Within minutes of arriving at the Elim Christian Centre in Tigers Bay, the young man beside me is moving his body in a series of bizarre, jerking movements.

On stage, a Canadian man wearing a rugby top is talking into a hand-held microphone before jabbing his finger at the foreheads of two teenage girls who fall over backwards before writhing on the ground.

All the while the congregation is baying for more, arms raised, shouting words of encouragement, their cries of support interspersed with seemingly random bursts of hysterical laughter.

The Canadian on stage is Bobby Sullivan, a close associate of American tele-evangelist Todd Bentley – the man behind the "Florida Outpouring" healing phenomenon.

About 150 people are gathered in the north Belfast church when I arrive, an hour after the scheduled start time of 7.30pm.

But when I leave two hours later the meeting is still in full swing, despite about half of the congregation having drifted off by that point.

But it's what's being said and done at the front which grabs the attention.

In an unconventional tirade which would probably shock many churchgoers, Sullivan says: "If you've never met the devil, you're probably travelling in the same direction that he is."

Then it's back to touching people and watching them fall over.

For some reason there is laughter from the congregation when some people collapse onto their backs.

But no one seems to notice that several times when Sullivan makes his aggressive gestures to someone while praying at them they don't fall.

On one occasion he screams "Fire all over you" as he gestures at a woman but she remains unmoved.

Indeed, in several cases he resorts to overtly pushing them over.

The congregation's amazement is undiminished.

As the service progresses, he appears to attribute the divine to his very breath.

As he blows on someone's forehead, he says: "You're like, why is he blowing on them? It's the breath of God."

To another he says: "Look in my eyes, you'll see the fire of God.