"In the beginning GOD..." So it was that in the spring of 1948 God came forth in answer to the prayer and fasting of his children, poured out the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and revealed the fact that now at this time He would bring His body together, and make of His Church one glorious Church without spot or wrinkle. It was a day long treasured up in the counsels of God. On February 12 and 13, 1948, the Revival started. An eyewitness testifies as follows:

"Three buildings on the Airport at North Battleford, Sask., composed Sharon Orphanage and Schools at its beginning in the fall of 1947. About 70 students gathered to study the Word of God, and fast and pray. After about three months the Revival suddenly began in our largest classroom where the entire student body was gathered for devotional exercises. One young man told me that when he was five years old. God gave him a vision of that classroom. Everything in it was identical. He saw God moving in a way he could not understand."

I shall never forget the morning that God moved into our midst in this strange new manner. Some students were under the power of God on the floor, others were kneeling in adoration and worship before the Lord. The anointing deepened until the awe of God was upon everyone. The Lord spoke to one of the brethren. 'Go and lay hands upon a certain student and pray for him.' While he was in doubt and contemplation one of the sisters who had been under the power of God went to the brother saying the same words, and naming the identical student he was to pray for. He went in obedience, and a revelation was given concerning the student's life and future ministry. After this a long prophecy was given with minute details concerning the great thing God was about to do. The pattern for the Revival and many details concerning it were given. To this day I can remember the gist of the prophecy, and will try to repeat some things here as they were spoken.

'These are the last days, my people. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh, and I shall move in the midst of mine own. The gifts of the Spirit will be restored to my Church. If thou shalt obey me I shall immediately restore them... But oh, my people, I would have you to be reverent before me as never before. Take the shoes from off thy feet for the ground on which thou standest is holy. If thou dost not reverence the Lord in His House, the Lord shall require it at thy hands... Do not speak lightly of the things I am about to do, for the Lord shall not hold thee guiltless. Do not gossip about these things. Do not write letters to thy nearest friends, of the new way in which the Lord moveth, for they will not understand... If thou dost obey the Lord in these things, take heed lest thy days be numbered in sorrow and thou goest early to the grave... Thou hast obeyed Me, and I shall restore my gifts to you. I shall indicate from time to time those who are ready to receive the gifts of My Spirit. They shall be received by prophecy and the laying on the hands of the presbytery.'"

"Immediately following this prophecy a sister who was under the power of God came among us. Great repentance, humbling, fasting and prayer prevailed."

So it was that God began this great work of Restoration. For that is what is happening. God is restoring! He is restoring all that was lost in the fall of the Church, and in the fall of Adam! All creation groans in birth-pangs to be delivered from its corruption-and her travail of tears and sorrow has prevailed upon the God of Heaven to come down and deliver her.

"In the beginning God." Thank God for the beginning; and also for the continuation of the great work which He started a few hears ago. And though men are prone to look for the spectacular, God continues to move silently and noiselessly in the hearts of His people, perfecting that good work which he has begun in them. The place that God chose in which to start the Revival is only significant in as much as it is the most unlikely of places. No man would have chosen either the town, or the school or the students, or the ministers through whom God bestowed His blessing. But that is all most consistent with God's ways; for He chooses what man rejects. Bethlehem was the least esteemed village of the tribes of Judah-but the Son of God was born there. Nazareth was most contemptible in the eyes of the people, but the Great Prophet arose from thence. The Roman cross was an instrument of torture so despicable and so vile, that a great Roman politician once declared it ought never be mentioned in decent conversation; and yet there it was, on a Roman Cross, that God displayed His infinite Wisdom and Power through Jesus Christ.

Let the saints rejoice, therefor, for the mercy-drops of blessing which He has given-but most of all for the sound of abundance of rain. A cloud appears on the horizon! It will not be long ere it covers the earth, and the Glory of God shall be displayed throughout all nations, as the water cover the sea.  ~  Introduction to The Feast of Tabernacles