History
In March of 1988, I visited Israel for the first time. Virtually everything that has happened in my life, from that day to this, has its roots in my first experiences in the land. It was while standing on the tel at Megiddo, looking out over the valley of Armageddon, that the Lord sowed a seed in my heart. The “seed” was a desire to see the Lord visit America and the world with the most powerful Revival and Spiritual Awakening in history.
Shortly after my return to the U.S., I began to pray for a Revival, an Awakening, even a “Reformation,” greater than that of the 16th century. The Holy Spirit’s answer to those prayers led my family to two foreign mission fields. My wife, Lynn, and I, along with our two sons, Joshua and Justin, spent seven years in St. Petersburg, Russia (1991-1998) before moving to Haifa, Israel for two years (1999-2001).
Yet throughout the years of ministry overseas, a part of me was never far from home. My heart cry for a powerful move of God in my own country never dampened. I often wondered why the Lord had moved us half way around the world, when He had given me such a passion to see my own country return to the Lord.
I have asked myself many times, “Could it be that the United States will see a ‘Fourth Great Awakening?’” Many voices have said that our nation is “too far gone.” Others have declared that severe judgment is lurking at the door. For my part, I have never stopped crying out for an admittedly undeserved mercy.
As the presidential election of 2000 approached, I found myself deeply stirred by the many calls for fasting and prayer in regard to the U.S. election. I began to pray very intensively, especially as the time of decision drew nearer. Throughout the election, during the ensuing controversy, and even to the present day, I have continued to watch and pray.
As I have done so, the Lord has impressed upon my heart many themes of particular significance for our generation. Key among them, I believe, is the Lord’s desire to speak to us very powerfully through the Revival that swept Judah during the days of King Hezekiah. A nationally transforming Revival that averted judgment and brought supernatural deliverance. Could it be that our nation might see a similar Revival in our day?
SOI 21 is committed to answering that crucial question as it seeks to offer:
- A word of hope – God desires to revive us as in the days of Hezekiah.
- A call to faith – What God has done in and through our nation before, He can do again.
- A challenge to repentance – If we wish to be a part of what the Lord desires to do in this hour, we must get the “rubbish” out of our personal and corporate temples.
Since 2000, the Lord has also led me to pray for the birth of 24/7 prayer movements on college and university campuses. Such praying communities, I believe, are a key to the outbreak of Revival and Spiritual Awakening in America. Only 16% of Gen Xers (born 1961-1981) are evangelical believers. For the “Millennials” (born 1982-2002), the projected percentage is only 4%. Our nation simply cannot survive unless we see a nationally transforming move of God that ignites this rising “Millennial Generation.”
As a result, I have decided to take the Sons of Issachar message to this crucial age cohort. SOI 21 seeks to do just that through the establishment of 24/7 prayer communities devoted to the Great Covenant, the Great Commandments, the Great Commission, and the Great Cause.
Bill Lewis
Founder and President of SOI 21
