The Hope of Transformation
By Doug Small
What do the current buzzwords community transformation mean? Some Christians employ language of conquest and triumphalism, predicting banished crime and a tranquil community.
Others, seeing no hope of a city-transforming revival, focus on the rapture and escaping an increasingly hostile world. Many believers wonder if the days of revival are over. Others believe revival is upon us even now. Is there hope for genuine community revival and awakening?
Globally, in the past 25 years, more people have come to Christ than in the period from 100 to A.D. 1900. At around A.D. 2000, daily conversions spiked near 200,000; estimates today are 125,000 people daily. Africa, only three percent Christian in 1900, is on the precipice of becoming a “Christian” continent. Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation on the planet, is tipping toward Christianity, with one in four people identifying with Christ. Mega-churches are mushrooming, one with 250,000 members.
In addition, the daily number of new believers in China is staggering. Latin America sees tens of thousands awaken daily to the reality of Christ. In Cuba, the Church is experiencing resurgence. House church movements are rising in Iraq and Iran, even Saudi Arabia. Irrepressible life is found where oppression exists and the darkness lingers.
This veritable global explosion of Kingdom growth seems apparent everywhere but the West. In other parts of the world, whole regions have tasted what can be fittingly called transformation. In such places, crime falls. God’s light repels spiritual darkness. Youth awaken to the reality of God. Christians become gently bolder in their witness—and large numbers turn to Christ. Uncanny coincidences lead to the capture of drug lords and other criminals. Churches fill with people testifying to the reality of God in their lives.
Moreover, integrity and godliness increase among believers and throughout the community—again, transformation! The driving dynamic is a holy desperation, hopelessness casting itself on God and His intervention alone. This is desperate praying, not revival-would-be-nice praying. Holy desperation is tearful praying, crying out to God passionately.
A True Vision of God
At the heart of every community transformation effort is a catalyst—a humble, praying, unifying personality—someone willing to bring people together to seek God. Then an unlikely coalition emerges—Pentecostals, Baptists, and other denominations. It includes “color-blind” leaders of all ethnicities. It includes women and men. It includes lay leaders who connect to pastors.
While denominational theology remains important to each congregation, core theology takes precedence. As one voice, believers, with compelling commitment, engage the culture with the exalted Christ.
The late Dr. Joe Aldrich, author of Lifestyle Evangelism and Prayer Summits: Seeking God’s Agenda for Your Community, believed our great need is exposure to the holiness of God, not alarm at the moral and spiritual peril of culture. A fresh vision of God and His holiness produces humility, then unity, then healthy community, and finally an impact on community. An unhealthy spiritual community leaves no lasting impact. Humility and unity emerge only from time in God’s holy presence. The harvest is indeed great and the sociocultural implosion around us is daunting. But neither of those realities can adequately motivate us.
Ultimately only God can change us—and our cities. And only out of a vision of heaven itself will we have the strength and resolve to complete our mission.
Mission began for Isaiah when he saw God as sovereign and unspeakably holy. Seraphim flew from heaven’s altar with live coals, cleansing and enabling the prophet (Isa. 6). The sight and sound of heaven—the touch of God—emboldened him.
Similarly, while Nehemiah was leading the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, the people grew weary due to the depth of the rubble and the crescendo of threats. In the midst of an overwhelming task and fear of escalating consequences, Nehemiah exhorted, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight ” (Neh. 4:14). A colloquial rendering might read, “Don’t panic. Have you guys seen our God? Get in there and fight!” Vision inspires hope. Truly seeing the holiness and grand sovereignty of God simultaneously humbles and inspires us.
Power of God’s Presence
Holiness and humility change the spirit in which we seek community transformation. Arrogance and overconfidence fail. They produce competitive models. The tools in our arsenal are weak without divine power, which is only possible through unified prayer. And unity forms in the atmosphere of humility.
Anyone can walk on water when it’s frozen. But when spiritual warfare shifts the atmosphere and the temperature spikes, the ethos of humility can be easily lost to prideful, self-centered, independent actions. Pride and self-assertion always assume a better plan but diffuse the unity. When we move away from deep, prayerful reliance, discord and disappointment result.
