By DAWN HANKINS - dhankins@t-g.com
Pastor Jay Pope says he has a deep desire for his community to find hope out of the tent revival which will be held Sunday, on the heels of the Great American Mule Show, on the Celebration grounds.
“This is not a denominational revival,” explains Pope. “This is a city-wide revival.”
He believes there will be healing, deliverances and salvation to come as a result of the tent revival. He explains baptism pools will be set up that day for those wanting something bigger in life, than themselves.
The morning worship is at 11 a.m. The team will take a break and come back to the Celebration grounds at 6 p.m. for another service. Food is planned for the evening.
“There will be prayer lines for any prayer that you want,” advised Pope. “I’ve got a team that’s ready to go. They’ve been praying . . . meeting on Wednesdays . . . .”
He said that team will be walking the Celebration grounds this week, prior to the worship service. He’s said it is a way to declare the entire event for the Kingdom of God.
Pope added, “It’s just really a time for refreshing for the community. It’s time for repentance. If there’s something we need today in the world, it’s repentance.”
He said sadly, in many people’s lives, God is not longer “No. 1.” He said there are a lot of idols that people place first above Jesus.
From a church elder
Pope said he depends a lot on his team at Kingdom Cultivation Ministry of Shelbyville to assist with such events. His son-in-law, Josh Young, is one of those.
A local educator, Young notes in regard to the upcoming revival, “Bottom line, you get the opportunity to live again. There’s so much . . . life is so busy. It seems bad and evil wins. And all this stuff just overtakes a group or town or community, whatever it may be. So many times you just hear about what’s bad . . . those things that wear people out.”
He added the upcoming revival is not just about a “feel good moment” or to serve as a boxed version of Christianity. He said the bigger picture is for the community to be transformed through Christ’s love.
“That’s what our heart’s desire is . . . . This is not just a moment. Oct. 2nd is going to be a moment. But this is continuing on. This doesn’t stop. If one person is impacted; they get healing, set free and deliverance. Then that impacts their people around in their families and workplaces.”
Pope and Young both note that this revival is to ignite a flame too in future generations for honoring the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s also hope for those maybe going through difficult trials.
“We’re just hoping that Jesus . . . He breathes throughout and gets the glory,” said Young.
Pope adds his greatest desire is that the community will experience “a tremendous encounter of the heart.”
