Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

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We're not like normal teenagers': Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out DEMONS around the world
Brynne Larson, 16, is one of many newly-qualified teenage demon slayers Reverend Bob Larson of Spiritual Freedom Churches runs exorcist school No set protocol for exorcisms but girls carry a Bible, holy water and a cross
By JEFF MAYSH Last updated at 6:37 PM on 11th August 2011 Comments (114) Add to My Stories Share
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The five teenage girls might look like theyre in a normal class, eagerly reading their textbooks and answering their teachers questions diligently. But the textbooks are Bibles and the girls all have crosses instead of protractors, as they train to become exorcists - real exorcists who fight demons, curses and evil spells. People do look a bit surprised when I arrive, admits graduate exorcist Brynne Larson. When people call for an exorcist, they dont picture a 16-year-old high school girl.

Bible and cross: Savannah Shurkenback, 19, left, and Brynne Larson, 16, are two teenage exorcists who fight demons, curses and evil spells

But Brynne, from Phoenix, Arizona, is one of a new breed of qualified teenage demon slayers, who answered a call when the Church made the admission of there being a worldwide exorcist shortage.

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Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

But despite drastic efforts, supply has still not met demand for the controversial ceremony. The Vaticans chief exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth, 85, has revealed that he alone has dealt with 70,000 cases of demonic possession. So if the forces of darkness start getting the upper hand, who should you call? Evangelist Reverend Bob Larson of Spiritual Freedom Churches International - and his remarkable school for exorcists. Think of it more of an exorcist franchise, Rev Larson tells MailOnline exclusively. The Church just cant keep up with demand. But I have 100 teams of trained exorcists working all over the world, and outbreaks of demonic possession are getting out of control. Our phone lines are ringing constantly - we receive up to 1,000 individual requests monthly, and we travel to countries like Africa, Ukraine, England and even Australia.

The Church just cant keep up with demand. But I have 100 teams of trained exorcists working all over the world, and outbreaks of demonic possession are getting out of control. Our phone lines are ringing constantly - we receive up to 1,000 individual requests monthly, and we travel to countries like Africa, Ukraine, England and even Australia' Reverend Bob Larson Spiritual Freedom Churches International

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But while his teams include exorcists aged up to 70, one group of his protges are causing waves in the religious community. They are teenage girls. Savannah Scherkenback, 19, and her sister Tess, 16, are Rev Larsons latest graduates from his school for exorcists. We have found that our female, teenage exorcists are particularly effective at curing the possessed, says Rev Larson, whose daughter Brynne is a supernaturally talented exorcist.

Teenage exorcists: Savannah Schurkenback, Jess Shurkenback, Christina Massih, Melanie Massih and Brynne Larson stand brandishing their Bibles and silver crosses

Highly experienced in casting out demons, saving souls, and banishing evil spirits to hell, she is also a student who enjoys styling her hair, shopping and meeting her friends at Starbucks. Those friends include trainee undergraduate exorcists, Melanie Massih, 16, her sister Christina, 15, also students at Rev Larsons exorcist school. They may love hanging out like normal teenagers, but they dont watch TV like the rest of us. I think Harry Potter and Twilight are instigators of evil, Savannah says. They nullify morality and just serve to hook people in with evil. I dont watch any television at all. Im much too busy praying and fighting the devil. And so on a hot Sunday afternoon, inside a modest three-star hotel in the middle of arid Scottsdale, Arizona, the blinds are mysteriously drawn around a small conference hall, and Rev Larson begins todays class.
2.

'FIVE SIGNS OF POSSESSION'

1.

Feeling suicidal/ self harming Many of the demons we encounter encourage people to hurt themselves, says Rev Larson. They can drive you to suicide if theyre not dealt with. Becoming sensitive to religious material 'The possessed will vomit if they go to a church. They will scream if they come into contact with holy water, says Rev Larson. The possessed will reportedly not be able to look at statues of Christ. Harbouring feelings of murder Have you suddenly started to feel

3.

