The story of the Hebrides revival

"Revival is a moving of God in the community and suddenly the community becomes God-conscious before a word is said by any man representing any special effort..."

by Duncan Campbell

ONE of the case-studies featured in the <I>Transformations II<I> video (see page 28 of this issue) is the Hebrides revival. The following is a transcript of a taped message delivered in 1968 by Duncan Campbell, an eye-witness:

There are two things that I would like to say in speaking about the revival in the Hebrides. First, I would like to make it perfectly clear that I did not bring revival to the Hebrides.

It has grieved me beyond words to hear people talk and write about the man who brought revival to the Hebrides. My dear people, I didn't do that.

Revival was there before I ever set foot on the island. It began in a gracious awareness of God sweeping through the parish of Barvas.

Then I would like to make it perfectly clear what I understand of revival. When I speak of revival, I am not thinking of high-pressure evangelism. I am not thinking of crusades or of special efforts convened and organised by man. That is not in my mind at all.

Revival is something altogether different from evangelism on its highest level. Revival is a moving of God in the community and suddenly the community becomes God-conscious before a word is said by any man representing any special effort.

BURDENED

Now I am sure you will be interested to know how, in November 1949, this gracious movement began on the island of Lewis.

Two old women, one of them 84 years of age and the other 82 --one of them stone blind -- were greatly burdened because of the appalling state of their own parish.

It was true that not a single young person attended public worship. Not a single young man or young woman went to the church. They spent their day perhaps reading or walking but the church was left out of the picture. And those two women were greatly concerned and they made it a special matter of prayer.

A verse gripped them: "I will pour water on him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground." They were so burdened that both of them decided to spend so much time in prayer twice a week.

On Tuesday they got on their knees at 10 o'clock in the evening and remained on their knees until 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning -- two old women in a very humble cottage.

One night, one of the sisters had a vision. Now remember, in revival, God works in wonderful ways. A vision came to one of them, and in the vision she saw the church of her fathers crowded with young people. Packed to the doors. And a strange minister standing in the pulpit. And she was so impressed by the vision that she sent for the parish minister.

And of course he knowing the two sisters, knowing that they were two women who knew God in a wonderful way, responded to their invitation and called at the cottage.

PRAYER

That morning, one of the sisters said to the minister, "You must do something about it. And I would suggest that you call your office bearers together and that you spend with us at least two nights in prayer in the week. Tuesday and Friday if you gather your elders together, you can meet in a barn -- and as you pray there, we will pray here."

Well, that was what happened, the minister called his office bearers together and seven of them met in a barn to pray on Tuesday and on Friday. And the two old women got on their knees and prayed with them.

Well that continued for some weeks -- indeed, I believe almost a month and a half. Until one night -- now this is what I am anxious for you to get ahold of -- one night they were kneeling there in the barn, pleading this promise, "I will pour water on him that is thirsty, floods upon the dry ground" when one young man, a deacon in the church, got up and read Psalm 24.

"Who shall ascend the hill of God? Who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity or sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing (not <I>a<I> blessing, but <I>the<I> blessing) of the Lord."

And then that young man closed his Bible. And looking down at the minister and the other office bearers, he said this -- maybe crude words, but perhaps not so crude in our Gaelic language -- he said, "It seems to me to be so much humbug to be praying as we are praying, to be waiting as we are waiting, if we ourselves are not rightly related to God."

And then he lifted his two hands -- and I'm telling you just as the minister told me it happened -- he lifted his two hands and prayed, "God, are my hands clean? Is my heart pure?"

But he got no further. That young man fell to his knees and then fell into a trance. Now don't ask me to explain this because I can't.

He fell into a trance and is now lying on the floor of the barn. And in the words of the minister, at that moment, he and his other office bearers were gripped by the conviction that a God-sent revival must ever be related to holiness, must ever be related to Godliness.

Are my hands clean? Is my heart pure? The man that God will trust with revival -- that was the conviction.

