Revival Isn’t a Rumor — It’s Happening

I don’t say that lightly. But I’m doing so with conviction, because the evidence is piling up—both in our pews and in prayer closets. Something is stirring.

Just today (Oct. 6, 2025), our Executive Pastor sent me a note: that the previous Sunday was the fourth-highest attended Sunday of the calendar year. That’s up there with Easter. Mother’s Day. Heck — it’s like the “Sunday before Taxes” in church terms.

But attendance is only part of it. There were decisions for Christ — including a couple who came to Christ in the first service and said, “Let’s get baptized now,” in the second. Our baptisms have already exceeded any single-year total we’ve ever recorded — and we still have nearly three months left in the year.

These are measurable signs. But there’s more: in hallways, text threads, prayer times, candid conversations, hearts are stirring. Spiritual hunger is being voiced. In my estimation? We are in the midst of a genuine move of the Holy Spirit.

If that’s true — and again, I believe it is — let’s do what wise people have always done: pay attention to what might derail it. Wise voices from church history, especially Jonathan Edwards, can help us. So here’s a list of threats to revival (drawn from Edwards’ reflections) — think of them as landmines to avoid. May the Spirit reveal to each of us where we need to turn.

It’s not just in our corner of the world. What we’re experiencing are clusters with broader signs:

• Baptism surges in key evangelical bodies:
  Southern Baptist churches reported 250,643 baptisms in their 2024 report — their highest total in years — reflecting a more than 10% jump over the prior year. Lifeway Research+1 (Yes, even in denominations overall losing membership, baptisms are rising.)
• Evangelical momentum among younger generations:
  Barna reports that Gen Z churchgoers now attend 1.9 weekends per month on average, while Millennials average 1.8—rates that have steadily climbed since pandemic lows. Barna Group
  If your eye is on the young, be encouraged: many are leaning in.
• Belief in Jesus is rising:
  Barna also notes that public sentiment toward Jesus has been climbing. Since 2021, tens of millions more U.S. adults now claim to be following Jesus. Barna Group
  In other words: the “market” for spiritual things is expanding.
• “Quiet Revival” in the UK:
  In England and Wales, a YouGov / Bible Society study showed that monthly church attendance rose from 3.7 million in 2018 to 5.8 million in 2024 — a ~56% increase. Religion Media Centre+1
  (Yes, overseas is not us — but it suggests there is oxygen in the spiritual atmosphere.)
• Attendance trends — cautious optimism:
  Pew’s recent Religious Landscape Study finds that 62% of U.S. adults identify as Christian — and that decline in Christian affiliation has leveled off somewhat in recent years. Pew Research Center
  And while only about one-third of U.S. adults attend religious services at least once or twice a month, among evangelicals that number is much higher (71%) when virtual/in-person combined. Pew Research Center
• Not all churches baptize many — so numbers like ours are striking:
  In the Southern Baptist world, 43% of churches reported zero converts or baptisms in a calendar year; another 34% reported just one to five. That means a large portion of churches see almost no new life in a year. CareyNieuwhof.com
  The church you lead or are part of, if you’re seeing multiple baptisms and sustained attendance, is punching above average.

If revival is raging (or preparing to), we need to not be naive. Let’s respond wisely. Here are a few practical steps:

• Guard authenticity over flashy numbers. Encourage deep, heart-level conversion.
• Cultivate humility — in preaching, leadership, in community life.
• Ground emotion in truth — let people feel, but let Scripture interpret the feelings.
• Train in discernment — be alert to deceptive spiritual seductions or counterfeits.
• Pursue unity — disagreements will come; fight for reconciliation and clarity rather than scorched earth.
• Anchor in doctrine — re-center preaching, discipleship, teaching on the Word.
• Flee distractions — convict people of spiritual compromise, worldliness, side idols.
• Watch for drift — keep repentance, accountability, spiritual disciplines alive even after the initial rush.

We are not ignorant of Satan’s schemes and devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). May we walk circumspectly, vigilant, prayerful. May the Holy Spirit shine the light of God’s Word on us, showing us where to repent, adjust, and commit more fully.

What we’re seeing now may be the answer to the prayers of generations — not just ours, but those who’ve longed to see God move again. Let’s be found in cooperation with Him, not in conflict or complacency.