An Article of Faith

In the 1920s Christian missionaries in North China were grieved over the spiritual condition of the churches. Members showed little or no spiritual sensitivity or concern. The missionaries began to wonder if many people had accepted Christianity mentally but had never really been born again.
In 1920, missionaries began to devote one day a month to prayer for revival. In March of 1927 the southern revolutionary army burned Nanking, and all missionaries were ordered to Chefoo for possible evacuation. They began to study the Scriptures and ask the Lord why they had been removed from their work. God began to speak through His Word.
A group of Southern Baptist missionaries asked Marie Monsen, an Evangelical Lutheran from Norway, to join their prayer meetings. God began to use her to challenge missionaries and others to get right with God. The missionaries spent days before the Lord. They confessed every known sin. They sought to be reconciled with one another.
During a special prayer time God worked to heal the eyesight of Ola Culpepper. In the middle of their rejoicing, God convicted the missionaries that they were far more concerned about physical healing than they were about the salvation of the Chinese. They once again began to confess sins to the Lord. God was getting a people right with Himself.
The Lord again used Marie when she asked the missionaries, leaders, and others in the churches three penetrating questions: (1) Have you been born of the Spirit? (2) What evidence do you have of the new birth? And (3) Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit?
The hunger for spiritual vitality caused people to do much soul-searching. Christians and especially the leaders were revived and filled with the Holy Spirit and power. By 1932 revival and spiritual awakening were spreading.
Many came to realize they were only “head” Christians, but they had never placed their trust in Christ. An evangelist for 25 years, Mr. Chow realized he was trusting in his good works and not Christ for salvation. After he was saved, he refused to be paid for his preaching, because he had preached for 25 years without the Lord’s presence and power.
Lucy Wright, a missionary nurse for nine years, realized she had only joined the church. She trusted Christ for the first time. In 1932 masses of people were coming to Christ. In one boarding school all 600 girls and 900 of 1,000 boys trusted Christ during 10 days of meetings.
Pray that God will use the questions of Marie Monsen in new ways today to call people to genuine faith and fullness of God’s Spirit. Pray for pastors, evangelists, missionaries, teachers, and other spiritual leaders that they will examine themselves and make sure they are right with God. Pray that God will stir up an intensity in the lives of many who will not let go of Him until He pours out a blessing. Pray that churches will be revived. Pray that Christians develop a deeper concern and compassion for those who are lost and have yet to believe in Christ. Pray that God raises up churches that are truly houses of prayer for all nations. Pray that schools of all sorts experience God’s presence and holiness in such a way that large groups will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
“Jesus is the only One who can save people,” declares Peter. “His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save people. We must be saved through Him” (Acts 4:12 NCV).

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