1999-2000 Update to "Floods Upon the Dry Ground"

by Charles P. Schmitt

A full copy of this 278 page book, tracing the revival presence of the Holy Spirit over 2,000 years of Church history can be ordered for $10.00 from the Immanuel's I-Shoppe

1. Perhaps one of the most heart-wrenching events in the USA in 1999 was the April 20th carnage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado which left 12 students and one teacher dead and more than 20 others wounded. It soon became evident that at least two of those slain died as martyrs for their faith -Cassie Rene Bernall and Rachel Joy Scott. But out of this tragedy was birthed the September 2, 2000, Washington, D.C. "Call to the Mall." The purpose for "The Call" has been expressed in these words: "In the nation's darkest hour, and in light of the killings in Columbine and other schools and churches across America, in light of the moral crisis in the government of our nation and the present destruction of the godly heritage of this land, God is calling a multi-generational fast for worship, repentance and intercession for a massive spiritual shift in the heart of the United States of America." "The Call" promises to be one of the spiritual highlights in the United States of America in the year 2000!
   
   
2. The new millennium began in the USA with Mission America , a coalition of over 360 National Christian Leaders, representing 70 denomination, over 200 parachurch ministries and 57 ministry networks, inaugurating Celebrate Jesus 2000 -a call to mobilize the Church to "pray for and share Christ with every person in America by year-end 2000"!
   
   
3. April of 1999 saw the birthing of a phenomenal move of the Holy Spirit just outside of Mexico City-the world's largest city. Bob Stevenson, one of the evangelists used by the Lord writes: "The Holy Spirit came in power. Many healings and deliverances took place, plus a flood of unsaved, totally unchurched people came night after night to the Lord." Over this first year, 16,000 conversions have been recorded, with 3,000 baptisms in water. Stevenson's update reads: "We continued the meetings for over three months every night. We averaged over five thousand in attendance, and on weekends up to twenty thousand. We met outdoors on the side of a mountain for these meetings. The meetings continue, the anointing is as strong as ever.We have revival services four nights a week and three time on Sunday.We now average about 800 on Thursdays and Fridays and about three thousand in each service on weekends. Sometimes Sunday night still goes way off the charts. The unsaved continue to come, and we have begun fifteen churches in the outlying areas!" The Mexico City Revival has been clearly impacted by the moves of God in both Toronto and Pensacola.
   
   
4. In the area of world missions, the AD 2000 & Beyond Movement reports: "About 260 unreached people groups still have no one committed to taking the good news of God's love to them. Some 1,120 groups have no church of 100 members, and 533 have no on-site church planting team." The appeal to the Evangelical Church is simply: "Cry out to God on behalf of these lost children who have no one to show them the way to the Father. Ask God to show your congregation how you can help take the good news of His saving love to those who have never heard!" On another note, Joel International News reports: "The church in China has multiplied 18-fold over the past 30 years, perhaps the greatest growth of the Church since Pentecost!"
   
   
5. Two reports from the ecumenical world-
   
   
   1. The March 2000 visit of Pope John Paul II to Israel, in which he asked forgiveness for the many past sins of the Catholic Church, including its treatment of Jew, heretics, woman and native peoples, was hailed by an Israeli government official as "the most important visit to the State of Israel" since its founding in 1948 ( Jerusalem Post , March 12, 2000). The International Herald Tribune (March 13, 2000) also reported that John Paul "has done more for Catholic-Jewish relations in 20 years than the Catholic Church has done in 2,000."
      
      
   2. Also, from July 9 thru July19, 2000, what has been termed by some "the most extraordinary event in the Christian Church in over 1000 years" was convened. The Roman Catholic Church and The Orthodox Church, which represent 80% of Christians worldwide, began meetings to restore full communion between the two churches.
      
      
6. In conclusion, as we enter a new millennium the Church yet awaits the full historical fulfillment of these three great promises-
   
   
   1. "In the last days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people.before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord." (Acts 2:17, 20 NIV)
      
      
   2. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14 NIV)
      
      
   3. "Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him." (Revelation 1:7, NIV)

[ If you have information to contribute to the historical understanding of 2000-2001, please email Charles Schmitt via the Contact Us form