“Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. … For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore” (Ps. 133:1, 3).
In more than 40 years of ministry, I have had the privilege of being a part of two genuine awakenings/revivals/moves of God.
In the ’70s, amid the Jesus Movement and Charismatic Renewal, a handful of hungry folks gathered in the Washington, D.C., area, and within a few short years we saw more than 2,000 people—primarily young—packing into a building on a weekly basis to experience the manifest presence of God.
Thousands of conversions resulted, as well as the launching of many ministries and local churches. The son of a Supreme Court justice, a United States senator and individuals from across the U.S. and abroad all were drawn to this “divine radiation zone.”
For five years in the ’90s, I again had the honor of being a part of the Brownsville Revival—with Steve Hill, Michael Brown and John Kilpatrick—where millions came from all over the United States and abroad, and hundreds of thousands were radically converted as well as transformed by God’s holy presence. When I close my eyes, I can still visualize individuals lined up for 12 hours prior to evening services in the blazing sun just to be assured of a seat!
Both of these unforgettable chapters shared a common thread: Christians coming together from diverse backgrounds hungry for “more” and assembled in unity and humility to gain awareness of what God was doing and not miss out!
“Find out what God is doing in your generation, and fling yourself into it.” I challenged revivalist Lou Engle with these words over 30 years ago, and he says it changed the entire course of his life.
Over the decades, I have traveled to South Korea, Argentina, Azusa Street, Toronto, Northampton and Wales to either be touched by God’s anointing or glean the remnants from those who once were a part of a genuine awakening from God. Adding to this my study of Scripture and historical accounts of revivals, I’m frankly ruined for “status quo religion” and continue passionately pursuing God to do it again. I will confess that I also still sing and play some of the “old” songs carrying an anointing with lyrics like this: “Your Spirit is moving/All over the world/Divisions are falling/You’re making us one.”
Sitting in the home of Christian strategist and friend Ralph Reed, he shared with me his conviction that God is actively stirring and calling Christians to position themselves for a fresh awakening in our nation. He revealed he is working on a new book by the title of Awakening and concurred that our only real hope to salvage this nation is not primarily political but spiritual in the form of true heaven-sent transformation.
Larry Tomczak is a best-selling author and cultural commentator with over 40 years of trusted ministry experience. His passion is to bring perspective, analysis and insight from a biblical worldview. He loves people and loves awakening them to today’s cultural realities and the responses needed for the bride of Christ—His church—to become influential in all spheres of life once again.
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