By Ruby Thomas, Record Staff Writer
On the final night of the 2015 Interfaith Community-wide Revival those who’d gathered heard the message that sometimes in life, when all other possibilities are exhausted, Jesus Christ is the only one to turn to.
An energetic service filled with music and prayer brought the three-day revival to a close Sept. 29 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1545 Louis Coleman Jr. Drive.
The revival took place Sept. 27 through Sept. 29 at St. Monica Church in Bardstown, Ky., Christ the King Church and Immaculate Heart of Mary —all parishes which helped to sponsor the event.
The revival was made possible through donations from the Catholic Services Appeal. It was organized by the Archdiocese of Louisville Office of Multicultural Ministry (OMM).
The theme of the revival was “Cast Your Net” and it brought together about 700 people from across the archdiocese, M. Annette Mandley-Turner, executive director of the OMM said. Each evening began with a meal followed by praise and worship and the revival service.
On the last night of the revival, Deacon James Turner — pastoral administrator of St. Augustine and St. Martin de Porres churches — preached to a packed church on the topic “My God is Awesome.”
“I don’t want to take for granted that I woke up this morning,” Deacon Turner told the congregation. “I know somebody prayed for me.” He then led his enthusiastic listeners in a rendition of Dorothy Norwood’s hymn “Somebody Prayed for Me.” The three days had been, he told the congregation, a “privilege” and a “blessing.”
During his sermon, Deacon Turner shared the story from the eighth chapter of the Gospel of Luke in which Jesus heals a woman of hemorrhaging through a touch of his cloak and later awakens Jairus’ daughter from death. In the Gospel story Jairus, who was a synagogue official, fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to save his daughter. The woman who’d been suffering for 12 years grabbed at Jesus’ coat in the hopes of being healed.
Deacon Turner told the congregation that sometimes people believe that having a title, like the one Jairus had, gave them certain privileges. “In spite of Jairus’ position of authority there was something going on in his life he couldn’t control or fix,” said Deacon Turner.
Like Jairus and the woman who’d exhausted medical options in search of a cure “sometimes in life there’s nobody else to go to but Jesus,” Deacon Turner said.
“I’m sure there’s someone here tonight dealing with a situation and wondering when Jesus is going to fix it.
“The battle isn’t yours. It’s the Lord’s and all he’s asking is for you to bring it to him. I want you to be encouraged tonight to bring it to the Lord,” Deacon Turner said inviting all to come forward to receive a blessing.
St. Monica parish hosted the first night of the three-day event. Father John T. Judie, pastor of Christ the King and Immaculate Heart of Mary churches, offered the revival service on the theme “Going Fishing.”
The second night was hosted by Christ the King, 718 S. 44th St., where Rev. Valerie J. Washington, pastor of Hughlett Temple A.M.E. Zion Church on W. Jefferson Street, preached on “The Gift of Another Day.”
Turner said the event was a “cultural and faith experience.” She said that for “African Americans” and the “Christian Church” revivals traditionally are always “a source of revitalization, re-energizing and spiritual uplifting.”
“For black Catholics it’s a time for gathering and focusing on what God has done in our lives, what God is doing and what he will continue to do for us,” Turner said.
Loueva Moss, a member of Christ the King Church, said the revival did just that. “The nightly services gave me time to think about what an awesome God we serve,” Moss said.
St. Augustine, St. Martin de Porres and Holy Rosary Church in Springfield, Ky., also sponsored the event.
