Webster dictionary defines a revival as “an act or instance of reviving, the state of being revived or a renewed attention to or interest in something.” Spiritual revivals can take place in one singular church, or be a movement that stretches across the whole nation.
The most recent nationwide revival was called The Promise Keepers Revival and it took place primarily in the mid 1990s. Since that time, there hasn’t been another nationwide spiritual revival of note sweep the nation. One revival in Northeastern Tennessee hasn’t made its way across the nation as of yet, but might be on its way to doing so…
The spiritual revival currently taking place in Northeastern Tennessee, called #GreenevilleAwakening, is entering its 16th week and showing no signs of waning. According to D.R. Harrison, who is an evangelist with the Voice of Hope Ministries and is preaching the revival, “There’s no signs of stopping. Lord willing, we’ll start up week number 16 on Monday night. As of today (Friday) there’s been over 400 people walk an aisle and trust Christ and from all denominations, all walks of life…Alcoholics, drug addicts…people coming and giving their heart to Christ.”
The #GreenvilleAwakening has included 178 churches, spanning 17 states. It takes place under a big tent, like the revivals of old.
“It’s just amazing; it continues to build momentum, and that is the thing that is so amazing. I’m at a loss for words to even describe it ‘cause it’s so supernatural,” Harrison added.
The current movement started with what was supposed to be a one-week revival hosted by Greystone Freewill Baptist Church on April 15th.
“Every day I walk under the tent, and I’m humbled at what all God’s done, I’ve been in this town since April the 15th, and it seems like that it’s only been a couple weeks,” Harrison explained. “And to see what God provided in giving us a tent and all the equipment, and then seeing every night people that have been saved sitting under the tent; the next night or the next night standing up praising the Lord.”
Some might assume that the conversions happening as part of the the revival are emotionally based and unauthentic. However, Harrison addressed this assumption saying, “God is truly changing lives. I mean people aren’t just signing cards and then going back, doing what they did before. These are people that God is changing their lives. It’s just amazing.”
It’s been shown that once people become adults, they are less likely to open their hearts to their need for salvation, which makes older individuals less likely to get saved. This revival, though, has seen people of all ages come to know the Lord, through salvation. As Harrison said in an interview with CBN News, “In this revival God is saving people from five years old, seven years old, all the way up to 92 and 93 years old. It’s truly a supernatural act of God ‘for such a time as this.’”
There is no way of knowing when the #GreenevilleAwakening will end. Harrison says there are some in the town in which the revival’s held who think the tent meeting will still be standing and going strong even into 2019. Harrison said the following when asked what he thought, “I believe that; if I did not believe that, I wouldn’t be here, and God is doing so many supernatural things that I really believe that this could be the next Great Awakening–not just the Greenveville Awakening, but the next Great Awakening.”
As believers, the longevity and scope of the #GreenevilleAwakening should be considered a great sign. Perhaps, this is the beginning of a modern day Great Awakening where American citizens all across the nation turn back to God. This would of course be a wonderful outcome. However, even if the #GreenevilleAwakening remains in Northeastern Tennessee, it is still an amazing revival that has made a big impact locally and is worth admiration.
~ 1776 Christian
