My little church has been hosting revival services all week.  Tonight is the last night of services.

For those that are not familiar—and even here in the Deep South, I am finding lots of churchgoing Christians who have no idea what a “revival” is—revivals are annual or semi-annual events during which churches hold additional nights of services, usually with a guest preacher or preachers.  The purpose of revival is twofold:  1.) to revive the congregation (as the name suggests) with inspiring teaching and preaching and 2.) to encourage additional evangelism in the community.  While Jesus Calls Christians to the Great Commission all the time, revival makes going to church a bit more of an event—“come hear this dude from the town over preach tonight!”

My pastor has an extensive network of other pastors and Biblical scholars in the area, so he always finds some great preachers.  Some of them are the old-school Pentecostal types—lots of vocal crescendos and emotionalism—while others are more scholarly, with deep theological insights.  I tend to prefer the latter, but it’s always a good variety, swinging from passionate piety to intellectual rigor.

If you would, dear readers, say a prayer for revival tonight.  I have invited several people—some former students, mostly—to attend.  A number of them indicated they’d likely be able to come out tonight.  I know how these things sometimes go—not wanting to offend, vague quasi-commitments are made, only to be broken—often at the last possible moment—with various sudden emergencies and such.  I understand, but I would ask your prayers that these young men and women make an appearance, and that the Word delivered tonight strikes a chord and/or fulfills a need.  I don’t know the hearts of all of these invitees, nor do I know their spiritual condition, but if any are lost, please pray that for their salvation, either tonight or in the future.

I’m trying to evangelize more and to plant the seed of the Gospel in the hearts of others.  I’ve failed to do so far more often than I care to admit.  Please pray that the seed falls on fertile ground.

God Bless!

—TPP