John Cunningham
Music Minister




Music and Revival

Revival has to do with salvation, forgiveness, confession, seeking God’s will, and doing Kingdom work. Music has always played an important part in revival in the church and believer’s lives. St. Augustine was an important early church leader who lived from A.D. 354-430, and encouraged revival in the church. Music played an important part in his coming to know Christ and in his early Christian life he was himself profoundly moved by music. It was the factor in Augustine's trusting in the Lord for salvation.

According to Frank Garlock, Ambrose, his pastor encouraged congregational singing, which is always a part of revival. Augustine remarked in his book, “Confessions” that the music of Ambrose’s church had on him: "How I wept during your hymns and songs! I was deeply moved by the music of the sweet chants of your Church.” During a time of great grief at the death of his mother, he said he was “without tears and without comfort”  until he recalled the words of a hymn. The words and music of that hymn brought him tremendous relief and comfort for his soul as the Holy Spirit spoke to his heart.

Music was so important to Augustine’s devotion that he later even wrote a book on the effects of music called De Musica. I encourage you to let God minister to your heart through His Word, His Spirit, and through music. These are time-honored ways of reviving Christian souls.