By Editor Jerrell Miller

BRADFORD, ENGLAND — Since 1997, we have traveled to England and visited some of the most Historic sites of our faith. Early one morning, we packed up the camera and went to a place where faith began. It was a long trip from South Kirby to Lincoln, but in Lincoln we came to a place where the entire Island nation was rocked by one small boy.

JOHN WESLEY

    His name was John Wesley and he had a peculiar beginning at St. Andrews, his Fathers Church in Epworth. It was at the hand of his mother that he learned about the grace of God, and it would be at the hand of his mother that he would experience rescue from burning in a fire at five years of age. It would be a scene repeated in the Spiritual sense, as the young Wesley would pull Englishmen from the flames during a period of English revival. The old Church at Epworth would be locked to him one day, but John Wesley took the only advantage he had and preached on his father’s grave just six feet from the door of the church. (Religion has kept people six feet from the door of the church on many occasions.) John Wesley knew the heart of England and he understood that England needed a savior. Like the Apostle Paul, he traveled by horseback all over England to make sure every Englishman knew that there was a saving God. What was it like between the years of 1750 and 1799? Children were working in mills almost 16 hours a day. There was an epidemic of alcoholism that kept fathers from work and children in fear. It was a time when women were not respected as mothers or people of worth in society. It was a time that everyone did that which was right in their own eyes. (Judges 21:25) Wesley did one thing for the people, he came and gave them a value and made the church an open door for all to come and find God. The established church feared him at first, but saw his value later on in life. While he was called the great Methodist, he was an Anglican Priest who never left his own - just found a better way. He was a man who had a passion and a burden for his fellow countrymen.
Under Wesley’s ministry, the position of women in the church grew to new heights. Because of the early love that was shown to him by his mother Susanna, he would never forget the role of women in the church. (The reason they are called Methodists today is because of the
organizational patterns of these women to reach the lost and put
families back together.) It was proven through Susanna that the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. Wesley was the first great harvester of England, but there would be others who would carry the message of God in this land. The island of England has two other countries - Wales and Scotland. Each of these countries would make their mark on the revival in England.

Evan Roberts - Wales

At the turn of the 20th century, a young man working in a coal mine would be called to the purpose of his fellow Welshmen. The National Anthem of Wales is called Bread of Heaven Fall on Us. The bread of heaven is the presence of God. For hundreds of years, Welsh choirs sang this at full volume and one day God leaned over the side wall of Heaven and heard them. He not only heard them, but He called a young man to come out of the coal mines of Wales and begin to preach the Gospel. Evan Roberts would be the only Evangelist in History to lead an entire country to revival at one time. The power of God swept the country from one end to the other. Men, women and children fell under conviction. Everything stopped in Wales at one time for the mystery of revival. Sporting events were stopped, bars closed their doors for a season and newspapers printed the news of the day, Revival. Many new men of God would come out of this revival. Two of the most important evangelists would emerge from this show of the Almighty’s hand. The Jefferys brothers would be birthed into ministry out of this revival. They were the open door to Pentecost as we know it today. However, like all good revivals and seasons of God, this one would end.

Hebrides Revival

    Two old women would crack the door of revival one more time on a small island just off the coast of Scotland. The Hebrides Revival would last between the years of 1948 and 1952 and it was seen as one of the last great moves of God in Great Britain. It began with two older ladies and a group of men praying in a barn in Barvas, Hebrides. Sisters Christine (82), and Peggy Smith (84), began to pray and remind God of His promises to bring salvation to their people. One night as the men were praying in the barn and the old women were praying around their fireplace, the presence of God came into the room. The men felt the presence in the barn as they prayed. That night Sister Peggy, who was blind, spoke to her sister and said, "I believe revival has come." On that night also, the Holy Spirit told them the man who should come and lead the revival - Duncan Campbell. Campbell canceled everything on his agenda and came by boat as soon as he could. Upon arrival, he preached his first sermon at the Barvas Church and then congregation after congregation lined the pews until late at night. The glory of God had revealed itself for a season in this small community. On his second night in Barvas, Duncan Campbell preached on the foolish virgins. It was that night that the glory of God came down and what was to be just a 10 meeting stretch turned into weeks and months. The power of God was so overwhelming during this time, individuals working in the fields and mothers at home fell on their knees to repent. This was the last major visitation of God upon England.
There would be other times when God would show up. At Sunderland, England, an English pastor named Alexander Boody came to America to experience Pentecostal Revival at Azusa Street. It was there that God baptized him in the Holy Ghost. As he came back to Sunderland, England, meetings began as revival touched the Anglican Church there. One 47-year-old plumber came to these meetings and was touched. Smith Wigglesworth is the legendary Pentecostal Evangelist that raised people from the dead and opened up New Zealand to the Baptism in the Holy Ghost. These are just some of the times and places of revival in the History of England. Now, however, a new challenge looms as almost impossible. The country where God moved through men like John Wesley, Evan Roberts and Duncan Campbell is in serious need of another move of
    God. This time the message will include our Islamic Brothers. Don’t think that this is not possible. Like David with a small rock in his hand, those who are praying for revival in England know the power of God and what it can do.
    If you are reading this and have been moved to pray, ask God to anoint your prayer for England — God is going to move in the midst of the conflict. What you think is impossible will be brought down by the hand of intercession. Pray for the coming move of God in England. Not by might, nor power, but by My spirit saith the Lord.