To Whom it May Concern,
My name is Jonathon Parrish, I am a full time evangelist in the Church of the Nazarene on the North Carolina District. I am writing to share my heart, and burden with you in an attempt to raise awareness for the desperate need of genuine revival among our congregants and also the evangelism of the lost. I believe that the responsibility falls on all of us but our desire must become our reality by way of deliberate, intentional faith, hunger, and obedience.
It has become clear to me as a young evangelist that the prevailing thought among many in the holiness movement is that “revival” services are outdated and ineffective. In some cases it is assumed that the money in church budgets could be better spent elsewhere rather than wasting it on revival expenses toward services that most people will not even bother attending. I can't say that I completely disagree with that perception to some degree.
The role of the evangelist has been minimized over the past several years to preaching legalistic services in the Spring and Fall with the hope that the same stagnant congregants will be “revived” and maybe a few lost souls will wander in and be saved. The enthusiasm usually lasts a week or two before fizzling out and our churches are left at square one with a “desire to have the desire.” Our response to this has unfortunately been to trash the ministry of revivalism, quit calling the evangelist and chalk the shortcomings up to an outdated structure.
I've discovered through intimate prayer, self examination, and God's word that the problem is not the structure, the problem is our heart. Revival has become a formal staple on the calendar, we call the same people, hear the same messages, and somehow hope for a different outcome. Preparation for revival among the congregants usually includes reading about it in the bulletin and being reminded about it a month prior to it's happening. There's very little spiritual preparation put into action. Private prayer, corporate prayer (the prayer meeting), fasting, intimate worship (opposed to going through the motions) has been neglected for far too long. Our faith has diminished to an abstract principle that we talk so much about but never apply the needed action to make that faith a reality.
In no way am I condemning anyone, change starts with me. I'm tired of preaching to blank stares and religious people. I'm tired of the same, mundane process without any power and empty praise. It's time for a return to genuine, New Testament Christianity found in the book of Acts. We need more than just an awakening, I know many people who's eyes are open and still refuse to take action. It's time that our faith become deliberate; it's time that we pray like tomorrow isn't coming; it's time that we prepare our hearts like Jesus is coming this very moment. I want the burden that I have for the lost to result in the salvation of souls (2 Peter 3:9). If our fire is contained to the four walls of our sanctuaries then we're no better than a religious fireplace, offering warmth and comfort but lacking the capacity to spread beyond our containment.
I believe that revivalism is for the church and that evangelism is for the lost. When we neglect one or the other, we miss both. For those of you who've neglected the ministry of revivalism and/or evangelism, I would encourage you to reconsider; for those of you who've gone about revivalism and/or evangelism in a legalistic way, I encourage you to change.
Lastly, I would like to tell you a story about a man on death row. He'd spent several months rejecting the company of any chaplain or religious figure. After a while, and only to prove a point, he allowed one timid chaplain the opportunity to come to his cell and visit with him. He already knew what the chaplain would say, as he was familiar with the customs and formalities of most supposed Christians. The day came that the chaplain was to visit with the prisoner and their conversation went as follows:
“It's a pleasure to meet you sir, may I share with you a story?” said the chaplain.
“Of course you may,” said the prisoner.
The chaplain went on to tell him the story of Jesus and how our savior was born of a virgin, crucified a convict, and resurrected a king. He told the lonely prisoner of the saving power and love of Christ.
In response to the beautiful message of salvation the prisoner replied, “That is the most beautiful story that I've ever heard. It's a crying shame that it's not true.”
Quickly, the chaplain inserted, “Well my friend, I must disagree with you, as I do believe that every part of that story is the truth.”
The prisoner's piercing gaze thrust it's attention square into the eyes of the timid chaplain, piercing his soul. He said to the chaplain, “Why would I believe that the beautiful story that you just told me is true when you clearly don't believe that it is true yourself?” Before the chaplain could defend himself the prisoner continued, “You've come here to talk to me in an effort to convert me to Christianity and if you were to be successful you would go to your friends and fellow chaplains and gloat of your success; for you were able to accomplish what no other chaplain was able to accomplish in leading this old, bitter, condemned prisoner to Christ. When in fact, if our positions were switched, and if I was the one who held the message of eternal life, Jesus Christ, heaven to gain and hell to lose in the chambers of my heart- I tell you, that I would not rest day or night, I would walk on hands and knees if that's what it took, I would pay any price no matter how severe the consequences to take that message to every living soul throughout the length and breadth of the entire world.”
We won't have revival again until we realize once again the severity and eternal weight of the message that we claim to hold in our hearts. We are in desperate need of desperate hearts. I love you all and ask you to pray for me as I pray for you.
