Ever since I was a student at Moody Bible Institute, I have had a burden for revival in Chicago. When I was Director of Promotions for Channel 38, I still had this burden for the city and in the early to mid 1980's we were able to heavily promote this work of the Lord through the media, Billboards, radio etc.
More than ever before, I feel the Lord wants to send a Move of the Holy Spirit throughout Chicagoland, and our ministry, Sunlite Broadcasting is in the process of developing a one hour video special called "Well Springs of Revival" Here is the rough draft about the Project
For decades, when someone would mention the city of Chicago, the name Al Capone, the notorious gangster, would come to the minds of millions around the world.
There is no question that from its very founding in 1840, Sin did abound in the Windy City, but the Bible says "where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound" The Scriptures also tell us "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19)
There were unseen dark spiritual forces at work from the beginning. Drunkenness, vice, gambling, prostitution, murder and violence on the city's streets were a result and thousands of Chicagoans were in dange of being ensnared by this spirit.
Fortunately and since the The Spirit of the Lord began moving in powerful ways throughout Chicago. Spirit led men and women were inspired to distribute Bibles to the early settlers, to witness to them of their need of the Savior in their lives. This was the work of the Chicago Bible Society and the Chicago Bible Work .
Evangelist DL Moody started a Sunday School for poor children who lived in the Sands area, a virtual den of iniquity. Educator and Urban Missionary Emma Dryer founded the Chicago Bible Work and with her teams of young women evangelized families in the area. They went door to door with Bibles and prayed for those who were sick and impoverished.
In the 1890's the Salvation Army established a Citadel on the near north side. They held open air meetings and ministered to thousands including derelicts and others bound by sin. It is said that at these meetings, the Army prayed for those bound by the demonic and the captives were set free.
In 1886 The Moody Bible institute was formed and there are hundreds of testimonies from the early days of students doing the work of the Lord, led by the Spirit.
The Lord also led many to found churches and evangelistic outreaches in the city. Famous evangelists such as Gypsy Smith, Billy Sunday and later Billy Graham held meetings where thousands made a decision for Christ.
Sadly, with the exception of Billy Graham, the legacies of these men and women, the Churches, including Stone Church (which founded Channel 38 in 1976) are now forgotten, and those early well springs of revival have been ignored.
We at Sunlite Broadcasting believe it is time to unplug those springs and let the flow of the spirit from them begin again so that Chicago will once again experience a mighty spiritual revival. To this end, with the Lord's help, we plan to produce mini documentaries of these men and women, trusting that it will inspire many throughout Chicagoland to "Go and do Likewise" For this we ask for your prayers. Allan Winters, President Sunlite Broadcasting Network
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