The Canadian Revival 1972-1973

The Canadian revival story illustrates how the Lord can send revival to our culture today. Revival isn’t merely some oddity from the past but is something we expect and ask God for in these days. The story is about people just like us that the Lord blessed in a remarkable way.

Pastor Bill McLeod's Initiative

In 1962 Pastor Bill McLeod moved from Winnipeg to Saskatoon to become the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. This church had a membership of 175 and a building that would seat 300. After Pastor McLeod had been there a year and had got to know the congregation pretty well he introduced an initiative of evangelistic outreach, but sadly, no one showed up. Believing that all they needed was some teaching on evangelism but that made little difference because people’s hearts were not in it. It was at this point that this godly pastor realized that what they needed was personal and corporate revival.

This too went over like a lead balloon and I was forced to conclude the real problem was simply that they did not have the heart to do it. That was when I began to pray for revival. I began by emphasizing the Wednesday night prayer meeting. We had around twenty-five people attending. I would say things like this, Miss Sunday morning if you have to; miss Sunday evening if you must; but never miss the prayer meeting unless you are dead. - Bill McLeod

Realization of the Need for Personal and Corporate Revival

After praying for revival for some time, an evangelistic campaign began at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in October 1971. Led by twin brothers, Ralph and Lou Sutera this outreach was scheduled to last just a little over a week. However, it expanded and grew rapidly to last for seven weeks with participants from about 20 different denominations. During these meetings, the Holy Spirit began to work to bring people into fellowship with Himself. Then, when people were made right with God, they began to settle old disputes and divisions as believers began to get right with each other. God visited His people and revival broke out. 

Ralph and Lou Sutera

The revival started at the Ebenezer Baptist church that seated 300, then moved to another church building that seated 600. When this building overflowed, they moved to another seating 800, then 1600, and finally to an auditorium seating 1800. 

Restitution was also a marked feature of this movement. We heard hundreds of people sharing their personal accounts of making restitution. A great wave of love swept over the evangelical world during those days. Over and over we heard people share how God had broken their hearts and transformed them into a loving individual. - Bill McLeod

Spread of Revival to Other Towns and States

As with other revivals, this outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Saskatoon soon spread to other towns like Regina and then interstate to Winnipeg. Next year it was to spread into British Columbia and then Vancouver. One of the features of this revival is that while it began with the capable teaching of godly men, the revival as a whole was spread by lay Christians who caught the fire and were motivated to tell others what the Lord was doing in their lives. Such was the extent of this work that 3000 lay teams were deployed all over Canada and the US. in the 18 months following the outbreak of revival.

Resources

The Canadian Revival Story Part Two

 The Canadian Revival and Its Effects by Bill McLeod

Audio Sermon by Bill McLeod

——-

Get the book: Turning The Tide In The West