July, 2001

Now that the year 2000 and the previous millennium have faded into history, it seems appropriate that we look back and reflect on something I wrote on page 29 of my 1995 book, The Coming Revival: America’s Call To Fast, Pray and "Seek God’s Face":

America and much of the world will, before the end of the year 2000, experience a great spiritual awakening. This divine visit of the Holy Spirit from heaven will kindle the greatest spiritual harvest in the history of the Church…. The Holy Spirit gave me this assurance during my first 40-day fast in 1994. By revival, I refer to believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the term awakening, I refer to non-believers.

Did those words come to pass? Did I correctly hear from the Holy Spirit? I believe the answer for both of those questions is a resounding "yes."

Some might disagree. One could look at the immense evil in the world, the Laodicean attitude of many professing believers, and the remaining challenge of evangelism to reach every person on earth, and possibly conclude that nothing significant has happened. In fact, Christian pollster George Barna recently released a new survey concluding that there is no evidence of revival in America. He suggested that the nation seems mired in spiritual complacency, saying:

America certainly did not experience the spiritual revival that many Christians hoped would emerge as the new millennium began. In fact, Americans seem to have become almost inoculated to spiritual events, outreach efforts and the quest for personal spiritual development. There are magnificent exceptions throughout the country, but overall, Christian ministry is stuck in a deep rut…. In a typical week, 41% of the adults attending Christian churches are not born again…. Most of those people have been attending Christian churches for years and years, without really understanding the foundations of the Christian faith and its personal implications…. Too many Christians and churches in America have traded in spiritual passion for empty rituals, clever methods and mindless practices. The challenge to today's Church is not methodological. It is a challenge to resuscitate the spiritual passion and fervor of the nation's Christians.

I greatly respect George Barna and the benefits of his polling work. In many respects, he is absolutely correct. However, there is more to it, and another side of the story, a dramatic side.

There is strong evidence that, spiritually, something unusual, powerful, and wonderful has been happening in the world. I am reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus, when He said, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (John 1:8, NIV). Like the wind which blows, the works of the Holy Spirit are invisible, in the spirit realm. He defies human analysis and cannot be quantified and limited by human methods. Nevertheless, He often gives us some evidence of what He is doing. Although invisible, evidence of the wind’s reality can been seen by its effects, such as on the trees and leaves.

From the collective evidence provided to me, it can only be concluded that the wind of the Spirit has been blowing with hurricane-like strength, and that there are great reasons to be encouraged by what has happened since the 1994 Orlando fasting and prayer gathering in December. God is doing something truly unprecedented in our day.

Eminent pastor, author, and Christian leader Dr. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries states, "We are in the midst of the greatest ingathering into the Kingdom in the history of the world." A similar statement is made by best-selling author and Christian leader Tim LaHaye: "We are seeing the mightiest moving of the Spirit of God in reaping a worldwide soul harvest since the third century" (no doubt, he was speaking of the early centuries’ explosion of the gospel throughout the Roman empire). See their separate inputs below.

What these two men are saying is exactly what I believe the Lord showed me in 1994 would happen. The purpose of this report is to share some of the evidence, and to give God glory for what He has done, and is doing.

Let me begin with two points of clarification.

First, many items of evidence have come to my attention. However, what I am presenting here no doubt hardly scratches the surface. It would be presumptuous of me to suggest otherwise. The Body of Christ is so huge and so diverse, no human could ever assemble and grasp all that is happening. Only the Holy Spirit could do that. The summary information in this short report is probably only the tip of the iceberg.

First, I will share the evidence we have experienced within the ministry with which I am affiliated and am most familiar, Campus Crusade for Christ International, followed by evidence reported to me from other Christian leaders and ministries.

During the few years since December 1994, when the first fasting and prayer gathering was held in Orlando, Florida, the Lord has opened doors for and allowed exposures to the gospel in the U.S. and around the world through this ministry in ways that are absolutely unprecedented. The Lord has given phenomenal growth to our outreach in both the U.S. and overseas. Here is information about Campus Crusade for Christ as of January 1, 2001:

Our staff has exploded to over 25,000, with more than 553,000 trained volunteers.

We are now serving our Lord and his body of believers in 196 countries in areas representing 99.6 percent of the world’s population.

