Reformation rating?
This profile is rated High confidence. High confidence means the score is backed by court records, academic work, and/or sustained investigative journalism. CLCI scores are not fixed — they are revised whenever new public evidence appears, and groups that reform can score lower over time.
Q.Where can I get help regarding New Apostolic Reformation?
If you or someone you care about is affected by New Apostolic Reformation, start with the Recovery resources listed on this page. General cult-aware support is available from the International Cultic Studies Association (icsahome.com) and the Freedom of Mind Resource Center (freedomofmind.com). CLCI Hub is an educational resource, not a crisis service — if anyone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
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