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Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

Our trainee exorcists may look to casual observers more like X Factor contestants than exorcists, but this is a serious matter. The topic is exorcism - the use of prayer to remove the devil or demonic spirits which has its roots in early Christianity, and is described by the church as the act of driving out, or warding off, demons who infest a person or place. Rev Larson is quick to remind his pupils of the tell-tale signs of demonic possession. Speaking a language that the person has never learned, he preaches, having a supernatural strength, having a violent aversion to God, the cross and a hatred of holy water. While exorcisms have been taught and carried out since the start of the Catholic Church, there has never been a greater demand than today, and for the teenage trainees of the Exorcist school, todays class is a matter of life and death. This afternoon, a handwritten sign outside the conference hall reads: Pre-Deliverance Class 4:00pm. Personal ministry by appointment.

intense hatred towards colleagues or even family members? It may be a demon inside of you, says Rev Larson. One of the most common demons is called murder.
4.

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Sickness/ Tiredness Having a demon within you is a tiring game. Sleeplessness, anxiety and headaches are common complaints, along with less subtle symptoms like levitation and a 360-degree spinning head. Speaking in a foreign tongue The possessed have been known to suddenly start speaking in Latin, Spanish, or even Italian, explains Rev Larson. Watch out for a deepening voice too, he says. Ive heard that voice all too often. Its deep and growling.

5.

The Pre-deliverance classes are a beginners lesson, promising everything you need to know about demons and exorcism.

Cross: Evangelist Reverend Bob Larson of Spiritual Freedom Churches International has an exorcist school

The words Satan, Beelzebub, and Lucifer hang in the electrically conditioned air, while the temperature is set to spine-chilling. There are two parts to an exorcism, explains graduate Tess, who clutches an attractive, red leatherbound Bible. Firstly, you must deal with inner healing, to get rid of traumatic experiences from your childhood and beyond, and secondly, deliverance from demons. To do this, the girls are taught curse-breaking: The more experienced exorcists Savannah and Brynne will teach Christina and Melanie how to read from a list of demons, designed to provoke the demon within, when chanted aloud to possessed folk.

I think Harry Potter and Twilight are instigators of evil. They nullify morality and just serve to hook people in with evil. I dont watch any television at all. Im much too busy praying and fighting the devil' Savannah Scherkenback, 19, graduate of Rev Larson's exorcist school

Tess practices reading from the list of curses. Death, she says, ominously, raising an eyebrow to the room. Cancer. She pauses, dramatically. Murder. It is normally after she says murder, that all hell breaks loose, she says. Many belch on hearing the words, or start weeping, she whispers.

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Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

One woman collapsed and started convulsing, while another man started choking once. I remember I felt excited the first time. This is it, I thought to myself. She regains her composure, tosses her beautiful bangs from her face and finishes the reading: I break off that curse of murder. Be gone.

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Armed: Jess Shurkenback, 16, left, and Melanie Massih, 16, want to relieve a worldwide shortage of exorcists

While there is no set protocol for each exorcism, the girls carry with them a basic exorcism tool kit: a Bible, holy water and a cross. Once they reach their possessed person, they will sit them down in a chair, while two strong males hold them down. It can be dangerous, admits Brynne. I have performed exorcisms on 300lbs, 65 men - and they can get violent, she says. Next the girl will begin reading from the Bible. Once they have raised the devil, they will instruct it to leave, and often the spirit wont go quietly. The eyes bulge, the voice becomes a monstrous growl, and then the snarling begins. Its not unusual to be sworn at, spat at, Ive even seen projectile vomit, says Savannah, firmly. Rev Larson has had his fair share of evil demons, he says. Last week, I worked with a Uruguayan man, who had grown up being abused by his evil mother. He had the word cerdo tattooed on his forearm, meaning swine, and he was possessed by a violent demon of murder. The mans mother begged Rev Larson for help. She said: Please help him, before he kills someone. It was a dramatic battle, but we got rid of the pig demon within him.