Transformational, humble, dependent prayer is crucial. Too often, community transformation initiatives are merely plans salted with prayer. Prayer is an additive to the “more important element” of collaboration—a flawed notion. Prayer cannot simply be delegated to intercessors. Nor can prayer be just bookends of our strategic planning. Instead, with humble, holy, unifying prayer at the heart of both relationships and mutual endeavors, we can become a healthy community, a basket into which God places His glory. We may pray and plan, and then work our plan and witness—but we need God to come to town!
When a “great awakening” occurs in a community, God is unavoidable. The heightened God-consciousness is evident even among unbelievers, especially those who were previously the least likely to become believers. God changes hearts.
There is no arguing with God. Rather, there is conviction, a renewed reverence—a fear of God. Simultaneously His compelling love draws people to Him. They cry out to Him spontaneously. Salvations occur by the dozens, then the hundreds and thousands. It is God who breaks addictive behavior patterns. It is God who restores marriages. It is God who recalibrates decency and morality. It is God who shifts cultural appetites to the spiritual. Church attendance soars. Ungodly establishments shut down. And we stand in awe of our holy God.
Stages of Transformed Communities
God’s impact on a community progresses through stages:
1. The romanticized stage fails to grapple with the enormity and complexity of the task. In a Pollyannaish fashion, it asserts, “We will hold a prayer rally with thousands and see our city transformed.” It relies on simple, single-dimensional, quick-fix tactics—one this year and another the next. The hope in a visitation of God both visible and measurable is positive. However, when quick-fix ideas fail, cynicism emerges and many give up.
2. The disillusionment stage tests the resolve and unity of the core group. Simultaneously, some defect from the cause, but the central leadership solidifies its commitment. The result is vision clarification, long-term strategy, and fresh tenacity.
3. In the Rambo stage, fracturing accelerates. Seizing early breakthroughs, splinter groups promote narrow causes and exploit the movement. Impatience drives independent action.
4. The perseverance stage cycles back to the basics—the sovereignty of God, deep dependence in prayer, humility and unity, and long-term vision.
5. The renewal/death stage is the turning point. Again, some give up, but core leaders commit to seeing their city touched by the hand of God. They don’t care who gets the credit as long as God gets the glory. What follows is deep determination. The prophetic message sharpens. Leaders complete a reassessment of the harvest field and labor force, and they realign resources. The expanding core makes fresh relational and resource commitments. Values inform behavior.
6. The trajectory realignment stage results in increased credibility. The steady growth and development of a significant number of congregations in the city create a tipping point. Intercessors connect and focus. Laypeople unite at workplaces and in neighborhoods, resulting in a rising tide of prayer and confidence that God is working in the city.
Realities of War
Our generation has never seen a Great Awakening, but previous generations have witnessed transformed communities. It can happen again. Yet, all we do—praying, living in caring relationships, and sharing the gospel—will fall short unless God comes to town.
Remember: Community impact is dependent on a healthy spiritual community, and that is dependent on the quality of the unity, which is in turn dependent on the depth and sincerity of our humility. All of this rises from our ongoing, consistent exposure to God’s holiness and sovereignty—in prayer—both individually and corporately.
The prince of darkness is here. An evil force is determined to invade our land. At some point we will find ourselves at the threshold of the ultimate battle foretold in Scripture—an unavoidable war that cannot be averted.
But God calls us to take a stand now or lose our cities. We must not shrink back. We need to mobilize ongoing prayer—watchman prayer—that will never be finished. Should God grant us another Great Awakening, millions will be saved and brought into His Kingdom. Even though we cannot divert the coming storm of end times, we must have a prayerful and systematic commitment to fulfill the Great Commission.
Is there hope for genuine community transformation? Yes—if we, in desperation, truly see God in His holiness and sovereignty, if we, in desperation, seek Him more than a plan, and if we, in desperation, humble ourselves to pray and work in unity for His glory. That will be God-coming-to-town transformation!
P. DOUGLAS SMALL is president and founder of Alive Ministries: Project Pray. He is the author of numerous books and the founder of the Praying Church Movement. He also serves the prayer ministry of the Church of God, Cleveland, TN.