When that happened in the barn, the power of God swept into the parish. And an awareness of God gripped the community such as hadn't been known for over 100 years. An awareness of God -- that's revival, that's revival. And on the following day, the looms were silent, little work was done on the farms as men and women gave themselves to thinking on eternal things gripped by eternal realities.

YOUNG MAN

Now, I wasn't on the island when that happened. But, again, one of the sisters sent for the minister. And she said to him, "I think you ought to invite someone to the parish. I cannot give a name, but God must have someone in His mind for we saw a strange man in the pulpit, and that man must be somewhere."

Well, the minister that week was going to one of our great conventions in Scotland. At that convention he met a young man who was a student in college and knowing that this young man was a God-fearing man, a man with a message, he invited him to the island.

"Won't you come for 10 days -- a 10-day special effort? We have had so many of them over the past couple of years, but we feel that something is happening in the parish and we would like you to attend."

This minister said, "No, I don't feel that I am the man, but quite recently there has been a very remarkable move in Glasgow under the ministry of a man by the name of Campbell. I would suggest that you send for him."

Now at that time I was in a college in Edinburgh. It wasn't very easy for me to leave but it was decided that I should go for 10 days. I was on the island within 10 days.

I shall never forget the night I arrived at the piers in the mail steamer. I was standing in the presence of the minister whom I had never seen and two of his elders that I never knew.

The minister turned to me and said, "I know Mr. Campbell that you are very tired -- you have been travelling all day by train to begin with and then by steamer. And I am sure you are ready for your supper and ready for your bed.

"But I wonder if you would be prepared to address a meeting in the parish church at 9 o'clock tonight on our way home. It will be a short meeting and then we will make for the manse and you will get your supper and your bed and rest until tomorrow evening."

Well, it will interest you to know that I never got that supper.

GOOD MEETING

We got to the church at about 8.45 to find about 300 people gathered. And I gave an address. Nothing really happened during the service. It was a good meeting. A sense of God, a consciousness of His Spirit moving but nothing beyond that.

So I pronounced the benediction and we were leaving the church I would say about 10.45.

I was walking down the aisle, along with this young deacon who read the Psalm in the barn. He suddenly stood in the aisle and looking up to the heavens he said, "God, You can't fail us. God, You can't fail us. You promised to pour water on the thirsty and floods upon the dry ground-God, You can't fail us!"

Soon He was on his knees in the aisle and he was still praying and then he fell into a trance again. Just then the door opened -- it is now 11 o'clock. The door of the church opens and the local blacksmith comes back into the church and says, "Mr Campbell, something wonderful has happened. Oh, we were praying that God would pour water on the thirsty and floods upon the dry ground and listen, He's done it! He's done it!"

When I went to the door of the church I saw a congregation of approximately 600 people. Six hundred people -- where had they come from? What had happened? I believe that very night God swept in, in Pentecostal power -- the power of the Holy Ghost. And what happened in the early days of the apostles was happening now in the parish of Barvas.

MUSIC CEASED

More than 100 young people were at the dance in the parish hall and they weren't thinking of God or eternity. God was not in all of their thoughts. They were there to have a good night when suddenly the power of God fell upon the dance. The music ceased and in a matter of minutes, the hall was empty.

They fled from the hall as a man fleeing from a plague. And they made for the church. They are now standing outside. Oh, yes -- they saw lights in the church. That was a house of God and they were going to it and they went.

Men and women who had gone to bed, rose, dressed, and made for the church. Nothing in the way of publicity -- no mention of a special effort except an intonation from the pulpit on Sabbath that a certain man was going to be conducting a series of meetings in the parish covering 10 days.

But God took the situation in hand -- oh, He became His own publicity agent. A hunger and a thirst gripped the people. Six hundred of them now are at the church standing outside.

This dear man, the blacksmith, turned to me and said, "I think that we should sing a psalm." And they sang and they sang and they sang verse after verse. Oh, what singing! What singing! And then the doors were opened and the congregation flocked back into the church.

