Elder Minchin Was A Dearly Loved, Spirit-led Youth Leader & Revivalist
Elder Minchin began his work with young people at Longburn College in Palmerston North, New Zealand as a dean and teacher. He later did much work for youth throughout the union and division, including holding the revival at Avondale that established His calling as an anointed revivalist of young people. He later moved to England, where he led the MV work in multiple settings, then on to North America and the General Conference. He would eventually serve as a Field Secretary of the General Conference, giving revivals throughout the world. In all cases, God blessed his efforts.
On this page we look at the Missionary Volunteer Programs he worked with, the revivals and youth conferences held, the methods he was led by God to adopt, and the responses of those attending.
Links on Elder Minchin's Youth Revival Work
We suggest that you begin by reading through the information on this page to learn about the many revivals that took place under his leadership. They are arranged chronologically. Then click on the link to look at his methods topically. After the methods page, read the testimonials page to enter the experience of those attending. By all means, also take time to learn about his MV work as well, for it laid the broad leadership foundation, for it enabled the spreading of the revival work to other churches throughout his territory.
Youth Conferences and Revivals
This link only directs you down the page a bit, where you will find a listing of many revivals that Elder Minchin was a part of. What you read will be wonderful, for you not only read what he wrote about the revivals, but reports by others on the impact of the revival on those attending, and the impact in other churches as the revival spread to other places.
E. L. Minchin's Spirit-Inspired Revival Methods
On this page you will learn about the various elements that were present during a revival, as attested to by articles and quotations of Pastor Minchin, and testimonies of people who attended these meetings. I hope you will be inspired to seek the same kind of revival in your own experience.
Revival Testimonials
Reading the testimonials of those attending revivals is life-changing. I recall receiving copies of the newspaper articles that followed the Welsh Revival in 1904 and reading with great interest of the proceedings—marveling at the way the Spirit worked. Reading the testimonials of Elder Minchin's revivals brings even greater wonder. Read and rejoice!
Correspondance
A lesser-known factor of blessing for Elder Minchin's revivals was the extensive correspondence that continued after he had moved on to the next location. For example, after spending a week with the students of Far East Academy in Thailand, he dictated scores of personal, page-long, letters to the students while he was holding another set of meetings in Phoenix, Arizona. He also sent, for example, many lengthy letters to a man on death row in the United States. These activities took significant time and are worthy of study. This page is not interested in the content, such as how he answered various questions, but rather the role of correspondence in his ministry. Questions of content are found in the Beliefs and Teaching section. This page is under development.
Articles
He was also led to write important articles as follow-ups to the things shared in his meetings.
On this page, you will learn about the MV programs that he adopted and pioneered in the South Pacific, then in England and Northern Europe, and finally in the United States.
Youth Conferences And Revivals
The Lord used Elder Minchin to bring marvelous Pentecost-like blessings on numerous occasions. These began as early as 1937 in New Zealand, but especially in Australia with the wonderful revival at Avondale in 1939, which spread to other churches in that country. Revivals also took place in Fiji and other island countries. Relocating to England, his ministry was also blessed in the United Kingdom and other countries of Europe. God later blessed his efforts in South Africa and other countries of that great continent. Additional signal blessings were poured out on gatherings in North America.
Youth Conferences And Revivals - The South Pacific
June 28, 1937, Kindling The Fires of Revival, report by S. T. Leeder (AAR).
This is a report of a week of prayer held in the Hamilton, NZ SDA Church. Written by S. T. Leeder, it describes the prayerful preparation by some of the young people, the subject matter, and the wonderful response.
July 19, 1937, Times of Refreshing in New Zealand, report by Elder Minchin (AAR) ***
In this report, written by Elder Minchin, he details the wonderful ways that God blessed during the eight weeks he was working among the churches in New Zealand.
November 22, 1937, Young People's Week at Avondale (AAR) ****
God greatly blessed this early time of blessing at Avondale that took place the last week of October, 1937. The better-known revival came in 1939.
Morning Topics
"The Power We Need," "Sin in the Light of the Cross," "How to Overcome Temptation," "Love and the Cross."
Evening Topics
"Evening worship periods were devoted to a series of heart-to-heart talks to the young men and young women in their halls, on 'Honourable Manhood' and 'Beautiful Girlhood.'"
