Revival Methods
Information will be shared on the methods used in Pastor Minchin's revival work.
Recognize the Need, Purpose and Way of Revival
"A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. There must be earnest effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to bestow his blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it. Our Heavenly Father is more willing to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us his blessing.”—Ellen White, Review and Herald, March 22, 1887, par. 1.
"A revival and a reformation must take place under the administration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganisation, a change in ideas and feelings, habits and practices. . . . Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.''— Ellen White, Christ Our Righteousness," p. 154.
Mobilize the Church
"What a joy it was to meet with nearly 80 leaders and their assistants before and during the meetings and to see the burden of souls resting upon them. Never before have I been privileged to associate with a whole church mobilized to soul-winning visitation during a revival effort. Night after night as I watched our members bringing their non-Adventist friends to the meetings, my heart was stirred." I personally had the privilege of visiting a number of homes with Elder Keymer. I think of one man and his wife who had once been closely associated with our conference. They had been separated from the church for over fifteen years. Only once during those fifteen years had a representative of the church visited them. Tears were in the eyes of the wife as she told how she thought the church had forgotten them. Although they have had a very sad experience, I believe this expression of interest and warm regard must have a lasting effect upon their hearts. In addition to the program of visitation, the purpose of the week was to revive the hearts of those who are in the church." Great victories were won during the week.
Organize Friendship Circles
"Outstanding among the impressions of our meeting in Battle Creek was the work of the friendship circle, which will be a permanent feature of the Battle Creek church program."
"Friendship teams for the visiting program were organized within the membership of the church. A large map of Battle Creek was used to note the location of each member of the church. The member's homes were marked by a numbered tack placed on the map. The map was then divided up into 38 sections, placing about 15-20 Adventist homes in each section. The sections were called Friendship Circles and were to unite as a group to become better acquainted with each other and to work as teams for those who were former members or for interested friends. A leader and an assistant were chosen for each circle. These leaders first enlisted each member within the circle into a friendship team. The leaders then obtained from the chairman of the friendship circles the names of people living within their section who needed visit- ing. The teams took these names and visited these people in a friendly way, reviving a brotherly interest in their welfare and letting them know that God cared for them, and that the church desired to help them. They were invited to attend the meetings during the week. These contacts proved to be a great blessing to the ones visited as well as to the visitors themselves. Nearly 900 names were on the visiting list and most of these were contacted. In addition to the laymen visiting, the ten ministers present for the meetings or- organized into friendship teams also and they visited every day throughout the week. The visiting program brought a wonderful spirit into our week for all were busy working for others and it proved to be a great blessing to the members of the church."
"One of our workers approached the door of a home where the general information on the card went something like this: "once a member, no longer attends, reason unknown." After a short prayer, a knock at the door and a deep breath, the door opened. A small child peered out and said, "My Mommy is busy; she wants to know what you want." "Well, tell your Mommy that I'm not a salesman, and I'm not selling anything, but I've come to give her something that she will like and so will you and all the rest of the family." Mommy appeared a moment later looking somewhat skeptical, but almost immediately broke into a smile. "Oh, I recognize you," she said. "You're from the tabernacle. I saw you at the meeting last night. Won't you come in?" This woman had lost her way, but because a number had shown an interest in her and had invited her to come to the meetings, she had made up her mind that she would try one. After this first meeting, her heart was softened and she said she was not going to miss any of the rest of them if she could help it."
Include Young People in the Meeting
"The academy students participated in every program, some ushering, some singing in the youth choir, some playing in the orchestra, and others bringing friends. Two young ladies even skipped the school picnic in order to go calling on lost souls."
Select Encouraging Theme and Other Choruses to Use During the Meetings
"A feature not to be forgotten by those present at these meetings was the singing of several beautiful, specially selected choruses. The singing of "My Jesus, I Love Thee, I Love Thee, I Do," "Every Day With Jesus Is Sweeter than the Day Before," and "Coming Some Day," thrilled us through and through."
"The theme song, 'A Heart Like Thine,' was often used in services, as well as 'Christ is the Answer.' The Spirit used the music in a mighty way to encourage responses and to bind attendees to Christ in their new or renewed relationship with the Savior.
