April 24, 2000
Lotz looking for revival among women
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DALLAS--If the "Just Give Me Jesus" gatherings in five cities this year lead to anything less than genuine revival among God's people, organizer Anne Graham Lotz will be sorely disappointed.
___"I don't want to be part of another event. I'm too tired and too busy for that," said Lotz, the daughter of Billy Graham and founder of AnGeL Ministries in Raleigh, N.C.
ANNE GRAHAM-LOTZ
___"If God doesn't send revival, if it isn't life-changing for those involved, I'll be doing something else this time next year."
___Along with Kay Arthur of Precepts Ministries International, Lotz will be the featured speaker at a "Just Give Me Jesus" two-day revival, May 5-6 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
___Janet Denison, whose husband, Jim, is pastor at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, is chairwoman of the local steering team for the North Texas event. Similar revival services are scheduled in Knoxville, Atlanta, Kansas City and San Diego.
___The North Texas steering team includes a number of Baptists, including Debra Hochgraber, Women Reaching Texas consultant with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___The interdenominational gatherings grew out of Lotz's desire to see women of God focusing exclusively on revival and a more intimate walk with God.
___"I believe there is a desperate hunger for Jesus and for the truth given plain," said Lotz, a member of Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C.
___"We need to examine the foundations and shore them up before the storms come. It is so easy for individual believers to become dulled by prosperity, anesthetized by the comforts and conveniences in our lives. It's dangerous when we think everything is fine and beautiful, but there is no power."
___While she feels honored to have been invited as a speaker at denominational meetings and various conferences, Lotz said, she had grown frustrated that her message of revival was sandwiched between announcements and business sessions.
___"There were times when I thought revival could have broken out, but it wasn't on the program," she recalled.
___About three years ago, she began developing the idea of two-day revival meetings primarily--but not exclusively--for women. She was committed to making them available at no cost to participants, and she wanted to enlist the support of local churches in prayer and follow-up.
___After the scheduled revivals in each of the five cities, local churches will offer an eight-week Bible study. "The Vision of His Glory," produced by LifeWay Christian Resources, is a video-based study of the book of Revelation.
___Lotz said her expectations are simple and straightforward. She plans to see revival.
___"It will be characterized by repentance of sin growing out of a deep conviction of sin. It will be characterized by a recommitment to Jesus as Savior and Lord. It will be characterized by a recommitment to the word of God, to obeying God' word.
___"When revival comes, it's not just for a weekend," she said. "It's a lifetime commitment."
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