Longing for Revival

Two volunteers are tasked with revitalizing a community garden that has fallen into disuse. The plot is the same: same sun, same soil, same access to water. The first volunteer arrives with a detailed plan, a schedule for weeding, tilling, and planting, all based on the most effective horticultural practices. They work tirelessly, following the plan to the letter, treating the garden as a project to be completed. The second volunteer arrives with a small stool. They spend the first day just sitting, observing the patterns of light, noticing which corner holds the morning dew the longest, and listening to the stories of the few elderly residents who still pass by, reminiscing about what the garden used to be. Their work is slower, less linear, and deeply relational, focused on understanding the garden's history and the community's forgotten connection to it. A month later, one garden is tidy and planted, but sterile; a testament to efficient labor. The other is a bit wilder, but it’s alive with activity, as neighbors have begun to stop by, drawn to the renewed spirit of the place, sharing seeds and stories. One approach produced a technically correct garden; the other cultivated a living community.

This tension between executing a correct process and cultivating a living, breathing reality is at the heart of many spiritual journeys. For years, James Choung wrestled with this very dilemma in his work with college students. As a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for over two decades, he saw countless students who knew all the right answers and followed all the right steps, yet their faith felt more like a well-managed project than a vibrant, life-altering relationship. He saw a deep hunger for something more authentic, a genuine spiritual awakening that couldn't be engineered with better programs or more compelling arguments. This widespread longing, and the quiet desperation he observed in even the most committed individuals, compelled him to write "Longing for Revival," seeking to uncover what it truly takes to move from merely maintaining a spiritual life to experiencing a profound, transformative renewal.

Module 1: Redefining Revival and Faith

Let's start by clearing up some common misunderstandings. The book argues that our modern definition of "faithfulness" can be a trap. It can lead to a passive resignation that kills hope. We're told to "just be faithful," which often translates to giving up on real change. A single person gives up on marriage. A church member accepts a spiritually dead community. This is a fatalistic faith. It’s a faith without hope.

But biblical faith is different. True faith is active hope in God's future promises. The author points to Hebrews 11. It defines faith as confidence in what we hope for. The heroes of the faith died while still looking forward to promises they hadn't received. Their faith was entirely future-oriented. So, to be faithful is to be hopeful.

This brings us to the concept of revival itself. What is it, really? Revival is a season of breakthroughs, not a single event. Think of it like the transition from winter to spring. At first, there are just a few warm days mixed with cold. Sporadic signs of life. But over time, those breakthroughs become more frequent, more powerful, until a whole new season has arrived. The book of Acts models this. Pentecost was the start, not the whole story. The revival grew through a series of breakthroughs. Healings, justice, and supernatural growth all built on each other.

And here's the thing. These breakthroughs happen across three specific dimensions. Mature revivals integrate Word, Deed, and Power. "Word" is clear biblical teaching. "Deed" is compassionate action and social justice. "Power" refers to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. An imbalance leads to distortion. Word without Deed or Power can become dry legalism. Deed without Word or Power can become social activism with no spiritual root. And Power without Word or Deed can become substance-less emotionalism.

The First Great Awakening, for example, started with John Wesley's preaching—that's the Word. But it matured to include Holy Spirit manifestations—the Power—and deep concern for the poor—the Deed. A truly transformative revival holds all three in tension. When it does, it creates a lasting change. It establishes a new reality.

This leads to a crucial outcome. Revival creates a new normal of kingdom experience and fruitfulness. At UC San Diego, a campus ministry went from seeing almost no one come to faith to seeing over 100 students become Christians annually. Evangelism became a regular, expected part of their community life. The baseline shifted. That’s the goal. Revival aims to raise the water level for everyone, permanently.