Yes, it was a dark day. Everywhere the barrooms flourished. Football, cock fighting, prize fighting, pigeon flying, and betting and gambling reigned supreme, especially among the working classes. 

Among the chosen instruments, which God in the secret place had been preparing, was a young, half-educated miner, who was to be the outstanding voice of his generation. It may be debated whether he was the most God-used or not, but he was by far the most known of all the preachers in this mighty awakening. Very soon, the whole world would have their eyes focused on this young man. 

Evan Roberts was born on June 8, 1878, in an ordinary working-man's cottage called "Island House," in the little town of Loughor, some 210 miles from London, 50 from Cardiff, and eight from Swansea. It is an unpretentious home, having eight very small rooms. For 59 years now, it has been a pilgrimage spot for the Lord's dear people from around the world, for, in this house, the heavens were opened to this young man. 

Evan began work at a very early age in the mine. His father, Henry, broke his leg in the pit, and so, his son had to help him in his job. After a few months, Evan himself took up the work of a door-boy whose duty it was to look after the doors around the pit. For this he received the modest sum of 75 cents a week! From the coal mine, he went to the trade of a blacksmith in connection with the mine. 

Evan felt the burning passion to preach. His pastor and others encouraged him even though he had very little education. So, at 26 years of age, he entered the preparatory school at Newcastle Emlyn to prepare himself to enter the Trevecca College examination. For a long time God had been dealing with him in a most remarkable way. William Davies, a deacon at the Moriah Chapel which young Evan attended, warned him not to miss the prayer meetings in case the Holy Spirit would come and he would be missing. Thus it was that on Monday evenings he would attend the prayer meeting at Moriah, Tuesday at Pisgah, Wednesday at Moriah, and Thursday and Friday at other prayer meetings and Bible classes. He had prayed for 13 years for a mighty visitation of the Holy Spirit. 

Before going away to school, in the spring of 1904, Evan found himself, as it were, on the Mount of Transfiguration. In his own home and out on the countryside, his loving Heavenly Father revealed Himself to His child in an amazing, overwhelming manner which filled his soul with divine awe. At these special seasons, every member of his body trembled until the bed was shaken. One night his brother Dan awoke and shouted, "Are you ill, Evan?" For weeks God visited his young servant in the early watches. When his family would press him to tell of these experiences, he would only say it was something indescribable. When the time came near for him to enter grammar school at New Castle Emlyn, he was naturally afraid to go, less he would lose these blessed seasons with the Lord. 

In the providential leadings of God, just at this time a convention was being held at Blaenanerch, some eight miles from his school. The evangelist there at the time was Rev. Seth Joshua. On Thursday morning, Sept. 29, 1904, Evan Roberts and another 19 young people, including his closest friend Sydney Evans, went to Blaenanerch to attend the meetings. The Lord began working in their hearts in that early morning drive as they sang, "It is coming, it is coming - the power of the Holy Ghost - I receive it - I receive it - the power of the Holy Ghost." 

Still singing and praising, the party of young people reached the town in time for the 7 o'clock service. Evan was deeply moved and broke down completely when at the close of the service Mr. Joshua led in prayer. When the evangelist used the words, "Bend us, oh, Lord," the soul in travail heard nothing more. "This is what you need," whispered the Spirit of God. 

"Bend me, oh, Lord," he cried. But even then the fire had not fallen. 

"It was not Mr. Joshua who emphasized the words, 'Oh, Lord, bend me,' but the Spirit of God Himself," said Evan Roberts later. 

At the 9 o'clock meeting, the spirit of intercession was powerful. Evan was just bursting to pray. Then the Spirit of God told him to do so publicly. Let him describe this crisis experience which took place in his life at this moment, a crisis which resulted shortly in 100,000 professions of faith: 

"I fell on my knees with my arms over the seat in front of me, and the tears flowed freely. I cried,' Bend me! Bend me! Bend me! Bend us! What 'bent me' was God commending His love and my not seeing anything in it to commend." 

The Holly Spirit had come and melted his whole being by the revelation to his heart of Calvary love. Thus the theme of the entire revival became "Calvary's Love." 

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6 

He continues, "Perspiration poured down my face, and tears streamed quickly until I thought that the blood came out. Soon, Mrs. Davies came to wipe my perspiration away. When I was in this feeling, the audience sang heartily, 'I am coming, coming, Lord to Thee!' Now a great burden came upon me for the salvation of lost souls." 

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,