Now the church is crowded -- a church to seat over 800 is now packed to capacity. It is now going on towards midnight. I managed to make my way through the crowd along the aisle toward the pulpit.

I found a young woman, a teacher in the grammar school, lying prostrate on the floor of the pulpit praying, "Oh, God, is there mercy for me? Oh, God, is there mercy for me? "

She was one of those at the dance. But she is now lying on the floor of the pulpit crying to God for mercy.

MINISTERS

That meeting continued until 4 o'clock in the morning. I couldn't tell you how many were saved that night but of this I am sure and certain that at least five young men who were saved in that church that night are today ministers in the church of Scotland, having gone through university and college.

At 4 o'clock, we decided to make for the manse. Of course, you understand, we make no appeals -- you never need to make an appeal or an altar call in revival. Why, the roadside becomes an altar. We just leave men and women to make their way to God themselves -- after all, that is the right way. God can look after His own. And when God takes a situation in hand, I tell you He does a better work.

So we left them there, and just as I was leaving the church, a young man came to me and said, "Mr Campbell, I would like you to go to the police station."

I said, "The police station? What's wrong?" "Oh," he said, "There's nothing wrong but there must be at least 400 people gathered around the police station just now."

Now the sergeant there was a God-fearing man. He was in the meeting. But people knew that this was a house that feared God. And next to the police station was the cottage in which the two old women lived.

I believe that had something to do with the magnet, the power that drew men. There was a coach-load at that meeting. A coach-load had come over 12 miles to be there.

Now if anyone would ask them today, why? How did it happen? Who arranged it? They couldn't tell you. But they found themselves grouping together and someone saying, "What about going to Barvas? I don't know, but I have a hunger in my heart to go there."

I can't explain it; they couldn't explain it, but God had the situation in hand.

This is revival dear people! This is a sovereign act of God! This is the moving of God's Spirit, I believe in answer to the prevailing prayer of men and women who believed that God was a covenant-keeping God but must be true to His covenant engagement.

I went along. I went along to that meeting. As I am walking along that country road -- we had to walk about a mile -- I heard someone praying by the roadside. I could hear this man crying to God for mercy.

I went over and there were four young men on their knees at the roadside. Yes, they were at the dance but they are now there crying to God for mercy. One of them was under the influence of drink -- a young man, he wasn't 20 years of age. But that night God saved him and he is today the parish minister, university trained, college trained, a man of God. Converted in the revival with 11 of his office bearers. A wonderful congregation.

Well, he was saved that night.

Now when I got to the police station, I saw something that will live with me as long as I live. I didn't preach -- there was no need of preaching. We didn't even sing. The people are crying to God for mercy. Oh, the confessions that were made! There was one old man crying out, "Oh, God, hell is too good for me! Hell is too good for me!" This is Holy Ghost conviction!

Now mind you, that was on the very first night of a mighty demonstration that shook the island. Oh, let me say again, that wasn't the beginning of revival -- revival began in a prayer barter meeeting. Revival began in an awareness of God. Revival began when the Holy Ghost began to grip men and that was how it began.

And, of course, after that we were at it night and day -- churches crowded. A messenger would come -- I remember one night it was after 3 o'clock in the morning -- a messenger came to say that the churches were crowded in another parish 15 miles away. Crowded at that hour in the morning. And we went to this parish to minister along with several other ministers.

I thank God for the ministers of Lewis -- how they responded to the call of God. How they threw themselves into the effort. And God blessed them for it. We went, and I found myself preaching in a large church -- a church that would seat 1 000 -- and the Spirit of God was moving, oh, moving in a mighty way!

CRYING FOR MERCY

I could see them falling, falling on their knees. I could hear them crying to God for mercy. I could hear those outside praying. And that continued for, I'm sure, two hours.

And then as we were leaving the church, someone came to me to tell me that a very large number of people had gathered on a field -- they could not get into the church.

