Three years ago, this September, the present revival had its first public recognition in what was then known as the Old Jewish Synagogue located at the corner of King Street and Henry Avenue.
It continued there for several months when it was found too small to accommodate the great revival that God revealed to us as still coming. A pillar of fire rested upon the Synagogue from the first to the last meeting while occupied by us. Here, hundreds wept their way to the cross of Calvary and were filled with the Holy Ghost.
For months in succession, every night, there was no pleading for people to come to the altar. While the invitation song was being announced, every aisle would be packed with hungry people trying to get to the front, having accepted the Word of God.
Scores of these people would lay prostrate for hours by the power of God as in the days of Wesley (and others) when God’s power was greatly manifested. Hundreds of them found God in this way.
This Revival has been in progress every night since that time and is now located at Old Knox Church: corner of Ellice and Donald Street, which has been occupied by us now going on three years.
This Church is one of the largest in the City. During the summer holidays and extremely hot weather of this year, the interest has increased nightly. The Church being well-filled every Sunday night and a good crowd every night during the week.
The past year, an average of about thirty people per month have been baptized in water in the Name of the Lord, which shows steady progress.
Already, this revival has spread to many parts of these Western Provinces. Many from outside points have attended these meetings in the past three years and have received great blessing. Taking the fire home with them, it has widely spread until a mighty army has arisen as a result of the revival flame which is burning nightly, year in and year out in Old Knox Church.
A missionary passing through our city, told us that while passing a certain church in Eastern Canada saw these words written on the bulletin board. “No Service Sunday Night on Account of the Extreme Heat.” The missionary said, we felt like writing these words below, “More Zeal Needed.”
The Editor has received many letters of enquiry from the United States and Canada asking, “What is the secret of the continual revival in your church?”
Was it Talmage who once said to a passerby, “Would you like to know the secret of how the machinery of my church is kept running?” Come this way then, said he, leading him down into the vestry and showing him a band of praying people travailing in prayer to God for lost souls.
We would say for the benefit of all readers who wish to know the secret of the Winnipeg Revival, prayer is the key note and God has raised up a band of Spirit filled people who travail with Him in prayer and intercession by the hour, yea, and very many “All Nights” of prayer attended by young and old.
Specially God has raised up a band of young people who have the burden of souls. who have a set time for “all nights” of prayer after the regular service in various parts of the city, and besides avail themselves of opportunities such as holidays, instead of outings and pleasuring they have prayer meetings and you will find them in the Prayer Room of Old Knox Church, or in private homes engaged in prayer and intercession on behalf of the lost.
This is the secret of every revival.
The original title of this article is “Revival Fires Still Burn in Winnipeg.” Written By Rev. Franklin Small and published in the Living Waters Circulation No. 3, September 1919. You can view the photos of this publication below.
2 replies on “Revival Fires Still Burn”
Why is this the first time I have heard of this?(rhetorical)
I am overwhelmed with emotion right now. We have been hearing about revival on campuses in U.S. but not in Canada.
God is so clearly on the move, and though this article was written over 100 years ago, many Canadians are praying for an encounter. Let’s keep praying! Bless you!