Revival Stories

Revivals of the Carolinas: Charlotte Overview


Along the southern border of North Carolina, next to South Carolina, lies the fair city of Charlotte. This city is known for many things: a center for international banking, the home to NASCAR racing, and the birthplace of renowned preacher Billy Graham. But what might not be as well-known is its rich spiritual history and sense of destiny.

The city of Charlotte was founded by European settlers in 1768 and named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, who ruled over England, the most powerful nation at the time. She was known to be well-educated, compassionate to the sick, and a patron of the music and arts. She, most importantly, was a devout believer. She once wrote in 1774: “There is a contentment which the world can neither give nor take away from me…each day I pass in this world, I discover little by little that the Royal Crown and the title of Majesty do not bear comparison with that of [being] a Christian.”There is a 15 foot high statue of her today in Charlotte’s airport that portrays her holding up a crown to the sky. Many interpretations exist, but one that may personally reflect her the best is that she is joyfully offering her earthly crown to the one King above all kings. The Queen City, if it faithfully reflects the heart of its namesake, has a far greater future spiritually than most people realize.

From the city’s humble beginnings, the Christian faith has played a significant role in the life of its people. Settled in 1768 by mostly Scottish-Irish Presbyterians, this led to the forming of its first 7 Presbyterian churches soon afterwards. Most of these original churches still are in existence and have congregations today (as of 2021). Over the centuries, many other denominations such as the Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans, and Roman Catholics built their own churches, and in great numbers, leading historians to nickname Charlotte “The City of Churches”. In 2020, with some estimates claiming over 1400 churches in our city, the label is well-deserved, as this puts the city among those with the highest density of churches per capita in the world.

However, besides the surface evidence of religious sentiment and sacred buildings, there are fascinating stories over the centuries of God’s profound movement in this place. Many smaller revivals have arisen over the years, birthed in local churches or Christian groups, and have impacted their communities and sometimes large segments of the entire city. And, unbeknownst to most of its citizens, there has been a large and potent undercurrent of revival-seeking prayer throughout its history. Prayer - with its always-present and ever-faithful contingency of intercessors - has been one of its keys to spiritual power and resulting blessing.

For example, it was in May 1934 that one particular group of Christian businessmen met at a dairy farm to cry out to God for souls in Charlotte to be saved and for their city to be ignited with the Holy Spirit. They had met many times before in various locales to agonize and pray for mighty spiritual awakenings, stirring the very heart of God. One man in this little group was named W. Frank Graham. That day, someone suggested adding a new prayer item: To ask God to raise up a native of Charlotte to be a great evangelist who would take the Gospel around the world. Little did they know that W. Frank Graham’s son, Billy Graham, just 15 years old at the time, was working in the nearby barn and would eventually be God’s destined answer to their prayers.

Yet, although God answered that prayer request for a powerful evangelist, there is still the original prayer that has still gone unanswered. These persistent intercessors had always prayed for resounding revival to sweep throughout Charlotte, this nation, and the entire world. The time is coming soon when God will graciously give what His sons and daughters have so deeply longed for: a great revival in this city that will surge across the globe in Jesus’ name!


QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS:

  1. What is the spiritual history of your town or city that points to how God has been at work in your midst? What have been the prominent themes or emphases over the few decades? Where and in which Christian groups has God moved to lift up the Good News of Jesus?
  2. What do you find interesting about Queen Charlotte, the namesake of the city of Charlotte? Who are significant Christ-followers in the history of your city?
  3. Who is praying in your town for a greater revelation and outpouring of God to take place? What are some of the most persistent and biggest prayer items of your community? How does historic revival factor into their thinking? How could the topic of revival be energized and engaged more regularly?
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