The Bible Belt can give quite the spanking.

Twenty years ago I'd never thought I'd attach the word reluctant to my passion. Actually, it's my calling. I'm a revivalist. A reformer. The mandate is nothing short of revolution in the church and I've given my entire life of ministry, since the early 1990's, to this mission.

When we planted our first church in 2001 in Manitou Springs, Colorado, I was gloriously naive. The fire within to see a raging blaze overtake the region was so real to me that I was convinced that throngs of people would flood in the moment we opened our doors. “Yes, finally, a vision so extreme and a burning so overwhelming has come to our city!” That's what I believed most would be crying out in their heart. Revival was drawing near and, obviously (right?), every Spirit-born Believer in the city would jump to life. Wrong.

FEW CARE ABOUT REVIVAL

A good number of people are curious about the impact of revival.

Some will invest, but only to the extent that their pet theologies aren't threatened, their personal ambition is affirmed or their offense doesn't overtake their hearts. They will dig the wells of revival only until their self-imposed limits are reached.

Few are so captivated that they will lay down their lives and do the work necessary to see it come to pass. No limits, no demands. They walk daily with a cross on their backs and relentless passion in their hearts.

Contrary to what many believe, we aren't waiting for God to initiate an outpouring. Revival is biblical normalcy. That's the definition. Living in supernatural overflow is the default for Believers, or at least, it's supposed to be. God is waiting for us to respond to the cross, the resurrection and the Upper Room. The delay is on us.

I'm not trying to sound cynical. My faith is extreme and my passion for Jesus and what he wants to do in the cities of the earth is intense. However, after planting three churches in three markedly different regions, I've discovered the revival tribe necessary to see revival come is very small. Gideon's army small. Maybe one percent of the soldiers are willing and ready to go to battle. That means in a small town like Branson, Missouri, where we are based, there may be less than 100 people who would fit this description.

THE BIBLE BELT

I'm writing this to encourage other revivalists. I believe we need to go deeper into prayer and discover just what the hinderance is to the shift that is so necessary.

I'm also writing this to the rest of the Christian camp, pastors and leaders included. It's time to invite and embrace shocking and threatening reformation.

I'm currently leading my third church plant, Revival X, in Branson, Missouri. We are blessed beyond measure to live here and God has raised up some anointed and phenomenal pastors and others in the region who are hungry for a move of God. I'm also humbled and thankful for such a devoted team of fire-breathers at Revival X. They move my heart!

However, the shocking and threatening reformation has yet to visit this Bible Belt region. The laborers (intercessors, prophets, five-fold ministers and others) have yet to gather and engage.

The spiritual heritage of the Bible Belt is rich, but if we aren't careful, that heritage can cause the region to miss out on a mighty move of God.

“Sunday go to meeting,” “church as usual,” pastor-driven culture is a tradition that few are willing to break.

The new wine won't fit there. It can't.

The new wine skin required will radically violate much of what has become standard, so much so that many will consider it sacrilegious.

The further south you go, the more challenging it gets. We need to see this religious spirit defeated so the wildfire of the Spirit of God can establish the new.

WHAT IS NECESSARY?

Our simple mandate at Revival X is to gather our tribe of prophetic, revival-driven leaders, intercessors, students and others who are ready to pay a steep price for the greatest move of God in history. The cost is high but the return will transform the planet. Is it not worth it?

A ministry friend posted recently that the shift from pastor-led to apostolic-led churches is extremely hard. I'd say it's nearly impossible. It's also the mandate of this season.

This tradition of pastoral-heavy churches has overtaken the Western church, and much more so in the Bible Belt. Pastor-led churches are the default, to the detriment of the new wine that's waiting to rain down from Heaven. The thought of shifting from a culture that's primarily pastoral to one that's primarily prophetic and apostolic is too ridiculous for many of today's traditional Believers to consider. It's too threatening to the pastors who carefully guard their churches.

I believe there are many reasons for this resistance, but one stands out:

Pastor-driven churches give most of the attention to the people. The goal is a full house of happy family members. This is satisfying to the people.

Apostolic/prophetic-driven churches give most of the attention to the assignment. The goal is to gather and equip laborers who will advance the Kingdom of God. This is an unwelcome burden to many.

Simply, most people don't want to be trained for battle, they want to be nurtured and encouraged. Their focus is not on the advance of the church in the city or on the vision for revival. On a daily and weekly basis, the passion of most is internal versus external. They want to discover happiness, make friends and find relief from the stress of their lives.

The church, to many, is the medicine they need to lift burdens and get refreshed.

Nurturing, encouragement and burden-lifting are good endeavors, but not as a prime goal. It's the starting point. It's the preparation for the very reason the church exists–ushering in revival and advancing against the enemy. It's a warship not a cruise ship.

Once Revival X (or any church) finds their tribe, gathers 50 or 100 radicals who are fully trained in key disciplines and who are burning in the spirit of intercession, then the true ministry can begin. Until then, we are in delay.

WHY AM I A RELUCTANT REVIVALIST?

Many reasons.

