Des Plaines ministry hopes to awaken Christian revival

Could Des Plaines be the center for awakening a new Christian revival?

That's the vision of Des Plaines resident Jeff Bilotich and the Straightened Path Ministry that hopes to draw tens of thousands of believers to renew their faith during a two-week-long spiritual camp at Des Plaines' Historic Methodist Campground, Sept. 7 through 21.

The camp will consist of two meetings a day under one giant tent with enough capacity for 800 people following the traditional Methodist style of revival gatherings, said Bilotich, manager of the ministry which is not connected to a specific church.

Des Plaines' Historic Methodist Campground, which celebrates its 145th anniversary this year, was founded in 1865 for the purpose of hosting such religious gatherings, but has not witnessed one in several decades.

"In 1889 there were over 16,000 youth and there was a real movement of God here," Bilotich said. "There's been genuine spiritual awakenings, tangible ones that have occurred here."

The campground was formed before there were established congregations and churches in the area to bring large numbers of people together in a central location for circuit preachers who would otherwise roam the countryside carrying their message from settlement to settlement.

Several Protestant denominations participated in early meetings, but the Methodists continued the practice, according to the campground's website.

Back in the day, people would arrive on foot or by horse-drawn carriage and stay at the campgrounds for the entire two weeks listening to preachers, music and testimonies, Bilotich said.

"It was for the spiritual formation of the people," Bilotich said. "There's been little pockets of (local) revivals that pop up here and there, but there doesn't appear to have been an awakening in the way that there has been historically. America really hasn't had an awakening in the last 100 years."

While the September revival event is open to the public, including nonbelievers, Bilotich doesn't know how many people to expect.

"Whoever will come may come," Bilotich said. "The message is for humanity. We are inviting everyone from as many churches as we can to come on out."

Yet, for it to be a true revival, the guest of honor must be present.

"It's never revival unless God gives (it),"Bilotich said. "God wakes up a sleeping church."