The list reads like a modern-day soap opera: a parent's adultery, haunting doubt, a spouse's string of affairs, addictions, womanizing, loneliness, depression, bitterness, spouse abuse, divorce, failing in leadership, mental and emotional abuse, failure to meet personal responsibilities, lust, temptation, unforgiving spirit, marriage and family out of control, victimization by murder . . .

The above isn't the product of some secular writer's keyboard; it's a list of genuine, specific concerns written down for one of our teams recently as they opened a summit . . . in a church that's probably a lot like many of ours.

Each night during the summit, this team hands out cards to the congregation that begin, "I would like the team to pray for the following requests." The cards are returned to the team members, who take the commitment to pray very seriously.

If our churches are having such deep problems, can we even begin to imagine the depth of despair for the average, everyday American who doesn't know God? Is there hope? What could change if God, through His Spirit, would be pleased to send sweeping revival and spiritual awakening to our lives, homes, and churches?

The following are excerpts from a letter sent by Pastor Jonathan Edwards to Rev. Thomas Prince in Boston, dated Dec. 12, 1743. They describe some things God did in what we call the First Great Awakening, which influenced the American colonies between 1730 and 1745. (The Mr. Whitefield that is mentioned is preacher George Whitefield from England.)

"The congregation was extraordinarily melted by every sermon [of Mr. Whitefield's in the meeting-house]; almost the whole assembly being in tears for a great part of sermon time. Mr. Whitefield's sermons were suitable to the circumstances of the town, containing just reproofs of our backslidings, and, in a most moving and affecting manner, making use of our great profession and great mercies as arguments with us to return to God, from whom we had departed. . . .

"The revival at first appeared chiefly among professors [of salvation] and those that had entertained the hope that they were in a state of grace, to whom Mr. Whitefield chiefly addressed himself. But in a very short time there appeared an awakening and deep concern among some young persons that looked upon themselves as in a Christless state; and there were some hopeful appearances of conversion; and some professors [of salvation] were greatly revived.

"In about a month or six weeks, there was a great alteration in the town, both as to the revivals of professors and awakenings of others. By the middle of December, a very considerable work of God appeared among those that were very young; . . . religious subjects almost wholly took up their conversation when they [the people in general] were together.

"Ever since the great work of God that was wrought here about nine years ago, there has been a great abiding alteration in this town in many respects. . . . There has remained a more general seriousness and decency in attending the public worship. There has been a very great alteration among the youth of the town with respect to reveling, frolicking, profane and unclean conversation, and lewd songs. Instances of fornication have been very rare. There has also been a great alteration among both old and young with respect to tavern haunting. I suppose the town has been in no measure so free of vice in these respects for any long time together for this sixty years as it has been this nine years past."

Could this happen again in our nation? Please join us in praying that God will do an even greater work! We need Him so desperately.