South Africa's Forgotten Revival: The Story of the Cape's Great Awakening in 1860

Learn how this amazing revival not only launched women's education and mission stations throughout Africa, but also empowered Andrew Murray to achieve a notable victory over liberalism. This was indeed a powerful revival from which we can learn much—not only from the wonderful fruit it bore, but also from the mistakes made and the resolute stance of its leaders against the backlash from the enemy. The story is told through the lives of three pastors: Andrew Murray—the powerful preacher and key leader; Nicolaas Hofmeyr—the promoter of local missions; and Gottlieb van der Lingen—the guardian of Dutch orthodoxy. As the story unfolds you will learn: About the crisis in the Dutch Reformed Church prior to revival when semi-literate stock farmers believed that God had called them to subdue the African tribes, not evangelize them. How virtually overnight the revival demolished this erroneous outlook so that awakened Christians became people of prayer and mission enthusiasts. How Andrew Murray established the Huguenot Teachers Seminary for women and the Missions Institute for men. How he defended the Synod against the onslaught of liberalism through legal battles in the Cape Supreme Court and Privy Council in London. This story tells of the frigid church conditions prior to revival, when there was a dire shortage of pastors and teachers, and semi-literate Afrikaners clung to their home-spun religion based on the Old Covenant. It describes how God prepared the ground by setting the precursors in place and raising up key leaders to help promote and direct the revival. They were Andrew Murray (Worcester & Wellington), Nicolaas Hofmeyr (Calvinia & Stellenbosch) and Gottlieb van der Lingen (Paarl). While the tide of the Holy Spirit swelled gently in some towns, in others " like Worcester " it broke without warning. It swept through vast areas of farmland throughout the Cape and beyond, convicting Afrikaners, Coloureds and Africans. Overnight, awakened Christians became prayer warriors and mission enthusiasts. Unfortunately, overzealousness led to disagreements regarding the boycott of Sunday trains, while a backlash from liberal pastors led to Andrew Murray having to defend the Dutch Reformed Church in legal battles in the Cape High Court and Privy Council in London. Our story, concludes in 1875 with the victory of the Church over liberal influences, the establishment of educational centres in Stellenbosch and Wellington, and the vision for a Bible translation in Afrikaans emanating from Paarl. How God in his sovereignty prepared the ground for revival. How He drenched Montagu, Worcester, Calvinia Wellington, Stellenbosch Tulbagh, Ceres and Robertson with the first wave of the Spirit in spite of little or no communal prayer. How God sent a special blessing to Paarl on Pentecost Sunday through an aw-inspiring vision experienced by Van der Lingen. How Andrew Murray and Hofmeyr were victorious against the onslaught of liberal theology by wielding the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. How Andrew Murray pioneered women's education, and Hofmeyr evangelized the youth of Stellenbosch.