Eric Reece
The First Great Awakening was a time of revivals that swept the American colonies around 1720 and continued through the 1740s.
The Rev. George Whitfield and others preached for people to “Flee the wrath to come.”
He wrote to a friend in England, “The seed of the glorious gospel has taken root in the American ground, and, I hope, will grow up into a great tree.”
The spiritual awakening brought many to Christ and created bonds soon needed for the birth of a new nation.
The religious landscape of America changed. People experienced personal salvation in a powerful way. The spiritual awakening brought a sense of working for the betterment of others as schools, orphanages and infirmaries were created to educate and care for people. Soon, America moved west and revival broke out on the frontier.
The Second Great Awakening occurred from 1795-1835. Camp meetings were popular, as people gathered to sing and hear the Gospel preached. New denominations were born, along with colleges and civic institutions to educate and help people. Many country churches can trace their beginnings to a camp meeting or revival.
Some religious historians view the Civil Rights Movement as the Third Great Awakening in America. Personal responsibility and demands for civil rights were fueled by religious fervor seeking social reforms.
The success of the Civil Rights movement came about by the death of martyrs, sacrifices and the mission of the church.
I recently spoke to Vice Mayor of Lake Santeetlah Kevin Haag, who shared with me a new movement in our country. “Awake America” is a group that promotes people praying for our nation and elected officials. The mission is to educate, engage and encourage people to pray effectively and fervently for our nation and its leaders.
They organize prayer events in communities. They meet with elected officials, and pray for and with them. One program they have is praying for each of our 50 states and their elected officials called “Praying Through the States.”
The inspiration for their work comes from the Bible, 1 Timothy 2:1-5 (KJV): “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
At the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus said, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’” Jesus was proclaiming there should be no barriers for anyone of any nations coming to worship God and lifting up prayers for all.
The first prayer meeting of Awake America in Graham County will held at noon Thursday, June 12, at the Graham County Courthouse (12 N. Main St., Robbinsville). For more details, visit awakeamerica.org.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.