Revival Follow up

So, I know I have not been real faithful to updating this thing, but I figured since I changed up the look some, I would post a quick follow up to the revival in Hazen, ND. I was hopeing to have some pictures on here, but for some reason I can't get them to load up, so I will have to try later. The time spent up north, was extremely wonderful. The people were so generous and made me feel right at home.  I was not sure what to expect when I got there, but I was quickly welcomed there. As a sign said that was given as a gift to me and Lindsey, "Enter as strangers, leave as friends." From Sunday to Wednesday I preached five times and was out in the community meeting people and sharing with them.   The church had been praying and preparing for revival for months, not only for the Revival but for a great outreach effort that is soon to begin in churches all across the Dakotas.

Though, we did not see any public decisions as far as anyone accepting Christ as their Savior or any rededications, or anything like that, there were still decisions being made. Each night people came to the altar to pray. With conviction, people prayed for their lost friends, they prayed for revival in their own hearts, for their marriages, their families, and so much more. It was a time in which God changed the hearts of many. Revival cannot start in our communities if we are not first revived ourselves. We must be brought to a new level in our relationship. We must catch fire before we can expect the church and the community to do the same.The challenge was laid for us all to share the Gospel with those who do know Him. Each night, even for just a few minutes, the call for all believers to share the Gospel was laid out. Romans 10:13-15 became a favorite passage of mine in order to lay the challenge.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."[a] How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

That challenge, that call was not just to the believers in Hazen, North Dakota, but to myself as well. How can people be saved if they do not call on the Lord? How can they call if they have not believed? How can they believe if they do not hear about the Gospel? How can they hear the Gospel if someone doesn't tell them about it? How can people go and tell if they are sent? Well, regardless of what your church is or isn't doing, God is sending you and me out to share the Good News. It's our challenge and our commission. Wll we follow?