Do you want to be inspired? Minnesota: The Revival State by Dale Gilmore chronicles the great moves of God across the state from born again, Spirit-filled Lutheran settlers to a Catholic nun from Rochester whose prophetic visions inspired the Mayo Clinic to a fist-fighting Presbyterian preacher in the Northwoods and much more.

Many Pentecostal and charismatic churches in Minnesota and around the world trace their roots to a revival at Azuza Street in Los Angeles in 1906, but a small denomination of churches called the Scandinavian Missions Society experienced revival in the 1890s which included people accepting Christ, receiving bodily healing, and speaking in other tongues.

These churches were located in west central and northwest Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. During the first and second decades of the 1900s many of the churches joined other denominations, such as the Evangelical Free Church of America, the Evangelical Covenant Church of America, and the Assemblies of God.

But the Scandinavian Missions Society were not the only ones who were on fire for God. In the mid-19th century, camp meetings, led primarily by Methodists, took place across the state. People came together to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, renew their covenant with God, experience His presence, confess their sins, and be water baptized. 

One notable camp meeting was held annually at Red Rock, just south of St. Paul on the banks of the Mississippi River. The local newspapers regularly covered the events taking place there and a steamboat brought a continual stream of people from the Twin Cities. Political leaders passed laws to protect the camp from encroachment by troublemakers. Camp meetings were also held at Caledonia, Chatfield, Spring Valley, Clearwater, Winnebago City, Plainview, Center Grove, King’s Grove (south of St. Cloud), Rochester, Mazeppa, Stillwater, Red Wing, Dundas, Pleasant Grove. Gilmore, Dale, and other locations.

A series of Presbyterian preachers were instrumental in bringing the Gospel to roughneck logging camps in northern Minnesota. One of them, John Sornberger, was a hardened criminal who Governor John Albert Johnson pardoned after recognizing the reality of his conversion to Christ. Sornberger went on to see many conversions among the loggers and others through his pungent preaching and witness. 

Minnesota has also been graced by the ministry of many prominent evangelists, including Maria Woodworth Etter, Aimie Semple McPherson, Charles Price, William Brahnam, and Kathryn Kuhlman, to name a few. Each brought their own thread which was woven into the spiritual fabric of our great state. 

Another surprise in this book was an account of missionaries working among the Dakota Sioux. Most of the Native American men who were sentenced and hung in Mankato, Minnesota during the Dakota Indian Conflict in 1862 were converted to Christ and baptized before their death. Many of the prisoners among the Dakotas also received Christ during this time. 

There’s much more that could be said about this thoroughly researched book, like the grasshopper plague which was averted in 1877 when Governor John Pillsbury set aside a day for fasting and prayer. Some mocked and criticized but others filled the churches to pray. A snowstorm and an ice storm came into the state the following day and killed all the grasshoppers and their eggs. Or I could share about the powerful move of the Holy Spirit among Mennonite teenagers near Ogema, but I’ll let you read the rest for yourself.

As someone who has traveled in ministry extensively in Minnesota, the history of revival in our state was a great encouragement. To know that we have ministered where others have gone before and paved the way, makes one realize that we are part of God’s “long game.” He has been patiently working in history and He will continue to work in the days to come. 

If you live in Minnesota or a nearby state you likely find connections to the past for your location or spiritual stream. And for those outside Minnesota, your part of the world no doubt has seen similar patterns of revival, and our heavenly Father has great plans for your land as well. 

The book also includes an appendix of prophetic words that have been spoken over Minnesota by many different voices in recent years. Only time will tell of the accuracy of these specific predictions. But taken as a whole, the thread that runs through these prophecies is that God is going to move in a powerful way in the prairies and hills of Minnesota before the coming of the Lord and that revival fires will break out that will spread to the nation and the world.

The overall effect of this book was to stir up hope for a great awakening in our state which will reach every level of society. God has done it before and He will do it again! The move of God starts with each of us as we yield ourselves to God and pray. Let’s all press forward spiritually to see revival in our own lives, families, churches, communities, state, and world.

I suggest that you purchase the paperback version rather than the Kindle, as the Kindle has no pictures. (Well, almost none.) I read this book on the Kindle, but I will be purchasing the paperback version in the future, which includes many photos from the past moves of God.

Minnesota: The Revival State by Dale Gilmore is available on amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.

Let me know what you think!