In my last article I mentioned that there is record of at least two outpourings in Guatemala (1918 and 1932), now I have to make a correction because there was another one in 1963. 3 outpourings and each one original, without external preaching or teaching! Lets keep our journey to know this beautiful story.
YEAR 1918: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Chiquimula: Growth of the Amigos Church.
Extracted and translated into English from http://radioverdad.org/system/files/sites/radioverdad.org/files/07_V._Los _Amigos_en_Centroamerica_I.pdf;
See also http://www.institutoalma.org/Literatura/lit_indi.htm#Historico
“…On 22 November of 1906, two new missionaries arrived, Sisters Ruth Esther Smith and Cora –or Corina – Wildman. That year, the missionary Thomas Butler had visited Miss Smith in California and told her about the need in Guatemala. Her answer was that she could not go soon. Some days later, walking the streets of San Francisco, California, she heard the voice of the Holy Spirit saying: “Chiquimula, Guatemala” (―The Harvester, April, 1947, p. 2). She answered to the Lord that was ready to obey. This decision had also been a result of the Azusa revival, which had begun since 1902 (according to a personal testimony shared by Dr. Gamaliel Peralta). Several weeks later, she spoke to the Church about the matter and that is how she was sent in November of the same year. When they arrived there were only eight believers in Chiquimula and probably three in Zacapa…
... The first revival in the Friends Church of Central America had its origin at the girls school while still using their first rented building. Later, other revivals happened in that school, one of them lasted for three months. Four students of the school began to pray fervently for revival until God gave them the greatest of all which happened at the end of 1918. The youth (men) were coming back home from their second campaign in Honduras. During those days, Ruth Esther Smith –the missionary– was praying and the Lord spoke to her with the words from Joel 2:28, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions ”. Those words were engraved in her mind, but she did not understand why God had spoken to her that way. Several days later the revival began during a service held in a palm hut on the site where today stands the Tabernacle in the city of Chiquimula… that hut was filled with tears of praise, repentance, joy and many testimonies, many were prophesying. The students of the girls’ school were hoarse from praying and shouting “Christ is coming!” and “Hallelujah!” The Services remained overnight and many people were trembling when they praised God.
It was a genuine revival. There were confession of sins, salvations, consecrations and many others according to the Scriptures; but at the same time there were also some abuses and hypocrisies (Interview, German Prado, p. 9). Nonetheless, it was a wonderful revival that lasted three months, but its effects for the growing of the Church lasted many years. Services at the time were full of prayer; rarely was it necessary to preach a sermon. One of the most notable effects of the revival was the conviction and confession of sins. Old debts were paid, borrowed objects were returned, jewelry of vain women were destroyed as well as worldly songbooks. All those sins that prevented the blessing were confessed. This revival took place not only in Chiquimula, but reached many other churches in the field such as Santa Elena, San Jacinto, San Jose, El Chile, Quezaltepeque, Jocotán and several more.
“…two teams came up to El Filo to do a revival camp. When they got to Roblaron, Pentecost fe ll upon them, it was November 26 . The whole Church was filled with th Spirit. One of the interesting events that wonderful night was the vision given to three young ladies about the Church’s condition. They mentioned the sins of every individual, both public and private and also told them that it was necessary to come to terms with God and men. People testified about the truth on that vision and started to confess their sins. When everything was confessed and clarified, heavens were open and blessings came down according to Malachi 3:10, i.e., many started to bring their tithes.” “The glory of God filled that place! ...After one of the churches was purified, they cleaned it and celebrated a Hallelujah Service and rededicated the Church to the Lord. The healing power was manifested and those afflicted cried on to God and received healing…” (The Harvester, December 1918, p. 1 -4). These and many other evens show the magnitude of the known 1918 revival…
Will continue...
You can find more in my book: Let the Holy Spirit Come on You! Follow the link to read a sample or buy it.
Extracted and translated into English from http://radioverdad.org/system/files/sites/radioverdad.org/files/07_V._Los _Amigos_en_Centroamerica_I.pdf;
See also http://www.institutoalma.org/Literatura/lit_indi.htm#Historico
“…On 22 November of 1906, two new missionaries arrived, Sisters Ruth Esther Smith and Cora –or Corina – Wildman. That year, the missionary Thomas Butler had visited Miss Smith in California and told her about the need in Guatemala. Her answer was that she could not go soon. Some days later, walking the streets of San Francisco, California, she heard the voice of the Holy Spirit saying: “Chiquimula, Guatemala” (―The Harvester, April, 1947, p. 2). She answered to the Lord that was ready to obey. This decision had also been a result of the Azusa revival, which had begun since 1902 (according to a personal testimony shared by Dr. Gamaliel Peralta). Several weeks later, she spoke to the Church about the matter and that is how she was sent in November of the same year. When they arrived there were only eight believers in Chiquimula and probably three in Zacapa…
... The first revival in the Friends Church of Central America had its origin at the girls school while still using their first rented building. Later, other revivals happened in that school, one of them lasted for three months. Four students of the school began to pray fervently for revival until God gave them the greatest of all which happened at the end of 1918. The youth (men) were coming back home from their second campaign in Honduras. During those days, Ruth Esther Smith –the missionary– was praying and the Lord spoke to her with the words from Joel 2:28, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions ”. Those words were engraved in her mind, but she did not understand why God had spoken to her that way. Several days later the revival began during a service held in a palm hut on the site where today stands the Tabernacle in the city of Chiquimula… that hut was filled with tears of praise, repentance, joy and many testimonies, many were prophesying. The students of the girls’ school were hoarse from praying and shouting “Christ is coming!” and “Hallelujah!” The Services remained overnight and many people were trembling when they praised God.
It was a genuine revival. There were confession of sins, salvations, consecrations and many others according to the Scriptures; but at the same time there were also some abuses and hypocrisies (Interview, German Prado, p. 9). Nonetheless, it was a wonderful revival that lasted three months, but its effects for the growing of the Church lasted many years. Services at the time were full of prayer; rarely was it necessary to preach a sermon. One of the most notable effects of the revival was the conviction and confession of sins. Old debts were paid, borrowed objects were returned, jewelry of vain women were destroyed as well as worldly songbooks. All those sins that prevented the blessing were confessed. This revival took place not only in Chiquimula, but reached many other churches in the field such as Santa Elena, San Jacinto, San Jose, El Chile, Quezaltepeque, Jocotán and several more.
“…two teams came up to El Filo to do a revival camp. When they got to Roblaron, Pentecost fe ll upon them, it was November 26 . The whole Church was filled with th Spirit. One of the interesting events that wonderful night was the vision given to three young ladies about the Church’s condition. They mentioned the sins of every individual, both public and private and also told them that it was necessary to come to terms with God and men. People testified about the truth on that vision and started to confess their sins. When everything was confessed and clarified, heavens were open and blessings came down according to Malachi 3:10, i.e., many started to bring their tithes.” “The glory of God filled that place! ...After one of the churches was purified, they cleaned it and celebrated a Hallelujah Service and rededicated the Church to the Lord. The healing power was manifested and those afflicted cried on to God and received healing…” (The Harvester, December 1918, p. 1 -4). These and many other evens show the magnitude of the known 1918 revival…
Will continue...
You can find more in my book: Let the Holy Spirit Come on You! Follow the link to read a sample or buy it.