Revival Stories

The 1904 Welsh Revival: Traits of the Revival (Pt 3)


Looking back upon 1904, we see how God initiated one of the most memorable revivals in the history of Wales, a nation that was already very familiar with spiritual awakenings. Despite enduring a period of apathy and darkness in the late 1800’s, the church there started yearning for more of God once again. Believers started praying and fasting and seeking the Lord to revive His church. In response to the intense longing of His sons and daughters, God ignited the first sparks in the town of New Quay. The revival burst into full flame when God raised up a young man in his twenties named Evan Roberts to start preaching at Moriah Chapel in the town of Loughor. The Spirit alighted and powerfully touched all in attendance. Drawn by the Spirit, thousands came to these meetings. Within a few weeks, accounts of the awakening hit the national news. And God sent Evan and his team out to towns all around the country.

What were these meetings like?

JOY. One clear mark of this revival was the joy demonstrated by Evan and those who heard his words. There were, of course, tears and deep conviction of sin at these meetings, but the Spirit also moved many listeners to pure joy as the crowds would loudly burst into songs of revival. It perplexed some leaders how Evan would be so intense in his longing for the Lord and yet so filled with happiness as he led the revivals. But joy indeed overflowed at these revival gatherings, and it is reported that often singing and spontaneous worship would take place not just in churches but also at train stations and in the mines of the workers.

HUMILITY. Another mark of this movement was the humility of those involved. Evan was always very concerned that God receive all the glory and that no person was stealing praise from the Lord. Evan kept his messages simple and plain, shunned publicity, refusing often to be photographed, and sought to keep the focus on Christ and the Holy Spirit.

GOSPEL POWER. Another key trait of the Welsh revival was the power of the Gospel to reach and transform the lost. The first two months saw about 70,000 people saved. Over the course of the next year, the number swelled to well over 100,000. And at least another 100,000 believers re-dedicated themselves to the Lord during this time. The new Christians joined and served in many churches, and society saw a significant downturn in theft, in drunkenness, and unruly behavior. Even the workers in the dark tunnels of the mines replaced their swearing and gossip with the sounds of fervent prayer and boisterous hymns.

GOD’S PRESENCE. In addition to all this, there was an acute awareness of God’s overwhelming presence at most meetings. The meetings could last more than 5 hours and often run late into the night. The Holy Spirit would break through the hardest of hearts at the gatherings and would move in believers through visions and healings and other manifestations. There was an intense passion to know Christ more and to love Jesus more fully. The presence of God was revealed with incredible power and intimacy as the revival spread.

As hundreds of Christians visited Wales to see what God was doing, they would sense the mighty moving of the Spirit and often take back revival sparks to their own nations. These spiritual flames would catch fire and bring revival in Korea, in England, and even in the United States when it finally reached Los Angeles. God used Wales to set the world afire for Him!


“LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).


QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS:

  1. Which of the traits from the 1904 Welsh Revival do you find the most compelling? Is there any trait that you find surprising? Why?
  2. How do these revival traits reveal aspects of God’s heart or His desires for the world?
  3. If revival were to come to your city tomorrow, what do you think might be the top 5 traits that would emerge? Why?
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