A multi-church tent revival starting this weekend aims to bring local churches together.
According to Pastor Perry Comer of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Rockingham, the theme of this revival is “Church in the Community.”
“Churches are not as visible as they need to be, doing the things they do; charity work, support for organizations and benevolence,” said Comer. “We are trying to encourage the churches in Rockingham to be more visible and do the work churches are supposed to do.”
The revival will begin on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 1247 Sandhill Road, Rockingham. The revival will continue every night at 7 p.m., with Thursday being the last day.
Churches involved are Freedom Baptist Church, Faith Baptist Church, Cordova Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and Crestview Baptist Church, all in Rockingham.
Comer said the economy has made it somewhat difficult for churches to stand on their own.
“Churches have fallen on hard times,” Comer said. “They don’t have the resources like they used to. There are so many needy (people) they (the churches) don’t want to spend resources on the same people. We have a user mentality among so many poor people and it’s hard to reach them all. Every church receives calls each month from the same people.”
Resources get spent on a select few who come to depend on the handouts, and Comer fears others in need may be left emptyhanded because of this.
Comer said in other counties like Union County, churches have come together to form a network so that resources aren’t doubled up on the same individuals.
“There is a great need in Rockingham for a coordinated social ministry among churches,” explained Comer. “There should be a central office where people can come to then be directed, with records kept so we are not helping the same people.”
Comer said this is a good idea, but Rockingham churches lack the financial resources to form such a network because they are mostly small churches.
Pastor Lester English, 91, is a member at Freedom Baptist Church, but preached for 69 years in more than 50 different churches including 22 years at Pee Dee Baptist Church.
“Preachers will bring evangelical messages,” said English. “I will open the revival by preaching on God loving you. I’m hoping all the churches participating will be revived, trusting they will be edified. We are looking for a good number of people to come. One purpose is that it will unite the churches together in a spiritual way. I’m looking forward to it. I believe it will be a real spiritual, God-sent revival.”
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.
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