In the year 2000 alone, we saw more than 1.2 billion exposures to the gospel and more than 23.1 million people made decisions for Christ indicated in "live" evangelism situations through our staff and partnership activity. This does not include many millions whom we believe received Christ through television and radio ministries worldwide. This number of exposures in just one year is several times the population of the whole earth at the time of our Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection, according to estimates.

Since its use began in 1980, there have been 4.3 billion exposures to the gospel through the JESUS film (2.5 billion of those exposures were during the last two years), now seen in 234 countries and translated into 660 languages (more recent July 1, 2001 figures).

Since the ministry began in 1951, there have been more than 6.1 billion exposures to the gospel worldwide through our staff and partnership activity (approximately the current world population, although we have no way of knowing how many of the 6.1 billion are repeat exposures).

There is a Campus Crusade for Christ ministry active in 4,639 Million People Target Areas (MPTAs – targeted geographic areas where at least 1 million people live), in 476 Strategic Urban Centers and on 1,423 Priority University Campuses (those deemed most strategic).

Much of the above growth has occurred in the 1990s, and especially since the first fasting and prayer conference in 1994. For examples, over half the 4.1 billion JESUS film exposures have occurred since 1994, and also since that year, our staff total worldwide, including trained associate and volunteer staff, has grown by more than 500 percent! For example, in 1994 we had only 101,000 volunteers and associates, and now there are more than 553,000.)

What began as a campus ministry now covers almost every segment of society with 70 special ministries and projects which reach out to inner cities, governments, prisons, families, the military, executives, musicians, athletes, and many others.

Campus Crusade for Christ has helped start 150,000 churches. In addition, according to Dr. Stephen Steele of DAWN Ministries, a church-planting ministry, "The JESUS film has helped to start at least 750,000 churches." Our Campus Crusade for Christ world leaders have estimated that all these churches have been planted by local ministers as a result of the JESUS film showings and other evangelistic efforts. (Most of these are national churches, and none of them carry our Campus Crusade for Christ name.) None of this could have happened without a divine enabling, mainly because the doors that were opened to allow this remarkable harvest have truly been miraculous, many in countries that were previously closed to the gospel. Below are some examples from within Campus Crusade for Christ.

Asia. The unnamed Asian countries mentioned here are all dominated by other religions, which makes it all the more remarkable. In one of them, during the year 2000 the JESUS film blanketed the country via television, radio, and audio-tape distribution, allowing many millions of people to hear the gospel. A similar thing happened in surrounding countries for a total of 192 million exposures. In another Asian country, there were more than 100 million exposures to the gospel in the year 2000. In yet another country, over 20,000 volunteers were mobilized to distribute JESUS videos, audio-tapes, and tracts. By December 31, 2000, in that country, over 15 million had been given the opportunity to hear the gospel in that year. An example of how God is responding to prayer and fasting is that in the previous 35 years of ministry there were only 18 million exposures to the gospel in that country.

The Middle East. Our ministry leader for North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia reports:

During the last five years the Lord has caused unusual openings for the gospel to spread through North Africa and the Middle East. The response to the gospel has been unprecedented. For example, a great sense of unity amongst Christian organizations and churches of different denominations has taken place throughout the area as never before. Hundreds of churches and groups have sat together, according to regional interests, and planned and strategized together. As a result, we saw the development of the very first Arabic Christian satellite television established under the name of SAT-7. Today we have a daily broadcast for the whole region. Literally, millions of people are able to watch Christian programs on a regular basis….The response to the radio and television broadcasts has become unprecedented also. In the largest Arab nation, one which has a significant population, the response to the radio broadcasts reached the incredible level of literally thousands of letters arriving every single day to our Correspondence Center. Most weeks during the past twelve months we have had to rent a pickup truck in order to carry the mail to the post office and pick up the incoming mail. Hundreds of thousands of people are now involved in regular Bible study by correspondence as a result of these broadcasts…. 750,000 New Testaments were printed on (unnamed country) press by permission of the government. All were distributed throughout the various cities and towns…. .Over 1 million pieces of literature were handed to North Africans traveling through the ports.

He reports many nationals have been discipled and have joined the staff of either this ministry or other ministries, and since the beginning of the 1990s, due to increased outreach, his own staff has grown by 700 percent, from under 100 to now 700. (See information below on harvests among the Arabs.)

