Greetings,

This is Wesley and Stacey Campbell from Newlife Vineyard in Kelowna B.C. Canada. I just wanted to quickly get you out this to report that real revival has just struck this past Sunday, October 19th, in Brisbane, Australia.

On Wednesday October 15 we were all to begin a four day "Rim of Fire" conference at Garden City Christian Church.

The speakers were to be John and Carol Arnott, Wesley and Stacey Campbell, and Ken and Lois Gott. Unfortunately Lois Gott's father a pastor of many years had just passed into the direct presence of the Lord, so they had to stay back with the funeral.

The conference opened with John Arnott on Wednesday evening, and there was a definite air of expectancy. Wesley Campbell preached both Thursday morning and evening on the subject of "Biblical Revival", and "Prayer, Fasting and Revival". In all services the ministry times turned into full blown times of revival intercession. The Thursday evening Stacey Campbell gave a powerful prophecy about a coming revival which will light Australia and set a fire on the whole Pacific Rim. Stacey spoke Friday morning on the tension of "Revival, as it relates to the problem it creates for both the active and contemplative life. Then on Friday evening John Arnott spoke on "Forgiveness" and the alter's were full. And yet, while these were all excellent, something else was happening in the back room.

On Friday during prophetic prayer ministry by the conference speakers it was prophecied on the associate senior Pastor Ross Smith, that the spirit of a warrior would again come on him, and that his real time of anointing was just coming. That he would be hit with a revival spirit and this would catapult him into full revival in his own church and throughout churches all over Australia. He and his wife Diane groaned and travailed strongly as a revival mantle rested upon him.

Saturday evening Wesley did a dramatic enactment of "Braveheart" and the place went wild. The altar call centered around all those young people 25 and under who really wanted to become "Bravehearts" for God. Again the level of annointing kept increasing.

But the real break came Sunday! In the 8:00 am service the senior Pastor Geoff Holdaway preached but it was hard and difficult to get anywhere in the Spirit. But Ross persisted in exhorting the people. Then in the 10:00 am service there was more liberty. Then as pastor Ross got up to administrate communion, it occurred to him, that there were people there who were not saved. And that they needed to get saved right then so that they could be part of the family and really partake in communion. So right there in communion an alter call was sounded, and over eight came forward for salvation. Things were heating up! That night the place was full with 2000 plus persons, and still there was a real spirit of anticipation. Even thought many from the conference had returned home and over the half the crowd was those who had not particapated in the week, the worship was dynamic and hope was high. Again pastor Ross Smith got up, only this time to do the announcements and take the offering. As he began to exhort the people during the announcements, he took hold of the large "Braveheart" sword that was there from the night before. He began to get bolder and bolder as he pointed the sword towards the congregation, and charged them to a revived spirit. He would challenged them on spiritual lethergy, apathy, sitting around watching TV all day, etc. Then right and there he decided to take up yet another alter call. He was slightly unsure of this as the message hadn't even been given yet, and really Wesley Campbell was to be giving the closing word, on "Revival Impartation".

But as Ross pressed the people, a few young people came forward for salvation. Then another on here and another on their. Then suddenly it's as if another spirit decended upon Ross, he began to exhort more boldly than he had ever done before. Wesley went forward and urged him on saying, don't worry about the time, . . . just go for it! Ross called the congregation, and the backslidders on sins of a sexual nature, night clubbing, drug and alcohalism, . . . and anything else that could keep a soul from God. More and more began to respond until soon their were over 40 people at the alter including counsellor's. Ross lead them in a sinners prayer and they lead the new converts into an adjoining room for more pray and interaction.

At that point Ross began to get even bolder with the congregation. He kept on saying, "As for me and my house, . . . we will serve the Lord, . . . . As for me and my house, . . . we will serve the Lord". He then called on Isabel, from the Sunderland (England) team, to sing the Brownsville revival song, "Run to the Mercy Seat". Suddenly the fear of the Lord gripped the place. In fact is was just as though we were all in Brownsville, but we were not, we in Brisbane. People began to rush forward from everywhere. First a stream, . . . then a vertible rampage. Soon hundreds and hundreds of people filled the alter, the aisles, and anywhere else they could find. Wailing seized the human mass, and again I repeat, their was real fear there.

