by Kathi Stearns

“Is Harriet Tubman in the house?” the priest asked.

“Yes, Father Charles, she is in the house,” the youth responded as one.

“Is Frederick Douglass in the house?” the priest inquired.

“Yes, Father Charles, he is in the house,” they answered.

“Is Martin Luther King in the house? he queried.

“Yes, Father Charles, he is in the house.”

“Let the church say Amen.”

“Amen,” the congregation said.

“Young people of Sts. Peter and Paul, do you have the strength?”

“Yes, Father Charles, we have the strength. Do you have the strength?” they responded.

“I have the strength,” Father Charles affirmed.

With this active interplay the first youth revival at Sts. Peter and Paul in Decatur began. Led by Fathers Charles and Chester Smith, the only identical African-American twins ordained priests in the United States, the revival aimed to reaffirm the Catholic faith and personal self-esteem of the parish’s African-American youth. Over 300 participants of diverse ages, nationalities and faith experiences attended the revival held Feb. 13-15.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue, who attended the revival Feb. 14, reminded the youth that they are children of God and that they must stand up for their belief in Jesus Christ.

“To revive means to relight and rekindle the light within us: the light of faith. You must rekindle the spark of faith that is within you and make it vibrant so you will be able to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Fathers Charles and Chester, members of the Ambassadors of the Word, a nationwide youth organization for African-Americans, believes that if black youth are to move ahead, they must understand their past and the struggles of their ancestors.

“Young people, this revival is special because it makes us remember where we came from yesterday and where we need to go today,” Father Charles said.

“You can start anywhere you want to, but you don’t have to finish in the same spot,” he said. “When you are struggling for a goal in life, you can’t afford to get caught up in the streets.”

Participants agreed that this reminder of their heritage helped them to face today’s challenges. “We need to know where we came from so we can recognize the struggle of the people who came before us. We find strength in their courage,” Dawn Jones, a Lakeside High School junior explained.

Father Charles believes a continuing quest for knowledge is paramount to success in overcoming stereotypes. “Knowledge is the key that opens up the doors...Malcolm X, King, Tubman, Douglass and Garvey knew that knowledge opens up the mind and locks out the ignorance of slavery.”

“If they can keep us ignorant they will keep us picking cotton instead of selling it...Be about the business of knowledge. Ignorance is a sin of mind, body and spirit,” Father Charles stressed.

He explained to the young people that ignorance is a dead end. “If you are ignorant when it comes to your sexuality, it can lead to HIV and AIDS. If you are ignorant when it comes to your history it will lead to a false identity...If you are ignorant when it comes to Jesus and His holy word it can lead you to a life of hell right here on earth...When you have knowledge the evil one and all of your enemies will leave you alone.”

Fathers Charles and Chester encouraged the youth to love themselves. “You are somebody...You may be black or white or something else, but you are still precious in God’s eyes.”

Fathers Charles and Chester spoke to revival participants using terminology, music and role models that are unique to the teens’ age and culture.

“They were real down to earth. They were talking with us, not at us. We communicated at the same level,” Ms. Jones said.

The priests reminded the youth that no matter what happened in their lives the “J-thing,” the love of Jesus Christ, should be the center of their being.

For 14-year-old Michael Morris the “J-thing” is a model for the way he should live, “If I live my life like Jesus then nothing can go wrong for me.”

But with that life choice comes responsibility. “I feel that I must help people who have taken a step away from God make a U-turn and go back to Him. God is always ready to welcome one of His lost children,” Morris explained.

For others the “J-thing” means putting their trust in Jesus. I know I cam achieve whatever I set my mind to, and I know that He will always be watching out for me and keeping me on the right track,” Ms. Jones explained.

“The ‘J-thing’ is about having the strength to put Jesus first. In this day and age we have so many people who are pushing us to do the wrong thing. The ‘J-thing’ is about having the courage to stand up and do the right thing, whatever Jesus would want us to do,” Keisha Robinson, 16, explained.

Participants were anointed and had the opportunity for reconciliation to experience the unconditional love of Jesus. “I felt the strength and compassion of Christ when I was anointed,” Morris explained. “I knew He loved me.”

Sandra Almond brought her five- and 10-year-old sons to the revival believing that the youth of today are never too young to hear the message of God. “My 10-year-old isn’t too young to become aware. He needs to hear the message from people who talk straight about it.”

For Father Charles the message the youth need to hear is based on the death and resurrection of Jesus.

“Don’t let anyone break your spirit...I read in the Word of God that they put nails in a young man’s hands and thorns on his head and yet he rose from the dead.”

“You have the aptitude to determine your altitude and with a teaspoon of intestinal fortitude you can always say, ‘With God on our side we are able.’ Whomp there it is...” concluded Father Charles, citing a song lyric that needed no explanation to the teens.

And the church said “Amen.”