Brooklyn, New York,
Revival Meetings

May 24-31, 2009

by Charnicia Huggins

The much-anticipated revival meetings at the Apostolic Faith Church at 265 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, began on Sunday, May 24, with a sermon by the pastor, Reverend Eugene Segres. Through his preaching, the Holy Spirit stirred the hearts and minds of those in attendance. Reverend Segres encouraged the congregation to be like David, and to stand for God despite the giants in their way. He also urged them to be honest and specific in their requests so that, as Jairus did in Mark 5, they will receive the desires of their hearts.

On Monday evening, John Wyatt Jr., a minister from the Boston Road church in the Bronx, New York, preached from 2 Chronicles 20. He said the key to success is trusting God. The following evening, his father and pastor, Reverend John Wyatt Sr., spoke from Acts 10 and reminded the congregation that the good news of the Gospel is for everyone. He said that Christians will be judged for their commitment and efforts in the Gospel, and as each one endeavors to labor for the advancement of God’s Kingdom, their works will precede their entrance to Heaven, just as Cornelius’s did. Reverend Wyatt also brought out that countless hymns, sermons, and testimonies heard over the years are a reminder that working for God may not be easy, but God has promised to bless those who do their best for Him.

On Wednesday evening, Reverend Joseph Lamidi, the pastor of the church in Hempstead, New York, reminded the congregation that their adversary, Satan, will do everything he can to make trouble for them, but the good news is that God will give victory to all who consecrate and dedicate their lives to Him.

There was eager anticipation among the Brooklyn church members as they awaited the main speaker for the revival services, Reverend Bernice Pinney, the pastor of the Reed Road church in Houston, Texas. This was a special treat since Reverend Pinney had worshiped with the Brooklyn congregation for several years before moving to Houston. She preached the truth of God’s Word with conviction as she proclaimed the need for a spiritual awakening. Using real-life examples to illustrate a heart’s spiritual condition, she said that “some are trying to survive on stale bread, trying to stay saved with a stale Holy Ghost, trying to be happy with stale joy, and trying to smile on stale hope.” She said that for anyone who is in such a condition, it is important to remember that it is not God who has changed. She then provided a remedy—cultivating a hunger and thirst for righteousness that God will not fail to fill (Matthew 5:6).

Reverend Pinney later preached from 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 about the power of praise—an underused weapon in a Christian’s spiritual arsenal. She closed out the revival services by encouraging the congregation to go after whatever they were seeking from God. She said that unlike the Children of Israel, who spent years wandering in the wilderness, Christians should seek to enter their promised land by carving out time in their daily lives to pray and read the Word of God. She brought out that it takes time to be holy, but the results are worth it.

The church members in Brooklyn are thankful for the stirring they felt in their hearts during the revival meetings, and for all the blessings that were poured out. Although the “scheduled” revival may be over, they are determined to continue to look to the Lord for His unceasing blessings and outpouring of His Spirit in the days to come.