Lausanne World Pulse – Seeking God for Revival: South Africa and Beyond

August 2006

By Francois Carr

Spiritual awakening occurs when large numbers of non-believing people (or a whole family or a large percentage of people in a church or area) experience new birth in Christ in a short period of time. Spiritual awakenings are not just times of mass decisions for Jesus Christ; indeed, decisions may not always reflect a new birth. In a spiritual awakening people’s lives are changed radically due to a heartfelt conviction of sin and repentance. It may also result in a changed family, church, society, city or nation. The following are examples of what may occur in a spiritual awakening:

• Bars and taverns close down for a lack of business
• Police and law-enforcement personnel face a drop in work due to dramatic decreases in crime.
• Businesses receive money and merchandise back from thieves, employees and shoplifters who are seeking to return stolen goods.
• Foul language is replaced by civil and wholesome talk.
• Evil practices cease and are often outlawed.
• Private and public acts of immorality decrease dramatically.
• Marriages are restored and family life is strengthened.

Revival and Spiritual Awakening in South Africa
“Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless.” —Charles Spurgeon

Today South Africa is facing a period of moral and spiritual decline that is increasing perhaps more rapidly than ever in our history. Many churches struggle with liberalism, humanism, sin and worldliness in the lives of their members; this greatly impacts and influences the Church. This impact is reflected in the prayerlessness, powerlessness, fruitlessness, critical spirit and lack of appetite for the word of God and the Church. It is also seen in the worldliness, self-justification and the life of spiritual defeat many Christians are facing. Church attendance is weak and membership is declining at the rate of eight percent annually; prayer meetings are poorly attended and non-existent in many churches. Very little if any evangelism, outreach or missionary activity exists. Few true conversions take place and the only signs of life are the many programs that are presented.

We have several mega churches with large memberships, lots of activities and many programs. However, the average spiritual life of believers and churches seems powerless against the growing coldness and spiritual apathy present today. There is little visible lasting change in either the home or the community. Even though we have close to thirty-four thousand churches from a variety of denominations, the Church as a whole seems to have little or no lasting effect upon the community. 

There is currently no revival or spiritual awakening in our country. Some local churches have experienced some movement and visitation of the Holy Spirit and the manifest presence of God. However, this is usually restricted to the local church. Yet there is a growing concern about the need for revival in our nation; there are churches, spiritual leaders and individual people crying out for revival and a fresh encounter with God that will actually change lives, behaviours, ethics, cultural norms and society itself. The majority of churches in South Africa are tired of struggling. They have tried many programs, methods and courses, yet have seen little lasting results.

One pastor of a mega church with several thousand members recently explained how the church leadership had tried to awaken their congregants to the spirit of God but that there was no lasting change. The leadership decided to go back to the basics and to help every member experience a close and intimate walk with God, living in daily obedience and unbroken fellowship. This is what made the difference. Individuals and some families are experiencing blessing; yet, this has not spilled over into the local church and community to date.   

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Dr. Francois Carr is executive director of Revival South Africa. He is senior editor of an English and Afrikaans journal on Prayer, Holiness and Revival, called Revival and HerlewinG. Carr is also the author of Revival! The Glory of God and Prayer for Revival and has authored several books in Afrikaans.