Welsh Minister Spends $240 Thousand to Restore Old Chapels and Usher in Revival

Will Maul : Aug 5, 2019
Faithwire.com

In 1904-1905, a young preacher named Evan Roberts sparked a revival that not only saved 150,000 people across the nation, but also spread the Gospel halfway around the globe and still influences churches even today.

(Wales) — [Faithwire.com] A Welsh minister has purchased twelve abandoned chapels in a bid to restore them to their former glory. (Image source: Screenshot/BBC /via Faithwire)

The Rev Robert Stivey, a congregationalist minister, has invested around $240,000 of his own money in the derelict buildings, which are mostly former Baptist chapels.

The dedicated reverend, who called his venture an "act of faith," said he felt a strong desire to bring the aging sanctuaries to life, filling them once again with the beautiful sounds of Christian worship.

"Many years ago, I had visits to the Welsh valleys and noticed a lot of the chapels were being closed down or turned into flats or being demolished and so forth, and I thought that's really, really bad," he told the BBC.

"I felt I've been called to do something about this, these chapels must be saved and reopened and used again for their original purpose. We're looking to the future for reopening, I don't know when, maybe next year, but it [Calfaria] is a magnificent building and deserves to resound with the praises of God once again."

In the town of Aberdare, the Calfaria chapel used to be packed to the rafters with patrons eager to hear the Gospel and lift up their voices to the Lord. Over time, however, the congregation began to dwindle and, eventually, silence fell over the hallowed building... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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