I walked into the tent at 9:45 on Saturday, April 28th. Already there were hundreds of volunteers gathered. I was told that many of these volunteers had been at the tent cleaning up since 7:00 a.m., and were loving what they were doing: moving chairs, cutting up carpet, tearing down the stage, pulling up steaks, and taking down the lights.

As I looked around I saw, much like day-one of the event, people from every walk of life: men, women, and children; Asian faces; black faces; Hispanic faces; white faces. To tell you the truth, it was beautiful; a picture of what the Church should be-and can be: people coming together in assistance and service for a common cause- the love of Christ and His people.

After the tent was cleaned out, I walked over to the newly refurbished sanctuary, and like the tent, there were literally dozens of volunteers working to prepare the sanctuary for the Sunday service: window washers, electricians, gardeners, and the like were working like bees- excited to get the honey ready!

Like the Amish-who gather as a community of believers to build a barn, working toward a common cause; we came together as a body of believers to work towards a common cause, and show our love for Christ and each other.

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary itself is beautiful. A craftsman-style architectural theme is found manifest throughout the building. Architect, Terry Jacobsen, known for his retro-modern church architecture and visually appealing work, did a wonderful job accentuating lines, light, and patterns to create a warm and inviting space. It was a pleasure sitting in the sanctuary, focusing my attention on the greatness of God.

As wonderful the new sanctuary looks, I must confess that, in my mind, it was not the ‘real’ reason for the tent. I think the Lord allowed the Big Tent Revival for greater purposes than a refurbishing of a building. Reflecting on the seven weeks, I think that the Lord wanted to build community, re-ignite excitement in the hearts of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa people, and center our attention on Jesus Christ. I believe the Lord accomplished these purposes.

The Weeks in Review

Over the course of the seven weeks many Pastors spoke: Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, Jon Courson, Raul Reis, Pancho Juarez, Brian Brodersen, Mike Macintosh, Franklin Graham, and many more. Musical groups, both young and old, led the congregation in song and worship. Though there were different styles of music, and different messages, the common theme of Jesus Christ rang through the speakers much like a Church bell did in the 1500’s- reminding the people of the community that Jesus is Lord.

Week seven was of particular interest in that it was ‘youth week.’ As hundreds of youth gathered each night to hear speakers such as Britt Merrick, Tim Chaddick, and Garid Beeler share from the Bible, one could not wonder if a new wave of Jesus People were being birthed. As a matter of fact, a petition was being signed by many of the youth to ask for more events like the Tent- one of seeking the Lord and gathering in community for the cause of Christ.

The “Wow” Factor

Generally speaking, there is one -and only one- word that could describe the seven weeks of the events that transpired during Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa’s Big Tent Revival; the word is simply, wow! Now I know what you are thinking. Couldn’t one use “amazing” or “marvelous,” or even “glorious?” ‘Wow’ sounds so bland, so over-used! Why such a small, insignificant word?

The reason for such a plain description is because of the word’s power. ‘Wow’ isn’t descriptive. It’s an interjection of astonishment. ‘Wow’ is a word used in complete surprise and great excitement. It is an exclamation of acknowledgment towards that which is a great success. It is “delight” and “incredible” put to “amazement.” It is spontaneous and marvelous rolled into one. Wow holds all the other adjectives in its palm- because it is heart-felt and real.

When it comes to the Big Tent Revival, the word WOW fits quite nicely.

The reason is really quite poignant. Though there was great anticipation and excitement towards the Big Tent Revival, no one knew how it would turn out. And, of course, the result has been, well- WOW!

To give you an indication as to why WOW fits so nicely, think of this:

On Monday night, March 19th- beginning the second week of the Revival- over 5,000 people came to the tent. The tent was full. The overflow room was full. The grounds were packed. People were re-directed to the gym. Hundreds were turned away.

On that same night more than 5,000 were watching on the Internet. The WOW factor is that -on that night alone- over 100 people came forward to receive Christ. And this is just one night!

So you can see why, wow, isn’t such a bad word to use after all. There truly is a Wonder in Observing God Work!

Brian Nixon is a pastor, writer, musician, and family man. He currently resides in Costa Mesa, California.