Carefully Select Appropriate Topics
• First Sample: North London's Youth For Christ Week
"It is time to seek the Lord!" declared Brother Minchin in the first session, and he reminded us solemnly that we were "sitting down in Holloway when we ought to be sitting down in heaven!" Christ's coming was delayed because His remnant people are unready!
"Following Sunday's subject, "Pitching Toward Sodom," the speaker got down to practical application by explaining clearly and intelligently how vital a step is "Conversion." It was one thing to say our prayers, but another thing to pray!
Satan always provides counterfeits to God's provisions for the youth.
"Brother Minchin next exposed, in a disturbing indictment, two tendencies of the modern: "Worldly Amusements,— unrealistic values and suggestions of evil. Christian recreation, by contrast, fitted for service.
"The question, "What shall I do with love and marriage?" could hardly have been approached more tactfully, positively, and psychologically sound.
"One of the surest ways of "Overcoming Temptation" is to refuse, by God's help, to debate or consider sinful indulgence.
"On Friday, Brother Minchin "brought home" (in more senses than one) the "Reality of Heaven." How fleeting and worthless is this little span of time, where we are "strangers and pilgrims."
"Many fervent prayers were answered when, on the closing Sabbath, God bestowed great blessings on all sincere seekers who craved "Rivers of Living Water." Are we merely defending Christianity, or adorning it? Christ's grace alone can produce in His people the fruit of the Spirit. From three o'clock, yes, almost until six o'clock, there was a grand praise meeting. Many youth crowded onto the platform, and though confessing their unworthiness, determined by divine grace, to "strive earnestly for identity with the Redeemer."— D. Sage, "Christ is the Answer," British Advent Messenger, November 7, 1947.
Seek To Be in the Presence of Jesus in the Hours Prior to Speaking
"Typical of that ministry, in late 1957, Len conducted a month-long series of revival meetings in the small, dusty desert town of Tulare in Central California. During that time he stayed in the home of a New Zealand born couple, A James Haskins and his wife Millie. Gregarious by nature, Len and the family enjoyed their fellowship together with common interests in things “down-under” in the mornings, but after the midday meal Len would quietly retire to his room for prayer and study until late afternoon. He would emerge and, for an hour or so and very much withdrawn into himself, play the family’s Hammond organ. Then it was time to travel to the evening meeting, a drive taken pretty much in silence. On the journey home Len would be tired but open to some limited, quiet conversation. By the next morning he would revert to his normal, cheerful self. That month powerfully influenced the Depee family he was staying with, as well as the cluster of churches around Tulare."
Get Your Serman Warm From Glory
"I saw that the Spirit of the Lord has been dying away from the church. The servants of the Lord have trusted too much to the strength of argument, and have not had that firm reliance upon God which they should have. I saw that the mere argument of the truth will not move souls to take a stand with the remnant; for the truth is unpopular. The servants of God must have the truth in the soul. Said the angel: “They must get it warm from glory, carry it in their bosoms, and pour it out in the warmth and earnestness of the soul to those that hear.” A few that are conscientious are ready to decide from the weight of evidence; but it is impossible to move many with a mere theory of the truth. There must be a power to attend the truth, a living testimony to move them." Ellen White, Testimonies, Vol. 1, 113.2.
"Here is the secret of communicating the Gospel to the hearts of men. We must get our message warm from Glory. It must not be a stale message or experience that we offer to our people. It must be new every day. Our own hearts must be gladdened and warmed by its power. The love of Christ must glow afresh in our hearts every day. As we spend time in secret before God and before His word, we will catch visions of Heavenly glory. Our hearts will be warmed and tendered, and our love for souls will grow stronger. This is the experience that we ministers need."—E. L. Minchin, "Consider Him," Sermon delivered in Syracuse, NY in 1967.
Speak in the Power of the Spirit
"The disciples were told that they would receive power only "after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Neither can we receive God's power in any other way. Yes, this is what the disciples needed. Not more knowledge, but more power. That is our need. They tarried in the upper room and for ten days they prayed, searched their hearts, made wrongs right, and came into a new relationship with one another. They came to an end of self, of sin, and of self-seeking.
