Rodney Smith was born in 1860 on the outskirts of London. He never received a formal education, but despite his humble origins, he lectured at Harvard and was invited to the White House by two sitting U.S. presidents. 

Smith crossed the Atlantic Ocean 45 times, preaching to millions of people, and he never preached without someone surrendering their life to Jesus. Smith was powerfully used by God—everywhere he went, he seemed to bring revival with him. But it wasn’t his preaching that brought revival Preaching can move our hearts, but praying moves God’s heart, and that’s where revival comes from. 

Smith revealed his secret to a delegation of revival seekers who sought an audience with him, wanting to know how they could make a difference. His answer was simple yet profound, and as timely now as it was then. He gave them this advice: “Go home. Lock yourself in your room. Kneel down in the middle of the floor, and with a piece of chalk draw a circle around yourself. There, on your knees, pray fervently and brokenly that God would start a revival within that chalk circle.”