It feels like a fitting moment to recall Walter Hollenweger’s incisive dictum from the early 1990s: “British Christians prayed for a revival. When it came, they did not recognize it because it was black.”
Whenever I quote this brilliant line, I find it necessary to add, “and Pentecostal”—they did not recognize it because it was black and Pentecostal. It was too immigrant, too culturally unfamiliar, too theologically inferior, and too easily overlooked to be noticed by the very people who had long been praying for renewal. Now, of course, this remains the case today, more than 30 years after Hollenweger published his statement in a foreword to a book written by Roswith I. H. Gerloff.
The "quiet revival" (awakening, openness, whatever you want to call it) in the UK has been clearly stated as not a migration thing. The report states, “[T]he growth in church-going among young people is seen at scale among young white people. While these could all be migrants, at the scale we’re seeing, it seems highly unlikely.”
This is quite an interesting observation, especially as Joseph Ola has pointed out that there is a strong possibility of migration being at play here. I wonder whether this is a conversation yet to be had. I hope it is not simply a result of the invisible presence of migrant Christians in the research.
Maybe, this “white revival” is, in part, an answer to the prayers of many black and brown Christians in our countries.
I say this because I grew up in a revival—a huge African revival—and I know that the openness being spoken about in this quiet revival cannot happen without prayer. As far as I can see, migrant Christians contribute quite significantly to the prayers being made in the UK (and in the West) today. Maybe, this “white revival” is, in part, an answer to the prayers of many black and brown Christians in our countries. Is there a way to determine this?
Due in no small part to my childhood revival experiences, I spent my university years (between 18 and 21) reading revival histories (in addition to studying mathematics). I memorized Leonard Ravenhill’s Why Revival Tarries and traveled with Colin Whittaker’s Great Revivals where I went.
I fell in love with the story of the Herrnhut and the Moravians long before I found myself in Europe. The first time I visited the UK, as a fairly young man, I found my way to Loughor to see the epicenter of the Welsh Revival. At some point, I tried to re-enact Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”
Like many, I find this co-called "quiet revival” fascinating, partly because I am not aware of any uptick in prayer around the country. But yes, there is no denying the fact that there is an openness across the country—but it is an openness to everything spiritual. Islam is growing. New Age spirituality is growing. And, of course, the spiritual-but-not-religious groups are also growing.
Christians around the country should note this.
Two critical things should be on the minds of every Christian leader.
When a revival happens, two critical things should be on the minds of every Christian leader: leadership development and church planting. Today, I will focus on leadership development.
Revivals grow churches. They bring fresh life to churches, drawing many into faith and renewing the spiritual vitality of communities. Yet for churches to grow—not merely in numbers, but in depth, resilience, and witness—they require new leaders to emerge and be equipped. Growth inevitably brings complexity: more people to disciple, more pastoral needs to address, and a greater diversity of gifts and challenges within the congregation.
It is therefore time to re-emphasize theological education and ministerial training as central to sustaining the fruits of revival. Revival without formation risks shallowness; growth without leadership risks collapse. For churches to flourish, they need leaders who are spiritually mature, biblically grounded, and contextually wise, ready to shepherd growing communities and navigate the complexities that come with growth.
Healthy revivals call forth new leaders.
Healthy revivals call forth new leaders—men and women who sense God’s call, step into ministry, and are prepared to guide others faithfully. Investing in theological education is thus not a secondary task but an urgent priority if the fire of revival is to become a steady light, transforming lives and communities for generations to come.
At a time when many are considering closing theological institutions, we must remember that this is not the time to shut down centers of theological formation. On the contrary, as God grows the Church, there is a greater need for places and/or methods for future leaders to be trained, where faith can be deepened, and the Church can think carefully about its mission in the world. Closing theological institutions now would risk extinguishing the very light that revivals seek to ignite, leaving churches without the leadership they need to flourish.
Originally published on Harvey's Substack, Global Witness Globally Reimagined. Republished with permission.
Dr Harvey Kwiyani is a Malawian missiologist and theologian who has lived, worked and studied in Europe and North America for the past 20 years. He has researched African Christianity and African theology for his PhD, and taught African theology at Liverpool Hope University. Harvey is also founder and executive director of Missio Africanus, a mission organization established in 2014 as a learning community focused on releasing the missional potential of African and other minority ethnic Christians living in the UK. More recently he became African Christianity Programme Lead for CMS (UK) Pioneer Mission Training.
