What price would you pay to someone who has ministered to your very soul, through the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost? That is the question many were left to answer after being blessed by Mother Amelda Jones of New Life in Christ Interdenominational Church during the Holiness Tabernacle Fall Revival, September 4-6. Though the three-night revival didn’t come with a lot of man-made fanfare, the Spirit of God was given full reign to move as He saw fit.
Service began promptly at 7:00 p.m. each night with a season of prayer. No, these weren’t the ornamental prayers meant to puff oneself up or fill in time. Instead, these were the soul-searching, heart poured out to God type of prayers.
“Lord, have your way!” came the plea from Minister Andre Powell with hands outstretched to the Lord.
“Thank you for keeping me,” prayed Sister Delia Pruitte, with head bowed in humble submission.
“Hear the cries of your people,” was the earnest groan of Mother Vivian Pruitte, First Lady of Holiness Tabernacle, before erupting into her own spiritual prayer language.
These were the kind of prayers intent on getting the Master’s attention. The kind that said, “Lord, empty me of myself!” The kind that softened the people’s hearts to receive all that was in store for them.
Following prayer, the praise team took the service to the next level in worship.
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“Lord you are good and your mercy endureth forever!” sang Sister Yolinda McCown under the anointing. With that simple refrain, the entire congregation leapt to its feet to praise and magnify the Creator of the universe.
“Oh Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth!” declared Sister DeAnna Pruitte on the second night. The people of God continued the song, “Lord You’re Mighty” with sincerity and conviction.
But, the highlight of the revival services came with the Word of God. Having spent the day in total communion with the Lord, Mother Jones brought forth a message each night to inspire the people to live holy and righteously before God.
“I’m determined not to know anything about you… save Jesus Christ,” began Mother Jones in her quiet, Panamanian accent. Not one to get caught up in titles and position, she addressed the house simply as “the beloved saints of the Most High” and allowed the Holy Spirit to minister through her.
That said, her simple dress and gentle demeanor were not to be confused with a lack of power. Indeed, Mother Jones spoke with great authority from the Lord.
“I must take up my cross daily!” she declared, coming from the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke where Jesus told His disciples to take up their cross, deny themselves and follow Him.
“That is where my hope can be found. That is what will pull me out of despair!” she continued in earnest.
And with that, it was nothing for Mother Jones to immediately stop her message to go into a brief season of prayer, or to call up one of the saints to speak a Word of life directly to their souls. Her sensitivity to the Spirit of God allowed her to operate in a non-traditional fashion – and she certainly wasn’t ashamed to allow God to interrupt whenever He deemed it needful.
“The Holy Ghost comes to do more than just make a sound,” noted Mother Jones one night of the revival. “He is there to encourage you. You can’t be down all the time and have the Holy Ghost inside of you.”
During the second night of revival, she continued, speaking of her own experiences. “I had to learn to come to Jesus and have Him take off the sinner man,” Mother Jones said, coming from Ephesians 4:24. “And even still, He has to uproot that old man. And each day as I take up my cross, a bit more that old man will fall off.”
On the final night of the finale, Mother Jones had a special message of encouragement for the men. She prayed specifically for those who felt they had been beaten down by the words of a woman.
“Women, sometimes if we’re not careful we’ll break [a man’s] spirit. They aren’t here just to pick up heavy loads. They are the priest of the home,” Mother Jones admonished.
She then went on to share a special blessing with Pastor Eddie B Pruitte, Jr. – that he might receive a double portion of the anointing of God.
“As pastor is elevated, hold on to his coattails and go up with him,” Mother Jones encouraged the people, in particular the men. Then in ceremonial form, she anointed Pastor Pruitte at his head, allowing the oil to run down his head – symbolic of the anointing of God running down and throughout this man of God. With that, the male leaders surrounded Pastor and laid hands on him in prayer. The people of God stood to their feet and began to worship the Father! This solemn and holy act was a visual indication of God’s Spirit resting on the leader of Holiness Tabernacle; a true blessing for the whole congregation.
And so to repeat, what price can be paid for a spiritual rejuvenation? What amount of money is adequate to give someone who has given of themselves to bless those they do not know personally? Ultimately, those that joined in the Holiness Tabernacle Fall Revival discovered the answer – a sincere and heartfelt praise unto God and a rededication to a life of holiness.