EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH
Revival movement like a wave

By Elaine Masters

During a time of regular group prayer, my friend Gerri said, "I don't know what it means, but I'm seeing a wave. Not really an ocean wave. It's people, thousands of people, in the shape of a wave."

I knew what she was seeing. A passage from Tom Phillips' book "Revival Signs" reads: "The movement of God through revival has come in waves. Like a wave, every major spiritual awakening has built over time as individuals have come together in Christ. Like a wave, when a movement such as the First or Second Great Awakening began to roll, no one could stop it; its momentum, like the wave of the spirit itself, was the unseen and unstoppable work of God."

A prayer movement here in our islands may be part of such a wave. For many months, people from almost 200 churches of diverse denominations have been praying and working toward one thing: spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.Ê

Just the fact that so many people from such diverse denominations could work together is a miracle! In the recent past, our pride and arrogance sometimes kept us from even entering one another's place of worship. Now, we meet together to sing hymns and choruses and to pray for our neighborhoods. We are hoping for lower crime, reduced teen pregnancies, an increased high-school graduation rate, and larger church attendance.

When a woman on a plane heard me talking about Jesus, she said: "What are you trying to do — make everybody a Christian?"

I told her, "Yes, I have to admit that prospect does hold some appeal. I don't know how anyone makes it through life without the help of the Lord."

"You're sure not going to make me be anything," she said.

I agreed, saying: "Making people be anything in the way of religion or ideology has never worked. Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists, as well as Christians, have all tried it without success."

"So why do you bother talking about religion?"

"Don't you think every person should be allowed to know Jesus' whole story as presented in the Bible, not the skewed Hollywood or MTV version?"

Grudgingly, she admitted that was only fair.

Some people believe that Jesus has no relevance for them. They don't know he will come again. They doubt there will be a judgment day. The Apostle Peter calls them scoffers.

We are hoping many people will learn the truth about Jesus. We're hoping they will go to church to discover how they can find the peace, acceptance, and fulfillment that all of us long for.

Do you hear the roar of the ocean? Surf's up. Come catch the wave!

Elaine Masters is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu missions team. Expressions of Faith is a column that welcomes written works by leaders in faith and spirituality. E-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com or call 525-8035. Articles submitted may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.