A revival meeting is a series of Christian religious services held with an eye to encourage active members of a religious body and to provoke those outside of it to become part of it. These meetings are usually conducted by members of American Protestant churches and those educated or influenced by them; missionary works of such churches often conduct them in Africa and India. A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as Christ. ... Various religious symbols Religion is a system of social coherence based on a common group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object, person, unseen being, or system of thought considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine or highest truth, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals associated with... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... A missionary is a propagator of religion, often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community. ...

Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875) was called "America's foremost revivalist", was a major leader of the Second Great Awakening in America that had a profound impact on the history of the United States. See also: Charles G. Finney, 20th Century American author Charles Grandison Finney (1792–1875), often called Americas foremost revivalist, was a major leader of the Second Great Awakening in America that had a profound impact on the history of the United States. ... The Second Great Awakening or the Great Revival was the second great religious revival in United States history and consisted of several kinds of activity, distinguished by locale and expression of religious commitment. ...

Generally speaking, a revival meeting consists of several consecutive nights of services conducted at the same time and location each night, most often the building belonging to the sponsoring congregation but sometimes a rented secular assembly hall, for more adequate space or an attempt to appeal to the unchurched in a setting that will presumably be less intimidating to them. Tents were very frequently employed in this effort in the recent past, and occasionally still are, but less so due to the difficulties in heating and cooling them and otherwise making them comfortable, an increasing consideration with modern audiences. A tent is a shelter, consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles and/or ropes. ...

The focus at revival meetings is often on the sermon, which is usually delivered by a well-known minister from outside the immediate area in which the meeting is being held in order to enhance the event as "special". Most sermons are designed to evoke a visible response from the audience, either to make an initial commitment to follow Jesus or to repent from sins committed since that commitment was initially made. A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. ... In most Protestant churches, a minister is a member of the ordained clergy who leads a congregation or participates in a role in a parachurch ministry; such a person may also be called a Pastor, Preacher, Bishop, Chaplain or Elder. ... Jesus (8–2 BC/BCE to 29–36 AD/CE),[1] also known as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity. ... Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral code of conduct or the state of having committed such a violation. ...

The length of such meetings varies. Until the last quarter-century they were frequently a week or more in duration, especially in the Southern United States. Currently three or four days is more typical, although occasionally some are still held, especially in Pentecostal groups, "according to Holy Spirit time", that is until the visible results seem to slow or stop and attendance dwindles. Southern United States The states shown in dark red are usually included in the South, while all or portions of the striped states may or may not be considered part of the Southern United States. ... The Pentecostal movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. ... This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers, and should be edited to rectify this. ...

Most groups holding revival meetings tend to be of a conservative or fundamentalist nature, although the phenomenon is far from unheard of in Mainline groups, which used to conduct them with a far greater frequency and fervor in some instances than is now fashionable. Similar events may be referred to as "crusades", especially when a particularly noted speaker like Billy Graham or Oral Roberts is involved. This article deals with conservatism as a political philosophy. ... Fundamentalist Christianity is a fundamentalist movement, especially within American Protestantism. ... Mainline is also rail terminology for the main and often most transited portion of a railroad, which is usually double- or more track. ... Billy Graham, April 1966 Rev. ... Oral Roberts (born January 24, 1918) is an American neo-Pentecostal televangelist. ...

In the Church of Christ such events are almost invariably referred to as gospel meetings rather than revival meetings. This group is one of the most likely to conduct such events in the 21st century. For the most part, aside from the large, spectacular "crusades", most American Protestant groups other than Baptists and Pentecostals have become less active in holding revival meetings in recent years, but some of the vacuum has been filled by similar activities hosted by non-denonominational community churches, most of which are conservative in theology. Many revivals are attempts to catch much of the flavor and fervor of the camp meeting without exposing their participants to the physical rigors of such an experience. Alternate meanings: see Church of Christ (disambiguation). ... Baptist churches are part of a Christian movement often regarded as an Evangelical, Protestant denomination. ... Theology (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, word or reason) means reasoned discourse concerning religion, spirituality and God. ... [[Bild: Frommer Lager-Sitzung (Burbank 1839) .jpg|thumb|right|300px|A watercolor Anstrich eines Lagersitzung circa 1839 (New-Bedford Whaling-Museum). ...

In the Cinema

This movement has been portrayed by director Richard Brooks in his film Elmer Gantry (1960) with Burt Lancaster (who received the Academy Award for this film) and Jean Simmons, adapted from Sinclair Lewis' eponymous novel (1927). For the actor, see Richard Brooks (actor) Richard Brooks (May 18, 1912-March 11, 1992) was a Hollywood film writer, director, and (occasionally) producer. ... Elmer Gantry is a 1960 film based on the 1927 novel by Sinclair Lewis, which tells the story of a con man who teams up with a female evangelist to sell religion to small-town America. ... See also: 1959 in film 1960 1961 in film 1950s in film 1960s in film years in film film // Events April 20 - for the first time since coming home from military service in Germany, Elvis Presley returns to Hollywood, California to film G.I. Blues August 10 - Filming of West... Burt Lancaster Burt Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American film actor. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons in Angel Face Jean Merilyn Simmons (born January 31, 1929 in Crouch Hill, London, England, United Kingdom) is a British actress. ... Sinclair Lewis Sinclair Lewis (February 7, 1885 — January 10, 1951) was an American novelist and playwright. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The movie Leap of Faith, starring Steve Martin, depicts a fake faith healer and his fraudulent traveling revival show. Leap of Faith is 1992 comedy-drama film about a fake Christian faith healer who uses a fraudulent traveling revival show to bilk believers of the money. ... Steve Martin (right) with Scooter, on The Muppet Show Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American comedian, writer, producer, actor, musician, and composer. ...

Borat visited a revival meeting in his feature film. Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat Borat Sagdiyev (Cyrillic: Борат Сагдиев) is a fictional character of a Kazakh journalist invented and portrayed by the British comedian provocateur Sacha Baron Cohen for Da Ali G Show, an unstaged and unscripted show in which Borat interviews people who believe that he is a real Kazakh...

See also

• Charles Grandison Finney
• Great Awakening
• Welsh Methodist revival
• Azusa Street Revival
• Brownsville Revival
• Latter Rain Movement
• Toronto Blessing