Revival Yearnings

In 1903-04, Campbell Morgan delivered a series of addresses to American seminary students on the subject of Evangelism. In his lecture on The Evangelist, Morgan stated, “Happy indeed is that church whose ecclesiastical order will allow it to make room for a man to exercise the gift God has bestowed, and unhappy is that Church who wants each of its ministers to be something of a prophet, and something of an evangelist, and something of a pastor and teacher, and thus making him something of each, makes him the whole of nothing.” Although there are some shared and overlapping responsibilities, an evangelist is not a pastor. So, what is an evangelist and what is he to do?

From my class notes in Personal Evangelism in seminary from deep within the last century, nay, millennium, Dr. James Eaves’ definition of evangelism is: To so present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit that people may come to put all their trust in God through Christ, accept Him as their Saviour, serve Him as their Lord in the fellowship of His church and share their witness with others.

Evangelism is the joy and responsibility of every believer. An evangelist is one who is specifically called and uniquely gifted to devote the bulk of his time, energy and resources doing evangelism. For the most part, that necessitates an itinerant (traveling) ministry.

“Isn’t an evangelist supposed to do revival meetings?”

Certainly, although “revival” may be misleading. We pray for, work for, and desperately long for revival, but we must admit we don’t schedule a supernatural act of a sovereign God, in other words, a miracle. (See my definition of Revival Yearnings*)

But I’m all for preaching protracted meetings sponsored by local churches. However, part of my understanding of the New Testament Evangelist is that he’s the guy who takes the Gospel to those who’ve never heard.

That’s why I feel compelled to spend so much time in Mexico’s Central Field, what our missionaries call The Heart of Darkness, an area of six states that are 0-2% evangelical. There are vast areas with countless villages that have no Gospel witness, areas our missionaries simply cannot get to.

So far this year, we have handed out about 15,000 Gospels of John in a joint effort to get the Gospel to every home in Mexico in the next six years (now about 5.)

“Why don’t you publish results?”

I believe in numbers. Numbers represent souls. What we are doing now, at this stage in Operation Go-Mexico is really pre-evangelism, praying over communities and sowing the Seed. This is just part of a ten step process in a Church Planting Movement. So I’m slow about reporting numbers of converts at this stage, hesitant to declare as “saved” those over whom the angels have not yet rejoiced.

“Isn’t an evangelist supposed to be a good fund-raiser?”

Probably so. But I’m not. To give a direct but reluctant answer to the many who have asked…we have no visible means of support, no guarantees, no medical insurance. And no complaints.

We are trusting the faithfulness of the Lord and wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks to those who have asked.

Campbell Morgan said about the evangelist: A man who receives the gift of the evangelist is one to whom there is given a clear understanding of the Evangel, a great passion in his heart results from the clear vision, a great optimism fills his soul, born of his confidence in the power of Christ to save every man; and growing out of that passion and that confidence a great constraint seizes him to tell somebody, to tell everybody, the glad news of salvation by Jesus Christ..where this is the all-consuming fire, there you have an evangelist.

As I write this, I am in my third week of a seven week Spanish course in Guadalajara , Mexico , a city of six to eight million. After only a few days of study I had a dream. I was preaching in Spanish! Fluently, and with great power. I can’t tell you how disappointed I was when I realized it was my radio alarm clock and it was someone else preaching! But that is the desire of my heart, to preach in Spanish, and to witness more effectively.

Some sweeping generalizations about Mexico and its people

You’ve heard folks make those kind of “lump everyone in one category” general statements. “Mexicans are hard-working” (or lazy). “Mexicans are very friendly.” “Mexicans are a very poor people.” The truth is, of course, that Mexicans are people, with every imaginable category included. I would lean toward saying a vast majority are very hard-working. Walking down the street, very few will speak first. But if I speak, folks invariably will respond graciously and if asked, are extremely helpful. And patient with me. And yes, there are a lot of poor people here, but I must admit I’m not in that neighborhood. The apartment that our IMB missionaries arranged for me is in what my family would consider a very exclusive part of town.

