The 1904 Welsh Revival and its global impact on Pentecostalism

1904 Revival, Beginning in Wales

The 1904 Welsh Revival was spurred by Jenkins of the church in Cardiganshire, who, in response to the growing worldliness and humanistic philosophy in Britain, began a season of intense prayer that was spread by Jenkins's student Roberts and his friends Evans and Joshua who spread the 'fire to other communities. The preaching had an almost immediate and dramatic effect on surrounding ills such as drunkenness to the extent that historians of the time commented and pastors from around the world came to witness.

Seymour was another result of this mass fervor. In the American South, in his Azusa Street church, he introduced the practice of speaking in tongues delivering apocalyptic messages, which soon developed into the Azusa Street Revival publicized by journalists and generating a number of Pentecostal denominations that spread the influence of this Azusa Street Revival through to the world. This resulted in similar Revivals such as the Korean Pentecost and the Mizo Outpouring (1906) in India.

Analysis

It is fascinating how, even before the days of computer, one small spark from one corner of the world flared and disseminated in such a relatively short space of time that it reached the remotest of countries and affected them too. A lone minister in Wales preached with passion and intent and his lectures had enduring impact to this very day.

What I learned

Passion is important. One may be a singularly unimportant individual but with passion and intent one's message spreads.

The First Great Awakening, 1727-50

Summary

The First Great Awakening was experienced by a small group of Moravian Christians in Saxony in 1727 and their prayer meeting continued for24 hours a day for more than 100 years later. Out of that prayer meeting, missionaries spread the message around the world.

An decade later, in 1734, effects and similar revivals were felt in the American Colonies for about 10 years were people were spurred to conversion; in England in 1739 where ministers like Whitefield and the Wesleyes were instigated to preach; and in North America on the natives where the emotional Indian Revival had an enduring effect. This Great Awakening last about 50 years throughout the world with Moravians sending out about 100 missionaries and socially effected its societies as well as restoring the mission project to evangelical cruces. Most importantly, it was this first Great Awakening that shaped the moral nature of America to become what it became.

Analysis

The Church is not divided from the State. Just as the country has an impact on the church driving it, for instance as in this case to react against the worldliness of surrounding culture, so too the Church reacts and has a corresponding impact on the state though not always seen but more effectually felt in hind focus. The Revivalist spirit shaped the nature of the fledgling American nation so that its character still today is formed by the religious reaction.

What I learned

Never to be dejected. You do not know what long-term results of your actions will be.

The Second Great Awakening, 1780-1810

Summary

Erosion of the faith with burgeoning of Deism and enlightenment spurred Christians to spread mass prayer meetings. The movement of prayer occurring in Britain was duplicated in the United States and in other countries through the world impacting the evangelical church for half a century. A point unique to this revival was the college awakenings protesting against campus infidelity as with the Yale college revival of 1802. Methodist preachers were largely involved as in the Cane Ridge Revival (1800) and personalized by Cartwright. Other revivals belonging to this category were the Bridgewater revival and Geneva's Second reformation in Switzerland. The modern missionary movement was born as a result of this Second Great Awakening

Analysis

The General Awakening changed the church in various ways, not least that the missionary movement had until now been seen according to the Calvinistic perspective as the world being ready for God therefore now awakening. Finney transformed the message to people preparing themselves and God sending revival. This transformed message changed the missionary movement in more ways than oen likely resulting in the active and ambitious evangelism that characterizes America today.

What I learned

To think in new ways and turn around paradigms, as Finney did with the missionary perspective. This can send the drift of the organization in a whole new different, and sometimes more productive, direction.

The Layman's Prayer Revival, 1857-61

Summary

Mainly conducted by laymen from shoe salesmen to physicians, this Revival spread from city to city in TSA and then throughout Europe. This was followed by the Ulster revival (1859) where the children were involved and the Jamaican Revival (1860) as well as Moody's British Campaign (1872) and the Sunday school revival. The Revival prepared the nation for the Civil war and gave rise to new societies such as the Salvation Army, the YMCA, the Christian Brethren, and the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Christian unions on campuses were formed in response to Darwin's evolutionism, and in many ways the Layman's Prayer Revival had resounding effects down to this day.

Analysis

The Layman's Prayer Revival had profound impact on the youth spurring off organizations that were not only directed to the youth - such as the missions on college campuses - but also manifested a youthful sprit and characterized by the originality and innovation of the youth -- such as the YMCA and Salvation Army. Student conferences were organized, Christian Endeavor Society for college students took effect, and several other denominations focused on their youth too. Youth was the emphasis of this revival.

What I have learned

Those sometimes-ambitious goals can go far. The goal of the Student Volunteer Movement was to "evangelize the world in our generation."

The World War II Revival, 1935-50

Summary

WWII brought new changes to America, and accordingly to the world, with the result that materialism effected and contaminated religion and the church becoming a minority institution. Rationalism too affected the way people (particularly students) perceived religion. Desperately needing change, personalities such as Billy Graham sprung up and the Evangelical movement became more powerful than ever before. Revivals of this period were the New England Revival (1936); the New Hebrides Awakening (1949); and the Los Angeles Crusade (1949). The latter transformed missionary work to what it has become now -- an agenda that integrates modern tools -- such as media, TV, and Internet as well as all contemporary technological instruments -- into its purpose. Becoming part of the world, rather than apart of it, all three sub-revivalist movements used technological instruments to spread their evangelical message.