Friday Evening
"The practical application of Matt. 7: 21-23, and 1 Cor. 13: 4-8 was considered, pointing out that many are expecting to be saved because of their diligence in church work, but their religion is legal and loveless. They have not the spirit of love, kindness, and tender sympathy, and to them the Lord will say, 'I know you not.'"
Music
"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 Revivals of 1939, Including the Avondale Revival In Late August.
"What started at Avondale ... spread all across the Adventist community in Australia and New Zealand by the end of the year. Decades later, senior pastors would talk with great fondness of that life-changing revival series, which had since coloured their lives and shaped their ministry. Les Coombe was a senior ministerial student at Avondale that year and the prayer fellowship coordinator for the campus. He later wrote, “That year was not only outstanding in the history of the college but also throughout the Australasian Union Conference. It is perhaps the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Church since the beginning of our work in Australia.” Wrote another, “Hundreds of people would remember that year as a veritable 20th century Pentecost.”—Lester Divine
July 17, 1939, Splendid News From Avondale, report by A. H. Piper
This is a fairly detailed rendering of some aspects of the revival at Avondale, provided by the Principal of the school. Notice the following excerpt:
"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."
Called to the Highest Service, excerpt by Marye Trim
This excerpt, from a book on A. H. Piper, a pastor and Principal of Avondale at the time of the revival, adds detail about various aspects of the revival, including an especially important time of prayer that brought a breakthrough at 2 AM. The author, Marye Trim, studied at Avondale shortly after the revival took place.
Article PDF 8x11 Article
February, 2017, Revival and the Holy Spirit, article by David Trim (MIN)
Be sure to read this article!
January 29, 1940, The Youth Congress Just Held, report by E. L. Minchin (AAR).
The Revival Spread To Other Churches
Though Elder Minchin did not write the following reports, they help us to better understand the revivals that were taking place that year.
June 26, 1939 A Feast of Good Things, report by Dorothy Speck (AAR)
This is a description of the blessings that came to Rockhampton.
July 10, 1939 The Spirit's Outpouring, report by Irene Watters (AAR)
This is a detailed account of how the Spirit worked at the Missionary Volunteer Officers' Convention for North and South New South Wales, June 9-11, 1939, as a result of the news of the Avondale revival being shared with the attendees, and the role of Elder Minchin.
July 10, 1939 The Work of the Holy Spirit, report by A. W. Knight (AAR)
This is a description of how God worked at the Wahroonga church as a result of the visits of students and Pastor Minchin on the 17th of June. Notice the following:
"The Week of Prayer at this centre was greatly blessed of God, and many received decided help. But the real revival did not appear until following the unusual visitation of God upon the student body at the Australasian Missionary College.
On Sabbath afternoon of June 17, a number of young people, led by Elder E. L. Minchin, visited the Wahroonga church to relate what God had done for the student body at the College...."
July 17, 1939, Blessed Are Your Eyes, report by Marian Hay
This is a description of a revival that occurred around the same time as Warburton. Elder Minchin was not directly involved, but it shares continuing details of how God was working. Notice this extract:
"There was a growing earnestness and an increasing boldness of faith as the week progressed. Faults were confessed, idols were cast out of hearts, and sin was put away. But there was no emotionalism, no outburst of feeling; all that was done was done because the Word of God, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, said it was right and necessary."
July 17, 1939, Blessings in Queensland, by E. L. Minchin (AAR).
This is a wonderful description by Elder Minchin of various revivals that took place among the churches in Queensland.
September 11, 1939, Days of Blessings, report by S. T. Leeder (AAR).
"At the Youth Congress held in Melbourne late in 1939, the power surged. On New Year's Eve, the youth chose a time of testimony and praise rather than frivolity. Some waited up to three hours to speak. Youth baptisms were greater than ever before."—Marye Trim, Called to the Highest Service.
Read about a spiritual revival that swept through the Auburn and Melbourne Adventist churches in 1939, marked by deep prayer, confessions, healing, and powerful testimonies.
September 11, 1939, This Hath God Wrought, report by M. Gardner (AAR).
Conversion and healing also came in the course of the revival.
Article PDF 8x11 PDF Telephone-friendly PDF
September 11, 1939, Sabbath School Workers Gather, report by A. Rocke (AAR).
