REVIVE US AGAIN

APRIL 29

Psalm 85

Psalm 85:6, “Will you not revive us again?”

The heartfelt cry of the psalmist — “Will You not revive us again?”—has echoed through the generations as the enduring plea of God’s people. In 1863, William Paton MacKay (1839–1885), a Scottish doctor, Presbyterian minister, and hymn writer, captured this longing in his well-known hymn, “Revive Us Again.” His own story of personal revival is both remarkable and deeply encouraging.

Raised in a devout Christian home, William was grounded in the faith by his godly mother. However, upon entering the University of Edinburgh to study medicine, he drifted into moral decline and heavy drinking. His spiritual descent reached a low point when he pawned the very Bible his mother had lovingly given him.

As a physician, MacKay regularly witnessed the contrast between patients who died with peace through faith in Christ and those who passed without hope. Yet, by his own admission, he was becoming a “thorough infidel.” That path changed when a critically injured young laborer was brought into the hospital.

MacKay later recalled: “My dear mother… had been a godly, pious woman, quite often telling me of the Savior… But nothing had made a deep impression on me. The older I grew, the more wicked I became….”

The dying man, fully aware of his condition, asks only to see his landlady—to settle a small debt and to request “The Book.” MacKay visited him daily and was struck by the man’s peace: “What struck me most was the quiet, almost happy expression constantly on his face….”

After the man’s passing, the nurse held up a book and asks, “‘What shall we do with this?’… ‘The Bible of the poor man…. As long as he was able to read it, he did so, and when he was unable to do so anymore, he kept it under his bed cover.'”

To MacKay’s astonishment, the Bible was his own: “My name was still in it, written in my mother’s hand….”  Gripped by conviction, he reflected: “It had given comfort… in his last hours… a guide… into eternal life… And this Book… I had actually sold for a ridiculous price…. Be it sufficient to say that the regained possession of my Bible was the cause of my conversion.”

“Revive us again, fill each heart with thy love. May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.”—William Mackay

Application Questions: What would revival look like in your own life?  In what ways can MacKay’s story encourage you regarding the influence of your life on the others around you?

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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