Harvest revivals prove effective in reaching lost

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Florida Baptist churches are demonstrating that evangelistic revivals are still an effective method of reaching the spiritually lost as they report professions of faith from individuals of all ages during “Consumed With Hope” harvest revivals.

“Consumed with Hope” is a multidimensional statewide evangelism strategy developed by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Evangelism Division. “Harvest revivals” are one of several components held in conjunction with the “Consumed With Hope emphasis.”

Criticisms that revivals are outdated can be disproved by hard work and diligent spiritual effort, said Jim Snell, pastor of Lake Hill Baptist in Melrose.

Lake Hill has hosted an evangelistic revival annually for three years. Each year, between 8 and 16 individuals have made professions of faith during their two-to-three day gatherings.

Revivals, “are a strategy that take work and preparation,” said Snell. “Without preparation, revivals are nothing more than a set of meetings.”

Snell began preparing himself and his congregation at least six months before their April 5-8 event. A prayer conference was held to launch a campaign that dedicated Wednesday evenings to praying for the revival meeting. Then, members walked the church’s campus and met in homes to pray for the people who would attend.

But simply holding prayer meetings is not enough, contends Snell. “Prayer is a big part of it, but sometimes we don’t put feet to our prayers. We have to go out there and reach the people.”

During Monday evening visitation, community members were personally invited to attend the revival. Others received announcement flyers in the mail.

Westwood Baptist in Live Oak also used media outlets like the radio, newspaper and local television to invite the community to their revival.

These promotional methods may challenge some churches to budget time and resources differently, but speaking as someone who accepted Christ during a revival, James Deas, Westwood’s pastor said, “Revival is always worth the effort.”

Revivals work, he said, “when a church is willing to pray, prepare and help “create situations where God can do what only God can do.”

Revivals are critical for evangelistic outreach and the encouragement of the congregation, he said. “One of the most effective ways of evangelizing is when we get our churches revived. Then we will reach the lost and the unchurched.”

Five persons made professions of faith during Westwood’s Feb. 20-23 revival.

Still, Deas said the “best indication” of a “successful” revival meeting is not only what happened during the week of revival but what happens in the church six months after the event.

Alan Hammock, pastor of Providence Village in Lake Butler, agreed with Deas.

Providence Village was one of seven churches in the Beulah Baptist Association that held a simultaneous “Consumed With Hope” harvest revival in late February.

“An evangelistic push for a week is not nearly as effective as getting people evangelistic for a lifetime,” said Hammock.

The church planned its revival directly following a youth retreat where four youth and an adult counselor made professions of faith.

Since the event, Providence Village has continued its revival momentum through local outreach, including an Easter Celebration where an African-American congregation and another local church were invited to join worship services. At least one salvation was reported.

Then in April the congregation met for a “Vision Summit” where they discussed how they could more effectively reach young adults in their community.

“Real revival affects individuals within the church. It equips people to be more faithful in service,” Hammock said, noting an increase in visitors.

Seize opportunities created by revival, advised Snell, Lake Hill’s pastor. “You can’t let the fire die, you have to continue to work,” he said.

When a church is bringing the spiritually lost in to hear the message of Christ, “the members get excited about people getting saved and baptized,” Snell said. “When people get excited about that, they are going to continue to go out and witness to the community and touch hearts and lives.”

But the reverse is also true, Snell added. Without seeing persons baptized, “people get complacent and become unconcerned about lost souls.”

“A church without baptisms will not be vibrant or exciting,” he said. “They will just exist.”