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)

By Ryan Kelly –

Have you ever wondered why our journey toward growth in righteousness is rarely smooth or easy? If following Christ means walking in His peace, shouldn’t the road be free of obstacles? Yet, time and again, we find that the opposite is true. The Christian life is filled with challenges, setbacks, and trials that test our faith and force us to lean on the Lord more deeply.

I recently came across a quote from Henry Ford that struck me: “Remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” That simple observation carries a profound truth. Just as airplanes need resistance to rise, we too need opposition and difficulty to grow in our faith. Without the wind pressing against us, we would never gain the lift that brings us closer to God.

This idea reminds me of fitness analogies. When you go to the gym, if you never push your muscles beyond their comfort zone, you won’t build strength. Growth only comes through resistance, strain, and perseverance. The same is true of our spiritual lives. If our journey with Christ were always smooth and effortless, we would never develop endurance, never cultivate true hope, and never learn to depend on God’s strength rather than our own.

Scripture affirms this truth over and over. Paul exhorts Timothy: “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11). Notice the word pursue. It implies effort, determination, and pressing forward even when the way is hard. Peter echoes this when he writes: “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7). Our trials refine us like fire purifies gold, stripping away impurities and revealing the priceless treasure of a faith that truly trusts in Jesus.

And Jesus Himself gives us both warning and comfort in John 16:33: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” He doesn’t promise a trial-free life, but He does promise His peace and His victory. Our struggles are real, but they are never final, because Christ has already won.

So when the winds of hardship press against you, remember: they are not there to destroy you but to lift you higher. Just as the airplane rises against the wind, your faith can soar when you lean fully on God in seasons of resistance. The hard road is the refining road. It is the place where perseverance takes root, hope blossoms, and reliance on the Lord deepens.

Take heart today, friend. The winds may be strong, but they are carrying you closer to the heart of God.

By Ryan Kelly –

Across the nation, the Spirit of God is moving in ways we’ve long prayed for. Quietly at first, and now with a roar that cannot be ignored, people are placing their faith in Christ and are making public professions through Baptism and genuine life change.

In recent months, from the coastal waters of California to the heartland of Kentucky, tens of thousands have gathered in worship, surrender, and baptism. Whether in Rupp Arena where 8,000 students cried out to God, or on the beaches of California where waves of souls were baptized, we are witnessing not just isolated events but a divine pattern—an unmistakable spiritual awakening. These are fresh outpourings birthed from hunger, humility, and a holy desperation.

God is not just stirring in church pews, He’s taking center stage in places we once thought unreachable. Revival is leaking into the fabric of pop culture, with athletes publicly giving glory to Jesus in post-game interviews, musicians turning stages into pulpits, and influencers boldly proclaiming Christ to their millions of followers. The Holy Spirit is moving in locker rooms, studios, red carpets, and press rooms. What once seemed radical is now becoming a revival rhythm: Jesus is being lifted high in public and popular spaces, breaking the mold of what cultural faith has looked like in America.

Even in politics and government, we see glimpses of transformation. Elected officials are boldly praying in chambers, quoting Scripture in speeches, and standing for biblical values with unshaken resolve. And perhaps even more powerful are the quiet, personal revivals happening in everyday lives. Single moms, students, blue-collar workers, retirees and people of every background and burden are being set free and finding purpose in Christ. It’s as though God is sweeping across the nation, reminding us that no person, no place, and no institution is beyond His reach.

What we are witnessing is not a passing trend, rather it is the answer to generations of prayer. Revival is not only possible…it is happening today.

Let us not simply be spectators. Let us be surrendered vessels, ready to be a radiant reflection of the light and love of Jesus wherever we go. For the same God who is moving in arenas and oceans is also knocking at the door of our hearts. May we open wide and let Him in. Amen.