Second Church in Great Falls (Chester Association) began its annual seven-day revival on June 26. Forty-nine days later, on Aug. 14, the meetings finally ended, but only so that the church could get on with the business of discipling 50 new Christians who made professions of faith during the revival, said pastor Zack Williams.
Zack Williams, pastor of Second Church, right, and Patrick Blackmon, pastor of Trinity Church, unite in prayer for people, churches in the Great Falls area and the nation. Both pastors were part of a revival that began June 26 and continued until Aug. 14.“The daily meetings have stopped, but the revival continues,” Williams told the Courier. “The spirit of God is moving all over Great Falls.”
Every evening during the seven-week period, members of Second Church and other community believers met for a time of worship, dispersed, and then came back to the church for a midnight prayer time that typically lasted another hour and a half.
“This is an absolute work of God,” Williams said. “We just sit back and let [God] work and are glorifying the name of his Son, Jesus. It has been amazing.” Williams, who began his ministry at Second Church on April 17, is quick to point out that the revival hasn’t been the work of one man – or one church, for that matter.
Patrick Blackmon is the pastor of Trinity Church, which is located about a mile down the road. Blackmon began praying with Williams for the revival before it began, was at all of the worship and midnight prayer meetings, and even cancelled Wednesday and Sunday night services so that Trinity Church members could participate.
“I am privileged to be a part of this experience. It has been unfathomable,” Blackmon said. “This was birthed through midnight prayer on our knees and calling out to God, and he has responded in and through this revival. I never dreamed it would have ever taken place in Great Falls. It is exciting to watch the hand of God at work in our community.”
Several hours after each evening service, around midnight, people returned for a prayer time that took place beneath a stained-glass image of Jesus illuminated above the baptistery. After that prayer time ended, some stayed for another half-hour, talking and sharing.
“I really believe that during this time of revival and prayer we’ve been able to care about others and carry each other’s burdens,” Williams said.
Williams tells of a man who hadn’t set foot inside a church since 1953 but became a Christian during the course of this revival. “Another man’s family prayed for him to be saved. He became a believer and has been at the church every night since praying for other family members to be saved,” Williams said.
That man is Charles Dickson, an injured military veteran. Dickson still struggles after having had brain and reconstructive surgeries for injuries he sustained during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Dickson said he knew about God and prayed for his family while he was deployed, but he had never experienced Christ. He described himself as a man full of anger that was affecting all of the relationships in his life.
His wife and three children told Dickson about the revival services, and, in late July, he agreed to go. “It was unreal, the church was packed, and I could tell something was different there,” he said.
Dickson’s injuries sometimes affect his short-term memory, but he is quick to recall what happened to him on Saturday, July 30. He went to Williams’ house to share some prayer requests, and ended up praying to receive Christ. “I’ve never known peace and contentment like this in my life,” he said. “If I’d known it would be like this, I would have done it a long time ago.”
Ted Hughes, director of missions for Chester Association, said he is thrilled about the Great Falls revival. “It’s been phenomenal to see the number of adults who are making professions of faith,” he said. “Both Zack and Patrick are sensitive to the Spirit. I am so excited and hope this will impact our entire association.”
Williams said prayer has fueled everything, and God is hearing the prayers of his people. “Great Falls is hungry for the Lord,” he said. “We are a former mill town and have a lot of poverty, drugs and addictions. The people are hungry for hope. Jesus is hope, and we are presenting Jesus to the community. They are responding, and their lives are being changed by the gospel.” – SCBC