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Church Leadership Journal Wisdom

We’re Praying for Another Divine Visitation

George Washington Praying at Valley Forge

 

Sometimes we are discouraged by the church’s decline

Sometimes we look around and are discouraged that the work of God seems to be in decline.   And it is not our imagination either.  One key indicator, though not the only one, is church attendance.  Stats show that the percentage of people attending church is down and that the regularity of attendance of those who attend is also down.   People in general feel that the church is losing its influence.  This is not the first time in US history this has happened.

But God has sent revival to the Granby area before

But the good news is that God has repeated visited our area and reversed the trend.   Here are three accounts of historical revivals in the Granby area that had marked positive effects upon the churches.   These are three actual accounts of Granby area revivals including quotes from eye-witnesses, accounts found in historical records.   I hope they will inspire us to believe that God is able to visit us again in the 2nd decade of the 21st century.

Jonathan Edwards 1741

Jonathan Edwards was one of America’s most accomplished intellectuals and theologians. Born in what is today South Windsor, CT, Edwards became a leader of New England’s first great awakening. His 1741 sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” first heard by throngs of believers in Enfield, CT is considered one of the most famous and influential ever delivered in the United States.  [http://connecticuthistory.org/people/jonathan-edwards/]

“We went over to Enfield where we met dear Mr. Edwards of Northampton who preached a most awakening sermon from these words, Deuteronomy 32:35, and before the sermon was done there was a great moaning and crying went out through ye whole House…. ‘What shall I do to be saved,’ ‘Oh, I am going to Hell,’ ‘Oh, what shall I do for Christ,’ and so forth. So yet ye minister was obliged to desist, ye shrieks and cry were piercing and amazing.” – Stephen Williams

In 1747, Jonathan Edwards joined the movement started in Scotland called the “concert in prayer,” and in the same year published An Humble Attempt to Promote Explicit Agreement and Visible Union of God’s People in Extraordinary Prayer for the Revival of Religion and the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on Earth. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Edwards_(theologian)]

 East Granby 1814-1815

The reorganization of the Turkey Hills ecclesiastical society coincided with the religious reawakening that swept through Connecticut in the wake of what historians refer to as the age of “free thinking and free drinking.” In a July 1815 article on recent religious revivals, the “Connecticut Evangelical Magazine and Religious Intelligencer” lists Turkey Hills as one of the societies that “had been favored with special showers of grace.”

In the autumn of 1814, Mr. Nettleton commenced his labors in East Granby. This was a waste place. The moral condition of the people was exceedingly deportable. But God saw fit to turn again the captivity of Zion. Under Mr. Nettleton’s preaching, there was a very interesting revival of religion.  -Rev. Bennett Tyler

The effect of that revival upon the church, and upon the community, was most happy and lasting. The schoolhouse and private rooms were filled with trembling worshipers. A solemnity and seriousness pervaded the community, which had not been experienced for years before. – Rev. Jonas B. Clark

33 people joined the Congregational church during the year of the revival.

[East Granby: the Evolution of a Connecticut Town by Mary Jane Springman and Betty Finnell Guinan  pp. 117]

Copper Hill Church 1871

In the ministry of Lemuel Richardson, in 1871 there was an extensive revival of religion, attended with remarkable manifestations. The writer, at a single evening meeting in the church, which lasted from 7 o’clock until midnight, witnessed as many as 15 persons who became apparently unconscious. Some were stretched upon the floor; others were lying or being supported upon the seats. This visitation of “the Spirit” was regarded as a great blessing, and it certainly did strengthen the church in numbers. – Charles Horace Clark

[http://historicbuildingsct.com/?cat=273]

[Revival] gatherings often attracted so many people that they had to be held outdoors. When they lasted several days, the participants camped out nearby. Thus they became known as camp meetings. There were camp meetings at various locations near Copper Hill throughout the 19th century.

