Then & Now

I grew up in a small rural community consisting of family and friends. We could ride our bikes up and down the blacktop road, knock on a neighbor’s door, or just walk in. Our homes were the epitome of shows like, “Ozzie & Harriet,” “Father Knows Best,” and “Leave It to Beaver,” with a bit of “Dennis the Menace” thrown in.

Two churches graced our neighborhood and filled with our families each Sunday morning. They were the places to be.

Every Spring and Fall my church hosted a revival. A special guest preacher came each night for a week, sometimes two, and expounded the word. Singing, testimonies, prayers, the word, and altar calls made up the services. During the week children came to know Jesus as their Savior, some adults, too. Other adults and older youth would find their way to the altar for a time of renewing their commitment or simply, drawing closer to the Lord.

When the revival ended, all were tired but filled with a renewed spirit ready to take on the world in the Lord’s name. Then when summer came so did baptisms in the creek or pond.

Many years have passed since those days, and many changes live in our community. We no longer know our neighbors, except the few left from days gone by. Our children aren’t safe to wander the road. Only one church remains and its saints are few in number. We know longer have revivals.

Did the day of revivals and the age of the Great Awakenings slip away in the night? My pondering question this week is this:

How can the Church experience revival again, or can it?

“And that, knowing the time,

that now it is high time to awake out of sleep:

for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Rom. 13:11

Thank you, for taking time to comment.