BURLINGTON, NC — On July 5 The Christian Index reported on the revival at New Hope Baptist Church in Burlington, NC. At that time the revival had been moved from the church to a large tent to accommodate the huge crowds that had grown from 350 in the church to as many as 5,000 on a youth night.
Earlier The Burlington Times-News reported that “choirs and congregations from 55 churches throughout the Piedmont participating in the month-long event.” Five hundred people had indicated that they were trusting Christ as their Savior.
A friend, David Thompson, who is a member of Fortified Hills Baptist Church in Dallas, has been keeping The Christian Index posted on the progress of the revival. He indicated that the meetings closed on Friday night, July 29. The meeting lasted for 12 weeks and over 1,200 people filled out cards affirming they had yielded their lives to Jesus Christ. Those who made commitments will be followed up by local churches.
Over the course of the three-month-long meeting hundreds of pastors and church leaders visited the crusade including the vice president and other leaders of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Even though the large tent used during the last two months of the revival had to be returned due to the lease agreement, some have indicated the revival will continue in some form or fashion. The Index understands that this unusual meeting has spawned revivals in churches across North Carolina and into other states.
On the last night of the revival people were asked to donate $250,000 for a tent and all the supplies necessary to insure its efficiency. In response, the people donated $340,000 to express their thanksgiving to God for all He did during the revival.
Attendees bathed the final night's meeting in prayer. Years before the meeting started New Hope Baptist Church had prayed for revival. One source reported that one elderly man got to the tent early every day, before anyone else had arrived, and crawled under the platform beneath the pulpit and out of sight, praying for the service and particularly C.T. Townsend, the young preacher who demonstrated great humility and unusual power during the entire crusade.
If you view the video from the July 26 service you will note at the 40-minute mark that people are at the front praying before the preaching starts. One elderly lady with a walker is a part of this cadre of praying saints.
While genuine revivals are rare in our day this incredible meeting is convincing evidence that it can happen today when people devote themselves to prayer and launch out in faith, believing God for a fresh breath from heaven and a movement of His Holy Spirit.