By REV. DR. JOHN HATCHER
Religion Columnist

You probably don't know Ed Silvosa. Yet, he's one of the hottest tickets in many church circles. Why? Because he's making sense out of three factors: God's heart, our failure to reach the masses for Christ, and the church's barrenness.

If you lived in Argentina, you would know Ed Silvosa. There he has been part of the most significant revival in human history. For more than 15 years, the church in Argentina has embraced soaring levels of changed lives, changed cities, and a changed church. In fact, the phenomenal revival taking place at Pensacola's Brownsville Church represents a U.S. surfacing of the revival from Argentina (The Brownsville Church has been in revival since 1995; more than 100,000 people have come to know Jesus Christ; plus, churches all over America and the world have been touched in some way).

Now, you may ask, what does Ed Silvosa have to do with me living in south metro Atlanta? He was in town last week! And, more than 500 religious leaders heard him and I believe got a hold of what's a hold of him. Know what I mean?

Let me give you a taste of what they are experiencing in Argentina. Protestant leaders have gone to the Catholic Archbishop to ask him to forgive them for their negative words against the Catholic Church; churches across the denominational spectrum are filling soccer stadiums with all night prayer meetings; crime rate has tumbled; the economy is growing. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is bringing “abundant life” just as Jesus promised.

Believe it or not, Ripley, one town in Latin American closed its three jails because no was being arrested anymore (while we in Fayette/Clayton are building bigger jails). Drinking holes are drying up as the washing of the Word of God cleans up town after town.

Back to Ed Silvosa. He is showing us American clergy that God's heart for the homosexual, drunkard, prostitute is one of compassion and love. Not judgment and punishment. God is not quick draw McGod. He's a long suffering, everlasting love God. What if church after church used their church signs to tell the truth once rather than puffing their own agendas: imagine a sign that read: “God loves homosexuals and we do too.” How long would it take your resident puritan to call a meeting?

Silvosa also shows that our failure to reach the masses in the age of communication and information has to do with our failure to raise the spiritual climate over the cities. Jesus looked over Jerusalem and cried. The church often looks over the city and says “naughty” with a haughty voice.

The church's barrenness, in view of the masses and with the ability to access God's power, may have something to do with priorities in the church. Silvosa says the priority should be God's grace, compassion, and love. Not God's truth, judgment, and discipline.

So, you've read my thoughts this week, Rick, but I indeed hope these thoughts will linger for a decade or two. Bless all you! May the Lord God pour out his richest for everyone —churchgoing or otherwise!

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in Fayetteville.

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