Remembering the 2024 Miracle Tent Revival on the Mountain

Hosting the Laurel Mountain Ministries annual Pennsylvania Miracle Tent Revival on the Mountain is hard work. It more than renting a tent and watching six big men muscle it to the sky. It’s not simply turning on a few microphones and joining with a band in worship. The billboards, radio spots, website, and emails are not one of the revival miracles. (O.K. Getting each step completed on time and paid for is miraculous.)

 

Note from Marissa who was at the tent last year:

Tent 2023 Revival Recap

This week marked the end of 7 years for me since adopting my daughter, and I feel like this event was a completion of many prayers I’ve prayed over those years. The greatest testimony I saw, in my life, was the fact that God revealed to me how this is so much more about Him than it is a miracle. I came to the tent last year desperate for a miracle for my daughter, overwhelmed in pure anguish for her freedom, and I didn’t see it. I spent many hours questioning God on this, and I believed once again that she would receive her miracle this year, but God revealed to me that this Tent Revival is not simply about miracles. Sometimes the greatest miracle is not seeing one so that we may come to know God and His presence, not just His hand and power. Because… that is the GREATEST miracle we could ever see; a soul coming to KNOW God and live poured out for Him, lasting fruit, not just intense reaction. I didn’t see my daughter’s miracle, but, I saw my heart shift to focus on God. I saw incredible humility pour out of Barry Perez, and I learned how I want to be as I minister to people. I saw joy and laughter. I saw new friendships and connections. I saw my heart grow in wisdom and discernment. I learned how to better focus on the Healer and Deliverer and how to teach that to others. I loved watching a teenage girl, I’m not sure of her name, dancing with these beautiful rose gold flags in the field below the tent. I walked over to her and invited her to come dance up in the front. She was hesitant and said something along the lines of, “but that’s for the band,” and I replied with, “it’s for those who are willing to pour out.” I learned a lot about worship and how us poured out is the greatest act. It doesn’t matter the stage. It doesn’t matter the crowd size or venue type. It doesn’t matter the tools we use. It matters the heart posture. I saw people, poor in spirit, seeing God. I still cannot put it all to words, but I am deeply thankful for the lessons God taught me. Some were hard lessons, things my Spirit wept for and disagreed with, and I was challenged me with difficult conversations, but I feel like God opened my eyes to how He sees true ministry. This isn’t about what we do, how we do it, or where we do it. It’s not about good music, or miracles, or a “big name” preacher. It’s about people willing to pour out, come poor in spirit, and desire connection with a Holy God. I’m honored to have been there. It is my deep prayer we can find ways to continue with teaching people and extend discipleship post Tent month. I pray we can teach people in greater ways how to sit at His feet and hear from Him, not just come to revivals to be “filled.” I am expectant for next year. There is an alter: waiting, inviting, and calling. May we see God and His presence as the biggest thing we could ever chase, and may we come to this alter as poured out offerings, inviting others to join in.

 

 

The reality is that the Laurel Mountain Ministry Board of Directors, the three ministries involved, and  dozens of volunteers who labor before, during, and after the revival spend hundreds of hours preparing, ministering, and cleaning up the Mountain. Most of those hours go unseen by the crowds who attend. More telling than the hours expended is that all the hours are unpaid. The time given is to serve people who are hurting, to build God’s Kingdom, and to bless all who visit the Mountain

Preparing for the Revival

Preparation for the 2024 tent revival began in August of 2023. The tent was reserved. A significant deposit paid to guarantee the dates. The participating ministries committed. Meetings held where a budget was established and approved. And then the Laurel Mountain Ministries board members were each assigned long lists of tasks. Those tasks needed to be completed while ministries other than the tent revival still moved forward.

Planning and implementation meeting were numerous with each meeting very different. Walk in late to one meeting and you would find the three ministry leaders laying hands on each other and praying for one another. Sit in on another meeting and you might be overtaken with contagious laughter. At yet another, a knife and fork might be handed to you and a sumptuous spread would be waiting for your dinner. The tent revival team knows how to hold meetings.

The Baptismal Pool

The baptismal pool was a constant topic of conversation. During the tent revival people are baptized daily. The water is pumped from the campus’ main well directly into the baptismal pool and it’s cold. In July and August the days and evening are hot enough to warm the water in a couple of days. During the tent revival in June, the water temperature may never get truly comfortable. Last year we used electric tub water warmers to raise the temperature of the water. It worked, a bit. This year after much experimentation we found a solar  system that worked so well that some days the water temperature was up to 80 degrees.

Another much discussed subject related to the baptismal pool was how to keep it clean. The pool is filled in late May and remain full until mid July. Keeping it clean is a major undertaking. This year, we installed a small swimming pool filtering system. It worked well. Rather than spending a few hour per day keeping the water clean, prep time was reduced to less than a half hour. The tubes affected the immediate aesthetic, but they can be quickly removed when needed.