Time to Revive spreads message of Christian unity locally

CELINA - Leaders of several county church denominations have set aside their differences to share the hope of Jesus Christ during the Christmas season

The churches have united around Time to Revive, which has already been to Auglaize, Darke and Miami counties and many other communities across the nation. The group wrapped up a week of sharing in Mercer County on Saturday and begins a second week today.

"We are here to walk alongside the local church," said Time to Revive founder Kyle Lance Martin.

Results so far have been remarkable, he added.

"First of all, unity with the church. We're seeing charismatics and Methodists and nondenominational churches working together," he said. "That's always our goal is that the church works together and, as a result, the Lord has really opened up doors. Revive Ohio is to walk alongside and help equip the saints."

"For me, personally, it's been all about connection with the other pastors, the camaraderie, the fellowship," said the Rev. Craig Flack of Celina First Church of God. "These are people we have been serving with for months, years and sometimes decades that we really didn't know, to our shame, but now are locking arms and saying 'Let's change that going forward.' We repent for where we've been, but let's press in a new direction."

The Rev. Dave Souers of New Horizons Community Church in Rockford said many pastors serve in Mercer County; some have been here a long time while others have served only a few years, but they don't really know each other.

"We have a hard time breaking down those barriers, and this has broken down every single one," he said. "People I thought I'd never get to do ministry with, it doesn't matter now. This has got me excited about working with other pastors and getting my people excited to go share the Gospel."

The Time to Revive ministry goes into the community where members are invited, and they share through prayer and conversation. The doors have opened for those working through the group.

"The one that many are talking about is in the school systems," Martin said. "We've been able to pray with local athletic teams, from the blessings of the players and coaches, principals and superintendents. We're just praying with the teams and sharing the Gospel."

The group assembles for breakfast and worship every morning and then the smaller teams hit the street to pray with and for people. They meet for a get-together lunch and dinner at one of the participating churches and a service wraps up each day. Between those events, relationships are forged within the group and among group members and area residents. Invitations to participate have continued throughout the past week, coming from employers, school teams and public officials, Martin said.

"What I sense in Mercer County is humility," Martin said. "It really leads to what I am seeing - hunger. People are ready for more. They are longing for, in this Christmas season, hope. Strangely enough, they have always viewed God as someone coming to judge them, but what they are seeing just that this is a loving God who wants to provide hope for them. Students are hungry for this, older people are hungry for this and the church is hungry for this."

Souers said the biggest change he's seen is boldness.

"People who were maybe marginal followers, marginal church attenders even are going out," he said. "The Holy Spirit is stirring inside them and they are going and then coming back and saying, 'Why have I never done this before? Why was I so scared?' "

"For the people of the county, it's shaken some old-timey religion up a little bit and reminded people that if we believe the Bible, why aren't we living it?" Flack added.

Time to Revive began nine years ago in Dallas, Texas, with 10 members. The ministry has grown to 25 staff members and more than 80 missionaries as the group travels from community to community.

"America is in this season of having an open door right now that we can go encourage people through the Gospel," Martin said. "Our heart is basically to view America as the mission field. I love to see communities come to Christ. It's really fun when God hears your prayers."