What ever happened to revival meetings? Where did they go?
I grew up with revivals. I'm not referring to the outpourings that many of us long to see today; although that certainly occurred at times. I am speaking of the series of services pastors sat aside each year for the church to experience corporate discipleship and evangelism.
If you are in your 40s or younger you may have no idea what I'm talking about. But now you can!
Every year, usually 3-4 times a year, pastors scheduled evangelists or "revivalists" to minister in their churches during a series of services, referred to as "revivals." Church members were encouraged to share their faith; invite their friends to come to the meetings. For many years, revivals were planned with no definite end in sight. The people would gather each night, pray and seek God. The guest minister preached or taught until the church experienced the Lord's presence. It could be days, weeks or months.
In the '40s and '50s, 14-day meetings were commonplace. But in the 1960s 14-day meetings gave way to 7-day meetings. And in the '70s the 7-day meetings were reduced to 3-day meetings. Then churches conducted revival Sundays. Other things crowded out those exciting nights together when the focus was on God alone, to learn his Word, and see the lost come to faith in Christ.
Most people who know Alice and me, know that our ministry for the past 20 years has been largely focused on prayer. But the truth is that Alice and I traveled for many years as intinerant evangelists. We conducted almost 1,000 revival meetings or evangelistic crusades. We saw churches revived, powerful visitations of God on occasions, and were privileged to see thousands of people born again as a result of our ministry. We experienced encounters during these meetings where the glory of God was so strong no one left the building. Repentance, holiness and getting right with one another lasted until 2:00AM.
I grew up with revivals. I'm not referring to the outpourings that many of us long to see today; although that certainly occurred at times. I am speaking of the series of services pastors sat aside each year for the church to experience corporate discipleship and evangelism.
If you are in your 40s or younger you may have no idea what I'm talking about. But now you can!
Every year, usually 3-4 times a year, pastors scheduled evangelists or "revivalists" to minister in their churches during a series of services, referred to as "revivals." Church members were encouraged to share their faith; invite their friends to come to the meetings. For many years, revivals were planned with no definite end in sight. The people would gather each night, pray and seek God. The guest minister preached or taught until the church experienced the Lord's presence. It could be days, weeks or months.
In the '40s and '50s, 14-day meetings were commonplace. But in the 1960s 14-day meetings gave way to 7-day meetings. And in the '70s the 7-day meetings were reduced to 3-day meetings. Then churches conducted revival Sundays. Other things crowded out those exciting nights together when the focus was on God alone, to learn his Word, and see the lost come to faith in Christ.
Most people who know Alice and me, know that our ministry for the past 20 years has been largely focused on prayer. But the truth is that Alice and I traveled for many years as intinerant evangelists. We conducted almost 1,000 revival meetings or evangelistic crusades. We saw churches revived, powerful visitations of God on occasions, and were privileged to see thousands of people born again as a result of our ministry. We experienced encounters during these meetings where the glory of God was so strong no one left the building. Repentance, holiness and getting right with one another lasted until 2:00AM.
The weekly schedules often included mid morning weekday services or covered-dish potluck noon luncheon services along with 7:00 or 7:30 PM nightly services.
Recently, I asked several hundred Christian leaders, "How many of you were born again, or called into the ministry as a result of revival services or an evangelistic crusade?" More than 75% indicated they had.
Then I asked, "How many of you attend a church that has conducted revival services or evangelist crusades in the past five years?" Almost no one had.
My next question was the point. "If so many of you found Christ or discovered your ministry calling in a revival service or an evangelistic crusade, and you can hardly find one today, from where do you suppose the next generation of Christian leaders come?" A holy hush fell across the room.
What happened to revival meetings and evangelistic crusades?
A few years ago I taught on prayer at the headquarters of a major youth ministry. The 200 or more young people in attendance were the "cream of the crop." They had come from Evangelical, Charismatic, and Pentecostal churches to invest a year of their lives in preparation for full-time ministry.
As I approached the end of my teaching I felt impressed of the Lord to present a clear-cut presentation of the saving gospel of Christ. I could hardly imagine why. I thought to myself, "Why would the Lord want me to do that? After all, these young adults are 'ministers in the making.' If they weren't born again they wouldn't even be here." But the Holy Spirit wouldn't leave it alone. Finally I relented, and shared the new life Christ died and arose from the dead to give them.
When I finished, I gave a cautious no-pressure invitation. It was one of what I call my "negative invitations." I said things like, "Don't come just because your friend is coming. Don't come just because you're emotionally stirred. If you've personally met Jesus Christ and he lives in your heart, I do not want you to come. I'm only inviting those who know that Christ is not in their hearts and who have never been transformed by his saving power." Regardless of my restrictions, I opened the altar and one-third of those young people wept their way to the front to receive Christ. Their testimonies were touching. One girl said things, "When I was 8-years-old I walked an aisle with a friend who received Christ. He was changed. I wasn't--until tonight!" An older boy said, "I've tried to be a Christian for years. Now I know I was attempting the impossible. Only Christ can live the Christian life and now he's alive in me! NOW I know it!"
Frankly, I wasn't surprised. Why? Because when we tossed out the revival services and the evangelistic crusades, many good churches also dispensed with offering public invitations to receive Christ altogether. With that, church members stopped inviting their lost friends and family members to church.
Some pastors ceased inviting people to be saved because so few did. It seemed almost pointless to continue to do so when so few people responded. (Maybe it was an embarrassment to see such small results--but God doesn't see it this way!) But could it be the church has also concluded it didn't need the ministry of the God-ordained evangelist? Christians no longer saw evangelism in action, and saw no purpose for it. Because they no longer learned to share their faith, over time they withdrew from meaningful relationships with lost people--who were their mission field. Without a mission field, the church ceased being a mission force!
