Revival Meeting

Definition and Meaning

The Korean word buheung (復興) means "to rise again." A revival meeting is a series of gatherings held on consecutive days during a set period to renew faith. Because it emphasizes the renewal of the heart, or spirit, it is also called a spiritual revival meeting (simnyeong buheunghoe). The term sagyeonghoe (査經會), meaning "examining the Scriptures," originally referred to a gathering for Bible study. Today it is sometimes used almost interchangeably with "revival meeting."

Biblical and Historical Background

Churches that hold revival meetings cite the following passages in support of the practice:

• Habakkuk 3:2: "O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years"
• Nehemiah 8, in which the people repented after hearing the reading of the Law
• Acts 2, which records the coming of the Holy Spirit

In Western Protestantism, the eighteenth-century Great Awakening and the nineteenth-century American camp meetings established the tradition of revival gatherings.

In Korea, Bible conferences were widely held during the early missionary period under the influence of the Nevius mission policy. Believers gathered for several days during the agricultural off-season, studying the Bible by day and attending preaching and prayer meetings in the evening. In 1907, during the evening meetings of a Bible conference at Jangdaehyeon Church in Pyongyang, a series of public confessions of sin took place, leading to the Pyongyang Great Revival. The evening meetings later became separate events and developed into revival meetings centered on repentance and the experience of grace. Kil Sun-joo is known as a leader of revival meetings during this period.

Practice in the Korean Church

Many churches hold revival meetings for two or three days in the spring or fall. They invite pastors from other churches or professional revivalists who specialize in leading such meetings to serve as speakers. Evening meetings form the core of the program, and early morning meetings are often held as well. A meeting typically proceeds through praise, preaching, and tongseong gido (praying aloud together), and the final day may include a time of commitment and dedication.

Emphases differ by denomination:

• Presbyterian churches often give priority to biblical exposition and frequently use the name sagyeonghoe (Bible conference).
• Methodist and Holiness churches, following the tradition of John Wesley, tend to emphasize repentance and holiness, or sanctified living.
• In Full Gospel and other Pentecostal churches, prayer for baptism in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, and divine healing forms an important part of the meetings.

In recent years, some churches have adopted names such as "Word conference" or "spirituality conference," while others have replaced revival meetings with special early morning prayer meetings. At the same time, critics both inside and outside the church have charged that some meetings place excessive emphasis on offerings or feature preaching focused on seeking blessings.