“This Easter may have been the most significant in a century. The fields have never been more ripe for harvest as people search for hope and meaning during this global pandemic. It may very well be the greatest opportunity we’ve had to share the Gospel—but we will miss it if we don’t care for our pastors and ministers now.” -Nick Hall
Kairos : Apr 23, 2020 CharismaNews.com
[CharismaNews.com] More than 100,000 people from dozens of countries across the world indicated they wanted to put their faith in Jesus after hearing the Gospel during recent, virtual, evangelistic events hosted by Nick Hall and Pulse. (Image: A group of young adults in China tune in to Pulse’s Good Friday service Friday, April 10 /Courtesy of Pulse /via Charisma News)
The responses, which came via international call centers, email, website and text messages, are evidence that God is at work in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Nick Hall, who founded Pulse and was the creative mind behind the Good Friday outreach.
“We were literally getting smartphone photos from all over the world—from Nigeria to India and China—of families gathering in their living rooms around 18-inch cathode-ray TVs, laptops and HD screens watching our services,” Hall said. “The doors to our church buildings may have been closed, but the church has not closed. We are living through a Great Quarantine Revival, and I think God is just getting started.”
Pulse saw the Gospel responses come through two major events over the Easter week: Leader Check-In and a Good Friday service.
Pulse’s Good Friday featured talks by Hall, renowned apologist Ravi Zacharias, bestselling author Max Lucado, NFL Super Bowl Champion and Hall of Fame Coach Tony Dungy, Francis Chan and Rev. Samuel Rodriguez. It also had worship by Lauren Daigle, Michael W. Smith, and singing duo Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes. The service was broadcast in nearly 100 countries, including Japan, China, Nepal, Thailand, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Ukraine and Russia, and was translated into 40 different languages.
“We had translators working in closed countries who were risking their lives to bring this message in their language to their people, because that’s how precious the Gospel is to them,” Hall said.
On Wednesday, April 8, Pulse also hosted another event called Leader Check-In to encourage and uplift ministry leaders and pastors ahead of the Easter weekend.
“This Easter may have been the most significant in a century,” Hall said. “The fields have never been more ripe for harvest as people search for hope and meaning during this global pandemic. It may very well be the greatest opportunity we’ve had to share the Gospel—but we will miss it if we don’t care for our pastors and ministers now.”
Leader Check-In brought together some of the most influential Christian voices to offer perspective during the pandemic. Bible teachers and bestselling authors such as Ann Voskamp, Beth Moore, Francis Chan, David Platt, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Priscilla Shirer and Lecrae offered practical advice anchored in the Word of God. Award-winning artist Matt Maher, along with Smith, Carnes and Jobe, led worship for hundreds of thousands of viewers across the world.
“This happened because I had a lot of friends that were calling me crying and in tears, overwhelmed by the situation—whether it was at home, in their business or in their church,” said Hall, who hosted the event. “And I simply called out to God and said, ‘God, what would it look like to bring together men and women to offer hope and perspective in this moment of need?'”
The answer to this prayer came in the form of dozens of Christian leaders offering timely Biblical advice and encouragement…