The Great Awakenings and the Multitudes
I have had an interest in the study of revival and spiritual awakenings around the world. Although I am certainly not a scholar on the subject, I did write a book on it—The End Time Revival and Great Awakening. In it I included a couple of chapters on the First and Second Great Awakenings.
One of the marks of these revivals was that great multitudes gathered where the Word of God was preached. Hundreds and some thousands of souls would gather in the meetings held by John Wesley, George Whitefield and David Brainerd in the First Great Awakening. Wesley was not allowed to preach in the church in his home town Epworth, so he preached on his father’s tombstone outside and many multitudes gathered. This was the start of the great Methodist movement that swept across the world.
Such multitudes attended Whitefield’s services that some climbed up trees to get a better view. Multitudes of native-American Indians came to Christ in Brainerd’s meetings.
When the Second Great Awakening hit, Charles Finney preached with a conviction that drew thousands into the Kingdom of God, until the awakening took on a life of its own. I believe that such a revival and spiritual awakening is possible in modern times. I also believe that such a spiritual awakening would happen in Massive Miracle Campaigns, as well as in local churches, home group meetings and one-on-one evangelism.
Another noteworthy example was when an “open air meeting” was held in a market place in Fair Hill, Ireland on June 7, 1859. “Dense masses of people, from town and country, began to pour into the square by all its approaches, and in a short time an enormous multitude crowded around the platform from which the speakers were to address the meeting…”* Multitudes came to Christ that day and many more during that great awaking among the Irish.
*When the Fire Fell, George TB Davis, (Salem, OH: Schmull Publishing Co., Inc., 1983) Page 42.
Massive Miracle Campaigns:
Contemporary Ministry to the Multitudes
The growth of Christianity in modern days have been nothing short of incredible—especially in countries that have not traditionally been Christian or Evangelical. Noteworthy examples are sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Pacific and South America. Credit should be given to the tireless work of faithful missionaries, underground churches and frankly—the result of sheer and uncontrollable revival and spiritual awakening.
Having acknowledged these contributions, proper recognition should also be given to the accomplishments of contemporary Massive Miracle Campaigns. Although many people may be credited, I do wish to make special mention of Evangelists TL Osborn and Reinhard Bonnke.
Brother Osborn was perhaps the first to truly hold massive evangelistic outreach events in modern times, as a method to reach the lost in developing countries. In a day when it was virtually unheard of, Brother Osborn drew hundreds of thousands of souls to his events. I am convinced that the far reaching ripple effects of his miracle ministry and massive evangelistic outreach events are still recognizable today.
The ministry of Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke took the standards of Massive Miracle Campaigns to a whole new level. Bonnke literally gathered the harvest by the millions, partly because of the increased numbers of the world’s population—especially in Africa.
There is no telling what modern day evangelistic statistics will reflect as the world population reaches 7 billion in 2011 and a projected 9 billion by 2045.
Massive Miracle Campaigns:
Passing the Baton
There are those who have suggested that Massive Miracle Campaigns should be left in the hands of well known established evangelists. Once again, it depends on what God has laid on your heart. It makes no sense at all to condemn younger ministries that reach out to the masses because larger, more established ministries are already doing it. That’s like saying that younger musicians should just leave large concerts for the celebrities. Again, that’s like saying that soldiers should rather focus on building barracks for the troops than drive tanks.
There is no scripture to support the notion that only some ministries that have been evangelizing for forty or fifty years should hold Massive Miracle Campaigns. They also started off small. They started off preaching to the tens and the twenties. And God gave the increase. When these heroes and giants of faith are called to glory, who are going to take their place?
God is raising up another generation who will continue that which the Lord did through them. I have personally talked to some of the great evangelists of our generation who have now grown older. They all share the same consensus—they want to pass the baton to the next generation.
Massive Miracle Campaigns:
A Safe and Friendly Environment for non-Christians
For example, in Hindu or Muslim culture it is very rare that a person would go into a church to hear the gospel. Such a person would be persecuted just for going into the church. I’m not even talking about becoming a believer. Just going into a church can bring the wrath of his peers on him. However, in a massive evangelistic outreach it may be different. It is easier to maintain a low profile and mingle with the crowd.
A massive evangelistic outreach event provides a friendly atmosphere for the unbeliever to attend incognito and hear the Word of the Lord. It provides the opportunity for such a person to raise his hand to receive Christ Jesus as his Savior. After the Word has entered his or her heart, the new believer has experienced the reality of the Only true and Living God; and with that experience would have the strength to stand up for his faith in Jesus.
Massive Miracle Campaigns:
Community Wide Awareness
It is not easy to ignore such a mass of people. Whenever a crowd gathers at one place around one purpose, the whole area takes notice. When the crowds gathered in Acts chapter two, immediately the question "What is this?" was raised. An immense evangelistic outreach is a mammoth event that focuses attention on Jesus Christ. My first massive evangelistic outreach in the country of India was incredible, and brought a community wide awareness of Christ. We didn't just erect a platform one day and expect the crowds to come. We worked on the outreach for several months.
A massive advertisement campaign was launched to saturate the area about 50 miles radius around from where the even was held. We printed 200,000 full color handbills (8 x 5 inch flyers/handouts.) We printed additional 35,000 or so full-color 24 x 36 inch wall posters. Also, we had 300 "cloth banners" made that were displayed on 300 public transport vehicles. Another 300 cloth banners were made and hung all around the city.
Two giant bill boards were placed in the two busiest parts of the city. We also advertised in the newspaper and on television. We hired five jeeps for ten days and equipped them with PA systems to drive around the city and announce the outreach. The stadium I rented could seat about 40,000 people. Using the floor space also could probably accommodate another 200,000 people.
The very first service attracted about 8,500 people. On the second and third nights, 15,000 to 17,000 people came. On the final night, a team of pastors from the US estimated the crowd at 35,000 people. The combined attendance over the four days was about 70,000 people.
I was told that about 27,000 people received decision cards so that they may be followed up. Within the two weeks following the outreach, 9,602 decision cards were returned to our representative in India. These were people asking about baptism, joining churches and requesting more prayer. Massive Miracle Campaigns truly bring an immense awareness of Christ Jesus to a whole community!
I have since held several additional Massive Miracle Campaigns that have drawn as many as 80,000 to perhaps even 100,000 people in combined attendance. I hope to reach at least 100,000,000 souls in my lifetime.
"Miracles for the Multitudes" is a combination of two focal points of Joel Hitchcock's Ministry, namely:
(a) Miracles, Signs and Wonders and (b) Massive Miracle Campaigns
This Blog is based on Dr. Joel Hitchcock's book "Miracles for the Multitudes".
To order Joel's eBook, go to http://www.joelhitchcock.com/p/product-store_4.html
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Permission to duplicate is hereby granted as long as the complete quote does not exceed more than 1,000 words and that due credit is given to the source.
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