Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 1, 1990 TAG: 9003310489
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Frances Stebbins
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG - LENGTH: Medium
The services, often conducted by a guest preacher, traditionally are seen as a time to bring people into a personal relationship with Christ.
But for many years revivals have been losing ground as soul-winning events.
Even in rural areas they have been shortened from two weeks to a few nights. Many churches have discontinued them.
With this in mind, I decided to begin this series of New River Sunday Sojourns with a visit to Blacksburg Baptist Church.
The Rev. Dr. Ray Allen, pastor there for 16 years, had announced through the bulletin for last Sunday's service that he would speak on, "Is Revival Archaic?"
My question was answered in Allen's 18-minute sermon, delivered to about 500 worshipers.
Whether revivals are archaic or not depends on who is to be revived, Allen said.
Though he openly identified with progressive trends in the Southern Baptist Convention, Allen remains traditional in the value he places on the need for sharing "spiritual journeys."
It's a new way of talking about an old practice: telling others about how you became aware of the importance of God in your life. "Giving testimonies" is an older way of speaking of `'sharing spiritual journeys."
Allen recalls his childhood as a happy time for revival.
Services then were ecumenical and community events at which young people took pride in professing their faith in Christ, he said.
However, Allen said, later in his life while a young pastor in a large suburban church, the revival was turned into "an abuse of people."
He recalled how a visiting evangelist failed to win a single person to Christian commitment.
His efforts to bring conversions resulted in "five death-bed stories and 12 verses of `Just as I Am' " before a dedicated Christian came forward and ended the travesty, Allen said.
His story brought laughs from the Blacksburg congregation and nods from those who remembered similar failures.
But revivals don't have to be that way, Allen said.
If aimed frankly at members of a church and entered into with four preparatory goals, a week of special services can bring a renewal of attitudes toward God.
Allen listed these goals: to recognize arrogant pride; the need "to seek the face of God and to dialogue with him"; to pray with expectancy of good; and to resolve to turn from anything that comes before God."
Allen said of pride: "Many in this town refuse to be humble about humanity . . we seek a rational answer to everything."
Compassion for the lonely is part of revival repentance, Allen said. The heart must stay in balance with the head.
Revival for church people also focuses on what are real sins today, Allen said.
Also, he said, the revived Christian is not afraid to act on behalf of others.
The Blacksburg Baptist revival will be Wednesday through April 8 and led by eastern Virginia pastor Ray Pollard.
Allen's sermon, as in most Baptist churches, was the high point of worship, but not the only activity.
The Student Chorale of about 50 voices is a major addition. Under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Joe Borden, the well-trained young voices presented a contemporary anthem, "Carry the Light." The choir also opened the service with "If Ye Love Me,"a shorter selection.
As a new sojourner in a university town, I was introduced to the excitement students bring when they attend in the numbers present at Blacksburg Baptist.
Last Sunday the Rev. Gary Metcalf in a four-minute story for children likened Scripture to what is put in the memory bank of a computer. Words of Jesus, he said, can be recalled in times of trouble and discouragement.
Mary Ann Lentz directed several small children in a KinderChoir rendition of two spiritual songs.
I joined in the applause for their unusually skillful rendition as well as for the Student Chorale's offering.
The congregation at Blacksburg Baptist sings from a 1986 Hymnal for Worship and Celebration issued by the evangelical Word publishers of Waco, Texas.
Each hymn is preceded by a Bible reference to validate its theme. "There Is a Redeemer" has a 1982 copyright. The sermon hymn was "Tell Me the Story of Jesus," a 19th century favorite by composer Fanny Crosby.
The large parking lot was overflowing last Sunday when I arrived at 10:45 because of the more than 300 attending Sunday school. Offices, rest rooms and the nave itself are easily found and suitable for the handicapped.
Sojourner appears monthly in the New River Current. Its purpose is not to promote a particular point of view but to inform readers of a variety of worship styles.
by CNB