Many revivals of the past are discussed in theological circles, bible studies and in sermons from the pulpit. Revivals such as the Great Awakenings in Great Britain and America led by spiritual leaders such as John Wesley and George Whitefield. The revivals in Wales in 1859 and 1904 which were overseen by men such as David Morgan, Humphreys Jones, Seth Joshua and Evan Roberts. Or the Azusa Street revival in 1906 led by William Seymour. There are many more I could mention here as well. These outpourings of Gods Holy Spirit were absolutely astonishing events in of themselves in which lots of salvations, healings and miracles were witnessed. But event such as these seem to have all but ceased in this modern age as Christendom is on the decline in the west.
Though we do hear of many magnificent revivals breaking out in the East in places such as China, Japan and South Korea, nothing seems to be breaking out in the West.
Well, there is at least one revival which is never really publicised in Christian media in the West. The reason for this is that it is a revival which is contained within a social construct that is very nomadic and isolated. A people who have been for many generations classed as a scourge and stain on humanity! No, I am not talking about the people of the Star of David. I am talking about a people who have taken a scripture reference of Christ to represent the very revival within their closed community, Luke 14:23 "Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled..." I speak of course of Romani Gypsies.
In 1979, a young gypsy man named Davey Jones who had only just come to faith felt a great calling on his life. He felt that God was calling him to take the gospel to a forgotten people, his people, the Gypsy people. He would travel from Gypsy camp to Gypsy camp telling people the gospel, plus hand out cassette tapes and gospel tracts. But every camp Davey went to the people would laugh at him, tell him he was a fool or threaten him with violence. Nobody was interested in hearing the message of salvation. After around six months of banging his head against the wall, Davey decided to give up on this calling and concentrate on his work instead. Davey's wife Nora said to him "Davey, you may give up on my Jesus and walk away, but I can't!" After hearing his wife's words, Davey sat down by a fire that he had made outside his trailer and began to pray about his current predicament. But God had answered Davey's prayer days in advance. A convoy of French gypsies had crossed the English Channel and were heading to Davey's location. While Davey was praying, he could hear the sound of a multitude of vehicles getting closer. When he looked up, the field he was currently residing in was filled with trailers and vehicles with French licences plates. Davey was stunned! He saw a man walking towards him, as he got closer, he realised it was Clement Le Cossec, the man who had helped Davey come to faith. Davey asked Clement "What are you doing here Clement?" Clement replied "God told me that you were in trouble and that you needed help urgently, so we have all come to England to help you." Davey knew then that he could not abandon his calling. He and the mulitude French Gypsies began their work sharing the gospel in as many camps as they come across. They also set up tent revival meetings whenever and wherever they could. The gospel was finally being received by the Gypsy people.
From that day in 1979 right to the present day, revival has been spreading amongst Gypsies with literally multiple millions of them being saved worldwide! Davey Jones and Clement Le Cossec founded Light and Life Missions, the biggest Evangelical church movement in Europe today. God has gripped the heart of these nomadic people like never before and miracles are being seen abundantly within their respective communities.
I am very fortunate as a non-gypsy to get a glimpses of these wonderful events as my employer is a Romani Gypsy. He has testified to me many times of miracles, healings and salvations within their camps. He has quite often regaled stories of rough, fighting gypsy men who having heard the gospel of Christ became men with soft hearts and a gentle Christ like nature. This is the wonders of God unfolding within this fascinating race of people. I pray that it may continue for many generations to come, Amen!
I sure appreciate your history and attention to past revivals. Unfortunately, not all past revivals were God honoring, some simply originated from the heart of sinful human imagination--enter the Seymour revival. Such false revivals are often accompanied by false signs, false miracles and false mesasges. Even orthodox revivalists, some of whom you mentioned, complained about false signs and false miracles taking place under their noses as false prophets invaded meetings and tried to seize glory for themselves. Paul the Apostle observed the same as he encountered false apostle/teachers.
As for the gypsy revivals and revivalists you mentioned, I have no comment until I do some fact checking.
