Christian revivals have taken place at various times in countries on every continent in the world. Revivals are divine events that ignite restoration of the Church (God’s people) to a vital and fervent relationship with God after a period of moral decline. In 1959 (aged 10) I was aware of a revival that had ignited around me in Australia through God’s anointed servant, Billy Graham. Until July, 2020, that was the closest I had come to experiencing a revival.

When God called me to Newman Community Baptist Church in September, 2018, I had just three months to survey the land, prepare the soil, seed, and nurture the lives of His people. As I had come to Newman alone, I was able to move quite fast, burning the candle at both ends and in the middle, when necessary. God’s people were like a flock of scattered, disillusioned, bruised and battered sheep… without a shepherd.

Through the circumstances of my life, the Lord prepared me for this special assignment. I knew deep inside that when my three months were-up that my work at Newman was not finished. This period of time in 2018 was an essential preparation for something greater that would follow.

From the very moment of my return to Newman on July 20, 2020, the Holy Spirit had me trailing closely behind Him; witnessing (reporting), harvesting, and conserving the fruit of my earlier preparatory work in 2018. Every day at Newman the Holy Spirit brought to light self-incarcerated souls who had suffered pain and shame through undeclared, buried sins. Stagnated marriages were revived; individuals were set free; the spiritually blind were enabled to see; the purposeless were given purpose and hope; church family disunity become unity; observers became glad servers; spectator stands began to be dismantled; compassionate concern for the spiritually-lost of Newman became a top priority. What did these signs say to me? A Holy Spirit revival had commenced at Newman! Friends, I tasted something dynamic, more powerful than I had ever tasted before… many wondrous happenings made it difficult for me to want to sleep!

How amazing is our God! I came to Newman believing that His Spirit was going to do something big, but not as BIG as I was experiencing! And, I heard God say to me, “Billy, I’ve only scratched the surface!” As a forerunner to God’s new man for Newman, I gladly report to you that God was at the helm, steering NCBC in a new and right direction, with a Holy Spirit fired-up crew of expectant souls who were celebrating a harmonious and satisfying journey, content and confident of their destination – Heaven… and eternal life with our ‘Abba’ Father!

Best wishes

Bill Joukhadar