Revival is happening in “the global south” — in Brazil, Nigeria, central Africa, New Zealand, and quite a few other places. The church is even growing, sometimes dramatically, in places like Pakistan and Iran.
It’s also happening in the allegedly “post-Christian” west, albeit in more subtle manifestations. (Surveyors have backtracked on their claims of a “quiet revival” in Britain, though there are still signs there and elsewhere of growing interest in Christianity.) College campuses in the U.S. have seen a surge of spiritual openness and faith, Bible sales in many western countries have increased, and increasing numbers of people who are growing disenchanted with the emptiness of secularism — atheism, consumerism, and postmodern antipathy toward all things meaningful — are returning to traditional Christianity.
Statistics don’t always reflect these trends. In many cases, they show the opposite. Membership and attendance in mainline denominations is falling, for example. But behind the statistics are standing-room-only worship conferences, burgeoning house church gatherings, campus movements, less traditional denominations that don’t track membership, and other such religious activities that aren’t easily tallied in surveys. Those of us who are praying for revival have a lot to be encouraged about.
The Easter Bump
Easter is a celebration of resurrection and renewal, and spiritual interest normally increases this time of year. One post-Easter report last year noted a few highlights:
• many churches reported bumper attendances
• 12,000 were baptized in France, one of the most secular nations on earth
• 419 were baptized by our friends at New Life Church in Colorado Springs
• 469 gave their lives to Christ at Audacious church in Manchester
• 116 got saved at Soul Church in Norwich
And meanwhile — beyond events, programs, conferences, and successful services — the long-term societal markers also seem to be shifting:
• Public intellectuals from Tom Holland to Jordan Peterson to Ayaan Hirsi Ali are arguing for faith in God.
• Influencers with millions of followers are professing faith – some even getting baptized.
• Columns in the Wall Street Journal and The Times of London are reporting a return to religion amongst the young, The Spectator even using the (over-excited) headline ‘Revival’.
• More than 7,000 school classrooms have now been turned into prayer rooms thanks to Prayer Spaces in Schools.
• 25 percent of Australians are saying they’d accept an invitation to church and 70 percent that they talk to the God they’re no longer supposed to believe in!
You can read the whole report (and others) at Renewal Journal, which is just one of many sites identifying revivals, movements, and other trends toward Christian renewal around the world.
‘More Lord, More’
These are encouraging signs, but God has something much bigger in store for us than pockets of revival or sporadic trends. We are entering into a season of massive Christian growth (as well as massive backlash against it) in the coming years. Revival and renewal movements over the last thirty years are already pointing in that direction, and many believers around the world are filled with anticipation of greater things. God is and will continue to be answering the cries of prayer movements and intercessors that have been lifted up to him over the last few decades.
Join those cries this weekend, if you haven’t already. Pray for an explosion of Holy Spirit outpourings around the world. Ask God to open hearts and minds and eyes to see, receive, and believe Jesus and the message of his kingdom. Pray with faith and great anticipation that God is on the move in the lives of multitudes in this world.
And have a happy Easter!