Along with the other ministers I decided to go to the field. And here I saw this enormous crowd standing there as though gripped by a power that they could not explain. But the interesting thing about that meeting was a sight that I saw.

The headmaster of a secondary school in the parish is lying on his face on the ground crying to God for mercy. Oh, deeply convicted of his desperate need and on either side of him, two young girls, I would say about 16 years of age. And they keep saying to the headmaster, "Master, Jesus that saved us last night in Barvas can save you tonight. Jesus that saved us last night in Barvas can save you tonight." It is true that when man comes into vital relationship with Jesus Christ, his supreme desire is to win others. To win others!

And they were there that night to win their master, and they won him. Oh, God swept into his life, I believe in answer to the prayer of four young girls, 16 years of age who had a burden -- who had a burden.

Now that was how the revival began and that is how it continued to begin with for five weeks. The first wave of the revival continued for five weeks and then there was a lull -- perhaps a lull of about a week. Oh, the churches are still crowded, people are still seeking after God, prayer meetings are being held all over the parishes. It was the custom there that those who found the Saviour at night would be at prayer meeting at noonday. A prayer meeting met everyday and noonday.

At that time all worked stopped for two hours. For two hours work stopped in the fields, and men gathered for prayer. And it was then that you got to know those who had found the Saviour on the previous night. You didn't need to make an appeal. They made their way to the prayer meeting to praise God for His salvation.

That continued for almost three years. Until the whole of the island was swept by the mighty power of God. I couldn't tell you how many -- I never checked the number. I was afraid to do that, always remembering what David did. I left the records with God.

But this I know, that at least 75 percent of those who were born again during the revival were born again before they came near a church. Before they had any word from me or any of the other ministers. I can think just now of the village of Weaver -- and there was a row of cottages by the roadside. There were seven of them altogether. And in every cottage a loom and a weaver.

One morning, just as the men were being called for breakfast, it was discovered that the seven of them were lying prostrate behind their looms. Lying on their faces behind their looms and all of them in a trance. Now I can't explain this. But of this I am certain that this was of God because the seven men were saved that day. They came to understand that something supernatural had taken possession of them. An awareness for God gripped them, and a hunger possessed them and they cried out to God for mercy. And God swept in.

I was visiting them recently -- I happened to be up in the Hebrides -- and what a joy it was to listen to them tell again of that wonderful experience when God swept into the seven houses. My dear people, that's revival. I mean, it is so different from our special efforts. So apart altogether from man's best endeavour. God is in the middle and miracles happen.

Now perhaps I should go into some of the features that characterised this remarkable movement.

Well, already I have mentioned to you that men were found in trances. Perhaps I should say this that in the Lewis revival we never saw anybody healed, that wasn't a feature of it.

We never heard anybody speaking in tongues. But we saw strange manifestations.

I think just now of a certain island. Up until then God hadn't moved on this island -- one of the smaller islands, perhaps an island of 600 souls. And I was asked to go to this island to officiate at a communion.

Now, a communion in Lewis is just like one of your conventions. They begin with a prayer meeting on Wednesday night and then on Thursday, the first day when schools are closed, shops are closed, no work is done, it's just like another Sabbath. That's Thursday.

Friday, then, is testimony day when men give their testimonies. I am on this island, and I felt the going fearfully hard. Oh, it was difficult to preach -- you felt your very words coming backk and hitting you. And I was a bit distressed.

SEND FOR THE PRAYING MEN

I turned to one of the other ministers and I said, "Now don't you think that we should send for the praying men of Barvas?" Let me say in passing that the praying men of Barvas were praying for us just now, there were at least five of them in this part of God's vineyard who promised to do that and I believe they were keeping to their promise.

However, I sent for them and in the conversation that I had with this businessman, one of the praying men, I said, "If it is at all possible will you bring little Donald." Now I will tell you later how Donald came to know the Lord. But bring him.

