June 26, 2025

Jesus People: Round Two

The Jesus People movement of the 1970s was not merely a fleeting trend or a cultural phenomenon; it was a sovereign move of God, a divine awakening that transformed the hearts of a generation and set the stage for the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit beginning today. The 1960s and early 1970s were tumultuous times. The world was wrestling with war, social upheaval, and a deep sense of disillusionment. The counterculture movement, with its rebellion against authority and traditional values, swept across America and beyond. Young people were searching for meaning, identity, and purpose, amid chaos and confusion. Many turned to drugs, free love, and Eastern philosophies, seeking fulfillment in all the wrong places.

But God planned to use the disillusionment and hunger. In the midst of this spiritual darkness, a divine light was about to dawn. In His mercy, God was about to impact a generation hungry for truth—desperate for salvation—ready to encounter the living Christ.

The Birth of a Movement

The Jesus People movement burst forth in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning in California but quickly spreading across the nation and around the world. It was characterized by young people who encountered Jesus Christ and experienced radical life transformation. These were not just casual converts; they were a generation of worshippers set ablaze with divine fire, eager to share the Gospel with passion and authenticity.

At the heart of this movement was a simple yet profound truth: Jesus Christ is Lord, Savior, and King. The streets, campuses, and hippie communes became the battlegrounds of revival. The Jesus People were known for their love, their radical devotion, and their willingness to live out their faith boldly in every sphere of life.

The movement was largely grassroots; however, leaders and moments helped propel it forward. People like Hubert Lindsey, who preached on numerous campuses and led many young people to Christ, Lonnie Frisbee in California, Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel, and many others became prophetic voices, leading young believers into encounters with the Holy Spirit. The “Jesus Festivals,” street evangelism, and house church gatherings became common expressions of this revival.

Explo ’72, held June 12-17, 1972, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, was widely regarded as the apex of the movement, drawing a massive crowd and receiving extensive media attention. Organized by Campus Crusade for Christ, its purpose was to train high school and college students in evangelism. Initially called the “International Student Congress on Evangelism,” it was billed as Explo ’72 and became the largest youth evangelism training conference in church history. Estimates range as high as 200,000 attendees. It was known as “The Christian Woodstock”, with notable participants such as Billy Graham, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Love Song, Larry Norman, Andrae Crouch, and more. This, and other such gatherings, demonstrated that God was doing something unprecedented—His Spirit was pouring out upon a generation that was seeking truth.(1)

The Power of the Holy Spirit

Central to the Jesus People movement was an emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. Many young believers experienced the baptism in the Spirit, speaking in tongues, and divine healings. The movement was characterized by an openness to the supernatural, a hunger for the gifts of the Spirit, and a desire to see lives radically transformed by the power of God.

But be assured that this Spirit-led revival was not just about emotionalism; it was about encounters with the living Christ—personal, transforming, and revolutionary. It was about awakening a sleeping church and igniting a new wave of disciples who would carry the Gospel into every corner of society.

The Jesus People movement made a significant cultural impact. It challenged the church to become more relevant and engage with the lost and hurting. It sparked a fresh emphasis on worship, evangelism, prayer, and holiness. Many of the leaders emerging from this movement went on to influence church planting, missions, and revival across the globe.

Moreover, the movement fueled its counterpart, the charismatic renewal, opening the door for a renewed emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s gifts and power within the body of Christ around the world.

Only God could have caused such a phenomenon. It was not merely human effort or cultural rebellion; it was divine orchestration—God’s mercy pouring out upon a generation in desperate need. And the Jesus People movement was a sign, a foretaste, of what God desires to do in our day—the coming of a fresh, sovereign outpouring of His Spirit.

In the words of Joel 2:28, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.” The Spirit of revival is stirring again. The same Spirit that moved in the 1970s is calling us to rise up, to pray, to evangelize, and to seek His face with renewed fervor. As we reflect on this historic movement, let’s remember that the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). His purposes are unchanging. He is faithful to awaken the sleeping church and to raise up a new generation of radical followers of Christ.

The Jesus People movement was a divine catalyst—a reminder that no one is beyond salvation, that God specializes in transforming the broken, the lost, and the hopeless. It was a prophetic reminder that revival begins in the hearts of ordinary people who yield to the extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit.

I encourage you to prepare your heart for another, greater movement. Allow the Holy Spirit to ignite a fresh fire within you. Prepare to reach out to our communities, to see people saved, and to see the church awakened to her divine calling. 

Let us renew our commitment to pray, to seek God with all our hearts, and to be His vessels for this revival. Holy Spirit is being poured out once again. The harvest is plentiful, and the fields are white unto harvest (John 4:35). The Lord is looking for willing instruments - people like you and me - who will say, “Yes, Lord, use me.”

In Conclusion

The Jesus People movement of the 1970s was more than a historical event; it was a divine awakening—a spiritual revival that transformed lives, churches, and cultures. It was a sign of God’s grace and power breaking into a generation in desperate need. Today, we stand on the shoulders of those early revivalists, called to carry the flame of revival forward.

Let’s embrace the challenge and be bold in our faith. And let us believe that the best days are still ahead! The Spirit of revival is alive—ready to fall afresh upon us, our nation, and the nations. Let us prepare our hearts and step into the fullness of what God has for us, knowing that His purposes will prevail.

The Lord reigns. His Spirit is moving. Revival is here.

Pray with me:

Father, as we reflect on what You did in the 60s and 70s with the youth of America, we marvel at Your ability to orchestrate, initiate, and coordinate outpourings of Your Spirit. We thank You for the great revivals of the past, but we know they are to lead us to more and greater revivals. You are always in increasing and expanding Your unstoppable Kingdom.

As You promised, You are now moving among the youth of America. Thousands are turning to You, being baptized, attending worship gatherings, and falling in love with Jesus. But not only are You moving among the youth, You are also moving in our nation’s capital, exposing corruption and restoring prayer to the White House, Congress, and many other government agencies. 

We ask for all of this to continue and increase. Cause the harvest to multiply exponentially, and hunger for You to become insatiable. Increase levels of power and the gifts of Your Spirit, causing signs and wonders to take place throughout the earth. Raise up thousands of anointed evangelists, filled with Your Spirit and holy fire. We boldly proclaim that this will take place, and we thank You for it. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Our decree:

We decree that our sovereign and merciful God is sending a tidal wave of redeeming love to the earth.

Click on the link below to watch the full video.

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1. Information about Explo '72