Revival Idea Ministers bring Judeo-Christian message to stadium crowd
The organizers of an upcoming October revival believe faith will conquer fear in these difficult times.
The event, “God Bless America: A Judeo-Christian Revival Celebration,” will run from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 10 at Michelle Krill Field at Historic Pullman Park, 100 Pullman Park Place.
One of the three planners of the revival, Pastor Larry Thompson of First Baptist Church and interim minister at the Martinsburg Church of Bruin, had written a newspaper article in June for the Butler Eagle titled “Refocus and Revival in God's Church.” He credited the article with becoming the genesis of the Oct. 10 revival.
Thompson brought Mitch Tepper, the missionary development officer of Christian Witness to Israel, and Robert Erskine of Carrying the Message of the Cross Ministries to join the planning.
Tepper said, “When you've got a Jew, a Baptist and a Lutheran working together, you've really got something.
Erskine said, “Everybody we tell about it, they say, 'Is it a joke?'”
Each of the three will do a 30- to 40-minute preaching session.
Tepper's wife, Mia Tepper, has been tapped to provide the music, including musical interludes between the preaching sessions.
The trio of organizers see the revival as a way to bring people back to God and to work through their fears.
Tepper said the event is reminiscent of the Bible passage of Ezekiel 37 in which God revives the dry bones of the nation of Israel.
Tepper said people need to remember that the godly roots of this country are its Jewish roots.
Tepper said a revival is needed because the American nuclear family is under attack.“What kind of world will our children and grandchildren live in?” he asked.Tepper said, “Perfect love casts out all fear.” And with the COVID-19 pandemic, economic woes, and racial injustice protests, there is reason to be afraid, he said.All three of the organizers said they hope the revival will plant a seed. They encourage people to come listen to what they have to say.Mia Tepper, a music teacher at the Butler Area Intermediate High School, said the music will consist of “Me on keyboards with some people singing with me.”Her musicians will come from a church in Chicora and from a Masonic fellowship in Monroeville.“We're probably going to try to have a lot of music prepared,” Mia Tepper said. “It's probably going to be about two hours.”Music will start the revival and provide interludes between the three speakers.“There are going to be some patriotic songs mixed with some contemporary worship music and Masonic worship music, which has more of a Jewish flavor,” she said.Thompson said, “We are all one in the eyes of the Lord.”Erskine, an evangelist with the Carrying the Message of the Cross Ministries based in Tarentum, said he is going to base his section of the revival on Jeremiah 29.“God has a plan, and with everything going on He does have a plan,” said Erskine. “He is taking care of us; He has a plan for our lives.”
Tepper said freedom comes from God, citing Leviticus “Declare liberty throughout the land ...”Tepper added, “Again, understanding liberty does not come from the mind or the pen of man, but from the breath of God.”Thompson, Tepper and Erskine have been working on this revival since July. The big question was how to get other churches together to bring about the revival. Letters have been sent out to at least 250 churches.Erskine said he, Tepper and Thompson have decided recently to set up 400 chairs in the park for people who wish to mask and social distance. In addition to the 400 chairs, the park can hold 1,400 spectators.The organizers are paying for the expenses of the revival out of their own pockets.There will be no admission charge to attend the revival, but people are asked to give what they can.The organizers are extending an open invitation to anyone who needs help or direction.Thompson said, “This is a celebration of American freedom and American godliness.”
Thompson said he hopes those attending will have “a chance to hear the Gospel as it was meant to be presented. The Judeo-Christian culture of faith has been the culture of religion in this country.”Dean Selfridge, stadium operations manager for the Butler Parks, Recreation, Grounds and Facilities Authority, said the revival group contacted him about renting the park at the beginning of August. Concessions will be open, he said.
