A survey commissioned by the Bible Society and called, The Quiet Revival, reveals positive news for the Church in the UK in 2025. Attendance figures have shot up by 50% in the last 6 years and much of that is because there is a rise in the church population of young men between 18-24 yrs old. I was so encouraged by the Easter figures of baptisms in so many churches and large numbers too, one church baptised 29 people. The Elim Global church in Germany baptised 65 people! The Gospel works! But are there reasons behind such growth?
“Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4 v 2-6)
Could the reasons possibly what Paul spoke about:
- The Church has had to come back to the importance of integrity. What has needed to be exposed has been and its leaders are now focusing more about honesty and being real than about performance and pretence. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
- The Church has stopped condemning and instead has become patient with those taking a long journey to God; the Church has realised that prayer is hugely important. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- The Church has stopped ‘build it and they will come’ based around our own stage and we have poured all our attention on Christ and directed people to Him not us. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
- The Church has realised that holiness begins on the inside illumination of Christ and not mere outward behaviours. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
Maybe it is us who have changed and those changes have brought a quiet revival?!
Missions Paul 