"They were "all with one accord in one place." O that this could be true of us here at the youth congress! We are certainly all in one place. Are we here with one accord, one sole Master, one sole purpose, one absorbing passion? If so, we too may experience an infilling of spiritual power such as we have never known before, and this city and our homes and our churches and our nation would feel the impact and say as they did in Jerusalem, "What meaneth this?"
"What glorious results came at Pentecost! "With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection . . . ; and great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:33). "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people" (Acts 5:12). The servant of God graphically described the mighty power of God at that time. "The sword of the Spirit, newly edged with power and bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through unbelief.—E. L Minchin, "Newly Edged With Power, Ministry Magazine, The Youth's Instructor, October 11, 1960.
Call For Decisions
• Appeal For Complete Renunciation of Sin and Receiving of the Privileges in Christ.
"The Thursday and Friday evening meetings prepared the way for the consecration service on the Sabbath. In response to a definite challenge and appeal for complete renunciation of all sin, and a fuller acceptance of our privileges in Christ, over eleven hundred of our youth and church members came to the Lord in repentance and confession of sin."—E. L. Minchin, "Times of Refreshing, E. L. Minchin, Australasian Conference Union Record, July 19, 1937.
Bathe the Proceedings in Prayer
• In Searching the Heart and Making Things Right In Preparing For the Meetings.
"From the first there was a reaching out after God, and a spirit of deep heart-searching. Wrongs were made right, while the youth and the aged drew near to God and to one another."—
• In Seeking Spiritual Breakthroughs.
"The break came on the Tuesday evening, when a number of the young men and women belonging to the Prayer Fellowship League met for prayer, and while praying, the spirit of confession and repentance took hold of this company, which numbered about eighty. It was a wonderful meeting that went on for several hours. Then from that circle it spread, and the young men began to have a burden for their fellows; and the hearts of the young women went out to their fellow girl students, and by the next morning it was very evident that a new order of things had set in."—A. H. Piper, "Splendid News From Avondale," Australasian Union Conference Record, July 17, 1939.
"Late in August the week began in an ordinary way. Pastor Minchin felt that there was not, in fact, the response he would hope to see. By the Tuesday night, longing for Holy Spirit power to reach his hearers, he invited anyone who would like to pray with him to meet him after the evening program. He promised to wait in the music building. To the music room came the leaders of the student movement with some others. This group prayed together, haltingly at first, then with confidence and joy. They told of their faith and what a personal Ood meant to their lives. A deep sense of supernatural presence began to pervade the room. At 2 a.m. some were still there, talking and praying with Len Minchin. They decided to walk, and talk further. At the gravel pit, behind the chapel, they paused, resuming Bible study and prayer. At dawn, they were still there. "I have never felt before such a spirit of prayer, surrender, and praise," testified Pastor Minchin. Those students who had spent much of the night in prayer, yet did not feel tired, agreed with conviction. One of them said, "Something is happening here..."—Marye Trim, Called to the Highest Service, [Book posted at the adventist Archives.]
• In Maintaining the Meetings.
"On Sabbath morning, over fifty students met in the science room at 6:45 for special prayer and intercession. This earnest group meets at regular intervals during the school year, and is doing a powerful work in moulding the spiritual life of the college. One could feel the unity and the power of the Spirit's presence that morning. It was good to be there. When some thoughts had been presented on how to secure divine power, requests for prayer were made. After each request, someone led in intercessory prayer for that particular need. May the Lord lead these young people to greater spiritual triumphs. Who can foretell the results of such a work as this?"—E. L. Minchin, Australasian Union Conference Record, November 22, 1937.
• In Seeking God's Blessings on Those Responding
"The weekend at Hamilton was one of the most blessed of the tour. Revival was expected, and God did not disappoint. Each morning at 6.30 for a week, a company, mainly of our young people, sought the Lord for revival and for the conversion of souls. After the Friday evening meeting, this revival band expressed a desire to continue in prayer through the night. Some stayed till midnight, others came from twelve till three, and still others from three to six. The time was spent in seasons of prayer and the reading of the promises of the Word. Some may cry, "Fanaticism!" Let us beware lest we despise the workings of God's Spirit. There was nothing of fanaticism, but a genuine, earnest, reaching out to God for His power and blessing."—E. L. Minchin. Australasian Union Conference Record, July 19, 1937.