"Sunday, August 6, has been placed on record as a day to be remembered in the Sabbath school history of Victoria. Why? Because in view of the solemn awakening which has taken place among God's people, and the realization that the Sabbath school, the bulwark of the church, dare not miss its share of this vital experience, an urgent call was sounded through the Sabbath schools: "Teachers! Officers! Gather yourselves together to seek the Lord." Was the call heeded? Yes! They came together on August 6, 150 Sabbath school workers, besides numbers of other interested members."
September 11, 1939, The [West Australian Missionary] College, Perth, report by T. C. Lawson (AAR).
"The week ending August 5 will be long remembered in the history of the West Australian Missionary College (Near Perth; initially called Darling Range School; now called Carmel Adventist College) as a time when heaven came down to earth and God visited our mountain retreat in a very special way. ... In a quiet, unmistakable way, the Spirit came in and did a thorough work for us. Everything else became of secondary importance so that the spiritual might be exalted. Students became burdened for their fellows, and a spirit of intercession such as has never before been witnessed took hold of them. Work, classes, meals, and sleep were forgotten while wrongs were made right, confessions were poured out, and hearts that had never known God, and those that had stubbornly resisted Him for years, found their way into the secret of His peace. A genuine cleaning up has taken place, and the school has been swept of everything that tended to separate from God, and the flames in the presence of the assembled school bore testimony to the fact that there was no retreat. ... And now we stand 100 per cent for God, not one in the College family having held back. "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes."
October 2, 1939, Times of Refreshing, Western Australia, report by Wilson (AAR).
"Never will our believers forget the memorable week that followed as our metropolitan people, old and young, flocked to the special meetings. About three hundred decisions were made for Christ. Remarkable evidences of the power of the gospel to transform sinful lives were seen at every meeting. Backsliders were reclaimed, men held captive by sinful habits were set free, sin was rebuked, and victory obtained."
Youth Conferences And Revivals - England and Western Europe
June 20, 1947, Newbold Spring Week of Prayer (BAM).
October 7, 1947, Youth Congress in San Francisco, (YI).
Elder Minchin's name is only mentioned as attending, however he was involved in organizing these youth crusades.
April 23, 1948, Youth Congress in Bristol, England, report by Kenneth Gammon, (BAM).
October 13, 1950, Youth Congress in England, "For Such a Time as This" (BAM).
September 1, 1952, The Paris Youth Congress (NL).
June 12, 1956, What Happened in Battle Creek, Voice of Youth Revival, (LUH).
"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. The friendship circles were organized by Pastor Charles Keymer."
July 2, 1957, Greater Washington Youth Revival, report by D. Yost, (YI). *****
"As Pastor Minchin rises to speak, his smile and sincerity make us settle back in our seats for a friendly, heart-to-heart chat. There are no visual aids. The appeal is to both mind and heart, so that when the meeting is over, we have definite instructions to follow as well as a satisfied feeling in our heart. He draws from Scripture, from the Spirit of prophecy, and from personal experience to show the folly of sinfulness and the satisfaction of wholesome Christian living. Almost before we know it, the time has come for the meeting to close. An opportunity is given for young people to stay for a season of prayer. This is not so much an appeal to sinners and backsliders as an appeal for youth to come and pray for one another. We stay. We think perhaps there will be seventy-five or a hundred, but soon nearly every seat in the front sections is filled. Five hundred form a giant prayer circle. All want victory for themselves and for their friends."—Don Yost, "Greater Washington Youth Revival," The Youth's Instructor, July 2, 1957.
This is a wonderful article regarding the way the Lord blessed revival efforts close to the church's headquarters.
South African Union Congress / Helderberg Week of Prayer
January 15, 1961, Helderberg's Week of Prayer, by E. W. Marter (SADO).
This article shares many helpful details about the conference.
"From the beginning to the end of the week of prayer, Elder E. L. Minchin made one single, direct appeal: "Come nearer to God. Give Him first place in your life. You cannot live independently. If you do not keep yourself under the direct control of God, you will inevitably come under the power of Satan's temptations to ambition, indulgence, or display, and be enslaved by the enemy. There is real freedom for you. It is found only in daily choosing to walk with Jesus, and in constantly relying upon Him."
