The revival sweeping across the Presbyterian churches in Meghalaya and particularly in Shillong is now well known. I am not getting into its history here, since it has been documented in detail by people like Barkos Warjiri, Sheila Cherian and Reuben Pradhan among others. For those interested in knowing more about the history of this revival please visit these excellent websites:
http://www.shillongrevival.com/
http://revivalfire.info/
http://www.welshrevival.org
http://sheeju.wordpress.com
http://torestoration.googlepage
Some of the above sites have pictures and videos of the amazing events which have been taking place in the churches in Shillong since mid 2006.
I too have been following the news about the outbreak of revival in Shillong churches since September on Alban Lyndem's John 832 Bible Study forum. There was always a constant struggle between my heart and my mind as I read and heard about these amazing happenings. I desperately wanted to go to Shillong to witness this revival. And God granted my wish in December 2006 through Alban and his family in Shillong. Here's a brief account of what I saw, heard and experienced and my impressions (mine alone). A few pictures were taken (by Alban) during our visit, and they are available below (apologies for the poor quality).
Visit to Nongkrem
Entrance of the church in Nongkrem (Click to enlarge)
On the 30th of December 2006 (our 8th day in Shillong), after a wild, exhilarating and exhausting visit to Iweduh (those who have been there will know what I'm talking about), Bah Michel arranged for a visit to Nongkrem Presbyterian Church where a revival meeting was to take place at 7:00 in the evening. Having seen and taken pictures of the glittering objects that fell in Mawphlang, I was gripped with excitement as we approached Nongkrem, a small village near Smit about 12 km from the town of Shillong. We reached only by 7:30 pm while the first prayer was going on. A typical church like others in this area with wooden pews facing a sizable rostrum. The wooden panel behind the rostrum had the design of a cross worked into it. There were 2 rows of pews on either side of the main aisle. The rows to the left were occupied mainly by women and children and they were more in number compared to the men who sat on the right. All in all, maybe around 200-250 people - a small gathering for a church this size. The rostrum had approx. 15 (not sure) chairs for the elders and deacons who sat facing the congregation; but during this service only 4 elders were present (the main pastor himself was not there). We seated ourselves at the back (middle actually since the church was only half full). Unlike the city churches, where people are usually in formals, here most people were dressed very simple... all wrapped in Khasi shawls because of the biting cold. The whole service was in Khasi. Being a revival meeting, I was expecting lot of music and 'praise & worship' compared to the usual Sunday morning service. Surprisingly the format remained the same. After the opening hymn (sung from hymn books... no fancy LCD projectors here), one of the church elders began to preach. Not able to understand a word and being quite snug in my Naga shawl, I began to doze off... (not just me... but even some of the elders who sat on the platform). To aid my slumber... the power went off for 15-20 minutes and the preacher droned away in pitch darkness. My dozing thoughts were "nothing's going to happen here". No glowing cross as in Malki... no falling glitter... no angelic lights... just a normal church service.
After the 50-minute message (by now the electricity returned), everyone stood up for a hymn. There was no music of any sort, but the passion and fervor with which these simple village folk sing is something else. Then the elder said something ("let us pray" I presume), and everyone started to pray out loud. From here the service took an unexpected turn. Since I could not understand a word, I thought they must all be reciting the Lord's prayer. But after a while it became apparent that all were just praying out loud. This is when I noticed some commotion (for lack of a better word) in the front where the small children were seated. Someone carried a small child, while others scurried to lay mats along the main aisle. By now, more children were falling and were being carried to the mats and covered with shawls and blankets. Some more choruses and hymns followed... especially songs on revival. People were clapping and singing with even more fervor. There was an atmosphere of expectancy. During this time, a small girl two rows ahead of us was carried to the mat. She was sobbing uncontrollably and some young people squatted around her and began to lay hands and pray for deliverance. God's move was very tangible. I was ecstatic! It was going to be a long evening of just lingering in His awesome presence, maybe even experiencing a touch from the Lord. But alas... the closing prayer and benediction soon followed and before I knew it, the church emptied out... everyone left except for the little ones on the floor and the young people huddled in prayer over them. Although majority of the congregation left, God's mighty presence was still moving in that place. I stood watching in awe the few young people ministering to the young children. Reluctantly, I left when I was informed that we were invited to tea at one of the elder's homes and that we had to leave. I just could not tear myself away from this place. The presence of God was unmistakable. Here I was... somewhere in a nondescript village in the NE of India in a 'non-charismatic' church, witnessing the mighty move of the Holy Spirit. No 'praise and worship', no charismatic preacher, no soft music, no choir singing 'ministering' songs, no invitation to come to the front to be 'prayed for'... hardly the kind of ambiance where I expected 'things to happen' .... and yet... God moved at a different level! Unexpectedly... unobtrusively... powerfully... among unassuming children... among the youth...
Chidren laid on the mats and youth huddled in prayer over them (Click to enlarge)
What was amazing is that children seem to be the ones experiencing the touch from God. The older generation, I observed, were aware of revival happening in their midst, but few appeared to have tasted of it, although they support it wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. I would have thought... the elders and pastors would have been there praying and ministering after the service... but no... they all went to their homes... and to my utter amazement, the evening's preacher was enjoying a smoke outside (maybe it was the cold - lol).
Even as the ministering goes on the church empties quickly after the service (Click to enlarge)
Children lying on mats covered in shawls and blankets (Click to enlarge)
This visit has completely changed my view of God's workings. For years I thought God moved supernaturally only in pentecostal and charismatic churches and that too in certain "settings". But what I witnessed here has opened my eyes. No big preachers of international repute here... In fact, no names AT ALL! No theatrics. Just lives being changed by the power of God. A new generation being awakened to fulfill His purposes.
Over tea at one of the elder's house, I heard testimonies of miraculous happenings in the various churches around Shillong. Of angels, glittering objects and children falling, singing and dancing and prophesying. But more amazing were testimonies of how communities were being transformed, of pubs and bars losing customers and being forced to close, of broken families being reunited, of father's heart's turning to the children and the children leading their fathers to the Lord, of how people were once again flocking to churches. I asked some of the elders if they themselves had experienced a touch. But not one of them appeared to have. I asked them why do they think it was so... and they said... "maybe because of our own presumptions".
How true... our own presumptions and prejudices can be the hurdles to a personal revival... but God is not hindered as He continues to work in the hearts of those who simply believe.
I come away with a deep hunger to know Jesus Christ more, to experience Him as these little children did. Their melodious chorus still ringing in my heart...
Ah Trai phah rebaibal (3)
Ai kan sdang shwa na nga.
Pynbaptis ia nga Trai (3)
Da ka ding U Mynsiem.
Pynrhem hapoh jong nga (3)
Da ka ding U Mynsiem.
Pynim la ka Balang (3)
Ai kan sdang shwa na nga.
Ai bor ba ngan ialap (3)
Ia ka kyrteng jong Me.
"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding." Job 37:5 NIV
John832 Bible Study Forum has more pictures and accounts of the revival. A very special thanks to Vinod for his Olympus C-700