Africa. In its April 16, 2001 issue, Newsweek magazine reports:

…All across the African subcontinent… Christianity is a 24/7 experience (24 hours a day, seven days a week). On decaying asphalt highways the backs of trucks and buses proclaim Christian slogans: IN HIS NAME, ABIDE WITH ME, and GOD IS GOOD. Inside urban malls, the lilting pop music carries an upbeat Christian message in Ibo, Twi or Swahili. Even the signs above storefronts bear public witness: THY WILL BE DONE HAIR SALON, THE LORD IS MY LIGHT CAR WASH and TRUST IN GOD AUTO REPAIR, SPECIALISTS IN MERCEDES BENZ…. Here among the Ashanti and Baganda and the thousand other tribes who occupy the world’s second largest continent, Christianity is spreading faster than at any time or place in the last 2,000 years…. (emphasis supplied).

An example of God pouring out His Spirit in Africa is in the country of Rwanda. The Campus Crusade for Christ national director in Rwanda reports:

It all started at Colorado State University in Fort Collins during the staff conference for all the leaders of CCC. There we received so much that stirred up our vision and challenged us to step out and make a difference before the end of this century and then on into the future, all for the fulfillment of the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. Among all the challenges thrown out to us, one fell on me like a bomb that enflamed my heart -- Dr. Bill Bright’s challenge to fast and pray for 40 days (for national and world revival and the fulfillment of the Great Commission). I had believed in it, but I never thought it would be very easy for me. However, I made the decision to obey the call and count on the grace of God for His enabling.

We were given Bill Bright’s book on the power of fasting and prayer, in English. Not knowing much English, I would have requested and hoped that this book be translated into French. But God is good, because before I left Fort Collins, I met Campus Crusade’s Swiss National Director, Hans-Peter Nuesch, who gave me a French translation of the book, which is entitled "Dans l’ Attente du Réveil." I was greatly interested in it as it was the answer to my prayers.

As soon as I arrived in Rwanda, I started to read the book. I was so excited by Bill Bright’s experiences that I shared it with my wife. Without hesitation, she encouraged me to share it with our Pastor, René Masasu, who also loves prayer and fasting. He leads a large church called the Restoration Church. With over 2,500 members, it’s one of the largest churches in Rwanda. As a member of this church, I’m in charge of evangelism and discipleship.

In a short while I shared the book with Pastor René Masasu who read and reread it. Soon he shared his vision to the entire church community and challenged the congregation to commit themselves to 40 days of prayer and fasting, with three specific prayer requests in mind: (1) the Great Commission around the world, (2) spiritual revival in the church and Rwanda, and (3) the construction of a church building large enough for 3,500 members.

Up to now, the 2,500 members have been meeting in an open air tent. When the challenge was given, 500 people committed themselves to pray and fast for 40 days starting from 22 October, 1997 until 30 November, 1997. It was really an extraordinary experience. During the day Christians would pray where they were at and each evening from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. would meet at the church to end the day together in corporate prayer.

The Lord did many miracles during these times of praise and adoration so that the meetings would go until 8:00, since no one wanted to leave the church. There were many times of deliverance, public repentance without anyone calling for it, mutual reconciliation, and miraculous healings. Many who did not originally commit themselves to prayer and fasting joined the others until their numbers grew to 1,030 people -- so great was the presence of God demonstrated publicly. Many people who came to observe what was happening fell to their knees and repented of their sins. On the evening of 29 November, 1997 two security agents were sent by the local precinct to disrupt the evening meetings on the pretext that such large gatherings were a security risk. There they threw down their "Kalachnikovs" (machine guns) and begged that they be prayed for as they had come to arrest the church leaders. Instead, God arrested them!

A great revival has started in our church to the point that the entire capitol, Kigali, has been shaken by the news. Many pastors in Rwanda are coming to see what God is doing in the Restoration Church. When they ask Pastor Masasu the secret for this revival, he simply shows them Bill Bright’s book and tells them to go and do likewise.

Since 22 December, 1997 when a pastor’s meeting was held in the city of Kigali, nine other pastors have decided to challenge their members to fast and pray for 40 days to cover the entire year for a revival throughout the country.

