An Article of Faith

In the fall of 1904 a revival broke out in Wales. During the next six months, 100,000 people gave their lives to Christ as Lord in a great spiritual awakening. No one organized the campaign. They did not use advertising, public relations, radio broadcasts, or great soul-winning and witnessing campaigns. God did a sovereign work that captured the attention of the world.

Wales is a principality of Great Britain west of London. The area has a wonderful history of revivals among God’s people. By the beginning of the 20th century, people had a longing for a fresh wind of God’s Spirit. The last great revival had taken place in 1859-60. Church membership was in decline. People were indifferent to religious matters. The churches were formal, and spiritual life was at a low ebb. God’s people needed revival.

By 1904, God was at work in many places and in many people throughout Wales leading up to the revival. The nation was like a tinderbox God had prepared for the quick spread of revival fires. God chose to use a young man named Evan Roberts in a special way. Evan worked in the coal mines of Wales, but he had a great burden for revival. For 13 years he prayed for an outpouring of God’s Spirit. Prayer meetings with different groups of God’s people became a major emphasis in his life. Early in 1904 Evan accepted God’s call to preach, and he went to school to prepare.

Following a Sunday service, Seth Joshua led in prayer. One of his requests was “Lord, bend us.” The Spirit of God used that simple statement to touch Evan’s heart. On his way out the door, he kept praying, “O Lord, bend me!”

God gave Evan a burden to go to his home church in Loughor for a week of services with the young people. Following a Monday-night prayer meeting on Oct. 31, 1904, 17 young people stayed to hear Evan’s message.

His message had four points:

(1) You must put away any unconfessed sin.

(2) You must put away any doubtful habit.

(3) You must obey the Spirit promptly.

And (4) You must confess Christ publicly.

That night all 17 responded to Evan’s appeal. Crowds increased nightly. The Spirit was poured out on the region as God’s people returned to Him. Joy was restored to their worship. Those without Christ were dramatically converted – 70,000 in two months, 85,000 in five months, and more than 100,000 in the six months.

Pray that many Christians around the nation, in St. Martinville, and in your own church will respond to God’s call to holy living, prompt obedience, and public witness to the joy of following Jesus. Pray that God will so transform your own life that the change will be evident to everyone around you – family, relatives, fellow church members, neighbors, and coworkers. Pray for widespread spiritual awakening in our nation.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24).

(Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.)