Trans-Confessional
Movements
and
Christian Renewal
Definitions: Revival
Revival is:
1.
A sovereign work of the Holy Spirit among God’s people, the Church.
2.
Usually preceded or accompanied by passionate corporate intercessory
prayer.
3.
Often accompanied by a deep conviction of sin, repentance, restitution.
4.
Often followed by a manifestation of God’s presence and power, a
subsequent joy, and a spirit of worship.
5.
Fruitful in a deepening or resurgence of Christian life and witness.
Revival is not:
1.
Of human origin, though prayer contributes to the Spirit’s outpouring.
2.
Organized by Christians who obey a set of principles, though in the
Second Awakening this appeared to be valid.
3.
A series of evangelistic meetings.
Definitions: Awakening
An Awakening:
1.
Is a wider movement of the Holy Spirit that often begins with the
revival of a group of Christians but then impacts nominal and
backsliding Christians.
2.
Stimulates a deep concern about the relationship with God of
many who were previously careless about sin and ungodliness.
3.
Usually causes many to seek God, attend places of worship and
increases church membership.
4.
Generates new structures and visions and result in new networks
and movements to spread the Gospel.
5.
Results in a large increase in people volunteering for Christian
work and a surge in the sending out of missionaries to the ends of
the earth.
Definitions: People Movement
A People Movement:
1.
Is often the result of revival in the cultures of the missionaries who
first bring the message of the Gospel to a people without a
knowledge of the Bible or the Gospel.
2.
Is a turning to Christ of many of a specific people group or
population which had previously had little or no contact with the
Gospel.
3.
Is a work of the Holy Spirit within a specific culture that not only
makes the Gospel relevant within that culture, but also changes
that culture to conform more to biblical standards.
4.
Should be followed with careful discipling, leadership
development and Scripture translation.
The Six Major Awakenings
No.
Main Areas
Dates
Main Impact
Cause of Decline
1st
Germany,
UK, USA
1728-1790
Moravian missions
Methodist revival
Deism, revolutions
2nd
UK, USA
Scandinavia
1791-1812
Modern missions movement
Wars
3rd
USA
1813-1859
Mass evangelism
Social uplift
Social upheavals
4th
North America
North Europe
1860-1899
Surge in church growth and
missions
Liberal theology
5th
Wales, USA
Many lands
1900-1914
Pentecostal growth
World wars
6th
Africa, Asia, Latin
America
1964-
Evangelical resurgence
Charismatic renewal
Evangelical Awakenings
18th-19th Centuries
Greenland
1733
Labrador
Native Americans 1752
1742
Volga, Russia
1764
England
1738
St Thomas
1732
Herrnhut
Jamaica
1754
Suriname
1736
Moravian
Pioneer
missions
South Africa
1738
Awakenings:
1st 1728
1790
India
1768
Evangelical Awakenings
18th-19th Centuries
Herrnhut
Moravian
Pioneer
missions
Awakenings:
1st 1728
1790
Methodist revival
Whitfield and Wesleys 1738+
Evangelical Awakenings
18th-19th Centuries
Norway
Sweden
Nova Scotia
USA
UK
Herrnhut
Awakenings:
1st 1728
2nd 1790
1812
1790
Evangelical Awakenings
18th-19th Centuries
Norway
Sweden
Finland
UK
USA
Switzerland
Khasi Hills
Pacific Islands
Tonga
S. India
East Indies
Madagascar
South Africa
Awakenings:
1st 1728
2nd 1790
1812
1790
3rd 1813
1859
Tahiti
Samoa
Fiji
Evangelical Awakenings
18th-19th Centuries
Norway
Sweden
UK
Ukraine
Canada
USA
Finland
Germany
Armenians
Japan
Khasi Hills
Burma
S. India
Batak, Nias,
Sumatra
Madagascar
Chile
South Brazil
South Africa
Awakenings:
1st 1728
2nd 1790
1812
1790
3rd 1813
1859
4th 1860
1899
Java
Australia
New
Zealand
Persecution
Evangelical Awakenings
20th Century
Scandinavia
Modern
Pentecostalism
Punjab
Jamaica
SE Nigeria
Côte
d’Ivoire
S Brazil
China
Maharashtra
S. India
Batak
Nias
Madagascar
Manchuria
Japan
Korea
NE India
Australia
S Africa
Chile
Argentina
Welsh 1900
1914
1. The Welsh Revival and its global influence – shown by red lines
2. The Welsh connection with the Pentecostal outpouring in USA and
elsewhere was less direct, but valid – shown by green lines
Evangelical Awakenings
20th Century
Lewis
NE Scotland
Ulster
E. Anglia
USA
China
Cuba
Korea
Garo
Mexico
Brazil
Ethiopia
E Africa
Congo
Toraja
PNG
Madagascar
E. Malaysia
Argentina
1900
1914
1914
1964
1. Evangelicalism in the West was marginalized and in retreat.
2. There continued to be revivals and people movements around the world, the
most significant being the East African Revival, the USA, Korea, Brazil and
China (before the persecutions of Communism).
Evangelical Awakenings
20th Century
Prairies,
Canada
Jesus 1967
people USA
1967
Romania
Toronto
1980
1994
Pensacola
Kabyle,
Cuba Algeria
Iran
1984
1976
1990s
Quechua,
Peru
1970s
1980s
1980+
Philippines
1995
1988+
Ethiopia
1989
Bengkulu
1965
Java
1960s
1980s
1965
1990s
Aymara
Bolivia
China
S.Sudan
Nigeria
Brazil
-1965
1980+
1980
Guatemala
Colombia
S.Korea
Nepal
1995
1988
1980s
1990s
1960s
1970s
Argentina
1982
1900
1914
Kwasizabantu,
S. Africa
1966
1914
1964
1964
–
W.Timor
1965
Papua
1960s
1970
Solomon Is.
1965
New
Zealand
1. Evangelical resurgence after 1964.
2. A massive awakening affecting mainly Latin America, Asia and Africa.
1986
2003
Evangelical
Awakenings & Persecution
20th Century
by Communists
Muslims
Hindus
Various
N.Korea
Romania
1945-90
1910-2010
Nepal
1980-2008
Iran
Kabyle,
Algeria
1980-2010
1947-2010
S.Sudan
1984-2010
China
S.Korea
1910-1953
1960-2010
Ethiopia
1975-90
Nigeria
Kenya
1980-2010
1952-60
Uganda Java
Congo
1971-79
1964
Afrikaners
1900-01
1900
1914
1914
1964
1990-2010
Madagascar
1905
1964
–
Persecution
1. Many Awakenings have been accompanied or followed by persecution.
2. The persecutors have mainly been Communists and Muslims.
Christian Renewal
1. Will the present momentum be maintained?
2. Are the leaders of today preparing leaders for the next generation?
3. Will there be a continued passion for God’s glory and fulfilment of
the Great Commission?
4. How can we communicate a positive message of God’s present
working, and expectant hope for the soon fulfilment of the Great
Commission?
Conclusion