Wesley crept up, and pressed Ross to keep going for it. In truth, . . . as the fear of the Lord was in the house, and I wouldn't dare disrupt it by presuming to speak, when HE was already speaking. The unction was on Ross and he had to take it. From that point on it was a real revival spirit that took over. Ross charged the church with sword in hand, and sober intensity in his voice. With each new run his words were like the blows of a hammer.

In truth, none of us knew what to do. The meeting continued to unravel minute by minute. After 2 ½ hours Ross suggested that the whole church pass "under the sword" through a fire tunnel. The two senior pastors, Geoff Holdway, and Ross Smith would hold up two swords, so as to form an arch, and then the fifty or so pastor's, staff workers and leaders would form a holy spirit gauntlett of prayer ministry. Strong able bodies young men were recruited to physically carry all those who were to overcome to continue walking. The next two hours was nothing less that all out . . . raw . . . God . . . power!

The youth, 400 strong, started through the tunnel first. Even before making it through the some twenty meters of focused intensity the youth would begin to fall under the power, crunch, groan, wail, and cry out. Others had to be carried or dragged through, . . . in a full swoon. They were then directed or taken to what was called the recovery room which was nothing more than a large open vestuary just off of the main sanctary (but still open to the main sanctary) . The wailing and intercession that then unsued was deafening. Children ages six, eight, and ten, cried out long bitterly for their sins. Teenagers screamed openly in prayer for their lost friends. Literally hundreds at a time were being affected in this way, and this was to last for at least another hour and a half, while all two thousand of the congregation waited patiently for their chance to be prayed through the fire tunnel.

In all the lasted over four and a half hours, with many not wanting to go home. Near the end of the night Ross announced that another spontaneous meeting was called for the next night - Monday. That evening over 500 persons showed up, and the repentence went even deeper, with many openly confessing their sins, and failurer's publically in front of the church. By Tuesday a previously planned city wide pastor's meeting was crowded with other hungry pastor's. Again the same spirit fell on Ross and again a similar response attended the meeting, with many laying down age old divisions and mistrust.

By Tuesday many are convinced that real revival is in the air. The entire staff and church are up for it to keep going one day at a time. Fortunately Peter Wreford, of Joy Magazine and a member of the pastoral team of the Ken Gott's Sunderland group was present with a television quality movie camera. Most of the original Sunday evening service was videoed and they are in the midst of making a hasty editing job to make it available to the larger body of Christ. In fact Garden City Churches larger intent is to send a copy of the video, as well as Dr. Bill Bright's book called, "The Coming Revival" ( presenting the world-wide call to pray and fast for forty days for revival) to all the AOG churches in Australia. Along with that, Ross Smith, Adrian Gray, John Lewis, Max Legg (of Auckland), and Ken Gott, and Wesley Campbell, will lead in a corporate call to the churches everywhere throughout Australia and New Zealand calling on thousands of believers to target Lent 1998 to join in a national time of forty days of prayer and fasting on water and juice for revival. This is in anticipation of 10 to 15 cities throughout Australia and New Zealand which will embark upon a cooperative effort to launch "21 day Revival Now!" campaignes for both the lost and revival. These campaiges will be headed up by REVIVAL NOW! Ministries - Australia, UK, and Canada, lead by Adrian Gray, Ken Gott, and Wesley Campbell respectively.

Respectfully submitted by Wesley Campbell, . . . with a burning heart for revival.

If you would like to contact Garden City Family Church, their address is

If you would like to know more about "REVIVAL NOW! Ministries", and the corporate calls to "forty days of fasting and pray" contact Fut

Please see the two following articals for more accounts of the outbreak as reported by Peter Wreford Joy Magazine, the staff at: Garden City Christian Church; ( in fellowship with the Assemblies of God ) 16 Rover Str. Mount Gravatt; PO Box 250 Q Australia 4122; Telephone ( 07 ) 3343 6555 Fax. ( 07 ) 3849 5321 E - mail : [email protected]

Sender: Peter < [email protected] > For Wesley Campbell at < [email protected] > Date: Tue, 21 Oct 1997 07:19:04 +010021 Oct Subject: REVIVAL!

