The Welsh Revival: “Bend the Church & Save the World”
Evan Roberts
By Tom Shanklin
Since returning from England and Wales in May, my heart has been captivated by thoughts of the great need for revival in the US, the UK, and many places around the world. I have been studying some of the great revivals of the past to see what it was that turned nations around and spawned great movements to reach the lost and take the Gospel to the world.
The Welsh Revival of 1904-1905 was birthed through the ministry of a 26-year-old man with little theological training named Evan Roberts. His motto was “bend the church and save the world.” The emphasis was on the great need for the Church to bow and yield to the Holy Spirit that He might do His mighty work of renewal and transformation.
After experiencing a powerful outpouring the Holy Spirit in his own life, Roberts was led of the Lord to begin meetings with other young people in his hometown of Loughor, south Wales. The meetings were characterized by a conviction of sin, public confessions of Jesus Christ, powerful conversions, joy and laughter, spontaneous singing and prayer, and a strong awareness of the presence of God. People of all ages soon began to join the meetings, and the revival spread throughout Wales until approximately 150,000 people were converted to Christ in that small nation.
Results of the Welsh Revival
Some of the results on society were:
- Many of the pubs were empty and liquor sales greatly reduced.
- Dance halls, theaters, and football (soccer) matches saw a dramatic decline in attendance as young people became more interested in seeking God’s presence than other pursuits.
- The courts and jails were emptied and policemen found themselves with little to do.
- Family feuds where healed and denominational divisions were replaced by unity.
- Converted coal miners became gentlemen. As a result, the “pit-ponies” in the mines no longer know how to respond, since they were used to the swearing and fierce anger of the miners.
News of the Welsh Revival began to spread all over the world igniting a flame of Holy Ghost power which continues to burn today. Many places, including Wales, however, need to be “re-lit” by the power of God. While this flame is burning brightly in many countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, our Western nations are in need of firebrand evangelists to carry the torch of the Holy Spirit and go through the land.
How Do We Fit In?
That’s where you and I come in. We need to be ignited with the Holy Spirit in these days. People of all ages need a personal revival and refreshing of the Holy Spirit, so that God’s glory may be seen upon our land. The Scripture says:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:17-21, KJV.
What a wonderful promise! And we are still living in those last days. Although we are in a world filled with hatred and moral degradation of every kind, God is still able and willing to pour out His Spirit. The result will be the salvation of souls. But we need to do our part and yield to Him. It’s not enough to talk about revival and pray for revival, we must also yield to revival! We must turn our hearts to the Lord in repentance and begin to open ourselves totally to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people try to produce revival by replicating the outward manifestations of past moves of God, but true revival (new life) comes only when we yield our hearts to God.
We need revival in our churches. We a need revival in our homes. We need revival in our communities. But it starts with us laying down our personal agendas and fleshly desires, and letting Jesus truly become King in our lives. Then He will pour out His Spirit and bring powerful transformation.