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Thursday, January 11, 2024

100,000+ Youth Ring in 2024 With Spiritual Revival


A genuine spiritual outpouring that began in 2023 continues at the start of the new year as tens of thousands of young people display an unwavering devotion to Jesus, packing out churches, auditoriums, and stadiums across the country to worship His Name.

This growing movement is not led by so-called "celebrity" preachers or worship leaders but by many known and unknown, young and old pastors and youth ministers.

The common cord is, it's real. It's of the Lord.    

Here's some of what is happening in our nation that is, for the most part, not included in the "news."

Be informed and inspired.

Evangelist Matt Brown, founder of Think Eternity, recently shared on X ( link 1 )that thousands of young people are "ringing in 2024" by passionately seeking God.

He noted that "Well over 100,000 young people gathered to seek God over New Year and to ring in 2024 with revival. 🔔😮👏🏼

55,000 at Passion in Atlanta 

10,000 at Cross Con in Kentucky 

7,000 at Cru national gathering 

5,000 at Salt Conference in Iowa

13,500 at Strength to Stand in Tennessee (multiple)

12,000 at Hearts on Fire in Tennessee (Nov)

7,000 at Xtreme in Missouri

"Of course," he says, "there is no way to even begin to calculate the millions of people that gathered at local churches to seek God across the nation and worldwide." 

"Also, countless churches are now calling their congregants to fast and pray at the beginning of the new year. "

Earlier this week, I talked about Passion 2024, which was held in Atlanta.

CBN reports that in addition, more than 55,000 young adults gathered in Atlanta, Georgia last week to worship Jesus, delve into God's Word, and learn how to be light in their generation at the Passion 2024 conference. 

"It's just all about Jesus," said Passion founder and pastor, Louis Giglio. 

That statement rang especially true during one Passion worship service when tens of thousands kept singing "Worthy is the Lamb" for minutes on end, long after the band had stopped playing.

Pastor Louis Giglio, leader of the Passion 2024, spoke to me when he said, "I try not to get swept up in the loud music and bright lights, because then it's just an emotional experience and it interferes with genuine worship, but as the music stopped and we all sang, something special happened," YouTuber Noah Buchanan recalled of the experience. "Some people laughed, some cried. Could've stayed there for hours."

Dr. Malachi O'Brien called it "a once-in-a-generation marking."

Pastor Zach Meerkreebs's sermon at Asbury University on February 8, 2023, marked a 16-day outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And he is the first to acknowledge that what is taking place is a true work of God's Spirit. 

In fact, he says, the outpouring at Asbury "wasn't good preaching. That's for sure. I texted my wife after I preached that 'I laid a stinker' and I would be home soon for a nap. I did not get home for a nap. For 16 days, it was God pouring out His Spirit. It was unbelievable."

"His peace, His patience, His kindness, His gentleness, His humility was just in our midst and ego was offensive," he shared. "I can't get to the altar fast enough to get rid of our sin...Students encountered God."

Meerkreebs added that what is taking place now is "worth contending for." 

"We have heard stories of stadiums in Pakistan, Israel, and all over the world people are just seeking His face and lingering in His presence because it is worth it," he said. 

Meerkreebs and Paul Worcester, National Collegiate Director at the North American Mission Board, will be hosting a forum on January 23rd to explore ways to continue this movement among Gen Zers. 

Shane Pruitt, national Next Gen director with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), recently released a Bible study through Lifeway Christian Resources called Revival Generation.

The book takes students through an eight-word study on subjects such as repentance, holiness, surrender, and obedience. It explores what it means for students to experience personal revival in their walk with God. 

Pruitt says that he believes the lockdowns and restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a spiritual shift among Gen Z. 

"The pandemic didn't create new problems for Gen Z but I think it poured gas on some problems that were already there. You have a whole generation who has come to the end of themselves at a much earlier age," Pruitt explained. "They are looking for hope and they are looking for answers."

Takeaway

Meanwhile, other Christian leaders and ministries are calling one million young people to return to their first love during the "Roaring Twenties" fast and prayer movement.

The theme of this year's fast is "Revival of First Love," based on Revelation 2:4-5. It kicked off on January 8 and will end on January 28. 

Dr. Malachi O'Brien, one of the event's organizers, shared on X,  "First love for Jesus seems to be the commonality among what the Spirit is emphasizing right NOW in His Church. The crisis in Israel, the political unrest in America, & the sense of darkness attempting to destroy the Church is awakening many to loving Jesus being the ONLY answer for the hour we find ourselves in." He is one of the organizers. 

"The call for one million young people to fast and pray is historic but must not be about any one church, leader, organization or denomination but rather a collective of believers young and old who sense that God is about to do something historic in the roaring twenties. I want to see those stories shared and see a new generation marked by the same hunger and passion of great spiritual leaders of the past," he added. 

Charles Spurgeon said, "Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would go home and pray for a revival, men whose faith is large enough, and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations. " 

Be Informed. Be Inspired. Be Encouraged, Be Blessed. Be Prayerful.