LETTERS & EMAILS FROM CLIENTS

Below is a selection of genuine calls for help sent to Reverend Bob Larson: My life is a living hell. I practice the occult every night with Lucifer. I signed a pact in my blood and buried it with real human bones. My fingers make the shape of claws. I wake up at night growling. I throw up if I go to church. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!? ('Lori') I grew up in Satanism. I have a multitude of physical and sexual abuse. I want to die. Can you help me? (Name withheld) I have suicidal thoughts and dreams of hurting others. I am fighting something deep within me. Your show forced me to look at the possibility of having a demon inside me.? ('Adam') I have tried to kill myself and have homicidal thoughts. I even made a list of people I want to kill. I really need some answers.? (Laura)

In the last month Rev Larson and his team has rid a wife of an evil curse, after she was cursed by a Nigerian witchdoctor over the Internet that dark demons would attack her in sleep.
More... Saxon church loses congregation for the first time in 1,000 years... after they are driven out by BATS

They also cured a young woman who had been raised in a satanic cult, freeing her of demons who instructed her to commit suicide. And its no surprise Rev Larsons daughter Brynne got into the business. Every day Id come home from work and shed ask: What demons did you find today, Daddy? Brynne began to travel the world with her exorcist father when she just a child, but after years of watching dad performing exorcisms to large crowds at seminars around the world, it wouldnt be long before it was her turn. I performed my first exorcism aged 13, in Africa, on a man possessed by terrible demons, she

There are two parts to an exorcism. Firstly, you must deal with inner

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Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

tells MailOnline. Rev Bob Larson had arrived in deepest Africa to perform an exorcism seminar to a small town rocked with demonic possessions and witchcraft. In a hot, squalid community hall, with a standing room only crowd of 3,000 locals, a volunteer from the village who claimed he was possessed came to the stage.

healing, to get rid of traumatic experiences from your childhood and beyond, and secondly, deliverance from demons' Tess Scherkenback, 16, graduate of Rev Larson's exorcist school

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He was possessed with the demon of murder, says Rev Larson. He screamed the house down when we touched the Bible on his head. It was then that Rev Larson called forward his petite, red-headed daughter from the back of the hall. There was an audible gasp. The man lurched back in his seat at the very sight of Brynne. She took out her Bible, and he screamed and convulsed in agony, like a scene from a horror movie. I shouted: Go to the pits of hell! and the man screamed even louder, she recalls. Then I said: Out! In the name of God! and I cast the demon asunder. As the demon left him, the man burst into grateful tears, and the crowd erupted into cheers. Brynne had finally become an exorcist - and she remembers how she felt: Exhilarated!

Shortage solution: Rev Larson teaches exorcism to teenagers and holds classes at his church

Since then, the schoolgirl has performed many more successful exorcisms, but today admits the most important exorcism she ever performed was on her best friend, when they were both 15. She was complaining of terrible headaches, and had all the symptoms of having demons. Like Megan Fox in Jennifers Body, Brynnes friend was putting up with high school while possessed by evil demons. So Tess and I took her privately, and performed an exorcism. We confronted her demons, and chanted: She is a child of God, before instructing her demons, go to the pit of hell. But theres no script, insists Tess. With my friend, she was getting a reaction from the cursebreaking. You have to leave, I said to the demon, and weirdly, she nodded. It was the demon moving her body. Afterwards, Brynnes friend started crying, claiming she had been relieved of her evil problem. Savannah herself had been exorcised before joining the school. When I was about 18, I was incredibly troubled, says the perfect student, who says she suffered from extreme depression, sickness, and was crippled by bad knees.

CASE STUDY: 'GET UP, "MURDER"!'

Choon Kim attended one of Reverend Bob Larsons seminars for an exorcism. The 33-year-old, who says she was sexually abused by a family friend as a child, explains that demons had tormented her for years. Rage would come out of my being, she says. I hated myself, I was really angry inside me. During her exorcism, she cried in pain, as Rev Larson pressed the Bible onto her forehead. Who are you? Your name? he demanded. Murder,' they say the demon answered. Get up, "murder"! Rev Larson shouted, before renounced the demon - and Choon was cured.

There was something moving around inside of me - I had an awful headache and I felt feel sick to my stomach, she says. But after baffling doctors who could find nothing medically wrong with her, Savannahs Christian

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Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

parents took her to the local ministry. There, home-schooled Savannah was given a deliverance session, where she claims an evil spirit was cast from her. I was relieved I knew the answer, she says, with certainty. I was possessed.

