July 31 2017 (Monday)
Today is July 31. This date rings a bell with me because the church of which I was pastor always conducted a youth-led revival in the mid-summer, and the week selected almost always included this date, July 31.
Youth-led revival meetings had their start in the late 1940s and were a prominent part of the programs of Southern Baptist Churches, especially in Texas. The movement was popular when I was a “youth,” so I participated in many of the revival meetings in the early 1950s. Usually I was the singer; occasionally I would be the preacher. Pictured below is the team for one of those meetings in the early 1950s. Troy was the singer, I was the preacher, and Emma Lou was the pianist. We were very young. Lord willing, Troy will be 86 on August 13, and I will follow in September. We’ve lost touch with Emma Lou.
Fruitdale Baptist Church, Dallas – Emma Lou Bilderback, Troy Conner, Charles Fake
Every Saturday during the youth-led revival meetings at First Baptist, Rockport, we went to the Big Tree at Goose Island.The church members brought covered dishes for a picnic, and at dusk, we built a big bonfire and sat around it for worship, which consisted mainly of personal testimonies about salvation. We began by singing together and concluded with a message from our youth evangelist. There were always rededications and often conversion experiences.
We enjoyed getting to know the visiting youth leaders. During those years, we met many young people who were preparing for full-time ministries after completion of their formal education. Some of them went on to become quite well-known in Christian service circles, especially among Baptists. Some pastored great churches later on. Others became educators and administrators. Some served local churches and others went into denominational work. Still others became missionaries to foreign nations. We are thankful for the privilege of knowing them and having helped them on their way, as they ministered to us. They certainly blessed us. That was long ago, and I must report that some of those “kids” have since gone home to be with the Lord.
The youth-led revival movement has come and gone, and other types of ministries have taken their place, and young people continue to serve the Lord with great enthusiasm. The modes of ministry may change, but the message of the Gospel that Jesus saves is being presented in many ways in our day. We may rest assured that, as God has promised, His Word does not return to Him void. There is still plenty of work to do, and God has a place of service for everyone who is willing to serve, young or old.