What you don’t know can surprise you!
In February of this year the Lord directed me to research the history of revival in the Carolinas. I had studied the great revivals of the world in a God’s Generals course at Christ for the Nations. Hubster and I have called S.C. home for over 25 years, but never heard about any revival happening in our home state of South Carolina; until the study began!
Religious freedom has always been a part of our American heritage. Sadly many Believers are not aware of how God has moved upon His people over the past 300 years. The Biblical foundation for what we call revival, or a better term is awakening, is found in the Book of Acts. Chapter 2 gives a very detailed account of what took place when Holy Spirit descended upon waiting souls. There was not a famous or well admired personality leading the way. It was a sovereign work of the Sovereign God. The result was the infilling of the Believers, and the power of God working through them for the purpose of showing Himself to mankind.
First, A bit of revival history for those who aren’t acquainted…
Imagine for a moment walking toward an outdoor meeting being held in your community. As you walk up into an open field you see in the distance a rustic shelter and coming from that place you hear the strains of When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder being played upon stringed instruments or a pump organ that has been brought by wagon. A large crowd is gathering beneath bows of greenery that block out the sun, giving the place a yellow-green color as the branches filter the light. A slight breeze wafts across the crowd on this hot summer day as you find a place to sit on one of the long benches that were hastily constructed for the meeting. You can’t help tapping your foot to the sound of the music as everyone anticipates what is to come because you have just entered a brush arbor meeting. Simplicity, unity amongst diversity, and earnest seeking of God were marks of the Awakenings of the late 1700’s. These simple places were made sacred by the mighty presence of the Lord.
In times of evangelism, the Evangelist chases after the sinner, in times of Awakening, the sinner chases after the Lord. Revival is a community saturated with the Presence of God.
At one of these “camps” we visited, there is record that 20,000 were in attendance. Traditions were not given prominence, rather experiencing the God they had heard of through anointed preaching, prayer, and praise was of utmost importance. Initially the congregants came with canvas tents and a few cooking pots. A sense of community was developed as they were, Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Methodists, Quakers, all in one accord. So strong was the unity and the presence of God that often the ministers had to pause their preaching due to the voluminous responses of people agonizing under conviction or exalting with praise to God. As the move continued, small shacks were built. Upstairs for sleeping, and downstairs for cooking and sharing meals.The structures were called “tents” erected in a circle on the site, surrounding a large “tabernacle” was situated in the center of the camp. Outhouses were few, but surely used often! In some camps, more than 3 ministers would preach simultaneously- under large trees, or in “corners” of the circular shaped camps.
In America the First Great Awakening was a religious revival that impacted the English colonies in America during the 1730s and 1740s. The movement came at a time when the idea of secular rationalism was being emphasized, and passion for Christ had grown stale. Much like today’s Christian Church/Body of Christ in America, expectation of truly walking intimately with God was at an all time low. I often wonder why so many habitually gather into a building where they do not expect God to show up???
In the era of these first two Awakenings, Christian leaders often traveled from town to town, preaching about the gospel, emphasizing salvation from sins and promoting enthusiasm for Christianity.
The gatherings grew and grew, necessitating larger places for full families to come to these “Brush Arbor” meetings. The Great Awakening saw the rise of several Protestant denominations, including Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists (who emphasized adult baptism of converted Christians rather than infant baptism). These new churches gained converts and competed with older Protestant groups like Anglicans (members of the Church of England), Congregationalists (the heirs of Puritanism in America), and Quakers. But more important is the fact that people were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit and many came of own free will without pleading or prompting of anyone save the Lord Himself. Originally these meetings were full of the move of God, with conviction, prayer, spontaneous praise, and holy hours with God in control. Some of the gatherings in these camps numbered in the tens of thousands.
Another move of the Spirit of God took place in the islands of Hebrides, Wales. He promised to pour out His Spirit in the Last Days.
Such a thing happened in the Welsh Hebrides revival in 1948 . Two elderly ladies prayed quietly and diligently until a great outpouring of the Spirit answered the prayer of “O that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence” in such a miraculous and sovereign way that the accounts of it are still told :
Wave after wave of divine power swept throughout the room. Simultaneously the Spirit of God swept through the village . People could not sleep and houses were lit all night. People walked the streets in great conviction; others knelt by their bedsides crying for pardon. As the men left the prayer meeting the preacher walked into a house for a glass of milk and found the lady of the house with seven others down upon their knees, crying out for God.”
Within 48 hours the drinking house, usually crowded with drinking men of the village, was closed. 14 young men who had been drinking there were gloriously converted. Those same men afterwards could be found three times a week with others down upon their knees before God, praying for their old associates and for the spread of revival. It was in this village that within 48 hours, many young people had surrendered their lives to Christ, and could also be found in the prayer meetings!
Crime rates decreased dramatically, and bars were even closed. Over 100 thousand people; 25% of the population confessed faith in Christ. You can watch the very anointed video Glorious Christian Revivals here on Amazon Prime if you have an account. We will be posting more about various revival histories over the coming weeks.
