by Kim Miller Griffin - CCN-USA
The Fifth Annual Youth and Young Adult 4 Jesus Christ Harvest Revival Crusade 2002 is the only annual city and statewide youth revival of its kind that is held during the summer in Dayton. And it is held for children and teenagers before they go back to school.
This
annual youth revival is held every year at the Dayton Convention Center. Last
month, it ran for six consecutive days from Aug. 11 – 16, from 7 p.m. – midnight.
It was sponsored by Project Reach, Inc., Prison Ministries and Community Inner-City
Ministry, evangelist Betty M. Hill and other area churches from around the state
of Ohio.
The central theme of the crusade was “The Wind of the Holy Spirit,” and each day of the revival featured scripture-inspired sub-themes.
Each night host churches featured soloists, choirs, mimes, praise and worship teams, praise dancers, gospel groups, Christian rap artists, intercessors (prayer warriors), drill teams, drama groups, youth pastors and ministers who could preach.
There were supervised sessions and areas for young children ages 4 – 11 to learn scripture lessons sing praise songs have snacks and even have fun playing.Hill, who was called to the ministry at age 18, conducted the revival crusade. She is the Executive Director of Dayton-based Project Reach, Inc. Prison Ministry and is one of the associate ministers at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Dayton, Ohio, where Samuel N. Winston is the pastor.
“Project Reach goes into the various prisons in the state
of Ohio ministering to
men, women, boys and girls that are incarcerated,” said Hill. “Project Reach
also provides transportation for inmates that need a ride from the facility.
We also
provide food, clothing, bus tokens, jobs or whatever they need.
Hill said, “Many have received Jesus Christ in their hearts. In 1988 the Lord Jesus gave me a vision to have in the city of Dayton a citywide and statewide revival crusade.”
Hill
hopes that the crusade will have an impact in the city. “I believed by faith
that Project Reach Prison Ministry and other area churches would work together
to involve our youth and young adults for this blessed event,” she said.
“Our mission,” said Hill, “is to reach our young people and deal with issues and problems in our families, schools, comminutes and even our churches, to reach gangs and youth that are involved in teen crime which is on the rise in our cities; to tear down all racial barriers and to lead our young people to Jesus Christ.”
Several attendees enjoyed the event. “This ministry and Sister Hill have been a blessing and an inspiration to us,” said Kristy Johnson, a parent.
“Even though I can be busy at times,” said Wright State senior, Fayola Huffman, “I try to make it my duty each year to participate at the Youth Revival, because of what they deliver.”