The Quiet Revival at MBC

A recent study in the UK has coined the phrase ‘quiet revival.’ Historically revivals—periods where the Holy Spirit has wrought great repentance and faith in Jesus— have seen 100s, 1000s, indeed whole communities and nations transformed for Christ. What the study observed in the UK was not such a revival, more quiet, yet a revival nevertheless. It observed that since 2018 church attendance has doubled, especially amongst youth. This is quite something in a country so impacted by secularism that, despite being twice the population of Canada, has had half the church attendance.
Yet this ‘quiet revival’ applies not only to the UK. Arguably it describes a phenomenon across the West, including right here in Canada. Culturally it may be linked to Covid or the wackiness of wokeness. Religiously it is a quiet movement of the Spirit of God. It does appear that the Lord is watering the root of His faithful remnant (Job 14:7–9).

This study helped give words to something we have been witnessing across Ontario amongst faithful churches. A church in Windsor that was 150 is now 300+. A church in Timmins was 75 and is now 150+. This past Passover (Easter) many churches experienced countless baptism, not 100s but in the 2s and 12s. Some of this growth represents seekers, brand new believers, sometimes migrating Christians from mainline churches or lapsed Christians. Closer to home in our own Association, the past few years have proven a similar trend. The church of 15/50/75/100/150/200 is now 30/100/150/300/400, etc. None of these churches have done anything ‘special’ apart from faithfully existing but the Lord has quietly been sending people to them.

We have experienced this here at MBC. Just prior to Covid we hadn’t had a recent baptism, had 26 members and about 40-50 people who regularly connected with us. Since then we’ve had 9 baptisms, 38 members (in spite of natural losses) and have well over 100+ people regularly worshipping and connecting with us. Measured financially, our budget has nearly doubled and we've invested surpluses in local and foreign missions. (Yet, there is still more to do. Higher numbers require more work. We long to see the sinners amongst us saved and baptized, saints join in membership and together to worship and serve the Lord. Then there is still the vastly unreached population in our community).

Yet, we would not boast in ourselves or our techniques. We haven’t done anything extraordinary, and most people have simply found us. One young man is an example. He attended our church out of the blue and simply felt prompted to Google ‘church near me.’ Our website came up since it is very active. All we have done is seek to be faithful to God’s commands for a church: gather regularly on the Lord’s Day (a.m./p.m.) in worship; preach the Word; pray; provide opportunities for discipleship; seek to make Christ known in our community; visit and care for each other; invest in our facilities, etc. (1 Cor 3:6).

We rejoice at what the Lord is doing—however quietly!

Would you join us in what He is doing?