"What has been the underlying secret of these blessed experiences? God does nothing except in answer to earnest prayer. Not only have the regular prayer bands been attended more than usual this year, but the hidden spring of blessing and power from which these results have flowed is to be found in the voluntary prayer groups in the dormitories."
January 15, 1961, Helderberg's Week of Prayer, by E. L. Minchin (SADO).
"One of my never-to-be-forgotten memories is the memorable week I had the joy of spending with our students and faculty members at beautiful Helderberg College. Letters continue to come to my desk from young people who found Christ at that time. It was one of the greatest spiritual weeks of my ministry among our young people. Shall we ever forget that four-hour praise and testimony service, or the late-night prayer season in the boy's dormitory, when so many victories were claimed for Christ. I know that the enemy of souls has been fiercely con- tending the victories won at that time. Fight the good fight of faith, my young friends. Daily renew your vows of consecration and let Jesus Christ have His way with you, and you will certainly win the victory at last."
January 15, 1961, "Africa's Greatest Investiture," Pastor Minchin's Message To Our Youth, South African Division Outlook - by E.L. Minchin, (SADO).
"THREE hundred and twenty-six young people invested! This remarkable service took place at Lower Gwelo Mission Station on October 7 while Elders Minchin and Osmunson were visiting our field. When Elder Minchin requested those to stand who were to be invested, almost the entire audience stood. Believing they had misunderstood his meaning, he had them be seated and repeated his request, and again three hundred and twenty-six stood to their feet. This is the largest investiture in the Southern Rhodesia Field, and very possibly in the Southern African Division."
January 15, 1961, Congo Youth Report, by J. G. Evert, (SAD)
16,000 young people attended four conferences.
Furth Reports on the Heldeberg Youth Congress
January 15, 1961, Nyasaland Congress, reports by Haarhoff, Bristow.pdf
Youth Conferences And Revivals - 1963 into the 1970s
April 22, 1963, Capacity Crowds at Melbourne Revival, by E. L. Minchin.
You will also find multiple marvelous testimonials in the PDF that follows, including:
• "The Holy Spirit in Power," report by C. V. Christian
"Sunday night saw the hall, almost filled; Monday and Tuesday every seat was taken. On Wednesday the side doors opened and extra seating was provided to accommodate the growing crowds. Thursday the hall was over-full again, but Friday posed a real problem to the ushers who were faced with the problem of seating 1,000 people. Pastor F. W. Gifford, Greater Sydney Conference youth leader, had anticipated this influx, but even so the additional seating was taxed and a number were forced to stand throughout the meeting. More important than the numbers who attended were the decisions made nightly as Pastor Minchin urged the youth to lay their all on the altar. Scores came forward during the week and numbers of them shared their burdens with church pastors and youth leaders in special after-service counselling periods. It can truly be said that we saw the Holy Spirit at work. The climax of the week came on the Sabbath when the Trocadero was again crowded with some 2,400 seekers after God, many of whom had not missed a meeting."
• "Evaluation by a Church Pastor," by E. W. Hon.
"It was good to see...
• the same young people coming back night after night.
• the increased attendance as the meetings progressed.
• the earnest and attentive expression on the faces of those who listened to the timely words of instruction.
• the evidence in the meetings that truly God was present through His Spirit.
It was good to hear...
• what young people not of the church
had to say about the constructive help they derived from Pastor Minchin's addresses.
• our own young people say, "I wish he wouldn't go away."
• A young person who had wandered far away and, by chance, heard of the meeting in the Trocadero, came along and, after hearing the evangelist's appeal, said, "I want to come back and start again."
As for myself personally...
• I was glad I went. It brought back a high point in my own experience thirty years ago, when Pastor Minchin took a Friday night meeting at the Australasian Missionary College and helped to straighten out my thinking and set me on the road to the eternal kingdom."
• We Must Keep the Heart-Fires Burning," by F. W. Gifford
"Words fail me to describe the joy of the final praise and witness service in the Wahroonga church [to which more than 1,000 people came]. Surely we are frequently in need of this heart-warming experience, when we can share our joys and sorrows with those who cherish the same hope and faith.
