And we uncover its close connection with love for Israel.

Amid great expectancy of a renewed outpouring of the Spirit in the land of revivals, my wife and I were profoundly blessed and stirred by a recent visit to Wales.

We sat in the Moriah Chapel at Loughor, near Swansea, where the famous Welsh Revival broke out on 31 October 1904, and had a real taste of those momentous times as we were guided around the premises by a man whose uncle was a close friend of Evan Roberts, the human instrument used by God as the spark of that great movement.

I also noted the significance of the chapel’s name, as it was Mt Moriah where Abraham was prepared to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice and where, close by, Jesus died for the sins of the world at Calvary.

And this was not the only connection with Israel – more of which later.

Recalling the total surrender of those young men (the initial outpouring effectively started with a youth meeting), one of our group prayed “Bend us, Lord!” as she echoed the heartfelt cry of the revival’s 25-year-old leader for God to break their resistance to the Holy Spirit’s power.

It was an awesome moment as we became aware of the great need of our nation (in the UK as a whole) for restoration and reformation. Then we sang ‘Here is love, vast as the ocean’, one of the revival’s key hymns – first in Welsh, then in English.

People of Spiritual Stature and Faith

Our visit there was part of a weekend conference of the UK Fellowship of Full Gospel Churches, an international network of ministers dedicated to proclaiming Christ in all his fullness.

The event was hosted at the Bible College of Wales, which has itself been mightily used in world mission and was a product of the 1904/5 revival. We enjoyed glorious worship in the same room where legendary intercessor Rees Howells and his students prayed through to victory for Britain and the allies during World War II and later for Israel’s recognition at the United Nations.

One of our group prayed “Bend us, Lord!”, echoing the heartfelt cry of the 1904 revival’s 25-year-old leader Evan Roberts for God to break their resistance to the Holy Spirit’s power.

Participants had flown in from throughout the United States as well as from Holland, while others came from across the south of England and Wales – we were the lone visitors from the north.

Although a relatively small gathering with no more than 50 taking part, most of them were men and women of great spiritual stature and faith – at least one had met with US Presidents while others had walked with the likes of Billy Graham and had witnessed God’s miraculous guidance over many years.

Dick Funnell, from New Orleans, shared his extraordinary journey of how God had led him to come and live on the west coast of Wales where he and his Guatemalan wife Gladys now have keys to a small chapel where they have been praying daily for the past 13 years, convinced that revival is on its way.

As we prayed and lifted our hands in worship, we were aware of the crucial part played by Howells and his students who interceded day and night for a nation facing disaster at the time of Dunkirk. Their God-ordained prayers brought us back from the brink of destruction. They also prayed through to victory at the UN for Israel’s recognition in November 1947, having also made provision for Jewish children escaping the Nazi net.

100,000 New Births

A love for Israel was due not only to a proper understanding of the Bible, but also to the part the Jewish people had played in the founder’s conversion. Howells actually committed his life to Christ in America, where he had gone to seek his fortune, and it had come about through a Jewish evangelist, Maurice Reuben, who had paid a huge price for following Jesus, being disowned by his wealthy family and denied his part-ownership of a Pittsburgh store.

Maurice himself had found the Lord through the witness of a man he had asked – because he always seemed cheerful – if he had been ‘born happy’, to which the man had replied that his happiness only dated from his ‘second birth’.

Rees, who was the same age as Evan Roberts, returned to Wales to help with the revival.

Following a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit, he lived a radical life of faith as he reached out to drunkards and tramps – cutting down his meals in order to identify with them. And he took on formidable challenges such as praying for – and witnessing to – a village untouched by the revival and healing for sick people doctors had written off.

During the 1904 Welsh revival, an estimated 100,000 people were swept into the Kingdom over a four-month period.

Evan, meanwhile, was unschooled as, when his father was injured down the mine, he took his place, aged 11, in order to provide an income for his family.

Later, feeling called to pastoral ministry, he left home to acquire the necessary academic qualifications but before long had a deep experience of the Holy Spirit after hearing a speaker from the Welsh equivalent of the Keswick Convention.