I hunger for revival services and evangelistic crusades. I long to spend 3-5 mornings in depth studies of God's word with his people. I miss the 3-7 nights of preaching the clear gospel of Christ to the lost, and the claims of Christ to the church. Bringing people to faith in Christ is an anointing on my life.
As we enter this new decade (2010) I feel strongly to share my concern, and offer myself to pastors and churches that have a vision to see the lost, who are in the church be transformed, and the lost who are outside the church come to Christ.
For the past 20 years churches have sought to identify and engage with their "apostles" and "prophets." It's time for us to identify and engage with our "pastor-teachers" and "evangelists." (Eph 4)
Perhaps you're a pastor, or will share this with your pastor.
Pray about scheduling revival services in 2010. Challenge your church to prepare, to attend, and to bring their lost family and friends. Have special emphasis for each night; mothers; teens in sports or children's night. I can help you with the details. Invite a minister who is ordained of God and anointed by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel to the lost and to challenge the church to a deeper walk with God.
If you sense God's direction in this matter and would like to consider me or Alice in this regard, contact us. We'll gladly share the tools we offer that could strengthen your church, and rescue the perishing.
My email is: usprayercenter@cs.com
My cell phone is: 281-830-8724
Recently, I asked several hundred Christian leaders, "How many of you were born again, or called into the ministry as a result of revival services or an evangelistic crusade?" More than 75% indicated they had.
Then I asked, "How many of you attend a church that has conducted revival services or evangelist crusades in the past five years?" Almost no one had.
My next question was the point. "If so many of you found Christ or discovered your ministry calling in a revival service or an evangelistic crusade, and you can hardly find one today, from where do you suppose the next generation of Christian leaders come?" A holy hush fell across the room.
What happened to revival meetings and evangelistic crusades?
A few years ago I taught on prayer at the headquarters of a major youth ministry. The 200 or more young people in attendance were the "cream of the crop." They had come from Evangelical, Charismatic, and Pentecostal churches to invest a year of their lives in preparation for full-time ministry.
As I approached the end of my teaching I felt impressed of the Lord to present a clear-cut presentation of the saving gospel of Christ. I could hardly imagine why. I thought to myself, "Why would the Lord want me to do that? After all, these young adults are 'ministers in the making.' If they weren't born again they wouldn't even be here." But the Holy Spirit wouldn't leave it alone. Finally I relented, and shared the new life Christ died and arose from the dead to give them.
When I finished, I gave a cautious no-pressure invitation. It was one of what I call my "negative invitations." I said things like, "Don't come just because your friend is coming. Don't come just because you're emotionally stirred. If you've personally met Jesus Christ and he lives in your heart, I do not want you to come. I'm only inviting those who know that Christ is not in their hearts and who have never been transformed by his saving power." Regardless of my restrictions, I opened the altar and one-third of those young people wept their way to the front to receive Christ. Their testimonies were touching. One girl said things, "When I was 8-years-old I walked an aisle with a friend who received Christ. He was changed. I wasn't--until tonight!" An older boy said, "I've tried to be a Christian for years. Now I know I was attempting the impossible. Only Christ can live the Christian life and now he's alive in me! NOW I know it!"
Frankly, I wasn't surprised. Why? Because when we tossed out the revival services and the evangelistic crusades, many good churches also dispensed with offering public invitations to receive Christ altogether. With that, church members stopped inviting their lost friends and family members to church.
Some pastors ceased inviting people to be saved because so few did. It seemed almost pointless to continue to do so when so few people responded. (Maybe it was an embarrassment to see such small results--but God doesn't see it this way!) But could it be the church has also concluded it didn't need the ministry of the God-ordained evangelist? Christians no longer saw evangelism in action, and saw no purpose for it. Because they no longer learned to share their faith, over time they withdrew from meaningful relationships with lost people--who were their mission field. Without a mission field, the church ceased being a mission force!
I hunger for revival services and evangelistic crusades. I long to spend 3-5 mornings in depth studies of God's word with his people. I miss the 3-7 nights of preaching the clear gospel of Christ to the lost, and the claims of Christ to the church. Bringing people to faith in Christ is an anointing on my life.
As we enter this new decade (2010) I feel strongly to share my concern, and offer myself to pastors and churches that have a vision to see the lost, who are in the church be transformed, and the lost who are outside the church come to Christ.
For the past 20 years churches have sought to identify and engage with their "apostles" and "prophets." It's time for us to identify and engage with our "pastor-teachers" and "evangelists." (Eph 4)
Perhaps you're a pastor, or will share this with your pastor.
Pray about scheduling revival services in 2010. Challenge your church to prepare, to attend, and to bring their lost family and friends. Have special emphasis for each night; mothers; teens in sports or children's night. I can help you with the details. Invite a minister who is ordained of God and anointed by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel to the lost and to challenge the church to a deeper walk with God.
If you sense God's direction in this matter and would like to consider me or Alice in this regard, contact us. We'll gladly share the tools we offer that could strengthen your church, and rescue the perishing.
My email is: usprayercenter@cs.com
My cell phone is: 281-830-8724
Blessings,
Eddie
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Your 2009 family photo Christmas cards are ONLY the beginning
Eddie
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Your 2009 family photo Christmas cards are ONLY the beginning
Send someone you love a free greeting card with your photo(s) in it!
www.EddieAndAlicesCardShop.com
---------------------------------
Website:
www.EddieAndAlice.com
---------------------------------
Resources:
www.PrayerBookstore.com
--------------------------------
------------------------------
Website:
www.EddieAndAlice.com
------------------------------
Resources:
www.PrayerBookstore.com
------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment