God was operating through the power of the Holy Spirit when around 1,000 churches in Tennessee came together to pray and fast as part of Awaken Tennessee, a 30-day prayer event. The prayer event started on Jan. 26 and will end on Feb. 23.
220 churches in East Tennessee have joined the event and another 800 from central and west Tennessee also committed to it. Pastors in Tennessee say the prayer event has caught the interest of the community with revival services being conducted all over the city. Pastors are saying that people feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as soon as they enter the building.
“This is not about my church or a denomination, we are simply hosting an event in partnership with churches to see true lasting revival take place,” said Rev. John Butler, pastor of East Rogersville Baptist Church. “The Holy Spirit came and took control,” he said. “From the first worship song, people began to flood the altar for prayer, and continued to do so for restoration and to receive Christ. We haven’t manipulated our people. They came expectant and God simply showed up.”
The revival has been described as “exploding” in Tennessee. “This rally is not about our church or any particular denomination, but it is our effort to join the concentrated prayer effort across the state for true revival in our churches that precipitates an awakening in our communities, state, and nation,” Sheldon Livesay, the East Tennessee coordinator for Awaken Tennessee said. “There are exponential results as you bring multiplied groups together to pray.”
Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter Terry and Barbi Franklin led worship services in Rogersville and former members of the Gaither Vocal Band have since also been invited to lead worship services. “We’ve been praying for this kind of outpouring in our own nation for many years,” they said. “We’ve been longing to see America’s churches become houses of prayer again and revived in their first love for Jesus.”
Psalm 80:19 “Restore us, LORD God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”