Torch, Spring/Summer 2009

Spring–Summer 2009 | TORCH 29 churches at Gasper River, Red River, and Muddy River. These small congregations were surrounded by what was the most dangerous culture in America at the time — the wild frontier. Those who left the comforts of the East were not looking for rules or religion, and the frontier churches withered. After a year, McGready still had not seen any visible fruit from his work. Though he could have settled into the confines of his inhospitable environment and accepted the low expectations for change, that wasn’t McGready’s way. Seeing the desperate situation and believing in the power of God, he led his congregations to join together in a covenant of prayer. They committed to pray for one year — a half hour every Saturday evening and every Sunday morning — asking the Spirit to empower the preaching of the Word and to convert their children and neighbors. After that year, a few conversions occurred, but they were immediately dismissed by another minister who chalked up testimonies of awakening to “emotionalism.” McGready’s followers — a handful of church members — prayed on, and in July 1799 the annual sacramental assembly (a yearly communion service) saw numerous conversions and testimonies to God’s grace. Similar occurrences followed in other churches. Even so, no one expected what would happen in the sacramental assembly in