Evan Roberts. Photo: Linda Gardner.He returned to his home village and asked if he could hold a youth meeting to which 16 youngsters turned up. Revival broke out, and services lasted virtually through the night. Miners coming off their shift would join the queues for the chapels; as soon as one was filled they’d tramp off to find the next. Lights would be burning through the night as tens of thousands throughout the principality were convicted of sin by the presence of God and the preaching of the Gospel. It is estimated that as many as 100,000 were swept into the Kingdom over a four-month period as people couldn’t get enough of being in God’s presence.

Impacts Beyond Asking or Imagining

It wasn’t the first time Wales had seen revival – Howell Harris and others had led a similar movement in the late 18^th Century, and even John Wesley had preached at Loughor in those days. Another revival broke out in 1859 – also touching many other parts of the world.

In fact, it was in the midst of the earlier movement that a hugely significant event took place that was to lead to the foundation of the Bible Society through which the word of God was translated into hundreds of languages and distributed throughout the world.

The event in question was a 26-mile walk over the mountains of North Wales by 15-year-old Mary Jones in order to purchase a copy of the Welsh Bible for which she had saved up for six years. Her extraordinary feat awakened the need for God’s word to become available to everyone in their mother tongue.

One of the effects of the 1904 awakening of dynamic Christianity was that the police and magistrates had nothing to do except help control the crowds queuing up for the Gospel meetings.

What was happening in Wales galvanised the prayers of American saints in California, leading directly to the Azusa Street revival of 1906.

The revival spread across the globe, even touching Asia and St Petersburg in Russia, and it inspired others praying for a similar move in their own localities. This was particularly the case in California, where news of what was happening in Wales galvanised the prayers of American saints and led directly to the Azusa Street, Los Angeles, revival of 1906, the beginnings of the modern-day Pentecostal movement, with a similar outpouring taking place in Sunderland, England, in 1907, led by Church of England vicar Alexander Boddy who had earlier come to witness the work of Evan Roberts in Wales.

The revival produced outstanding leaders including George and Stephen Jeffries and, of course, Rees Howells who went on to found his world-changing Bible College in 1928. One student, a young German called Reinhard Bonnke, graduated in 1960 and subsequently won millions of people to the Lord through his huge missions across Africa and other parts of the world.

A young Billy Graham also visited the Loughor chapel back in 1946 when he is understood to have had a profound experience of the Holy Spirit. Millions the world over benefited from that!

Part II next week.

Notes

Additional material sourced from Rees Howells, Intercessor by Norman Grubb, published by Lutterworth Press.

Paul Luckraft interviews Tony and Kathy Stewart, Founders and Directors of the Mount Moriah Trust, a non-denominational Christian ministry helping needy believers in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

The story of how Tony and Kathy founded the Mount Moriah Trust and how it has grown under God's guidance and provision is an inspiring example of obedience leading to fruitfulness. They both testify to how God has prepared them for serving him in this particular ministry and can look back over 15 years of his gracious guidance along every step of the way.

Journey to Faith

Starting in 1972, Tony and Kathy made several visits to Israel as part of Tony's working life -staying for up to three months at a time. Although nominal Christians, neither of them were born again believers, but the place and the people began to impact them. During this time Israel was often at war with its neighbours but somehow they always felt safe – even protected – without quite knowing why!

In 1993 the Lord brought them to himself and they began a spiritual journey, maturing in the faith mainly through Christian conferences and Ellel Ministries. They were also faithful members of a local church, but Replacement Theology was a strong feature there and the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to them about this, making them realise how unbiblical it was. An eventual change of church was an inevitable and necessary step of obedience.

Even before they became Christians, Tony and Kathy were impacted by the place and the people of Israel.

New Impetus in Jerusalem

In 2001 a major change occurred as a new impetus emerged. Kathy felt a strong prompting from the Holy Spirit to go to David Hathaway's Fire over Jerusalem conference and while she was there, a chance meeting with a Messianic Jew (who was a taxi driver at her hotel!) opened her eyes to the hardship Jews were facing due to the Second Intifada which had begun the previous year. In addition, Messianic Jews were experiencing persecution and often lost their jobs when it became known that they were believers in Yeshua (Jesus).

On returning home, the Stewarts' first step of obedience was to support this particular believer and his family. After three months, during a time of prayer God told Kathy to start a trust to help needy believers. He assured her that he was birthing this work, and even gave her the name – the Mount Moriah Trust. This was in August 2001; nine months later (28 May 2002) the charity was registered – or, rather, born!

