Fayetteville churches seek to ‘Revive All’ from pandemic funk. A look at 4 ways how.
It is called “Revive All,” a play on the word “revival,” an event that for many Christian churches means a time of renewal. The tagline: “8 Days — Many Churches — 1 Hope.”
Revive All will bring together members of five churches of different denominations for a week’s worth of services beneath a tent at First Baptist Church in downtown Fayetteville. The event kicks off with a 6 p.m. worship service Sunday at the church on 201 Anderson St.
First Baptist Pastor Rob James said the idea grew out of prayer sessions he and some members began holding last spring as COVID-19 restrictions began to ease. He said they all realized that life wouldn't simply go back to normal.
James said they concluded: “We were in need of a revival. But a revival of so many different things, not just any one thing.”
Other churches James approached were enthusiastic about the idea. Here are a few things to know about Revive All.
So, what will happen?
Revive All is seven services and a day of mission outreach organized around eight themes. The themes focus on aspects of people’s lives that have become “strained or broken” during the pandemic, according to event materials. Themes include “Faith and Family,” “Community and Church” and “Repentance and Commitment.” All services are scheduled for the tent except the service of “Grief and Hope,” which recognizes the losses of the pandemic and will be held inside First Baptist Church.
What churches are involved?
Participating churches along with First Baptist are First Presbyterian Church on Ann Street; Hay Street United Methodist Church; One Church Covenant Fellowship on Person Street; and St. Luke AME Church on Hillsboro Street. Members of St. James Lutheran Church on Morganton Road are also playing a large role, according to James.
Dr. Orin Gill Sr., pastor of St. Luke, said Revive All is about unity when there is a push across the nation to be separated.
“People are hurting,” he said. One purpose of Revive All, he said, was “to help us not lose hope.”
Who are the speakers?
Speakers include noted Christian writer and speaker Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove from Durham; the Rev. Marvin T. Clowney, chaplain for Cape Fear Valley and Highsmith-Rainey medical centers; and the Rev. Sarah Mears, children’s minister at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh. Pastors of the participating churches and other local ministers will also preach on different days. A Revive All website contains information and times.
What is the Saturday day of service about?
Saturday, May 20, a Day of Mission and Service, is intended for Revive All participants to fan out across the city to do community service projects.
The Rev. David Woodhouse, pastor of Hay Street United Methodist, said Revive All was a chance to “offer to the larger community a glimpse of what it means to be a follower of Christ, and the joy of that.”
“We believe that when people see that in action, that is truly attractive, that woos people to God.”
Myron B. Pitts can be reached at mpitts@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3559.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville churches seek to ‘Revive All’ from COVID-19 funk.