As I've already expressed, the revival tribe is truly small. I sometimes wonder if I'd have more impact writing books and articles, traveling and speaking and putting out videos and podcasts than leading a team of radicals. I may no longer be the man for that job. I understand that the shift in the church, at our current pace, very well may take decades or longer.

I envision my book, “The Coming Church” laying undisturbed a hundred years from now as a relic on a used-bookstore bookshelf, ignored, forgotten, gathering dust–until a young, emerging new Billy Graham for the next generation picks it up.

Is it possible that the long-game strategy demands a shift in approach?

Additionally I'm growing in reluctance to current strategies for another reason–it's hard for me to watch my family struggle with the intensity of the warfare and the expected, yet impossible to prepare for, betrayal and other weighty pressures. It's not their fault, but it is their pain.

I'm authentically excited about additional ministry possibilities, especially those that flow from the heart of my amazing wife Amy and our children. If that emerges at Revival X, then great. If not, they have so much to offer and it may be time to shift focus on them in a very real way.

I, along with most apostolic people, am typically quite resilient to the severity of the pain and trouble that comes with a reformation ministry like ours. Yet, after nearly thirty years of apostolic, prophetic, revival ventures, I have to admit it might be time to seek God for wisdom on a differing approach. If the tribe is ready to run and the timeline of revival expedites, and if God demands I stay the course, I'm all in. The passion still burns.

However, if it's time, at age 55, to radically transition, I'm ready. I know God loves me and is making me ready for the next season, no matter what or where it is.

GIVING UP?

I don't care about optics. It doesn't matter if people may look at a shift as waving the white flag. I don't consider a possible shift to be due to some sort of failure to see the current assignment through (though, failure like this, in and of itself, is not as negative as some consider it to be). Regardless of the raised eyebrows of the people, I'm not giving up. I'm open to turning a corner, however. My belief is that obedience to God's shift will result in greater impact than I am currently having (should that shift come).

Yes, it's true that my giftings are unique. I don't lead with a pastoral edge. I'm looking for supernatural assignments, not potlucks and picnics.

I'm keenly focused and am not attempting to develop a typical “church family.” I'm gathering an elite force of spiritual fighters. I understand that this is off-putting to many.

I absolutely have weaknesses, as we all do, and I'm fully aware that my style of leadership, in this day, where things have changed radically over the last several years, may be insufficient.

Further, the route I've taken to gather a remnant is possibly the most difficult way of doing it. That was deliberate from the launch of Revival X. We are looking for the radicals, those who aren't afraid of a high bar and a demanding environment. Thick skin, deep love, a teachable spirit and an unoffendable heart are mandatory.

Responding to the call to see a new wine skin come to the church is a challenge that few are interested in. Though, those that do respond, whether it's here or at other similar revival ministries, come alive with a fire that transforms beyond measure.

I fully believe revival is coming to Branson, and I'm cheerleading other incredible local ministries as they advance toward it. I'm also fully invested in this current season at Revival X. If it explodes into the next phase, and my family is safe and my heart is ready, I'm ready to contend in blood, sweat and tears indefinitely.

MY FELLOW LEADERS

Burnout is hitting leaders at an unprecedented level today. The wounds of ministry are taking many pastors and leaders out. Do not be a casualty. God's love for you is much deeper than his passion for your ministry. Yes, staying planted when God reveals that's the right move is critical. Find people to hold your arms up. Gather the intercessors. Don't quit.

However, remain open to the possibility that a shift is coming.

Over time, I learned that both of our previous church plants, in Manitou Springs, Colorado and in Detroit, would be short-term assignments. We experienced supernatural, wild and mind-blowing miracles and wonders and moves of God that I've written about in books and articles. The legacy, along with the challenge and pain, in both places, was and is real.

The legacy didn't demand that we continue on forever. In both locations, a shift came. God worked miraculously by revealing what the shift was. He never left us hanging. He made it clear what was to be done and I'm in awe to this day.

It may be time for you to move on. Or it may be time to shift your current ministry. Or it may be time to take a sabbatical. It may also be appropriate to dig in and stay put. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you directly.

Of all of my church plants and ministry assignments, Branson has been, by far, the most difficult. This surprised me since, of course, I'm in the Bible Belt. This belt has spanked me. My personality has me fighting back with ferocity! I'm wired to scratch and claw and build and advance until my strength is gone. That sounds good, and often can be good, but is it possible my personality could also get in the way of a necessary transition. Yes, it's more than possible.

I'm stunned that the “God and country” celebrated Branson region has been the most difficult assignment of my life. What are we up against, God?

Manitou Springs was steeped with witchcraft and the occult, yet God moved in power for years.

Detroit was a different environment entirely, and the challenge was extreme and the move of God in our ministry and region was incredible.

But Detroit and Manitou Springs don't compare to the challenge of Branson. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.

So, my question is simple: is it time to contend even harder, or is it time for a dramatic shift?

I'm praying. I'm excited. I'm tired. I'm invigorated. I'm questioning. I'm full of faith. My steps are ordered by the Lord. So are yours.

Remember, it's all about revival. Millions of souls will be rescued from an eternity in Hell if we get this right.