A Revival That Changes Things

I envision a revival where the world is transformed into a new normal. That only commences when we leave the comfort of familiarity, complacency and settling for whatever feels good, rather than worldwide transformation. 

 It's not just me who desires this, the world does too. So many long to see a revival that rights wrongs, changes negative social statistics, reduces crime rates, heals those stuck in hospital, and creates just laws— all for Christ. We owe the world a revival that changes communities and societal realms. The thought of only witnessing revival inside of the church is depriving.

 A revival that initiates a social movement requires our personal response. You see, I believe that revival starts with the one- the one who is hungry, who is seeking and won’t stop until they find what they seek, until the pursuit of the more is all-consuming. We must be compelled to respond until earth looks more like Heaven. 

To do this, we must close the gap between what's seen as secular and sacred. What does it look like to let Heaven invade so deeply on earth that no ‘secular’ sphere could be far from His influence, His miracles, His character and His nature? 

I grew up with the notion that everything has a cost. When we say yes to something, we are saying no to something else. In the same way, transformation always has a cost.

My first step in ‘paying’  that cost was to leave everything that pointing towards success, common sense, and comfort to explore something unfamiliar and unknown. I came to the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, California because I was aware that there was a greater reality than the one I was part of, and not just spiritually. I knew that there was a whole world, culture, beliefs and people that I wasn’t experiencing. Coming to BSSM has definitely changed my life forever.

Throughout my life I’ve gotten the privilege of being surrounded by people in my life who take passion to action. I’ve read of generals in faith that attracted masses and never settled for the status quo. Instead, they saw the possibility of living in constant provision— and I envision the same.

While I was in university, I had a Public Relations professor who bluntly told us that Social Responsibility was not something that companies were concerned or even passionate about. Rather, it was something companies did because it sold. You can imagine how my justice button was pressed in that moment. Is doing the right thing for the wrong reasons OK ? Is it wrong ? Where did I stand?

The irony of me volunteering for Justice Collective, an organisation that just focuses on Social Responsibility, is humorous. Obviously my choice goes beyond just wanting to prove a point to my PR professor. 

Although some years have passed, I am still consumed by the desire to experience more, the more of God and of the Gospel and how it impacts this very reality. 

Revival is always attractive.  When we see it, when we feel it, we can’t help but be drawn to the very thing we were made for and true revival transforms from the inside and manifests outwards. It leaves a permanent mark of transformation on norms, cultures and traditions.

-Soraia Correia