(Note: Let me add some wonderful detail to Emmanuel’s testimony. Rwanda is the place where hundreds of thousands of Hutus and Tutsis tribes people killed each other in a genocidal type of tragedy. In the process of the fasting, prayer, and revival at Emmanuel’s church, the Hutus and the Tutsis who were members of his church began to come to each other and ask for reconciliation and to confess their hatred of each other, and God began to send revival. Soon the revival spread to other churches so much that the Vice President of Rwanda invited the pastor to come and explain how it was that they were able to influence the lives of the warring factions in a way that they could not do through their military power! This shows what God does when people humble themselves and pray and fast.)

Latin America. Our leader in Latin America testifies to the life-changing effects of fasting and prayer on his life and that of his brother, also a minister. He reports powerful results following fasting and prayer efforts in the mid-1990s, including a pivotal conference in December of 1996 of 2,800 university students, 700 professionals, and 120 denominational leaders, all of them personally committed to working together to win their 25 countries for Christ. He says:

In September of that same year there was a saturation campaign in Nicaragua, a country with a population of 4 million people. In December, (our) associate staff members saturated the city of Bogota, Colombia (population 7 million) and 15 other cities of the country (6 million people)…. A movement of evangelistic saturation began in the city of Monterrey, Mexico (population 4.5 million), and it has now reached 17 cities, with 40 million people having prayed to receive Christ into their lives. Other countries such as Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil have a movement of saturation directed by Campus Crusade for Christ, in cooperation with thousands of local churches and organizations….Never before in the history of Christianity in this part of the world have we seen so many conversions of celebrities and secular leaders. Athletes, artists and politicians are coming to Christ and using their influence to encourage others to seek God… In Guatemala, our staff personnel are now conducting an evangelism and discipleship program in the elementary and secondary schools. Every week they expose 13,500 students to the gospel, and 40 percent of them make decisions for Christ….The prayers and fasting of millions of Christians who have been mobilized by different movements is the catalyst of this revival and awakening that is shaking Latin America. Revival is a sovereign act of God. Prayer and fasting move our merciful God to have compassion to visit a community or country, and in our case, the whole continent.

United States. Amazing doors opened for us here in the U.S. for all of our ministries. For example, over 12 million homes have received a free JESUS video courtesy of thousands of churches in scores of cities with which we are working. Surveys suggest that this effort has resulted in several million of either salvations or deeply meaningful spiritual decisions. The goal is for the JESUS video to be given to every home in America (120 million homes) through the generosity of tens of thousands of individuals and churches of all denominations.

We have received exciting reports of revival and great harvests from many ministries, local churches, campuses, and individuals, most of which have been involved with the fasting and prayer movement. The evidence suggests a growing spiritual hunger among the masses, again a work of the Holy Spirit as He exposes hearts and creates a yearning for a knowledge of God.

Dr. Paul Cedar, president of Mission America, reports that since 1994, the interdenominational Mission America movement has grown to include over 200,000 churches representing over 80 denominations and hundreds of mission groups. Working with Mission America, our goal is to help follow up the JESUS video distribution with 6 million Lighthouses, which are neighborhood home groups with prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. Never since the first century has there been such a biblical example of harmony, unity, and partnership in the body of Christ as shown in Mission America, itself a major sign of revival. Dr. Cedar has stated on several occasions that this new unity is due to fasting and prayer on the part of God’s people, which, by the way, is a movement he has helped to lead.

Dick Eastman, president of Every Home for Christ, reports to me the wonderful news that in December 2000 their ministry passed the 2 billion mark in planting gospel messages home-to-home around the world. In a major, non-Christian closed country which I shall not name, he said they have seen 38 million households touched, resulting in 227,000 letters asking for Bible lessons. Dick says that this great surge in outreach began with fasting and prayer in 1994, and that since 1994 he has been on two 40-day fasts, which have so impacted his life that he is writing a book about this experience.