It is such a revival that we pray for, and such that prompted us to visit the old wells of revival in our state. These “camps” were once simple, but how I envy what they shared! I would, I WILL give all I have to gather in unity with other Believers under the weighty presence of God! Today there are many ornate churches and places of worship with every comfort from air conditioning and padded pews to sound systems and orchestras. Perhaps it would do us all some good to revisit, at least within our hearts, a brushy cathedral of green boughs once more and kneel before our God in an old brush arbor.
OUR EXPERIENCE in these 4 camps:
We tried to listen for the voice of the Lord as we prayed at each location. We were praying for God to pour out His Spirit over the state of South Carolina, as well as to stir the wells of revival where it was so clear that God was with His people. We did not shout, we prayed quietly, we declared aloud our desire for the Lord to come in power and glory. He answered by giving us something from each place. The first was
Cypress Methodist Camp Ground
Thousands once met here. 
At Cypress, the impression was that the wells of revival would be reopened, both there and in our State. Ezekiel 47 tells us of the river of God which brings life to all, and that river is within each Believer. But our wells have either gone dry, or been capped. What we are doing in “church” is not working, it is not changing our society. We need revival. We need the River of God to flow freely. I took with me a piece of the strong Cypress bark.
Indian Field Methodist Camp
tents 
in the Tabernacle 
For God and Country 
Such a large Tabernacle! 
circle of tents more tents 
Tabernacle 
Indian Field Camp was built in such a way that there were not gaps- like a Western garrison- creating a sense of sanctuary. What struck us as we wandered the grounds and prayed was that there were hundreds of turkey feathers on the ground! In Indian Field. Now, I try to refrain from making something out of every little thing, but we couldn’t help but feel the Lord’s heart for the First Nations peoples of South Carolina, and ask that the wind of His Spirit blow mightily upon them. We also were encouraged to see the cross and the flag together. The Divine Destiny of America is honored here. Yes, we took some feathers with us. Dan will use some on his Cherokee flutes he makes, and I get one for a weaving I am doing called “The Harvest”. 🙂
Dan’s thoughts: “The second camp, Indian Land, however, was amazing. Much cleaner, better maintained, and obvious that much thought had gone into presenting an atmosphere that could be open to the move of the Holy Spirit. Space was provided in the Tabernacle for so many people! 1200-1500 available seats, and space surrounding the Tabernacle for 3000-4000 more! A move of God could affect thousands!! The sense of expectation was intense. As I stepped into the pulpit, and began to verbally pray over this place, and the people that God would change there, I began to sense, in an instant, that God was in fact changing some things in me. I am so impressed of God that TRUE REVIVAL will fill this place, and ME, as well.”
The next camp was
Cattle Creek
May the Lord pour out mightily upon our land!
There was such a stillness at this camp; and not in a good way-more as in lifeless. Dan sensed a “deadness”, so we were surprised to see a cemetary as part of these grounds. Everything was dry, dusty and unkempt. Maybe I am too sensitive, but it really bugged me that the cross on the pulpit was upside down! Made me think of how things today are reversed and in need of righting. Small pieces of colored fabric were laying on the ground, or blowing in the breeze. I gathered a few- remnants of what was once beautiful. We prayed for the Remnant of the Branch- speaking life to the remnant and asking for renewal.
Finally, Camp Welfare…
Isaiah 61 
This camp has had a lasting impact upon me. As soon as we stepped onto the grounds near the Tabernacle, which they called the Arbor, I felt the presence of God. Camp Welfare was started by slaves. McMasters gave it to the slaves for lay-by time. It was called lay-by time because the slaves came here for fellowship and rest, before they went back to the fields. I could feel the weightiness of the perseverance and their faith. There was a true reverence felt in this rugged, worn camp. Much different than the other camps; what it lacked in aesthetics and upkeep it carried such a measure of glory still. Wherever two or more gather…I knew He knew this place well. As I stood at the pulpit looking out to the arbor seats, Isaiah 61 rose up in my spirit. It has an even deeper meaning to me now- after being there where slaves came to rest and worship. Thinking of our current social state and the division the enemy is trying to bring, we prayed liberty to the captives of racism, injustice, deception, fear, hatred, and victim mentality. We waved the victory flag as we declared that the enemy shall not prevail in this state nor in this nation! Tiny lilies line the front of many “tent” houses. I picked a few, praying for the fragrance of devotion that filled the hearts of those who suffered severely be renewed in our time; that the heart’s doors be opened and Christ be home to tens of thousands in our state. And that unity would prevail through love, and the slave holder’s descendant would share communion with the slave’s lineage in brotherly love. I will never forget the sense of that place.
While driving back home, we discussed the tents and tabernacle theme. The Spirit reminded me that the Feast of Tabernacles is in September, and gave me a strong sense that THIS year it will be ACTUAL. The fellowship, nourishment, protection will be there for the Faithful. The Lord will come to our “tents’ bringing deliverance just as He did for the Israelites. We will celebrate His presence and His unspeakable love. We will behold His glory.
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