By Ryan Kelly –

Revival has always stirred my heart. For as long as I can remember, I have prayed for it, studied its history, and longed to see it unfold in our time. The late Rev. Billy Graham once said that America had “one more great revival in her,” and I know many friends who would echo those words with conviction. Today, I find myself wondering—are we witnessing the birth of that long-awaited revival?

Throughout our nation’s history, God has moved in powerful ways, often marked by what scholars call the “Great Awakenings.” The First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s) was led by voices like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, calling people to heartfelt faith and personal conversion. The Second Great Awakening (1790s–1840s), ignited by leaders such as Charles Finney, brought multitudes to Christ and propelled major social reforms, from abolition to women’s rights. The Third Great Awakening (1850s–early 1900s) saw prayer movements in New York and evangelists like Dwight L. Moody expand the Gospel alongside a wave of missionary outreach. Some even point to the Fourth Great Awakening (1960s–1970s), shaped by the Jesus Movement, contemporary Christian music, and a renewed emphasis on personal relationship with Christ.

In our own day, we’ve seen the passing of giants, Billy Graham, John MacArthur, Tim Keller, and others, leaving behind a profound legacy. Their absence has created a void, but one that is now being filled by a new generation of passionate preachers and teachers. And in recent days, the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah has become a spark on dry ground. What the enemy intended for harm, God is already using to fan the flames of revival.

Just this past weekend, reports emerged of tens of thousands of unbelievers walking into church for the very first time. Tens of thousands more opened their Bibles, heard the Gospel, and encountered the hope of Christ. Charlie Kirk’s funeral drew more viewers than the Super Bowl, both in person and through broadcast, and nearly every tribute flooding social media points not to politics, but to his unwavering faith, his love for family, and his devotion to Jesus.

Time will tell how history records this moment, but I truly believe we are standing in the early days of a new Great Awakening, one that could sweep across America and perhaps the world. My challenge to you is simple: be part of it. Share Christ with others, live for Him daily, and die to self so that He may shine through you.

As the Apostle Paul wrote: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)