How to Steward the Stirring Revival

Islands in Oceans and Sparks in Darkness

Recently, there have been encouraging reports, research, and social media posts pointing to pockets of revival stirring. Even while a lot of the news and social media headlines still paint a picture of a generation stepping away from the faith. We see the rising tides of secularism and a pervasive sense of disillusionment, leaving vast oceans of spiritual drift. But look closer. Amidst this cultural ebb, something remarkable is happening: we are witnessing islands of revival breaking out. These are not always grand, stadium-filling events, but quiet stirrings—a profound spiritual hunger and a renewed conviction that God is actively moving in our world. This is precisely how revival often begins—not with a roar, but with a whisper; not with a wildfire, but with a spark.

Our research confirms this shift is happening across the globe, fueled by qualitative, experiential changes. In the United Kingdom, for instance, a "Quiet Revival" is underway, with documented reports showing that twice as many people are committing to follow Christ compared to five years ago. Crucially, this growth is being driven by a desire for a genuine, personal "experience of God" (the most popular prompt for conversion) rather than intellectual arguments. Similarly, the spontaneous awakening at Asbury University in 2023 served as a public flashpoint, demonstrating that true spiritual stirring today is rooted in profound humility and deep personal repentance, bypassing pre-planned programs. Seekers are prioritizing authenticity, transparency, and unhurried relational care, rejecting superficial faith.

Additionally, political violence in the USA recently has rallied thousands to prayer meetings and repentance. Ongoing encouraging reports of the wide embrace of Christianity and spiritual awakening in the global South, particularly in Africa and South America. Continued reports of great growth of the house church movement in Iran and supernatural revelations of Jesus across the Middle East. In Asia, the suppressed and persecuted church continues to grow, and great next-generation mission movements are on the rise. Encouraging sparks of revival flickering across the globe.

This emerging landscape is a call to action. This is the moment where we must become active stewards. Our conviction is that this is a time to blow on the embers, providing the structure and spiritual climate for these sparks to grow. How we respond in this critical season—with intention, humility, and balance—will ultimately make or break what God is doing.

Revival often begins – not with a bang, but with a whisper; not with a wildfire, but with a spark. It’s the flicker of divine light in the darkness. This is a time to blow on the embers. 

We are in a crucial season where our response to these emerging sparks will either help them ignite into a consuming blaze or allow them to cool and fade. How we engage – our intentionality, posture, and humility – will make or break what God is doing.

The Goldilocks Test: Finding the "Just Right" Response to Revival

Much like Goldilocks finding her perfect bowl of porridge or her just-right bed, our response to revival cannot be too hot, too cold, or simply wrong. We need to find the "just right" approach that accurately honors God’s work and allows it to flourish. We need to kindle these embers into a sweeping fire of revival.

Let’s explore three distinct ways we might respond, and why only one will truly steward these precious moments:

1. The Jonah Response: Too Cold, Too Critical

Remember Jonah? After the whale incident, God brings about a massive revival in Nineveh, saving a wicked city, and what's Jonah's reaction? Not joy, but anger and resentment. He criticized the very movement God initiated because it didn't fit his expectations or his personal sense of justice.

The Jonah Response  to revival is characterized by:

• Cynicism and Skepticism: Immediately questioning the authenticity, motives, or methods of a burgeoning revival.
• Critique over Celebration: Focusing on perceived flaws, emotionalism, or deviations from tradition, rather than celebrating the salvation of souls or the presence of God.
• Refusal to Engage: Deliberately distancing oneself from the movement, often out of fear of the unknown or a desire to maintain personal comfort and control.

This response chills the atmosphere, stifles the Spirit, and ultimately causes us to miss out on God's incredible work. We can end up being like a wet blanket on the very embers God is trying to fan into flame.

2. The Sons of Sceva Response: Too Hot, Too Exploitative

In Acts 19, we meet the sons of Sceva, who saw the powerful works of God through Paul and tried to imitate them for their own gain. They weren't connected to the source of power; they simply wanted to replicate the results. Their attempt ended in public humiliation, not revival.

The Sons of Sceva Response is marked by:

• Superficial Imitation: Focusing on outward manifestations or "spiritual tricks" without the genuine spiritual foundation of relationship with Christ.
• Exploitation or Manipulation: Seeing revival as an opportunity for personal gain, fame, or control, rather than a sacred move of God to be stewarded.
• Adding Human Formulas: Trying to create "how-to" guides or rigid methods for revival that can stifle the organic leading of the Holy Spirit and lead to inauthenticity.
• Spectacle over Substance: Prioritizing emotional highs, "star" personalities, or dramatic displays over the quiet, transformative work of the Holy Spirit in individual hearts.

This approach can create a temporary, shallow buzz, but it lacks the depth to produce lasting fruit. It dishonors God by making His work about us, leading to burnout, disillusionment, and a tarnished reputation for the faith. It blows too hard, often in the wrong direction, and with the wrong motivation, risking extinguishing the flame entirely.

3. The Mary and Martha Response: Just Right, Balanced Stewardship

This is the sweet spot, the "just right" way to steward what God is doing. It’s a response that beautifully integrates deep intimacy with practical service, learning from both Mary of Bethany (who sat at Jesus' feet and anointed Him) and her sister Martha (who prepared the place and space for Him).

The Mary Heart: Prioritizing Intimacy and Worship

• Sitting at His Feet (Luke 10:38-42): Like Mary, our first response must be to prioritize Jesus' presence. In a time of revival, this means cultivating deep intimacy with Him – listening, learning, worshiping, and soaking in His presence. It's about letting our hearts be transformed by Him.
• Extravagant Worship (John 12:1-8): Another Mary moment, when she anointed Jesus' feet, reminds us that true revival evokes extravagant love and worship. It's giving our best, without reservation or calculation, in response to His worthiness and what He is doing in our midst. This builds the spiritual atmosphere where revival thrives.

The Martha Hands: Practical Preparation and Service

• Preparing the Place and Space (Luke 10:38-42): While Mary chose the "good portion," Martha was providing crucial hospitality. Revival needs "Marthas" – those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do the practical work. This means creating welcoming environments, organizing events, providing logistical support, stewarding resources wisely, and establishing structures for discipleship.
• Service as Worship: The key here is for Martha's activity to flow from a Mary heart. Her work isn't just a task; it's an act of worship, done with joy and dedication, recognizing that she is serving Jesus by serving His people and His movement.


The Balance: A healthy revival requires both. The Mary response ensures the spiritual depth and direction, preventing the movement from becoming a soulless machine. The Martha response provides the practical infrastructure and care, preventing the spiritual spark from fizzling out due to neglect or disorganization. When these two postures work together – intimacy fueling service, and service creating space for intimacy – the embers are truly fanned into a sustainable, growing fire.

May we steward well what God is doing in these precious islands of revival. May we respond accurately, with Mary's heart for His presence and Martha's hands for His work. And may God, in His boundless grace and power, cause a great revival to sweep over the nations, transforming hearts and bringing hope to every corner of our world.

What islands of revival are you seeing? 

Which inaccurate and unhelpful responses have we missed?

How are you stewarding the sparks in your community?