Dr. D. James Kennedy, founder and president of Coral Ridge Ministries and pastor, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. No one is more aware of or more knowledgeable of the causes and ruinous effects of America’s turn from God than Dr. Kennedy (nor has anyone done more to help turn the tide). Yet, he provides a surprisingly optimistic report, saying, "We are in the midst of the greatest ingathering into the Kingdom in the history of the world." He quotes a study showing the approximate number of converts per day worldwide beginning in the year 100 A.D., which is estimated at only 100. By the year 1900, it had risen to 943; by 1950, 4,500; by 1980, 20,000; and by 1995, 100,000. At that phenomenal growth rate, he projected 200,000 by the year 2000. He provides more optimistic information from trends in Gallup polls. He says response of Americans to the question, "Are you a Christian?" has remained fairly constant over the years at about 85-86 percent. But when more specific questions are asked, such as about whether or not there has been a born-again experience, and whether the person believes the Bible is the Word of God, and Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the numbers were formerly only in the low 20 percent range, or slightly higher. However, Dr. Kennedy says that the latter figures have increased gradually and were last at 47 percent, up 3 percent in just one year. At this current growth rate, Dr. Kennedy says Americans who profess belief in the Bible as the Word of God, in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and who claim a born-again experience, will soon be the majority in the nation, perhaps in five years. Because of this, he says, "In the next 10-15 years, we will see revolutionary changes in America."

Tim LaHaye, best-selling Christian author and head of Tim LaHaye Ministries reports "We are seeing a mighty soul harvest all over the world." He gives dramatic examples in Central and South America, Africa, India, the former Soviet Union, China, and the Philippines. He reports a Time magazine article saying that the revival going on in China may be the greatest revival in the history of the world. (Technically, using our terminology, I suspect they mean "harvest" instead of revival.) As I mentioned earlier, LaHaye also makes this profound statement: "We are seeing the mightiest moving of the Spirit of God in reaping a worldwide soul harvest since the third century." However, he expresses great concern over both Europe and America, where secular humanism has such control over the institutions.

Bill McCartney, founder and leader of Promise Keepers, believes the phenomenal growth of that ministry which is influencing hundreds of thousands of laymen and tens of thousands of pastors is due in great measure to fasting and prayer. Most of his leaders have fasted, he and many for 40 days. He emphasizes the positive signs of spiritual awakening in the ethnic communities, such as Pastor T.D. Jakes’ ministry to African-American men and women, involving stadium events, and the One People movement among Native Americans, resulting in more decisions for Christ than anything else in the Native American community in recent years.

Dr. Jesse Miranda is Distinguished Professor and Director for Urban Studies and Ethnic Leadership at Vanguard University of Southern California. He shared with me signs of revival in the Hispanic community of America. He said that the National Hispanic Alliance of Evangelical Ministries is seeking to bring spiritual unity to the churches of America, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico. To this end, a call was made to convene pastors, thinking perhaps only about 1,000 would attend. They are excited and encouraged that 3,000 came, which they believe is a sign of God moving among the Hispanic churches.

The Assemblies of God. The Assemblies of God reports remarkable growth during the ten years preceding the turn of the millennium. Outside the U.S., members and adherents more than doubled, from 16.4 million in 1989 to 35.7 million in 2000. Preliminary reports for the year 2000 show more than 9,500 new churches started and 3.5 million new converts. Counting the U.S., the current worldwide total is 40 million believers in approximately 225,000 churches. However, these figures do not include the total Assemblies of God constituency overseas, not counting several major countries with fraternally-related churches. The worldwide growth and impact of the Assemblies of God have been awesome.

The Southern Baptists. The Southern Baptists are also seeing astounding results worldwide. Overseas, annual baptisms went from 262,758 in 1993 to 451,301 in 2000, a 172 percent increase. New churches went from 2,019 in 1993 to 6,525 in 2000, a 323 percent increase. Total churches almost doubled during that period, going from 35,188 in 1993 to 60,988 in 2000. As an example of what God is doing, in one recent four-year period, a new worker in Southeast Asia discovered only three churches and 85 believers when he began his assignment. Four years later there were more than 550 churches and 55,000 believers.

Amsterdam 2000. This event has been going on for a number of years, but in my opinion the latest one, in the year 2000, stood out among them all. In that year, 11,000 evangelists from most countries of the world, zealous for the gospel, recently met in Amsterdam for ten days of training in evangelism and revival, sponsored by Billy Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. These thousands of committed ambassadors for Christ from all over the world will no doubt help introduce additional millions to our dear Savior.

