RETURN OF THE TENT REVIVAL

In mid-June while we were enjoying answered prayer for rain in Central Texas, a small tent went up on the bypass in Taylor very near the new Wal-Mart construction site. There an old fashioned tent revival ensued. You may have missed a few days of it, for in the beginning the rains were so great the revival was moved to the Assembly of God church on Seventh street.

However, as soon as the mud dried up, around the 15th or so the little revival went full swing. Good music, preachin', and fellowshipping was found under the little tent for several days more.   Evangelist George Wheeler and his wife Suzanne led the revival which began in town around the 7th and lasted until the 18th.

All the rain did not discourage anyone. Inside or outside the revival continued on. It was very pleasant to attend the meeting under the tent. After the rains, the air was so very cool and crisp. The atmosphere was nostalgic yet moving, with the musicians leading praise and worship songs of today with amplified instruments and vocals, unlike tent revivals of yesteryear with little or no electricity at all. Brother Wheeler explained his purpose for the revivals under a tent are twofold. The salvation message first of course, but to bring back the integrity of the old tent revival. "In the later years of the traveling tent evangelists, so many people were duped by schemers and scammers, the 'tent revival' lost its witness," he said. "We would like to restore it to its original image in the eyes of the people today."

 Brother Wheeler is from Lometa, Texas where he pastored Lometa Full Gospel Church the last twenty years. He was originally a tent revival evangelist in his early days and had settled into preaching and pastoring the Full Gospel Church and it seemed to last longer that one would imagine. However, recently the Lord moved him to go out again taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to whomever wanted to hear in the arena of the tent. Three churches heard the Lord and came to the front lines to help Brother Wheeler and Suzanne get their tent to begin this new adventure. Shield of Faith Church in Pflugerville, pastored by Frank McIlhaney; Assembly of God, Taylor, pastored by Jeffery Fox; and Lometa Full Gospel Church of Lometa, pastored by Brother Wheeler .

Just a little note: after Brother Wheeler took the call to go out full time, the Lometa Full Gospel Church came together and voted to merge their services with the Church of the Hills in Lometa, although they still have offices in the old church building.

The Wheelers book revivals anywhere and everywhere throughout the spring, summer and fall months and give it a rest beginning at the end of October for the hard winter.

They come for two weeks at a time to any location and for love offering only. They travel on a thirty foot metro bus they converted themselves (Brother George is in construction as a trade) and they come fully loaded with everything needed to put on a good camp meeting with the exception of workers.

 They even provide instruments for musicians and singers to use. Drums, bass, keyboard, microphones and stands and the whole thing.

Once they arrive on the set, volunteer workers are all that are needed to get the meeting in gear. Suzanne is the director of tent setup and breakdown, and she loves it. She says she used to put it up herself but her health prevents her now. So now she directs the entire operation. It takes no less than eight people to set up the poles and raise the tent. Then, of course comes all the equipment and lights, porta- cans, chairs, stage, etc.

The easiest volunteers to acquire would be the musicians. Anyone who loves to play is usually quickly available to take their positions. And voila, they are ready to get started.

Suzanne also runs the video equipment and is in charge of selling the videos as well as taking care of most of the paperwork and bookings.

Brother George Wheeler is a faith preacher and minister who preaches as he is led of the Holy Spirit. The sermon is prayed over seriously and only what the Lord leads is preached. The Lord has different messages for different people and communities, and it is the heart of these evangelists to allow him to speak his message and not their own.

Brother George and Suzanne will also come to your church to do a revival or speaking engagement. The tent is the primary revival source for them but not the only one. As a matter of fact Suzanne has her own speaking and counseling ministry named "Daughters of Jabez," which is a ministry to women that teaches the role of the woman as a wife in the home and a worker in the church. She says she likes to work with small groups and will come to your church or your home and minister.

The tent will be in Ft. Worth in September at Samson Park.

If you would like to have them come to your area you may contact them at their home: 1-512-752-3186, or by cell: 1-512-734-2380. They will be happy to come.

Again they come for love offering only. If you have them out, be sure to love them, and everyone volunteer to help with all the set up and breakdown.