Two Old Ladies That Prayed

In 1949, off the coast of Scotland, on the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides, two elderly sisters named Peggy and Christine Smith were praying. One sister was nearly blind, and the other was bent over by stenosis. They prayed fervently for their church and their community. The church had a presence in their community, but was complacent and asleep, if not dead then definitely on life support!

As it has been through many generations, the young people were alienated from the church. Some due to legalism, some because a perceived lack of relevance to their lives. Church life was definitely a part of the fabric of the culture but attendance was out of obligation, not because of love for Jesus. It was duty, not devotion that brought many to service each Sunday. It was a social connection, not a spiritual one.

Duty, over devotion always creates a lifeless faith.

During one of their prayer times, Peggy received a vision of her church filled with young people. She exhorted her pastor, James McKay, to pray in the same way she and her sister had been praying.

McKay formed a group of pastors who prayed and exhorted their parishioners to turn back to the Lord. They asked for many to be visited by a “spirit of repentance.”

Weeks of prayer occurred and a growing desperation for the presence of God began to move among them. One night, while praying in a barn, the Holy Spirit fell in power at around 3:00 a.m. The Spirit fell not only among their group but also in the surrounding village. When the intercessors left the meeting shortly before daybreak, they were shocked to find people kneeling along the roads, crying out to God for mercy. Almost every home in the village had its lights on.

In the weeks that followed, the Lord brought evangelist Duncan Campbell to preach. Peggy and Christine told the pastor that Duncan was the man God said would come and they continued to pray until he agreed to visit them! The first time Campbell preached crowds were sovereignly drawn by God to come. There were no invitations, no hype, no mass media messages, no free give aways – just God drawing.

That same night there was a dance at the county hall attended by about 100 young people. The Holy Spirit fell during the dance…wait – you mean you don’t have to be in church to receive a visitation from the Holy Spirit? The music halted, the young people were overcome by conviction and they ran out of the dance like the building was on fire!

In addition to these young people, there were hundreds who were at home in bed when without any explanation, got up, got dressed and ran to the church, which was full by midnight. People also ran to the police station, gathered outside and cried out to God. Some had come on busses from surrounding villages. Why the police station ? Peggy and Christine lived next to the station! Their home was a Holy Spirit magnet!

The night after, even more people came. Many were sovereignly converted even before stepping into the church. This revival spread throughout neighboring counties and Duncan Campbell routinely preached 4 to 8 sermons a day. Sometimes he preached in church, and other times he preached in fields or along the shore. Some services began as late / early as 3:00 a.m.

Donald McPhail, a 16 year old from Arnol, was converted during this revival. It is said that more souls were brought to Jesus through his prayers than all of the sermons of all of the ministers on the island combined.

Some of the characteristics of this revival:

1. People walking up to church services became silent. There was no talking or chatter as they entered and sat down. A holy hush.

2. Not long after being seated, people would begin to weep. Some under the conviction of sin and others as a response to the love of and love for Jesus.

3. The singing was voices only, no instruments. They sang only Psalms. It was just the congregation singing – no performances, no soloists, no one on stage to draw attention to themselves. The focus was on God

4. Many testified they were drawn to the service by the power of God. The drawing power created a longing in them for the Word and the Presence of the Lord.

5. There was overwhelming conviction of sin. People repented and were saved and sat in awe in the presence of the Lord. People did not want to leave the service. Does anyone remember church services where you would “linger” in the presence of the Lord, not wanting to go home? I do and I want more!

Is there anyone reading this that will take up this prayer mantle and pray until they see God visit THEIR community? Are there any Peggy and Christines among us?