Seventh-Day Adventist Church

January 23, 2021

One of the greatest global revivals witnessed in 200 years broke out in Wales in 1904. The Welsh Revival was the global climax of a worldwide awakening, emphasizing what became known as “the Spirit-filled life,” with emphasis on sanctification. Sincere Christians were growing weary of legalistic, dry, intellectual religion, much like what Seventh-day Adventist were experiencing in the 1870s and 1880s. The Keswick Convention, an annual Bible conference, was instrumental in bringing about a revival. In 1902, participants at the Keswick Convention formed a prayer circle and pledged themselves to pray for revival around the world. House to house visitation took place sharing Jesus and letting the people know that they must confess their sins, put away evil habits, obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, and share their faith in Christ publicly. The Spirit of God took hold of Wales by storm. In five months, half a million people became Christians. Taverns went bankrupt for lack of patronage. Unwed pregnancies practically disappeared. Judges were given white gloves: not a case to try – no robberies, no burglaries, no rapes, no murders, no embezzlements. Crime had simply stopped. The revival spread, in Wales, one of every ten citizens was converted. In Japan, the number of Christians doubled by 1910, India Christianity grew 70% in 1905-1906, Latin America experienced a 180% growth from 1903 to 1910. In the USA 35,000 members were added to the Methodist Church, Southern Baptists increased 25% in one year, etc. What does this say to me? God was preparing the world, and will do so again, for the message he has given us to share. In 1904 Ellen White wrote: “Why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit, since this is the means by which we are to receive power? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, preach concerning it?” Let us turn to God pleading for the Holy Spirit to fill us and develop a deeper relationship with Jesus.