Article
Praying for a Great Awakening
by Bishop Given Gaula
St. John the Divine shares a growing partnership with the Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania. In spring 2024, we welcomed Bishop Given Gaula to Houston, and this past summer, a mission team from our parish traveled to Tanzania. Now, Bishop Gaula has sent us an encouraging word as we look ahead to Awaken ’25.
Dear friends of St. John the Divine in Houston, Texas,
Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from your friends here in Kondoa. I have received exciting news about Awaken, the upcoming weekend event planned by St. John the Divine from October 3rd to 5th. This has been exciting news for us because we know that "Awakening" brings special revival among believers.
When believers gather to pray and fast, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit can move in a unique way. I strongly recommend this event to you. May you encounter the Risen Lord in a very unique and special way.
A Great Awakening in Europe occurred in the 1940s, when the Holy Spirit moved amongst the believers and caused a great revival. Men and women left their countries, having received the power of the Holy Spirit, and took the gospel to the world. They realized that just as the Holy Spirit compelled the early Church to spread the gospel to the Gentiles, God was calling the Church to send the gospel to the dark world. They brought the gospel to Africa, resulting in the planting of evangelical churches in central Tanzania. They shared their testimony with everyone they met, and the Church in East Africa grew in an amazing way.
I myself am a product of the East Africa Revival of the 1980s, when the Holy Spirit came upon me in a very unique way. I decided to respond to God's call to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
When believers gather to pray and fast, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit can move in a unique way. I strongly recommend this event to you. May you encounter the Risen Lord in a very unique and special way.
We pray and hope that our friends at St John the Divine will experience the divine power of the outpouring of the Spirit of God, and the revival will fall afresh upon all believers at St. John the Divine. Revival has always been the greatest tool that God has used to change the world. All 137 congregations in the missionary Diocese of Kondoa will be praying and fasting for you, so that God may reveal His divine, eternal purposes for St. John the Divine.
May you have a very special time. May you encounter, in a special way, the Risen Lord through the power of the Spirit. May our living God richly bless you. Amen.
Bishop Given Gaula
Diocese of Kondoa, Tanzania
Awaken '25 Is Almost Here.
Join your St. John the Divine family for a weekend of renewal, rededication, and transformation through worship, small groups, inspiring teaching, and time together. Speakers include Dr. Ed Newton and Shauna Niequist.