Let's visit together a typical revival service. A spiritual cyclone has already swept the town even before the revivalist's visit. Thirteen hundred newborn souls are rejoicing in their great Redeemer. The service has been going on for three hours without any human leader. Nobody can say who started the service, nobody can say even at this moment how the service is going to continue. They're singing with great intensity … Now an earnest lad of 16 years comes straight up to the front of the audience with a Bible in his hand waiting for a break in the meeting. He stands silent with rapt expression, and then when he reads the portion in Welsh, he slips away. He has obeyed the Spirit. 

A young miner just converted two weeks before can't keep still. He just has to break forth in song. The young man can only get through the first verse before he breaks into sobbing. Spontaneously, the people all over the building take up and continue the invitation hymn. The chorus is sung some 30-40 times by all the people. The building is filled with the glory of the Lord. Every eye beams an unusual radiance. Each bosom swells with the surge of feeling. 

A young lady now stands. She is Annie Davies with the nightingale voice. She's only 18 years of age. Previously, she had come with her sister to a revival service in a critical and cold attitude, for she was out of touch with the Lord. Not so tonight; she is completely broken down. Her soul is moved to its deepest depths. She can't refrain from weeping. With an irresistible force, her voice begins to flood the whole building with what later would be known as "The Love Song" of the revival: 

Wondrous love, unbounded mercy!
Vast as oceans in their flood:
Jesus, Prince of Life, is dying -
Life for us is in His blood!
Oh! What heart can e'er forget Him?
Who can cease His praise to sing?
Wondrous love! Forever cherished
While the Heavens with music ring. 

Now comes Evan Roberts, quietly elbowing his way through the dense crowd which throngs the aisle and the chapel and leans over the big Bible on the pulpit desk. He waits silently for some time and then begins to pray:

Lord Jesus, help us now through the Holy Spirit to come face to face with the cross. Whatever the hindrances may be, we commit the service to Thee. Put us all under the Blood. Oh, Lord, place the Blood on all our past up to this moment. WE thank Thee for the Blood. In the name of Jesus Christ, bind the devil this moment. We point to the Cross of Christ. It's our Cross, and we take its conquest. Reveal the Cross through the name of Jesus. Oh, open the heavens. Descend upon us now. Tear open our hearts - tear - give us such a sight of Calvary that our hearts may be broken. Oh, Lord, descend now … now … open our hearts to receive the heart that bled for us. If we're to be fools - make us fools for Thee. Take us, spirit, soul and body. We are Thine. Thou has purchased us. Reveal the Cross for the sake of Jesus - the Cross that is to conquer the world. Place us under the Blood. Forbid that we should think of what men may say of us. Oh, speak, speak, speak, Lord Jesus. Thy words are "wine indeed." Oh, reveal the Cross, beloved Jesus - the cross in its glory. Reign in every heart for the sake of Jesus. Lord, do Thou help us to see the dying Savior. Enable us to see Him conquering the hosts of darkness. Claim victory for Thy Son, now Lord. He is worthy to have the victory. Thou are the all-powerful God. Oh, claim victory. We shall give all the glory to Thy Name. No one else has the right to the glory but Thee. Take it, Lord. Glorify Thy Son in this meeting. Oh, Holy Spirit, do Thou work through us and in us now. Speak Thy word in power for Thy Name's sake. Amen and amen. 

All around, the huge audience of men and women begin to pray, and heaven is opened as different people stand up in different parts of the building, down below and in the gallery, crying out, "Lord, save me!" "Oh, God, I come ot Thee now!" This is followed by shouts of glory echoing through the building and then, as if an invisible conductor had come to the pulpit with his baton, the crowd now sings exultingly with glorious triumph. 

The revivalist has been waiting for the Spirit's time for him to give the message. He begins now his message. It's on the sufferings of Christ. He's not long speaking when he, himself, is broken down. He tries again to picture the depths of the suffering Savior. 

He's not allowed to continue as a young girl thrills the assembly when she cries out, "Oh, dear Jesus, sweating for me!" The people are quite overcome and are bathed in tears. There's a subdued holy quietness now over the atmosphere while hundreds, unsaved and saved alike, whisper in holy wonder, "Oh, blessed Lord Jesus, who died for me…" 

Now, one by one, people stand up and testify of being saved there and then. 

Someone suddenly commences a hymn. The scene is suddenly changed. The whole crowd is on its feet now, swayed by intense spiritual enthusiasm and pouring out its feelings in various ways - a word of praise, a hymn of spiritual worship, a Bible message from an unknown person. 

Visitors who have come from all parts of the world to see this amazing sight and who have never been in a revival meeting before cry out, "Hush!" They have come to hear Evan Roberts. But what is the good of saying "Hush?" It would have been as well to say "hush" to the ocean's swelling tide. The deepest emotions of the people have been liberated, and they rush forth like a mighty flood. 

A beautiful voice begins now to sing. It comes from the gallery. It is Sam Jenkins, the singing evangelist. "Tell Mother I'll be there …" rings out in song. 

Once again the revivalist tries to speak, but a thin piping voice in the gallery begins to unburden its soul. 

"Shh! Sh," cries the congregation, listening for the voice of the evangelist. 

In a moment, with a wave of the hand, he stops the rebuking voices and waits till that small quivering treble ceases. We are reminded of One of whom the prophet foretold, "The smoking flax will He not quench." 

The spirit of intercession is once again poured out. Almost a 100 persons are on their feet engaged in prayer at one time and yet everything seems to be in perfect harmony. All are gloriously conscious of the wonderful presence of Jehovah in their midst. Evan Roberts is now radiantly happy. The handsome face, the arresting eye, the gentle voice infused with an emotional tremor, all bespeak the love of the Spirit. 

Thus the meeting goes on until 3 o'clock next morning. 

This is copyrighted material from James Stewart's book Invasion of Wales by the Spirit through Evan Roberts,PO Box 6068, Asheville, NC 28816. available from Revival Literature,