Worth special meetings began on Friday, October 20, with the theme “It is time to seek the Lord.” To open the service, the choir sang “O Worship the King,” followed by the congregation singing “Revive Us Again.” After the first special by the St. Louis choir, several people shared their testimonies.

A sister from the Madison church told of the power of God to heal. She had been sick for many years,  to the extent that she could not keep a job for very long, but God healed her completely! Another sister, the only octogenarian in the midst, also testified to the power of God to deliver, thanking God for keeping her saved for the past fifty years.

The sermon was taken from Hosea 10:12. Olusola Adesope, the guest minister from Pullman, Washington, explained how God sent Hosea to Israel during the reign of Jeroboam, at a time when the people were in sin and totally insensitive to their moral bankruptcy as a nation. He inferred that the more prosperous the nation became, the more it lavished on idols. God sent them a specific message through the prophet Hosea: they were to sow in righteousness, break up their fallow ground, and plow the hard ground of their hearts by acknowledging their sins and opening their hearts to God’s forgiveness. Brother Olusola said that God is sending this same message to today’s generation because of the decay in American society. He emphasized the importance of undistracted preparedness for Heaven, given the perilous events of the last days that are unfolding right now. Noting that God is a God of mercy, he added that if people continue in their sins, the olive branch of mercy will eventually turn into the rod of judgment. He encouraged believers to live in a manner that honors God because it is time for the church to be awake. The night ended with a call to the altar for seekers to take the opportunity to pray while God is still present.

Saturday was another day of activities with manifold blessings. The day started with a symposium entitled “Social Media and Us,” that centered around how social media can be used in both positive and negative ways. Thoughts about how it can be used for good were quite powerful and enlightening. For example, consistency in what one posts online is important. People are watching, and believers can be stumbling blocks or steppingstones to those who see what is posted or “liked.” Describing social media as a great invention with benefits for believers, Brother Olusola noted that it has made Christians worldwide more connected than ever. Some of the benefits include posting church programs, sharing Scriptures, and the ability to reach many through preaching and prayers. However, he cautioned that the wrong use of social media could lead to compromising spiritual integrity. Brother Olusola also cited numerous Scriptures to guide believers in the use of social media. He urged his listeners not to allow the devil to use it to destroy their testimonies. He advised against participating in social media discussions that are controversial, immoral, or contentious in nature, especially on politics and other topics that could cause division within the body of Christ.

Later that evening, everyone gathered for the first ever upper Midwest youth concert. What started as a mustard seed youth concert, became like a mighty Sherman tree or giant sequoia, thanks to the Spirit of God that motivated Bunmi Omitoyin, pastor in Worth, Illinois, to merge the concert with a sermonette.

Brother Olusola expanded on Matthew 24:3, where the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of the last days. He related the response of Jesus, that no one knows the time of His coming except God the Father. However, God has been gracious enough to give us signposts, which include the current situation in the Middle East where nations are rising against Israel. He also pointed out the wickedness that is on the rise in the world, and the falling away of believers whose love has waxed cold. To conclude, Brother Bunmi challenged everyone to pray. The Spirit of God filled the house and many people prayed through to victory.

The next morning, there was Sunday school for all ages. Teachers in various classes taught on God’s promise to instruct those who look to Him for guidance, and the importance of allowing God to lead.

The day was capped with more blessings in the morning devotional service. The text was taken from Psalm 107:9 and the question was asked, “Why Seek Jesus?” Brother Olusola said if man needed a good economy, God would have sent economists. If he needed pleasure, God would have sent an entertainer. But God knows that man’s greatest need is forgiveness of sins, so He sent the Savior, Jesus Christ. In a call for prayer, he said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Jesus because He alone can satisfy our longings and He is there to do just that during this special meeting.”

At the end of the meetings, it was confirmed that three were saved, one sanctified, one received a reanointing, and others received healing. Only Heaven has the full record of those who were blessed.