The Call for Revival and Reformation
The General Conference Annual Council has just ended. During the six days of October 8-13, 2010, we spent much time in prayer. The focus of our prayers was for revival and reformation to begin first in our individual lives and then in our churches.
During our morning devotions each speaker focused on the need for revival and reformation within our church and also emphasized the need for it to begin with us, the leaders of the church. Speakers were Jerry and Janet Page, GC Ministerial Secretary and GC Shepherdess Coordinator; Dwight Nelson, Senior Pastor Pioneer Memorial Church, Andrews University; and Pastor C. D. Brooks, speaker emeritus of Breath of Life TV ministries. Truly God spoke to our hearts and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit was evident during our meetings.
Why this call for revival and reformation? Our new GC, President Ted Wilson, made it a priority in his new presidency. He established a Revival and Reformation Committee which is working under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to plan ways for the world church to focus on this need. He shared with us this quotation from the writings of E. G. White: "A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work."--Review and Herald, March 22, 1887.
We talk much about living in the end of time, maybe so much that we have become numb to the signs that are so evident around us. Too many of us have become negligent in our devotional lives. We have let the busyness of our lives crowd out the Savior of our souls. The call during this week of meetings was a call to spend more time in prayer, Bible Study, confessing our sins, and mission.
Joel 2:12 - 17 tells of what will happen in our churches when revival and reformation take place. My sisters, it's time for us to truly surrender our all to God and to let Him be Lord and King of our lives. Are you ready for God to use you to be His voice and His hands of love to a world that's dying?
Do you want to go to your heavenly home? I do, and I know you long for it also. Until we have revival and reformation in our lives and in our churches the work of mission will be delayed. "So let the work begin Lord, and let it begin with me."
"Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a
revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children." Great Controversy, 465.
By Heather-Dawn Small, GC WM Director