As we begin our 10 Days of Prayer for revival in SIM, we invite you to follow along each day on our social media and with the 10 days of prayer 2024 guide booklet.
Some might see the 10 Days of Prayer as an annoying addition to an already hectic schedule. Or the word “revival” might conjure images of wild emotionalism divorced from Scripture. But fervent prayer for a Bible-based revival in SIM could be used by the Lord to bring immeasurable mission-wide blessing and to make a powerful impact for the gospel around the world.
The western world is experiencing a sharp decline of Christianity. Thankfully, God has been orchestrating a global resurgence and renewal of Christianity in the non-western world. The centre of Christianity has shifted to Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The practice of 10 Days of Prayer from Ascension to Pentecost was introduced by Andrew Murray, one of the founders of the Africa Evangelical Fellowship, which merged with SIM in 1998. His focus was prayer for revival and missions. Murray considered missions to be ‘the chief end of the church’. Revival, then, was a means, not an end…a means for promoting renewal and world mission.
Revival can be defined as ‘the work of the Holy Spirit in restoring the people of God to a more vital spiritual life, witness and work by prayer and the Word, after repentance in crisis for their spiritual decline’. (The Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions, A. Scott Moreau, ed.) Revival may take the form of a public awakening or may be a quiet renewal in individual hearts.
During our 10 Days of Prayer, we will look at revivals in Scripture and in history. (We are indebted to two books on revival: Blood and Fire: Revival Movements that Transformed Culture and Society, by Nigel Scotland and Global Awakening: How 20th-Century Revivals Triggered a Christian Revolution, by Mark Shaw.)
May God revive and renew each of us, along with the worldwide ministries of SIM!
By Carol and Jim Plueddemann
The Plueddemanns have long served the Lord with SIM, including Jim being General Director 1993–2000 and International Director 2000–2003. We are grateful for their contributing this year’s introductory message.