Transformations. Other exciting evidences of revival have been researched and documented by missiologist and author George Otis, Jr. His electrifying video documentary Transformations shows entire cities and villages in different parts of the world radically changed by recent revival through fasting and prayer. One city is Cali, Colombia, which has been one of the drug capitals of the world. Joel News service recently reports:

(Revival in) Cali and the other cities featured in the well-known Transformations video continues to escalate. The transformation that has been reported is showing no signs of abating at all. The move of God in Cali has now begun to spread to other surrounding cities in Colombia. The entire soccer team associated with the City of Cali has been born again. There were over 80,000 gathered for the last all-night prayer vigil. The mayor was at this particular gathering and reaffirmed that the city of Cali, Colombia belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. We have also personally developed a recent list of communities that have been transformed in the last few years. That number that started with eight when we began our research, now is at more than forty; this is a growing trend.

A sequel to the Transformations video, Transformations II: The Glory Spreads, shows how whole regions have been affected. Viewing of the Transformations videos is urged, and copies can be obtained from The Sentinel Group, 1-800-668-5657.

Impact on government. Another observation is that under circumstances nothing short of miraculous and in spite of losing the popular vote, just at the end of the year 2000, a man was elected to the White House who boldly and publicly confesses faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and who believes in the Bible and encourages biblical values more than any President in recent memory. During the campaign, then-Governor Bush openly declared his faith in Christ, and was greatly ridiculed largely by the secular media for it. Upon election, his nominee for the key job of U.S. Attorney General, Senator John Ashcroft, is an outspoken follower of Jesus Christ and one of the most godly men in Washington. During the inauguration, Christ was exalted before a huge international audience in both the invocation and benediction. President Bush's address was laced with godly references, and he said, "We are guided by a power larger than ourselves, Who created us equal in His image." Following the example of Abraham Lincoln, later that same day, one of President Bush's first official acts was to declare the next day, Sunday, January 21, 2001 as a national day of thanksgiving and prayer. At that nationally televised service on January 21^st, Christ was exalted throughout, with Franklin Graham delivering a strong Christ-centered salvation message to the whole nation. On the very next day, January 22^nd, President Bush shocked abortionists by announcing a surprise ban on international abortion funding. (We may or may not agree with the President or his party on everything, but we can praise God that he boldly and publicly confesses our Savior and is motivated by biblical values.)

Tim LaHaye points out that a few years ago he did not know of a single government leader in Washington, D.C. of any consequence who openly admitted his love for Jesus Christ. However, today, he says, the major leaders of the U.S. Congress and leader of the Senate, as well as a number of senators and congressmen are all openly Christian, praying men. He reports that one senator recently remarked to his wife, Beverly, "When I came to the Senate 18 years ago we averaged three senators present at our weekly Bible study and prayer meeting. Last week we had 51 present." LaHaye also points out that in the 1970s and 1980s, all five Central American countries had communist presidents and governments, but that today all are led by pro-Christian governments, some leaders of which have been Christians.

The Campus Crusade for Christ leader for Latin America says, "The Guatemalan government established a program to train 7,000 new policemen in Christian ethics. They were all evangelized with the JESUS film and 2,100 prayed to receive Christ, and who later participated in classes for new believers as well as in Christian discipleship training." This is amazing!

Revival and spiritual awakening will never come through government or legislation, and historically our faith has flourished even during oppressive, anti-God governments. However, fasting, prayer, and revival produce godly leaders and changes in government policies. Let us continue to pray for our leaders as the Bible exhorts. "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn" (Proverbs 29:2).

Please know that the Campus Crusade for Christ movement and myself are non-partisan and promote no candidates, but I praise God whenever true believers who obey the Word and will of God of any party are elected or appointed to leadership, even if I may not agree with them on every issue.

Impact of the Christian broadcast media. International Christian broadcasting ministries report astonishing new harvests. Scores of television and radio programs are broadcast to billions of people in most countries of the world. Twenty-four hours a day, day after day, through electro-magnetic radiation the world’s air is saturated with the gospel, and the earth literally "filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea," possibly a fulfillment of ancient prophecy pointing to this unusual day in which we are living (Habukkuk 2:14). The satellites orbiting the earth constantly transmitting the gospel downward reminds us of John’s vision: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him…" (Revelation 14:6-7).

