Hello, my name is Tom Ascol. I serve as the pastor of Grace Baptist Church and hold the position of president at both Founders Ministries and the Institute of Public Theology in Cape Coral, Florida. I am thrilled to seize this chance to talk about our profound and urgent need for spiritual revival in our present age.
Being a long-time student of revival history, my heart has often been set ablaze while reading about the great acts of God during darker times, when situations appeared hopeless. In such periods, God would stir His people to pray, and He would respond powerfully to breathe new life into His gospel amongst His followers.
Over the course of many months, I have been partaking in meaningful dialogues with various Christian leaders. Through these conversations, we have all arrived at a shared understanding: our desperate need for God to revive us once again.
Jesus taught us to pray by saying, “If you, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13). The time has arrived for God’s people worldwide to unite and passionately appeal for God to pour His Spirit out upon this world anew.
Our forefathers have passed down incredible accounts of His revival work during their era. Notable instances include the Evangelical Awakening in the United Kingdom and the Great Awakening in America during the mid-18th century. Joint efforts were made to gather God’s people for specific days of prayer and fasting, entreating Him to arise. God heard those prayers. Over time, He did arise and poured His Spirit onto His people.
In times of revival, God’s work is swift. People are converted in large numbers and churches are deeply and lastingly sanctified and purified. As Martin Lloyd Jones insightfully noted, “When God works in times of revival, he can do more in a minute than we can do with all of our plans and all of our activities in 50 years.”
I find it heartening to join with other brothers in calling for churches and pastors worldwide to set aside the 3rd and 4th of October as days of global prayer and fasting for revival. I cordially invite you to unite with us for this noble cause.