My landlord, Guillermo, told me everyone from Mexico City is rude (like everyone from New York City !) and people in Monterrey are cheap. I guess everyone (another generalization) makes generic judgment calls about others. By the way, one obstacle to evangelism here is the reputation Americans have of being arrogant and demanding, a reputation well deserved in many cases. Keep that in mind if you’re on a mission trip here or anywhere else in the world.

In spite of what the real estate and tourist brochures say, you can no longer come here and retire and live like royalty with servants, etc., unless you can afford to live that way in the states.

But here are statements that are generally true. They are often not worried about starting anything on time. They are not direct and confrontational. They are a very polite people and can be sensitive and get their feelings hurt when proper etiquette is not used. When you come into a room full of people, you greet each one personally, even if a meeting has already started, and you are “late.” The same is true about saying goodbye to each one, even if you leave before the meeting is over.

You are guilty until proven innocent. The customer is not always right. After all, there are six or eight million others out there to take your place. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way. In fact, you have no rights at all on foot. It is more than just urban legend that if a pedestrian gets hit by a bus, or often, any other vehicle, the driver may back over you to make sure you are dead. Then, he may get out and run. If caught, he is responsible for your expenses, and it is cheaper to bury you than pay for ongoing medical care! I’ve been told that I could ask almost anyone here and they would have a personal story to tell or one about someone they know.

These are mostly things I’ve been told while here.

Here is a personal observation.

Most Mexicans are lost. (I would say the same thing about most Americans.) Mexicans have a form of godliness, without knowing the saving power of Christ. Ninety-six to ninety-eight percent are Catholic. So, is that a narrow-minded, judgmental statement on my part? I slipped into a Catholic church down the street the other day and was looking at some of the art work. One painting in particular struck me. Jesus was on one side. Another person who could have been his twin (presumably God the Father) was on the other side. The dove, representing the Holy Spirit was above them. But, prominently front and center, by design given the pre-eminence, was the perpetually virginic, Virgin Mary, the Co-Redemptrix. She is said to be in Heaven, body and soul. The Roman Catholic Church is a pagan culture that has kept millions of people in spiritual darkness for centuries.

Some ask, “Well, are Mexicans seeking God?” The answer, of course, is Scriptural, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.”

But the Lord of the Harvest is seeking Mexicans and is seeking laborers to send out into a ripe harvest, reaping those He is calling to Himself. I’ve had the joy of introducing two people to Christ since being here, and that, in a language that I speak about as well as a toddler. It is the power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit, and He can use you, too.

I get phone calls here from telemarketers and opinion poll takers. At least, that’s what I think they are saying. Give me a little more time in Spanish instruction and I’ll start trying to witness to them.

Thank you for your prayers and continuing financial support. Both are urgently needed and deeply appreciated.

In the love of Christ,

Dan

Oh yes, they’re called tacos de cabeza. I would recommend you avoid them!

Crowds gathered spontaneously. Churches were packed all over the nation. It was never advertised, or even organized. No one was in charge; no human, anyway. To the outside observer, the services had no direction; in fact, they appeared to be chaotic. Several people praying at once, their testimonies or even the sermon, when there was one, regularly interrupted by the whole congregation breaking out in song, sometimes singing the same song for a solid hour. But it worked both ways. Often a soloist was drowned out by someone erupting in broken-hearted intercession. Or by shouts of praise from the balcony that someone had been converted. Sounds like total pandemonium to us.

But those who witnessed the 1904-05 Welsh Revival didn’t see it that way. It was clearly understood by all present that an Unseen Hand was conducting all proceedings. Deep conviction of sin, an overwhelming sense of brokenness and contrition, heart-wrenching prayers of compassion for the lost, explosions of joy inexpressible and full of glory describe the last Spiritual Awakening to impact the world, the last one that touched America as a whole.

Within six to eight weeks in the tiny country of Wales , 100,000 people had been converted to Christ!

We have never seen anything on this order in our lifetime, or in several generations past. But Revival among God’s people first, and then as a result, a Spiritual Awakening of our lost nation, is THE ONLY HOPE FOR AMERICA. We are not going to elect a messiah. The job’s already taken.

But I have great hope in our great covenant-keeping God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The darkest days spiritually are the most likely time for our sovereign and benevolent Lord to intervene. Then He and He alone will receive all the glory.