After a chance meeting with a Messianic Jew in Jerusalem, Kathy and Tony became aware that God wanted to birth a bigger project through them: a trust to help needy believers in his Land.

Developing an Approach

They now knew what to do, but not always how to do it! However, Tony found that the experience and skills gained from his working life (he retired in 2005) were now being put to good use in setting up and administering the trust. Ken Burnett of Prayer for Israel became their patron, and they also had the support of their new church which was pro-Israel. But it was still a slow start and it wasn't clear how to operate – until God directed them again!

As a couple they were still providing financial support for the Jerusalem taxi driver and his family, and suddenly they realised that helping families was the way forward. Their focus was to stand alongside believing families and they started with three. With further help from Ken Burnett, contacts were made in Israel and the pattern of working was established – they would work alongside local pastors. This has been their standard method ever since. It is pastors on the ground in Israel who know best the needs of their congregation and how to help them. It would be through them that the financial and spiritual support would be channelled.

At first it was only Messianic Jews who received help, but in 2005 God told them to support Arab believers in Israel also, and pastors in Cana and Nazareth joined the work. This later spread to Palestinian brothers, those in Gaza and the West Bank, as God showed them that when it came to helping Christian believers, there was to be no prejudice. It was to be a balanced operation, like the two arms of a pair of scales. The phrase 'one new man' was impressed upon them as they realised how God wanted to break down walls and barriers.

At first aid was only given to Messianic Jews, but God soon encouraged them to broaden this to include all Christians in the region, Jew or Arab, breaking down barriers.

God Provides!

After this the work grew rapidly. There are now nearly 40 pastors involved in the Trust. Tony and Kathy visit them every year in October/November in order to assess the work. They review the effectiveness of the past year's support and agree with the pastors what they need for the coming year. Tony and Kathy then return home and wait for God to provide! After all that is what God has promised through naming the trust himself – Moriah is the place where he provided the lamb for Abraham to sacrifice (Gen 22:8).

No direct fundraising is necessary. No special appeals are made. Contacts happen as God draws people to the work and under his leading they start to give. Last year £130,000 was raised and it is rising year on year. A total of over one million pounds has now been sent out. Every penny goes to the congregations - nothing is taken out for administration, travel or other costs, which are met privately.

Not only are the agreed needs met each year but there is often something left over to help with emergencies that arise during the year. This is only to be expected - after all, God had given Tony and Kathy a picture of the loaves and fishes, which adorns their logo alongside their motto, 'God provides'.

The story of the Mount Moriah Trust is an inspiring example of obedience leading to fruitfulness, through God's guidance and provision.

Scripture-Based Ministry

God's word has always been a strong motivation for Tony and Kathy, and the ministry has been founded on certain scriptures. "Comfort, comfort my people" (Isa 40:1) was a key word, as were the exhortations of Paul to "share with God's people who are in need" (Rom 12:13) and to "do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal 6:10).

The support provided to the elderly, widows, single mums and families is mainly for basic humanitarian needs – food parcels/vouchers, medicines, clothes etc. In recent years the Lord has guided them to support children and youths, ensuring that they have all the books and equipment that they need to get the best education possible, and strengthening their walk with the Lord through sponsoring attendance at summer and winter Bible camps. Helping the next generation to lift themselves out of poverty is seen as a key to the future.

Each step of the way has been guided by God, simply because he planned it from the beginning. Divine appointments keep happening. There are now contacts in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia - plenty to keep Tony and Kathy, God's faithful servants, busy for the rest of their lives! They know there will be more to come – but not knowing exactly how or from where makes this an exciting adventure. God will lead, and they will follow.

Each step of the way has been guided by God, who planned it from the beginning. The future will be an exciting adventure – God will lead and they will follow.

Discover more about the Mount Moriah Trust's work for yourself by visiting their website, mountmoriah.org.uk. Contact Tony and Kathy via the site if you would like to be sent resources to share with others. You can also sign up to receive regular newsletters and invite Tony and Kathy to speak in your area.

Or explore their YouTube channel, where you can listen to some of the local pastors speaking, as well as view the Mount Moriah Trust DVD entitled 'The Heart of God'.