Dear Wesley

As promised, a copy of what I put out to others by e-mail. Also a few details about the following meetings. Monday night carried the same hunger and strong spirit of repentance and conviction of sin. Over 500 were present and many repented publicly. We showed one or two of the short testimonies you and I taped and they came over brilliantly. I believe we are definitely touching a revival spirit and I am working on two areas: propagating the news and encouraging Ross to maintain and increase his boldness and confidence. We should have the video ready this week and aim to use some of the audio tapes as voice-overs. I have just got in from a minister's meeting on Tuesday morning. The very same spirit was evident among a group of about fifty ministers from the city and beyond and various streams. The same boldness is on Ross and is strengthening. He is pressing the prayer and fasting and the evangelistic campaigns next year with very great effect. God is with us!!

Following is my original short report:

I am in Brisbaine, Australia, at present and we hit something very precious in the service tonight. It was different from anything I have ever seen before. The spirit of Revival came on Pastor Ross Smith and he started to challenge the congregation strongly on the need to get right with God. He was only meant to be giving the notices, but an altar call for salvation and rededication followed with at least twenty responding. After that one of the Revival Now! team here with me, Isabel, sang Run to the Mercy Seat, and people just started streaming forward to weep and pray at the altar. This turned into a completely filled front with people just breaking their hearts before God. Many more challenging words came from Ross. The evening culminated in a fire tunnel with Geoff and Ross holding swords up like a guard of honour at the entrance to the tunnel. The place was packed (about 1800) and it took well over an hour for everyone to get through. Meanwhile those who had gone through were laid out all around the building. Young people in particular were seeking God with an earnestness I have never witnessed before and for protracted periods. The whole building was a continual cacophany of cries and wailing to God for at least an hour and a half. Wesley Campbell was due to speak but never got on. He said that what we were witnessing was as intense as anything he had ever seen in the world. It was breath-taking. It was very different from a good meeting. I think it was a taste of revival. The upshot is that we intend to meet tomorrow evening and see what happens.

For revival

Peter

Dear Guido

Thanks for your letter thought you might be interested in what happened last night.

We had an awesome night at Garden City (Brisbane, Australia) last night and we believe it may be the beginning of revival starting in Australia. God moved in amazing power.

Ross Smith got up to read the notices (Wes Campbell was supposed to preach) and felt an immediate prompting of the Holy spirit to make an alter call and a number were saved, then he was led to an incredible message of a call to the church for repentance and the Spirit of God descended, bringing the majority of the church to its knees and on their faces before God. Then a tunnel of fire was formed by the pastors, leaders and elders of the church to anoint and impart revival fire. First through were the youth and children, the majority of who had to be carried before they reached the end of the tunnel, they were carried to the prayer room and it was like a battle sight!! they were wailing and crying for the lost, it was an awesome sight , then the adults went through with the same effect, It must have taken a couple of hours for everyone to go through, we just could not believe what was happening and were and still are in a state of shock. We are meeting at church tonight to pray what happens next!! will keep you informed.

Isabel & Billy

------------ PART 2 by Peter Wreford (Editor JOY Magazine and minister with Revival Now)

Dear Guido

Just a note to let you know what is going on with the Revival Now! team Down Under. We are in Garden City Church, Brisbane, Australia, at present and we hit something very precious in the service tonight. It was different from anything I have ever seen before. The spirit of Revival came on Pastor Ross Smith and he started to challenge the congregation strongly on the need to get right with God. He was only meant to be giving the notices, but an altar call for salvation and rededication followed with at least twenty responding. After that, Isabel, one of the Revival Now! team here sang Run to the Mercy Seat, and people just started streaming forward to weep and pray at the altar. This turned into a completely filled front with people just breaking their hearts before God. Many more challenging words came from Ross. The evening culminated in a fire tunnel with Pastors Geoff Holdway and Ross Smith holding swords up like a guard of honour at the entrance to the tunnel. The place was packed (about 1,800) and it took well over an hour for everyone to get through. Meanwhile those who had gone through were laid out all around the building. Young people in particular were seeking God with an earnestness I have never witnessed before and for protracted periods. The whole building was a continual cacophony of cries and wailing to God for at least an hour and a half. Wesley Campbell was due to speak but never got on. He said that what we were witnessing was as intense as anything he had ever seen in the world. It was breath-taking. It was VERY different from a good meeting. I think it was a taste of revival. The upshot is that we intend to meet tomorrow evening and see what happens. I'll try to keep you up to date

Peter Wreford.