Bobby Harrell of Leesburg knows that nothing beats prayer when it comes to preparing a congregation for a movement of God. But adequate preparation sure comes close, he says.

Harrell, pastor of First Baptist Church, credits advance work with the harvest that occurred in October with a revival conducted by Keith Fordham and wife, Shirley. He shares the following information on how prayer and preparation made a difference in their revival.

• “First, on three consecutive weekends prior to the revival we had 60 of our members participate in a 24-hour fast and prayer time. Each person spent an hour in the intercessory prayer chapel, praying specifically for our revival. I believe God saw our fasting and I believe He heard our prayers as the Word says, “He will reward your openly.”

• “Second, we had every adult Sunday School class to host a cottage prayer meeting. This, too, was rewarded.

• “Third, our Brotherhood men prayed specifically for revival at their monthly meeting while the women of our WALK Ministry gathered in the sanctuary to also pray for revival.

• “Fourth, we knocked on doors in our surrounding neighborhoods and personally invited people to come to our meetings. I believe this was rewarded simply because we went when He said to go.”

And, in a repeat of what Scripture recorded on numerous occasions throughout Christian history, “The Lord gave the increase.”

Harrell says the revival was “truly fruitful for the Lord. We added 43 new believers, saw 11 rededications, and received two by transfer of letter or by statement. Truly God blessed us as He blessed the words Keith had for us.

“The majority of souls who came to the Lord were children and youth. Several had expressed a desire to answer God’s knocking at their heart’s door during our youth retreats and children’s camp, but had not made a public confession and acceptance of Jesus in their hearts.

“Keith was able to encourage them to step forward each night. Many of our adults expressed the desire to keep the revival spirit alive, even though the actual services had concluded.”

To illustrate the ongoing effect of revival, Harrell pointed out that 39 of the conversions occurred during the event but four others – two additional teenagers and two additional children – came forward the Sunday following the conclusion of the revival.

Fordham was equally impressed with the advance preparation which, he says, made the difference between “just another set of meetings and an actual manifestation of God’s Spirit.”

The evangelist, who lives in Fayetteville and is a member of Harp’s Crossing Baptist Church, mentioned that although only 11 rededications were recorded, “the altar was filled nearly every service with people doing business with God.

“We did not record the number of young people who came forward making commitments to moral purity, but I could say that at least a hundred came making that decision,” he said.

Fordham noted that members of the congregation continued to invite their unchurched friends throughout the week, “so that the downstairs of the sanctuary was completely full and the balcony was nearly full every service. In fact, the church was so full that the choir remained in the choir loft during the service because no other seating was available in the sanctuary.”

The church seats 630 when completely full, Harrell said.