Day Thirty-Six "Coggin Avenue Revival - Brownwood, TX"

Several years ago God visited Coggin Avenue Baptist Church in Brownwood, Texas in similar fashion to the way He visited FBC Springdale. At the end of the first service a Howard Payne University student approached pastor John Avant and asked if he could share something with the church. Avant was a little apprehensive but allowed the young man.

He read from [Joel 2:12]. What happened after that was a miracle. God moved on the hearts of the people and they began to weep and come forward in repentance. Some testified they could sense the presence of the Lord. People did not leave the altar although it was time for Sunday School.

Those who did not attend the early service had no idea what was happening. People sat in classrooms with no teachers. Finally people left their classes to see what was going on in the sanctuary. When the doors were opened church members testified it was like being hit with hot rushing wind. The new attendees were soon caught up in God’s presence as well.

They were not able to close the service in order to start the second service. Pastor Avant got up and gave a brief explanation about what had happened. The remainder of the service people wept as they repented of sins. This lasted well past 1:00 p.m. That night the scene repeated itself with a fresh visitation from the Lord.

In days God moved the revival over to the campus of Howard Payne University where Henry Blackaby preached a scheduled college revival. God moved so mightily that professors suspended classes. Soon God used students at Howard Payne to go to other college campuses to testify about what God had done. God moved powerfully all over the nation.

I go back and think about that student who felt prompted by the Lord to get up and read some scripture at the close of the early service. How easily it would have been to talk himself out of doing that. I’m so glad he did not. That simple step of obedience, along with years of prayer by college students for revival in Brownwood and at Howard Payne, ushered in a great revival.

Steps to Revival

1. Are you willing to obey God’s promptings no matter how great or small?

2. Are you willing to obey God’s promptings promptly? You never know what spark God will use to ignite the flame of revival.

3. Ask the Lord for the faith and courage to obey Him regardless of what He asks of you.