A thrilling experience for any youth leader is to see stalwart, talented young men arise in consecration, dedicating their lives to the work of the ministry [Forty-four young men surrendered their lives to pursue the calling of ministry as a result of Pastor Minchin's appeal.] As one young man expressed himself, "God has wonderfully blessed me during this week, and I have come to know my Saviour in a way I never thought possible before. I am anxious to dedicate myself to the task of finishing the work of God on the earth."
PDF of All Four Articles
May 1, 1965, Report Middle East Tour - Unknown Author - Middle East Messenger (MEM)
"Elder Minchin arrived in the Middle East Division, April 16, at Istanbul. He held revival crusades in Istanbul, Baghdad, Teheran, Beirut, and Cairo until his departure, June 20. He also led the week of prayer at Middle East College from April 23 to May 1 and gave counsel at the Division."
Vienna Youth Conference - July 25-29, 1967
September 7, 1967, "Youth Congress Held in Vienna," by E. L. Minchin (RH).
"When I went onto the platform Tuesday night, I saw the fruitage of the gospel in these lands—5,000 clean, happy, wholesome young people, united with one great purpose, serving one Lord, and holding one hope. These young people sang with all the wealth of their musical talents and love for the message and their Lord. It was an overwhelming experience for all of them. They were overjoyed. Tears flowed down their cheeks many times. They told us we will never know what this congress has meant to them."
September 29, 1967, "8,000 Adventist Youth Attend Congress," by "A Special Correspondant," (BAM).
December, 1, 1967, "Youth Congress in Vienna," by G. Rempel, Southern European Quarterly Review, (SEQR)
June 1, 1969, Poona Log-Book, South Asia Tidings, (SAT).
Revival at Andrews University - October 8-11, 1970
February 1, 1971 Report on Revival Fires on the Campus, by M. Stevenson (MIN).
"Under the experienced ministry of E. L. Minchin, thoughts were directed toward the cultivation of the devotional life. The accumulation of forty-six years of rich ministry among Seventh-day Adventist youth was poured out in simple, direct, and clear presentations. No attempt was made to create excitement."
Elder Stevenson, being reminded of a quotation of Ellen White that follows, prepared to share his testimony.
"Strive to arouse men and women from their spiritual insensibility. Tell them how you found Jesus, and how blessed you have been since you gained an experience in His service. Tell them what blessing comes to you as you sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn precious lessons from His Word. Tell them of the gladness and joy that there is in the Christian life. Your warm, fervent words will convince them that you have found the pearl of great price. . . . As it is done, many will awake as from a dream." Ellen White, Testimonies For the Church, Vol. 9, 38.
October 27, 1970, Revival at Andrews University, Lake Union Herald, (LUH).
Continue learning about the youth work of Elder Minchin
You have read about the revivals and youth conferences chronologically; now look at his methods topically. After you have done that, then read through a collection of testimonials drawn from these meetings to personally enter into what the attendees were experiencing. Be sure to read about his MV work, which was foundational to the successful revivals in terms of training leadership and establishing ongoing ways to spiritually impact the youth of his territory.
E. L. Minchin's Spirit-Inspired Revival Methods
On this page you will learn about the various things that were often present during the course of a revival, as attested to by testimonies of people attending or quotations of Pastor Minchin. I hope you will be inspired to seek the same kind of revival in your own experience.
Revival Testimonials
Reading the testimonials of those attending revivals is life-changing. I recall receiving copies of the newspaper articles that followed the Welsh Revival in 1904 and reading with great interest of the proceedings, marveling at the way the Spirit worked. Reading the testimonials of Pastor Minchin's revivals brings even greater wonder. Read and rejoice!
On this page you will learn about the MV programs that he adopted and pioneered in the South Pacific and then in England and Northern Europe, and finally in the United States.
Thank You!
We hope you have been blessed by the things you have learned here.
Help Us
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Navigation Etc.
Testimonies? Feedback?
Was your life or a family member impacted by Elder Minchin's ministry? Please share your testimony or feedback with us!
Continue Learning...
• Life and Ministry of E. L. Minchin
• Articles And Reports Written in Church Periodicals, Arranged Chronologically.
• Youth Conventions, Revivals, and Weeks of Prayer.
• Beliefs & Teachings, Arranged Topically.
• Share Your Testimony or Give Us Feedback
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