1990:
Christian ministries report that 1,300 people groups have been reached with the gospel around the world out
of a potential 6,000 plus.
1992:
Following the Gulf War church denominations
had already begun to each implement their own plans to reach every home for Christ by the year 2000.
1993:
It was becoming apparent that this goal wasn't possible without interdenominational cooperation.
One national evangelical leader, Bill Bright, set out on a 40 day fast and by day 29 was moved to call upon fellow leaders
of various denominations to seek the Lord together. By day 40 it was clear what the Lord wanted.
1994:
For the first time over 600 leaders of major denominations began to seek the Lord together in the
first of many three day gatherings of fasting and prayer. The following year 3,500 participated, and the next year over 7,000.
1995:
The Spirit of the Lord began to break out in professional sports stadiums across
America as Christian men from every background answered the call to gather and worship the Lord. Hundreds of thousands of
men filled venues with tears, worship, and repentance.
October 1997:
Over 1 million Christian men gathered at the nation’s capital of Washington
D.C. to seek the Lord and call upon His name. An awesome silence repeatedly fell upon the mall of Washington as hundreds of
thousands wept aloud. This was often followed by thunderous roars of praise which filled the air as a nation stood in wonder.
January 1998:
The nation’s leaders become embroiled in one of the most divisive political
battles in history, which is the result of a moral scandal that would tarnish a presidency and polarize the nation's political
leaders. " I did not have sexual relations with that woman."- President Bill Clinton. The bitter saga would end
with impeachment, but the poison was now in the political waters, and would dominate the American political scene for the
next three years. "People are calling in, jamming our switchboards, by demanding that we take action on one side or another."
- Robert L. Livingston. " I never told anyone to lie, not a single time, never."- Bill Clinton.
October 1998:
A coalition unlike any
other America has ever seen, representing over 70 denominations and 400 prayer church ministries calls upon believers everywhere
to seek the Lord and pray for believers by name. The Lighthouse of Prayer Movement has been launched. "Bombs and shooting
and you just kept hearing these bombs go off and shooting."- Columbine high school Student.
April 20, 1999:
"When I went back outside I saw some bodies laying there."- Columbine high school Student.
The violence within the culture reaches an insidious level as evil literally explodes in the Columbine high school massacre.
"One kid was partially alive, I don't know, his face was blown off."- Columbine high school student. A dark
tragedy shocks America.
September 2000:
The prayer and fasting movement is in
full swing as the Christian leaders urge the church across America to fast and pray to seek the Lord.
November and December 2000:
At the same time
an upcoming election would produce a new president. It would be an election like no other which would increase the anger even
beyond the bounds of the impeachment saga to a degree that had never been seen before. The United States was a nation divided.
American prayer leaders were fully aware of what the Lord was doing around the world as reports of the praying church in south
and Central America, as well as southeastern and northeastern Asia - spawned revival. Within the space often years the international
church saw something done that had not be realized in 2,000 years. An additional 3,400 people groups had been reached with
the gospel within a very short period of time. Leaving the remaining unreached people groups in the Middle East and central
Asia, in what is commonly called the 10/40 Window. Currently most of these groups are unable to be reached because of their
governments attempt to prevent the gospel from coming within their borders.
The
summer of 2001:
Another
major initiative is launched by national prayer leaders in the northeastern United States. Prayer is offered up in regions
with a history of revival. For 3 months gatherings of prayer were being held by believers and institutions of higher education,
historical landmarks, and church buildings.
September 11, 2001:
It's a day that will go down as one of the darkest days in American history as militant
terrorists plunged high jacked airliners into the Trade Center Towers in New York. The most famous city in the world is brought
to the knees. A tragedy of unparallel proportions hits the people of the United States. The violence dominating our television
storylines becomes real, with hearts broken, lives destroyed and a catastrophic loss of life unimaginable. Sorrow grips the
hearts of the American people. "Tonight I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds
have been shattered." Within moments the world of the unfolding tragedies reaches Christians worldwide. The prayers of
God’s people around the world from the church in China to the church across South America began to hold up the people
of America to God. "We ask almighty God to watch over our nation. We pray that you would comfort and console those who now walk in sorrow". A nation in shock was called upon by the new president to pray
to the Lord for help. Like answering the exhortation of an old testimony prophet, believers of every background began to pray.
And along with the "Preacher to Presidents" himself. World-renowned evangelist Billy Graham, who years earlier led
this then future president to the Lord, also called upon Christians who humble themselves and pray. "And from the cross,
God declares "I Love You", for Easter points us beyond the tragedy of the cross to the empty tomb. It tells us that
there’s hope for eternal life, for Christ has conquered evil and death and hell." Congregations across America
opened their doors for prayer. For the first time in years Americans – believers and not – were returning the
church to pray and seek God. The largest number of Students to every pray in American history assembled around school flag,
some 5 million…. And for the first time in 40 years, prayer was being observed and unchallenged without fear in the
work place. Revival
has not come to this nation yet and the final 1300 people groups have not been reached but this story is still being written
by a sovereign God. His pen is the hands of surrender and the bending knees of the people purchased by blood.
It’s a story that’s still being written in this very second. Let us call upon the name of Jesus. Let us believe
in His love and diligently, perseveringly seek His holy heart. We will see His mighty merciful hand.
Revival has not
come to this nation yet and the final 1300 people groups have not been reached but this story is still being written by a
sovereign God. His pen is the hands of surrender and the bending knees of the people purchased by blood.
It’s a story that’s still being written in this very second. Let us call upon the name of Jesus. Let us believe
in His love and diligently, perseveringly seek His holy heart. We will see His mighty merciful hand.