• In Maintaining the Blessings After the Meetings Conclude.
Meetings in which the Spirit greatly blessed the proceedings were invariably "watered" with much prayer, including preliminary prayers. ongoing daily prayers, continuing prayers following each evening's meetings, and after the meetings.
Leave Room and Time For the Holy Spirit to Work
"Pastor E. L. Minchin was leading the chapel exercise. The time had come to cease, but we could not stop the meeting—it went on, the first period, the second period, the third period of classes, and it was not until the whole morning had passed that the meeting ceased. And what a meeting it was! Students were on their feet confessing their wrongs and asking the forgiveness of teachers and fellow students. All through the day we realized that God had wonderfully blessed, and as we sought the Lord again that Wednesday evening, He came near to us with further showers of grace. Confessions were again the experience of many. Students began to come into my office, asking forgiveness for having broken this rule, for infringing another, and for having done other things that were unbecoming of Christian young people. And so Thursday passed."—A. H. Piper, "Splendid News From Avondale," Australasian Union Conference Record, July 17, 1939.
"Next morning Pastor Minchin delivered the talk he had prepared on "The Spirit-filled Life." In a pause that followed, one of the students stood up and said he wanted to apologise publicly to a teacher for the wrong attitude he had shown all year. The teacher stood and replied with feeling that he was largely to blame; that he wanted the student to forgive him. He added that he longed for the sort of experience that Pastor Minchin had described in his talk. These unprogrammed episodes motivated others to speak in confession and repentance. Others stood and praised God for His leading in their lives; for the assurance of His guidance in the future and the certainty of sins forgiven as they trusted in Jesus. As both faculty members and students spoke, the hands in the round-faced clock in the chapel moved on past the time allocated to a morning chapel service. Pastor Minchin noticed the clock with some embarrassment for he realized it was time for students to be in classes. Yet many were standing, waiting to testify. Turning to his mentor, he asked, "What shall we do, Pastor Piper?" Clearly, the students heard their Principal's reply, "Pastor Minchin, we shall continue with our chapel period. We cannot programme the Holy Spirit. Classes are not important in a time like this."
The meeting resumed. Sometimes a student walked out. Then a friend would follow to pray with that person, and they would return together to say that they wanted Jesus and His power in their lives. This happened over and over again as the hour-hand on the clock continued to advance. Past the regular time for lunch, the students stood with bowed heads for a closing prayer to that amazing experience."—Marye Trim, Called to the Highest Service, [Book posted at the adventist Archives.]
Admonish Regarding Avoiding Making Provision For the Flesh; Provide For Tangible Responses
"On Friday the good work continued. In the chapel exercise, our thoughts were led along the line of refusing to be guided by the spirit of the world, and while very little was said about it, students began to leave the chapel and to bring in trashy literature, novels, jazz music, and other things of a worldly nature; and very soon the table was too small to hold the contents. A thorough work was taking place, for they were cleaning up and making their rooms fit places for the presence of God's Spirit. When the lesson periods for Friday were finished, there was a burning of the trashy, light rubbish of literature and cheap jazz music, and everything else that did not conform to the high standard in which the Adventist people believe.—A. H. Piper, "Splendid News From Avondale," Australasian Union Conference Record, July 17, 1939.
Schedule Time For Praise
"In the afternoon of the last Sabbath, a final praise service was to take place. We thought to meet a little earlier than usual, and so gathered together at 2:30. We little realized, however, that the congregation would remain until almost 9 p.m., praising the Lord for His goodness. Again, the spirit of confession took possession of the meeting, and further young people gave their hearts to God. It was soon evident that many of those who had received a refreshing were working for others, and it was marvellous, even at the last praise service, how many found relief from condemnation and rose to thank the Lord for His goodness. One father, with tears in his voice, said that this week had seen the conversion of four of his children, and he was so wonderfully happy. Many like testimonies were given."
More will be added.