Now Donald had a remarkable experience on the hillside a fortnight after he was born again. And God came upon him -- the Holy Ghost came upon him. He had a mighty baptism. I hope you believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost as a distinct experience.This young fellow had such a baptism of God among the heather, that he forgot about coming home and a search party had to be sent out to find him in the hills. And they found him on his face among the heather repeating over and over, "Oh, Jesus, I love You. Oh, Jesus I love You."

Well, I asked the men to bring little Donald with them. And now we are in the service in the church. And I am preaching from the text, "Who is this that cometh from Edom... this that is glorious in his apparel travelling in the greatness of his strength. I that speak in righteousness am mighty to save" that was the text. But oh, I tell you, the going was hard. The going was hard.

I looked down and I saw little Donald sitting there in the seat. And I saw that his head was bowed and I saw that the floor was wet with his tears. And I said to myself, "Well, now, there is a young lad nearer to God than you or I. Oh, there is a young lad who is in touch with God." And I stopped preaching.

And looking down at this young lad, I said, "Donald, I believe God would have you lead us in prayer. " It was right in the midst of my address. And that young lad stood to his feet.

Now that morning at family worship they were reading Revelation 4 where John has the vision of the open door. "I saw a door opened in heaven." And as that young man stood, that vision came before him.

And this is what he said in his prayers. "God, I seem to be gazing in through the open door. And I seem to see the Lamb standing in the midst of the Throne. He has the keys of death and of hell."

Then he stopped and began to weep. And for a minute or so he wept and he wept. Oh, the brokenness. And when he was able to control himself, he lifted his eyes towards the heavens and he cried out, "God, there is power there -- let it loose! Let it loose!" Annd suddenly, the power of God fell upon the congregation.

And now, one side of the church threw their hands up like this. Threw their heads back and you would almost declare that they were in an epileptic fit, but they were not. Oh, I can't explain it. And the other side they slumped on top of each other.

But God, the Holy Ghost moved. Those who had their hands like this stayed that way for two hours. Now you try to remain like that with your hands up for a few minutes and you will find it hard -- but you would break their hands before you could take them down. Now, I can't explain it -- this is what happened.

But the most remarkable thing that night was what took place in a village seven miles away from the church. There wasn't a single person from that village in the church. Not one single person. Seven miles away, it was a while away certainly but while Donald was praying, the power of God swept through the other village. I know it to be a fact that there wasn't a single house in the village that hadn't a soul saved in it.

A father, a mother and two daughters and a son were saved that night in this village but one of the daughters who was in the medical profession was in London. She is walking down Oxford Street after leaving a patient and she is suddenly arrested by the power of God. She went into a closet and cried to God for mercy and God saved her there -- the whole family saved! My dear people, these are facts. And I tell you of them to honour God. That girls is today the wife of a Baptist minister in Tasmania.

These are some of the remarkable movings of God. That very night, a captain in the clan line was saved sailing at that very hour. The Spirit of God laid hold of him in his cabin. The Spirit of God moved upon lobster fishermen in the sound -- they had to leave their boats and their creels and make for the island. By the morning they were saved. Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if we saw God move in that way in this community? God could do it.

I am fully persuaded, dear people, that unless we see something like this happening, the average man will stagger back from our efforts, our conferences, conventions and crusades -- they will stagger back disappointed, disillusioned and despairing. But oh, if something happens that demonstrates God!

You ask me, "What is the fruit of this type of movement?" Some little time ago the parish minister was asked to give a report in the record of the church of Scotland. He was asked to give a report on the fruit of the revival. Did they stand? Any backsliding?

Now this is what he wrote: "I will confine my remarks to my own parish -- I will allow the other ministers to give their own reports. But let me speak of my own parish. In a certain village 122 young people found the faith and I'm not talking about middle age or the old. They were wonderful, but I'm thinking about the young people. 122 all of them over the age of 17. They found the Saviour during the first day of the revival. Today I can say that they are growing like flowers in the garden of God, there is not a single backslider among them."

Now my dear people that's the story. But that is the story of the revival that can bear the light of examination. God did it. And we bless Him for it.