{"id":3737,"date":"2025-08-01T08:30:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T13:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/closetohome\/?p=3737"},"modified":"2025-08-01T10:14:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:14:25","slug":"against-the-flow-45-years-of-southwest-believers-convention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/closetohome\/2025\/08\/against-the-flow-45-years-of-southwest-believers-convention\/","title":{"rendered":"Against the Flow: 45 Years of Southwest Believers Convention"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

In a day when U.S. Christian arena conferences are dwindling in size and influence, the Southwest Believers Convention continues to attract people<\/strong> from across the country and around the world.<\/p>\n

The signature event of Kenneth Copeland Ministries<\/a> is set to go against the flow in 2025, as the Fort Worth-based ministry reports that it will host attendees from all 50 states and over 70 countries<\/strong> at its home base from July 28 to August 2.<\/p>\n

\"Southwest
Image Credit: KCM.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Conferences and crusades are consistently among the most effective means of evangelizing the world and reaching souls for God\u2019s glory. Consider global history, and it\u2019s evident how public gatherings can reach the masses, inspire movements and change public opinion.<\/p>\n

Yet, following the wake of a historic event that killed over 1 million, devastated commerce and changed the way everyone approaches\u2026well, everything, where are they now?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

COVID-19 forced the global Church to reconsider outreach. People are not as interested in organized religion<\/a> and attending Church. Mass conferences that pack extra-large hotel ballrooms or sporting stadiums still happen, but are they going to last?<\/p>\n

Are other arena conferences in today\u2019s Church still appealing? Will they eventually all fade, or is there a resurgence coming in the face of Gen-Z college revivals? The answer is both close to home and around the world.<\/p>\n

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Before we delve into those questions and gain an understanding, stay in touch with faith-based issues that hit \u201cclose to home.\u201d Subscribe to our free newsletter<\/a> and never miss what\u2019s happening in the Church, and what real Christians can do in return to defend the love and work of Christ.<\/h5>\n
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Conferences Continue the Traditions of History<\/h2>\n
\"Rev.
Rev. Billy Graham is synonymous with crusades and conferences (Image Credit: AP\/BGEA.org via Wikimedia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the days of early American colonization to the height of the Pentecostal<\/a> Renewal, people gathered in public forums for personal reasons. It was the Internet of its day\u2013one message, thousands of people. The four Great Spiritual Awakenings began with British evangelists Jonathan Edwards <\/strong>and George Whitefield<\/strong>, whom the Holy Spirit drove to America.<\/p>\n

Over 200 years have spanned the ministries of Charles Finney, <\/strong>Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody<\/strong>, Charles Spurgeon, John G. Lake,<\/strong> and the historic Azuza Street Revival<\/strong> of 1906. That was the rise of global revivalists, soul-winning champions of faith, and transcontinental missionaries who transformed the world.<\/p>\n

Azuza Street Revival aged image about an \"apostolic blessing\"
It changed church and cultural history as William J. Seymour welcomed the Holy Ghost to the 20th century. (Image Credit: Wikimedia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Storied, generational leading men and women of God like Kathryn Kuhlman, Billy Graham, Aimee Semple McPherson, Reinhard Bonnke, Addie Elizabeth Davis, T.D. Jakes, Beth Moore, James Robison, Joyce Meyer, <\/strong>and Kenneth Copeland.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every person mentioned, along with dozens of others, created a wave of revival that engulfed the world through mass outreach. When stadiums were filled with God\u2019s people and fields flooded with others seeking Christ\u2019s love, it was the echo of Jesus\u2019 heartfelt idea that sparked them all.<\/p>\n

Of course, that\u2019s the Great Commission. Looking at the world now, is it still great? Yes, but it can be challenging to think so.<\/p>\n

Rebuilding the Future<\/h2>\n
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\"sorry
(Image Credit: Tim Mossholder via Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the turn of a decade, the world shut down and turned off. As everyone was quarantined in their homes and isolated from people, there was an endemic of second-guessing decisions to go to church. COVID forced everyone to do things differently, including pastors.<\/p>\n

In 2020, Barna shared<\/a> national research that showed 22 percent of practicing Christians\u2014and 52 percent of practicing Christian Millennials\u2014say they replaced traditional church with streaming it online. In 2025, the trend hasn\u2019t disappeared. It\u2019s more embraced and has ushered in the wave of the future.<\/p>\n

A 2025 \u201cState of the Church Tech Report<\/a>\u201d shows 86% of all U.S. church leaders believe technology \u201cplays a vital role in enhancing connection within their communities.\u201d They\u2019re not wrong at all. The convenience factor and ease of outreach through technology have multiplied the success of the Great Commission exponentially.<\/p>\n

However, a few more numbers may show why conferences like the Southwest Believers Convention are more of the exception than the rule.<\/p>\n