The Revival That Lasted Fifty Years
Drawn from the teaching of Professor Gary S. Maxey · 2 min read
Nigeria's Civil War Revival lasted about a decade. The East Africa Revival lasted for decades. Professor Gary Maxey asks why, and he lets one of its leaders answer.
The question put to Kivengere
In 1976, Bishop Festo Kivengere was asked why the East Africa Revival had lasted so long. Professor Maxey cites an account that describes it as the longest and most remarkable awakening on the continent, or anywhere in the world. Kivengere had been born again during that revival, as a young rebel against God. Decades later, he famously faced down the despotic Idi Amin.
Here is his answer, as quoted by Professor Maxey: "Can I explain? ... The only explanation I can give is that it is God's work. It is not a technique. It is a movement that cannot be contained. It is renewal within renewal. It is an attitude toward the Lord, toward the Bible, toward the fellowship, and toward the Spirit. It has always been open to a fresh move."
What Professor Maxey takes from it
He observes that the false teachings now spreading in Nigeria have robbed us of precisely this attitude toward the Lord, the Bible, the fellowship and the Spirit. Our theology has been warped, usually in a self-serving way.
Two features he stresses
First, the revival unfolded mainly inside the Anglican Church, the largest church in the region apart from Roman Catholicism. It went deep and stayed long. By contrast, Nigeria's revival largely bypassed the mainline churches.
Second, it was marked by repentance. Colonial officials were annoyed that so many Africans lined up to return what they had stolen.
A lesson on humility
Kivengere did not claim a method. He said it is God's work. Professor Maxey presents this as a reminder that revival cannot be packaged. If a church teaches that it can be produced on a calendar, it has misunderstood the history.
Using the story
If you teach, tell this account to your group. Ask them what attitude toward the Lord, the Bible, the fellowship and the Spirit they bring on Sunday. Ask where it has gone cold. Pray for a fresh openness before praying for anything else.
Drawn from the teaching of Professor Gary S. Maxey.
