JrChurch said:
... Coal mines in the area are closed or idled. Drugs are out of control, crime is increasing, hopelessness is setting in as people realize that their economic plight has little chance of changing. I was there a few weeks ago and the desperation is palpable.
Yes, people are turning to the Lord. ...I have no idea about "revival fires" or the people who are involved in the meetings. I just know the people are suffering and looking for answers.
Emphasis and edits mine.
Interesting observation about hopelessness in the apparent spiritual awakening in WV . As "chance" would have it I have just been studying through
Acts 16 on the Gospel going to Philippi. On the narrative of the jailer with the burning question
"...what must I do to be saved?..." I felt compelled to discover as best the text allows what drove the jailer to ask that question with the apparent urgency and fervency that he did (
"...called for a light...sprang in...came trembling...fell down before Paul...").
What he was NOT responding to is actually a little easier to discern. He was not responding to:
1) the testimony of Paul and Silas as he did not know it; he was given the charge to secure them from the magistrates and, as far as the text is concerned, that is the only interaction he had with them.
2) the singing and praying; he was clearly asleep until the earthquake awakened him
3) the earthquake; Actually the earthquake and its results--
"...all the doors were opened...every one's bands were loosed..."--drove him to suicide and not the Savior
Mere seconds from death with his sword at his belly Paul's words
"...do thyself no harm for [because] we are all here..." provided him something that drove him to his question. That something was
hope. His situation was hopeless to the point of suicide, but hope for that hopelessness compelled him to ask
"what must I do to be saved?"
I don't know anything about what is going on in WV, but hopelessness does seem to till the ground to receive the Gospel seed. And if that is the case I am thankful for hopeless situations.