Jonathon Parrish
My name is Jonathon Parrish, I am a full time evangelist in the Church of the Nazarene on the North Carolina District. I am writing to share my heart, and burden with you in an attempt to raise awareness for the desperate need of genuine revival among our congregants and also the evangelism of the lost. I believe that the responsibility falls on all of us but our desire must become our reality by way of deliberate, intentional faith, hunger, and obedience.
It has become clear to me as a young evangelist that the prevailing thought among many in the holiness movement is that “revival” services are outdated and ineffective. In some cases it is assumed that the money in church budgets could be better spent elsewhere rather than wasting it on revival expenses toward services that most people will not even bother attending. I can't say that I completely disagree with that perception to some degree.
The role of the evangelist has been minimized over the past several years to preaching legalistic services in the Spring and Fall with the hope that the same stagnant congregants will be “revived” and maybe a few lost souls will wander in and be saved. The enthusiasm usually lasts a week or two before fizzling out and our churches are left at square one with a “desire to have the desire.” Our response to this has unfortunately been to trash the ministry of revivalism, quit calling the evangelist and chalk the shortcomings up to an outdated structure.
I've discovered through intimate prayer, self examination, and God's word that the problem is not the structure, the problem is our heart. Revival has become a formal staple on the calendar, we call the same people, hear the same messages, and somehow hope for a different outcome. Preparation for revival among the congregants usually includes reading about it in the bulletin and being reminded about it a month prior to it's happening. There's very little spiritual preparation put into action. Private prayer, corporate prayer (the prayer meeting), fasting, intimate worship (opposed to going through the motions) has been neglected for far too long. Our faith has diminished to an abstract principle that we talk so much about but never apply the needed action to make that faith a reality.
In no way am I condemning anyone, change starts with me. I'm tired of preaching to blank stares and religious people. I'm tired of the same, mundane process without any power and empty praise. It's time for a return to genuine, New Testament Christianity found in the book of Acts. We need more than just an awakening, I know many people who's eyes are open and still refuse to take action. It's time that our faith become deliberate; it's time that we pray like tomorrow isn't coming; it's time that we prepare our hearts like Jesus is coming this very moment. I want the burden that I have for the lost to result in the salvation of souls (2 Peter 3:9). If our fire is contained to the four walls of our sanctuaries then we're no better than a religious fireplace, offering warmth and comfort but lacking the capacity to spread beyond our containment.
I believe that revivalism is for the church and that evangelism is for the lost. When we neglect one or the other, we miss both. For those of you who've neglected the ministry of revivalism and/or evangelism, I would encourage you to reconsider; for those of you who've gone about revivalism and/or evangelism in a legalistic way, I encourage you to change.
Lastly, I would like to tell you a story about a man on death row. He'd spent several months rejecting the company of any chaplain or religious figure. After a while, and only to prove a point, he allowed one timid chaplain the opportunity to come to his cell and visit with him. He already knew what the chaplain would say, as he was familiar with the customs and formalities of most supposed Christians. The day came that the chaplain was to visit with the prisoner and their conversation went as follows:
“It's a pleasure to meet you sir, may I share with you a story?” said the chaplain.
“Of course you may,” said the prisoner.
The chaplain went on to tell him the story of Jesus and how our savior was born of a virgin, crucified a convict, and resurrected a king. He told the lonely prisoner of the saving power and love of Christ.
In response to the beautiful message of salvation the prisoner replied, “That is the most beautiful story that I've ever heard. It's a crying shame that it's not true.”
Quickly, the chaplain inserted, “Well my friend, I must disagree with you, as I do believe that every part of that story is the truth.”
The prisoner's piercing gaze thrust it's attention square into the eyes of the timid chaplain, piercing his soul. He said to the chaplain, “Why would I believe that the beautiful story that you just told me is true when you clearly don't believe that it is true yourself?” Before the chaplain could defend himself the prisoner continued, “You've come here to talk to me in an effort to convert me to Christianity and if you were to be successful you would go to your friends and fellow chaplains and gloat of your success; for you were able to accomplish what no other chaplain was able to accomplish in leading this old, bitter, condemned prisoner to Christ. When in fact, if our positions were switched, and if I was the one who held the message of eternal life, Jesus Christ, heaven to gain and hell to lose in the chambers of my heart- I tell you, that I would not rest day or night, I would walk on hands and knees if that's what it took, I would pay any price no matter how severe the consequences to take that message to every living soul throughout the length and breadth of the entire world.”
We won't have revival again until we realize once again the severity and eternal weight of the message that we claim to hold in our hearts. We are in desperate need of desperate hearts. I love you all and ask you to pray for me as I pray for you.
Jonathon Parrish
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