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Protges: Rev Larson's teams include exorcists aged up to 70 - but it's the teenage girls who are causing waves in the religious community

My exorcist called out the names of various curses, and whenever certain curses were mentioned, I felt a tingling around my ankles, and a pain in my head. Suddenly I got pains in my eyes, then boom! My demon was gone. Savannah claims she was so grateful and amazed at the process that she signed up to become a trainee exorcist herself, along with her sister, Tess. Together, they are home- schooled, and live far removed from the corrupt teenage scene of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. A lot of girls my age are into drinking and other pursuits, she admits. Thats just not my path. During a classroom break, Tess reveals, My proudest moment was when I was 14, and I led my own curse-breaking seminar. As I walked around the room with a Bible and oil to anoint the sufferers, I was really nervous as I was only 14, and because this is a really important rite of passage for an exorcist.

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People do look a bit surprised when I arrive. When people call for an exorcist, they dont picture a 16-yearold high school girl' Brynne Larson, 16, graduate of Rev Larson's exorcist school

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But not everyone is suitable to become an exorcist. Rev Larson says that to join the class, you must have had a calling from God. It doesnt matter if youre male or female, but we do find that young women are incredibly good at exorcisms. Once you have proved that becoming an exorcist is your God-given path, intensive training can take weeks and possibly months, says Rev Larson. There is a graduation ceremony, when you pass, he explains. Graduating exorcists get a special cross, which is specially engraved with words from the Bible we use in the exorcism.

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Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

Cross team: Rev Larson stands with (left-right) Savannah Schurkenback, Jess Shurkenback, Christina Massih, Melanie Massih and Brynne Larson

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They also get a good Bible, then they are officially what we call in commission. Due to the worldwide shortage, Brynne and her young colleagues have become part of a network of full-time, professional exorcists who assist Rev Larson on private and public assignments worldwide. But the girls arent just sent out on their own, knocking on the doors of the possessed. They are, after all, teenage girls. I dont do house calls yet, says Savannah. I have a lot to learn, and its very dangerous performing exorcisms. The Bible says that a person who is possessed by the devil can have strength seven times more powerful than one man. The girls, however sweet looking, have witnessed more horrors than should ever be asked of teenage girls. Ive seen people ripping up chairs before, says Savannah. Her sister joins in, wide-eyed. Ive seen people crawl like snakes on the floor, Ive seen people hover off the ground. Rev Larson explains its a team of people who attend private exorcisms. My parents dont worry, says Savannah. Theyre Christians and members of the ministry themselves. They are very proud of us. However, the girls all agree real exorcisms are nothing like what youve seen in movies like The Exorcist, or The Real Exorcism of Emily Rose. Hollywood sensationalises things, says Savannah. But the scenes where the people convulse thats real. When you have demonic possession, the demon has what we call a legal right to possess your body. You must break the curse. When we read aloud the words murder or death, they will yawn. Or maybe belch disgustingly. The demon shows itself. Its quite easy to tell the difference between genuine cases of possession, and simple cases of schizophrenia or learning difficulties, she explains. Although the devil can work in mysterious ways to disguise itself, she adds, ominously. Before Rev Larson and his team can go to work, a 12-page psychological profile must be completed, just to make sure the subject is not just mental.

GRADUATE PROFILE: SAVANNAH

Savannah Scherkenback, 19, is one of Rev Larsons latest graduates from his school for exorcists. Here is how her week pans out... Im 19 years old and I live for the ministry. Im in college and thats hard because Im devoted to the church. 'On Sunday I go to church 9am to 1pm, then I go home for lunch. Then Im back at the church again at 9pm. 'Monday Im at college, but I work with three girls at my college who I help with their demons. 'Tuesday its homework and maybe coffee with my friends. 'Then Thursday Im at school, and I work with a youth group of teenagers, teaching them the ways of the ministry. 'Friday and Saturday I spend all my time at the church, and doing exorcisms where needed.'

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Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

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Unreal: The girls all agree real exorcisms are nothing like what you may have seen in films such as The Exorcist, pictured, as they are 'sensationalised' by Hollywood

The answers vary but common responses to questions are I see dark shadows or I have scratches all over my body, says Rev Larson. Exorcism is not easy and only the trained can do it properly. He also explains there is no charge for the service, but says that people do bring an offering to seminars held by his exorcists. If its an emergency and my team has to travel across the country, or even across the world, we can run up expenses of perhaps $3,000 or $4,000. And we always require an advance appointment. But for his team of teenage exorcists, dedication to the job is paramount. We have about 100 teams, working in teams of five to ten people, Rev Larson explains. Sometimes we will have someone complain that their home is haunted, or worse, that there is a demonic possession in the family. But most often we take appointments at churches, apartments or even offices. We do private exorcisms or we do seminars where we can work en masse.