[East Granby: the Evolution of a Connecticut Town by Mary Jane Springman and Betty Finnell Guinan  pp. 127]

Praying for God’s Visitation Today

At Copper Hill Church we are praying and preparing for God to visit his people again.   As a part of this, this Sunday we will be participating in the second area united Grassroots prayer service.  This series of prayer services is a cooperative effort of our church, Life Church and West Granby United Methodist Church and the three pastors.   At 6 PM, March 6, we will be uniting in prayer at Life Church.  Each prayer service has a special emphasis.  The first one, held at Copper Hill, emphasized prayer for our country.   This coming service, hosted by Life Church, will emphasize prayer for our churches and for New England as a region.    A third one to be hosted by West Granby UMC is planned at a date to be announced.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Journal News Commentary

God’s Mercy Transcending Evil in Charleston.

Men in a night time prayer circle in Charleston, SC.
God has been calling people to pray

 

 

Our hearts are broken by the horrific murderers at Emmanuel church in Charleston.  It is unfathomable that the horrid deed was done in prayer service by a man who sat in the service for an hour and enjoyed the hospitality of the group before turning on them.   The young man’s acts are certainly inexcusable, hate-filled and pure evil.

But my focus in this article is how I am seeing the grace of God released in others surrounding this tragedy.   To begin, consider the testimony of the woman who helped to catch the young man. http://www.today.com/news/debbie-dills-florist-who-helped-police-find-charleston-shooting-suspect-t27281.  She could not have made it more clear in her interview that she considers the whole circumstances surrounding her noticing the car and helping the police locate him to be a direct answer to the prayers of people in Charleston.   She testified that God was using her to accomplish what needed to be done.

I notice also the Christ-like desire of victims’ families to forgive even through their tears.  http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/charleston-church-shooting-main/.    Only those seeking to follow Jesus and drawing strength from his Spirit would even attempt this.    And, speaking as a pastor, I know they will need continuing help from God’s Spirit to keep that intent through the days to come as forgiveness is usually a journey rather than a one-time thing.

Next consider how this incident is calling people across our country to prayer.  Immediately in Charleston people were praying.  Now even in Washington people are praying.  Oh that we did not need tragedy to call us to prayer!   But thanks be to God that when there is tragedy we do turn to Him who can truly help us.     http://blogs.rollcall.com/hill-blotter/staff-lawmakers-gather-to-pray-for-charleston/?dcz=.   Our church joined in prayer for the situation in our morning service.   Perhaps God’s Spirit is using this tragedy to call us again as a nation back to God.

In addition, tonight (6/21/15) there is a great unity march in Charleston.  Jesus prayed that God’s people would be united (John 17:21).    At this time we are being drawn closer to one another by calamity.

Our United Methodist Church posted a thoughtful response remembering the name of the church.   http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/god-is-with-us-a-response-to-south-carolina-church-shooting.  The church at which the shooting occurred is called Emmanuel – which means, “God with us.”    I believe that God is definitely showing his presence if we will only look and respond!

 

 

Categories
Church Leadership Journal

Guiding congregational prayer

Over the last several weeks, there has been more than one occasion for our church to join in united prayer as a congregation in various different ways.   Some of them have been ways that we do not see very often.  I thought it might be helpful for me to address in a blog article some of the practices that were in evidence as we prayed together.

Praying for Eric and Magda

This last Sunday, we had the privilege of praying for Eric and Magda and family as we commissioned them for short-term mission service in Romania.   As pastor, I asked for many to gather around them in front at the altar rail as we laid hands on them and prayed for them.   One might ask, “Why do we lay hands on them?”   The short answer is simply that it was done that way in the book of Acts.  For example, when Barnabas and Saul went on their first missions trip the Bible says that the church at Antioch laid hands on them.   “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Ac 13:2-3 NIV).   IN the NT, the laying on of hands is also done in conjunction with prayers for receiving the Holy Spirit and prayers for healing.    Since a successful missions trip can only happen as the Holy Spirit empowers, it was natural also to lay hands on them as we prayed for the coming missions trip. 

As we prayed for Erica and Magda I suggested that we all pray out loud at the same time.