Music City Revival At The Ryman
The idea of presenting "Music City Revival" in Nashville's Ryman Auditorium started with "A Work In Progress" project in July of 2009. Many fans have voluntarily shared web site links to spread the exciting news!
Common knowledge combined with limited research indicates that people getting together to have a revival is nothing new. It was 10 May 1885 when Captain Ryman got a little religion and repented to God for making mistakes in his life. Interestingly, it was the same year that another sinner named Mark Twain had succeeded in getting "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" published on February the 18th.
The newly invigorated 44-year-old riverboat captain, Thomas Green Ryman, decided to build a tabernacle to serve as a special gathering place for sinners. He didn't want to be the only one who found Jesus at a Nashville revival - after hearing sermons preached by a popular evangelist named Samuel Porter Jones. Sam had been spreading the "gospel" since 1878 after promising his terminally ill father that he would stop his life of sin and drinking. People found it easy to believe his talk because he was honest enough to understand.
Captain Ryman had a little money saved up, so he asked Hugh C. Thompson to start working from his original sketches of his proposed building. While the architect was doing his work, Thomas took time to file some legal papers to create the "Union Gospel Tabernacle" - which was later renamed the Ryman Auditorium. His dream became a reality in May of 1890 when the first revival was held before the roof was completed.
Finally in 1892, after financial investments and lots of hard work, the new building had pews in position and was ready for good things to start happening. That was the historic moment when the "Grand Ole Opry" came into existence.
We need to remember that many preachers back in the 1830's were responsible for starting a modern "evangelical" movement that impacted the United States. Preacher Jones played a leading role in what is now known as "The Great Awakening." Millions of people since then have been blessed and entertained because a "riverboat captain" was listening when the voice of God filled him with good ideas. In my humble opinion, it is time to renew our vows to the Almighty as we thank Him for what we are about to receive in 2010.
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