The American Missionary — Volume 44, No. 06, June, 1890Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 44, No. 06, June, 1890
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
* * * * *
REVIVAL AT WILMINGTON, N.C.
PROFESSOR GEORGE A. WOODARD.
The revival which took place in this church the latter part of the
winter was, in some respects, a model one.
At the close of one of the Wednesday evening prayer meetings, our
pastor spoke to us with the view of ascertaining if the church were
ready for special work; then he appointed another prayer meeting for
Friday night. With faith, and resting upon the promises of God, the
work was begun the next week. At first the attendance was small; but,
as the meetings continued, the interest increased, and it became
necessary to move into the large hall of the school.
It was evident throughout that God was in the work and that the Holy
Spirit was striving mightily with sinners. A deep, quiet emotion
pervaded the meetings, in strong contrast with the revivals held in
many of the colored churches of the city, where the excitement becomes
intense, and the confusion great. Their meetings are often continued
until long after midnight, in a crowded, unventilated room, whereas
ours never closed later than ten o'clock.
As a result of our revival, although other revivals were going on
amongst the colored people at the same time, upwards of forty were born
into the Kingdom, for some of whom, many, many prayers had been offered
up; and all was done in answer to prayer. Among these were several
cases of interest, two of which I will mention. One is that of an
intelligent young man employed by the leading dentist of the city, for
whom he does the mechanical work, which previously had to be sent
North. Although of excellent character, he was a skeptic, reading the
writings of Ingersoll, Paine, and others. For years, our teachers had
taken a special interest in him laboring with him and praying for him,
that he might come into the light He was induced to attend these
meetings, and was finally led to believe that these things are so and
to accept of the Saviour. He has gone earnestly to work to bring in
other young men, teaches in the Sunday-school and is ready for any
Christian work.
The other is that of a brawny brick mason, a great sinner, who, while
earning excellent wages, often failed to bring home sufficient to feed
and clothe his children; and when remonstrated with by his wife, would
answer; "They are your children, you take care of them." All is changed
now. He gets up early Sunday mornings, assists in getting the children
ready for church, where the family, all neatly dressed, can be seen
regularly every Sunday; and in the prayer meeting his voice is usually
heard.
As a further result of this revival, the church has been greatly
quickened, the members have been brought closer together in brotherly
love, and God has given a fresh outpouring of his spirit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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