HAPEVILLE-Father Chris Egbulem, OP, lead an archdiocesan revival entitled "Let My People Rise!" Tuesday May 14, and Wednesday, May 15, at St. John the Evangelist Church.

The revival, which was attended by over 350 people, was based on Ezekiel 37:12-14.

"Although we have come to the last of this revival that does not mean everything is over," said Howard Brown, department head of the Office for Black Catholic Ministry which sponsored the event. "We are now called to be evangelizers. We are called to continue to spread the good news to our friends, our church members and people we see in the stores. We need to evangelize outside ourselves. Some denominations extend their outreach by knocking from door to door. They evangelize with great fervor. We need to evangelize with the same enthusiasm. My hope is that everyone allowed the spirit of God to come in and revive old energy, redirect their vision so that we may live more peaceful and loving lives."

Father Egbulem, of the Dominican Province of Nigeria, has been involved in outreach ministry, preaching and developing programs for Catholic communities in the U.S. He is involved with the African-American Catholic Ministries program of the National Black Catholic Congress and is known for his lectures on the multicultural implications of Christian liturgy and evangelization. He has just published a book entitled the "The Power of Africentric Celebrations."

Father Egbulem is vicar provincial and director of development and missions for the Dominican Province of Nigeria and Ghana, West Africa, and is on the faculty of the Dominican Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Nigeria. He earned a doctorate from the Catholic University of America.

Music for the revival was provided by The Archbishop Lyke Memorial Mass Choir under the direction of Jack Tilson and St. Anthony's Youth Choir directed by Marion Lewis.