The power of broadcasting, a modern-day, God-given marvel, is that it invades living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, offices, automobiles, bars, and everywhere people may be, and they can watch and listen in a non-threatening way. Christian broadcasting invades these places with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and with biblical truths. Television examples include programs by The Christian Broadcasting Network, The Trinity Broadcasting Network, Billy Graham, John Hagee, Jack Hayford, James Robison, Adrian Rogers, Robert Schuler, Charles Stanley, Ed Young, Christian satellite systems, and many others. Two of the major television ministries report below:

The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Pat Robertson reports amazing results through CBN: "We have seen an absolute explosion of evangelism in our ministry during the past 10 years…. During the past two years alone, 76 million have come to the Lord through one of our programs around the world." CBN also reports:

Since 1990, more than 184 million people have indicated decisions to commit their lives to Christ as a result of CBN's international television programming.

Current surveys indicate that more than 100,000 people come to Christ on a daily basis through the combined ministries of The Christian Broadcasting Network, USA and CBN WorldReach.

Approximately 1 million American households tune into the 700 Club in the United States every day.

In 2000 alone, nearly 200 million people outside the United States have viewed CBN WorldReach programming aired in 155 countries and in 64 different languages throughout the world.

10 million copies of the Book of Hope have been distributed in the U.S. since April, 1999.

The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). Paul Crouch reports similar results, saying, "The year 2000 was, indeed, our year of Jubilee." He describes their new Eutelsat direct-to-home satellite bringing the gospel to Europe, Western Russia, the Middle East, and North Africa 24 hours a day. He says that feedback through e-mails, cards, letters, and faxes is pouring in from 38 nations. He reports that when Benny Hinn was holding a crusade in the small Arab country of Dubai, he asked how many of the audience had seen his program on TBN, and nearly every hand went up. Other TBN information:

Crouch reports that TBN now has 2,201 affiliate television stations worldwide.

These stations are linked together by 15 satellites, with electronic footprints covering the whole world.

TBN programming is now on 5,500 cable affiliates.

Again, the power, outreach, and effects of the electronic broadcast medium are nothing less than spectacular, and in all of human history a phenomenon experienced only in the past few decades, exploding just in the past few years. Truly, we are living in God’s hour, and seeing God’s visitation as never before.

Impact of the secular media. In spite of the great evils and a general hostility to Christ emanating from much of the secular media and entertainment industry, there is evidence that God has amazingly used it to proclaim the gospel, especially on television. God has seemingly preempted certain programs, demonstrating His sovereignty. In the year 2000, evangelists were guests on certain worldwide secular television broadcasts and without interference from their unbelieving hosts have been allowed to boldly and repeatedly proclaim the gospel and the exclusive claims of Christ. In this way, without the help of any ministries or churches, the gospel has gone out to hundreds of millions, perhaps billions, of people, in the year 2000 alone. Only God knows the fruit for the kingdom. This is truly unprecedented in scope, technically possible only now with recent worldwide satellite television coverage, such as on CNN. For examples, Billy Graham, son Franklin Graham, daughter Anne Graham Lotz, Jerry Falwell, Benny Hinn, and other Christian leaders have been interviewed on the CNN Larry King Live and other programs where the saving message of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the necessity of faith in Him have been boldly spoken.

More evidence in the secular media market are the book series and video, Left Behind, co-authored by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, which have long been at or near the top of the world's best-seller lists. These books speak of God's end-time plan and the promised return of our Lord Jesus Christ. One may agree or disagree with the authors’ exact end-time scenario but there is no doubt that these books are boldly proclaiming to millions the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need to get right with Him without delay. Feedback to the authors reveals that God is truly using it for His glory.

Impact among the Jews and Israel. The current move of the Holy Spirit among the Jews and in Israel is particularly amazing because Paul wrote that "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in" (Romans 11:25). The hardening seems to be softening. We are told that only ten years ago in the United States it was difficult to find 20 Messianic synagogues, congregations that believe in and worship Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah, but now there are some 2,000. Many in the congregations are Gentile believers seeking to learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity, but many are Jews who have found their Messiah and have been born again. We are told that in 1992 there were only two publicly known Messianic synagogues in Israel and now there are about 50. A leading Jewish minister with a ministry in the former Soviet Union says that 200,000 to 400,000 Jews there have come to believe in Yeshua, and many of them have emigrated to Israel and have become an integral part of the citizenry there. Plus, we have astonishing evidence that a number of Orthodox Hasidic rabbis in Jerusalem now believe in Yeshua, are praying for their brothers, and are just waiting on the Holy Spirit to tell them to go public. Also, there are a reported several hundred Orthodox Jews in Israel who believe in Yeshua. A Hasidic rabbi source in Jerusalem revealed to an American Bible teacher visiting there that the revelation that Yeshua is the Messiah came to him and many of his rabbi friends directly from Ruach ha’Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) as they were studying the Torah! This is all a sovereign work of God in the 1990s for which I stand in awe.