Analysis

This was the period when mass media was used to evangelize nations, thus giving the broader evangelical movement considerable ground during this period. In turn, dozens of new Christian liberal arts and Bible colleges were born and grew rapidly in reaction to the liberalism of the period. Missionary agencies of all kinds -- evangelical, fundamental, and Pentecostal -- flourished.

What I have learned

Very little can be generalized as evil or not good. Aspects of any instrument (such s TV) can be used for both negative and positive purposes.

The Baby Boomer Revival, 1965-71

Summary

The Cultural Revolution and the counter Cultural Revolution with the mass chaos of the 1960s taking the masses away from God. Faith took new forms with the Charismatic movement, the East Timor Indonesian Revivals, the 'Jesus People', the Asbury College Revival; and the Saskatoon Revival. New times demanded new spirit and innovations to attract the masses and innovations that would have been prohibited by the Church at one time were accepted now. The Baby Boomer Revival is ongoing with effects sill being delivered by missionaries, ministers, and preachers globally. . Two of these are the Sutera twins and Reverend Bill McCleod and Henry Blackaby. Elmer Towns and Douglas Porter were two other authors who, inspirited by this revival, turned their life around to serve God.

Analysis

The Baby Boomer Revival assumed shapes and forms different than the former ones with programs Charismatic movement, the East Timor Indonesian Revivals, the 'Jesus People', the Asbury College Revival; and the Saskatoon Revival representing the spirits of the times in order to woo people to the mission movement and get them interested in the Church. At oen time, the church would have prohibited these charismatic programs and many, indeed, were controversial when they first appeared and still are today. Nonetheless, their impression and effects have been enduring and in a time when traditional programs were falling flat with the church losing members per day, innovative programs were the only ones that succeeded.

What I have learned

Sometimes, dramatic changes -- a shift in perspective and a change of habits -- are necessary for end-goals and objective to be reached.

The Pre-Reformation Revival, 1300-1500

Summary

Corruption of the church lowered it in the eyes of the people. Historical records of the time indicate that several movements in the medieval church arose as counter reaction in order to pursue holiness. Most of these movements constituted monks, nuns, and friars who sought to separate themselves from the materialistic corruption of the church. Evangelical sects, too, tried to separate themselves and return to an apostolic Christianity. Movements included Monasticism, the Franciscans, and the Waldensians. Religious personalities of the period who attempted to return the church to a holier period included John Wycliffe, John Hus, and Girolmo Savonarolo

Analysis

Analysis of this period of church history indicates forces of good fighting and mediating with forces of evil. The church of that era, characterized by corruption and greed, was stymied in its path by reactionary drives that attempted to revert to original good.

Personal lesson

Never can anything be seen as unmitigated evil. There is always some amount of good interwoven in it or coming out of it. Sometimes too evil needs to occur in order to instigate reaction of good,

The Protestant Reformation, 1517

Summary

The Renaissance led to individualism. Church excess at that time and corruption of the catholic Church also led to Martin Luther who proclaimed Catholicism to be the Devil and called for return to genuine Christianity. Other revolutionary religious movements were Zwingliism, Calvinism, and the English Church introduced by Henry VIII. Of all of them, Protestantism - the results of Luther's protest - had the greatest and broadest impact remaining the characterizing religion of counties such as England and America.

Analysis

Whilst technically seen as a movement, the Protestant reformation can also bee seen as a revival in that it caused people to react against the dull and corrupt mannerisms of the church. There was a spiritual renewal against greed and a determination for a spiritual reawakening.

Lesson

Despite their greatness, none of these people can be lauded as saints. Luther raged against those who were against him, and Calvin and the others were likewise. Mortals are eventually fallible. The greatest of leaders have human faults.

Pentecost: The Beginning of Revival, A.D. 30

Summary

John the Baptist called for the people to repent of sin and "prepare the way of the Lord" (Matt. 3:3). Later on Pentecost, a new kind of revival occurred among 120 followers of Christ who united in prayer with Peter and the others, in a spirit of prophecy, preaching the scriptures. 3,000 individuals repented and the church at Jerusalem was established and continued to grow. The Pentecost outpouring spread throughout Israel having ramifications including the conversion of Paul. A consequent revival, instituted by Paul, was the Revival in Ephesus that at its peak caused fear and rioting amongst the idol worshippers of the city. The early church revivals themselves faded into complacency, with the church becoming corrupt and in turn producing new revivals

Analysis

The Revival at Pentecost was different than any of the others in that it started off with an 'alive' Church and blossomed into further regeneration as opposed to the other revival mentioned heretofore that stared off with dissatisfaction and revolted. The Church -- in the shape of 120 people -- prayed and "moved form faith to faith" and this was, on the one hand, the reverse of all subsequent revivals, on the other the shape of all revival to come.

Lesson

History is a never-ending linear or dialectical progression of the church as institution. During its deepest, darkest moments, a reaction occurs where the church is stimulated to review itself and move on. Often, these stimulations simulate the epoch and time.