History of Revival

The Gospel and Revival: The First Great Awakening

The striking characteristic of preaching during the Evangelical Revival of the eighteenth century was that the gospel was urgently preached. From eminent figures such as Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and John and Charles Wesley, to unheralded and obscure lay preachers both Calvinist and Arminian, all were convinced, as John Wesley put it, that nothing in the Christian faith “is of greater consequence than the doctrine of the Atonement.”[1] Jonathan Edwards   Revival touched North America before Britain, and the preeminent figure in the New England awakening was Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758). He was, and remains, one of America’s greatest ...

Will I Ever Be a Leader of Prayer? 4/5

"It may be put down as a spiritual axiom that in every truly successful ministry, prayer is an evident and controlling force . . . . A ministry may be a very thoughtful ministry without prayer; the preacher may secure fame and popularity without prayer; the whole machinery of the preacher's life and work may run without the oil of prayer or with scarely enough to grease one cog; but no ministry can be a spiritual one, securing holiness in the preacher and his people, without prayer . . . . "The preacher that prays indeed puts God into the work. God does not come into the ...

The Life and Ministry of Howell Harris

Howell Harris (1714-1773) was one of the greatest leaders of the Evangelical Awakening and Revival in Wales and England in the mid-1700s. Along with Daniel Rowlands he was also one of the founders of Methodism in Wales. Martyn Lloyd-Jones called him “one of the great heroic figures of the Christian church.” The story of his life is both convicting and encouraging as a demonstration of the Spirit’s mighty work in revival.  Conviction, Conversion and Assurance  Howell Harris was born in the small hamlet of Trevecka, Wales, in 1714 but was not converted until 1735 when he was 21 years ...

Daniel Rowland of Llangeitho

Daniel Rowland of Llangeitho, Wales, stands next to his contemporary George Whitefield in might, faith, and zeal. In natural boldness and energy of character, tempered with gentleness and love, he had few equals. In fervor of spirit, in singleness of eye and heart, in compassion for souls, he is marked out among a thousand. The success of his ministry was truly marvelous. He blazed like a torch in majestic brightness, illuminating the darkness of his native mountains. He went forth in the strength of God, enduring storms of persecution and carrying with him from valley to valley the glad tidings ...

The Revival in the Confederate Army

The revival that took place in the armies of the Confederate States of America was among the most unusual recorded in history. War is generally a time of spiritual defection. The removal of men from their accustomed routines and from the influence of their home ties usually renders the development of the spiritual life and high moral standards difficult. Therefore, to find a great revival maintained over a period of years in a body of troops spread throughout a large territory is an interesting and instructive phenomenon.

The Development of the Revival

The work of grace first appeared in the ...

The 1859 Revival in Northern Ireland

Straid is still to this day a small village in Northern Ireland. In 1859, the people of Straid and its surroundings were mainly farmers and weavers. In the center of the village, there was a Congregational church that was led by an able pastor named James Bain. For some time prior to the commencement of the revival, the spirit of prayer among the members of the church had intensified. Prayer for an outpouring of the Spirit of God was fervent, resulting in growing congregations.  

Fear of the Unreal

How England was Revived in the 18th Century

That a great change for the better came over England during the 18th century is a fact that I suppose no well-informed person would ever attempt to deny. You might as well attempt to deny that there was a Protestant Reformation in the days of Luther, a Long Parliament in the time of Cromwell, or a French Republic at the end of the 18th century. There was a vast change for the better. Both in religion and in morality, the country gradually went through a complete revolution. This is a great fact that even the irreligious cannot deny, however they ...

William Grimshaw: Showers on Dry Ground

In 1742, our dear Lord was pleased to visit my parish,” wrote William Grimshaw in a description of the work of God that had taken place in the village of Haworth, a rural town in the north of England. It would be easy to assume from these words that the remarkable events that occurred began quickly, but this would be inaccurate. The work started slowly, and Grimshaw records that at first only “a few souls” were affected under the Word. Yet, from this humble beginning, a great revival began that swept the region.

Grimshaw’s preaching at the outset of ...