Impact among Arabs and Moslems. We have reports that many Arabs and Moslems have come to believe in Jesus in the past few years, especially phenomenal because of the powerful cultural influence and control of Islam. In fact, there are amazing reports that the Lord has actually appeared to many of them in visions and dreams (Acts 2:17) and they became instant believers. I interpret this as special acts of mercy by our merciful Lord upon these dear people born into Islam. For example, in a strict Moslem country the Moslem mother of a Christian missionary from that country whom I know had a personal visitation from Jesus, and she is now a believer, an answer to her daughter’s prayers. Our leader in the Middle East says, "Personally I was recently in the company of several Moslem converts in the Middle East and each one of them said that he came to know the Lord through a direct vision of Christ. This is not the first time I have met people who have had a vision of Christ, but throughout the area we have been seeing this happen. One young lady who saw a vision of Christ is now serving on our staff in one of the Middle East nations." He provides an example of a personal testimony of an Arab believer:

As mentioned earlier, Christian television ministries covering the Middle East report huge numbers of mail responses from spiritually hungry Moslems and many have received Christ. Another report that has come to us involves a former terrorist and assassin from the Middle East who hated Jews and did everything he could to hurt them. In the early 1990s a Christian business associate in the United States told him that he would never have peace until he learned to love a Jew. Shortly thereafter through this associate’s witness for Christ, the former assassin found the Lord, was born again, and found that all his hate had suddenly disappeared, replaced with the love of God. He now has a ministry of visiting Jewish synagogues and rabbis in America and asking forgiveness for his past hate. In the process, he is able to tell them about how Jesus took away his hate and gave him peace – an incredible witness for the Lord.

I interpret all this as a special work of grace by our merciful God for these dear people for whom Christ died. God loves all people, Jews, Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists, and those of every culture and religion, and He wants them to know of His great love and forgiveness available through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. This special work of grace and direct revelation to Jews and Arabs stands as a powerful testimony to the unusual times in which we live. As I meditate on all this, I am reminded of God’s words recorded in Acts 13:41: "Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you."

Impact on the secular culture. Obviously, we have not seen the impact on the secular culture that we would desire. Evil still abounds, and always will until Jesus returns. The Bible reminds us that the wheat and the tares grow up together. There will always be tares until the Lord returns and separates the two. However, that does not mean our prayers, fasting, and witnessing cannot have an impact. They do.

Chuck Colson shares some encouraging and positive signs. Speaking at the Campus Crusade for Christ staff conference in 1999, he said:

Finally, on the same page of my 1995 book, The Coming Revival, I wrote, "The scope of this revival depends on how believers in America and the rest of the world respond to this call" (to act upon 2 Chronicles 7:14). Since we all know that God is always faithful to His promises, any shortcomings and deterrents to the revival are the result of the loss of our first love and the Laodicean spirit in the church. Let us all ask ourselves if we have done everything we can to respond to God's call to holiness and revival.

I believe God has visited with and blessed us. But revival, spiritual awakening, or harvest is not an end-all, one-time experience. It must be ongoing. With fasting and prayer we must continue to be diligent, remain humble before Him, seek His face continually, and repent of any known sins. He will then continue to hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land, according to His promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14. I believe this so strongly that each of the past eight years including 1994, I have fasted at least one 40-day period for personal, national, and world revival, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Most of that time, my beloved wife, Vonette, has fasted and prayed with me.

Let us rejoice and give praise and glory to our great God and Savior for what He has done and is doing. Also, we invite you to join with us in praying, fasting and working to bring revival, to bring spiritual awakening, and to help fulfill the Great Commission in this generation and each generation until our Lord returns.