I dont do house calls yet. I have a lot to learn, and its very dangerous performing exorcisms. The Bible says that a person who is possessed by the devil can have strength seven times more powerful than one man' Savannah Scherkenback, 19, graduate of Rev Larson's exorcist school

Last month I did nine in total, casting out demons, says Brynne. Im not like normal teenagers. But for Brynne, who like all of the Reverends young exorcists, is a home-schooled, teetotal teenager, her life, she insists is nothing but exciting. We have travelled all over the world performing exorcisms. I have been to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia and even the Bahamas, saving souls along the way. And Brynne is defiantly single, admitting: I have never had a boyfriend, but I consider myself lucky - I dont have many of the demons that can be associated with obsession, or desire. I want to one day get married and have children, for God says in the Bible that we should marry. But while there are people that need exorcisms, people who need help - that is all Im interested in.

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You like Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/...ime-casting-demons-worldwide.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+delicious%2Fgqlf+%28Christian+Headlines+Top+Headlines%29[8/16/2011 12:49:27 PM]

Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

Countess in action

Comments (114)
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not debate this issue live on our message boards. The comments below have not been moderated. Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all I for one am happy to know that the world is a safer place from demon possessed freaks, Warewolves, Zombies and Justin Beiber thanks to these supernatural warriors.
- Jon, USA, 12/8/2011 15:22 Report abuse Click to rate Rating 28

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They're from Arizona. That explains an awful lot.

- Greyshine, Los Angeles, 12/8/2011 15:18 Report abuse Click to rate Rating 13

"You'd think free-thinking atheist types would be able to come up with an original metaphor, As an agnostic, I find that insulting. Atheists are as closed minded as most Fundies, with a firm belief (and it is faith and belief) that there is no possibility of there being a God. Agnostics are the ones who don't presume to know enough to, tell one war or another if there is some sort of great supernatural force that brought the universe into being. - Kyle "Felis" Hems, Southampton, England, 11/8/2011 20:20" --------------------------------- No, you are wrong. Atheists don't have "a firm belief that there is no possibility of there being a God". That is a mendacious mis-representation of the views of atheists. The atheist view is usually "there is no evidence for a God, therefore I don't believe in him: when we get that evidence, I'll believe in him."
- John Frum, The South Pacific, 12/8/2011 09:04 Report abuse Click to rate Rating 13

The feeble and deluded mind can change myth into reality sometimes...but it takes an even worse case of delusion in others to encourage it with their misguided belief. I wonder if these are the same type of people who dont believe in dinosaurs (depsite the scientific proof) yet believe that a guy with a beard build the earth in 6 days? only in america!
- serving, over there, 12/8/2011 07:59 Report abuse Click to rate Rating 10

Let's see. He's a long-time manipulative snake oil salesman. He rode the "Satanic Panic" wave of the 1980s and made a ton of money off it. He's taking very religious, naive uncritical teenage girls. He isolates them from regular sources of information and skepticism. He convinces them they are special. He's the one who makes them special. I'm seeing Salem Witch Trials here. You just have to wonder how many of these Sweet Young Things(tm) are getting special private "spiritual counseling".
- A, Nuran, Portland, OR United States, 12/8/2011 06:57 Report abuse Click to rate Rating 45

Abby, Leicester - yes, you can be "just" an agnostic. ie. one who does not know if there is or is not a God. Your claim that they MUST be a theist or atheist is incorrect.
- Heather K., Augusta, GA, US, 12/8/2011 05:58 Report abuse Click to rate Rating 2

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

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Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

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Meet the exorcist schoolgirls who spend their time casting out demons worldwide | Mail Online

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/...ime-casting-demons-worldwide.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+delicious%2Fgqlf+%28Christian+Headlines+Top+Headlines%29[8/16/2011 12:49:27 PM]