Messenger Church held revival services this past week with the help of several other churches in the St. Louis region at a lot on the corner of Cass Avenue and 13th Street near Downtown. "This is a collaboration of people from 15 to 20 churches here", said Pastor Mike Johnson of Messenger Church based in Eureka.
"We're seeing more churches coming together," said Messenger Church member and volunteer Rick Byerly. "We meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of the community. It's hard to listen to the gospel if you're hungry."
The Kansas City, Missouri based sports ministry Team Xtreme International performed before the revival service. Members Angel Couture, Kamau Nibbs and Brian Tichenor showed off their skills by breaking boards, bending metal bars and tearing phonebooks with their hands. After this week the team's next stop is in Sacramento, California.
Kamau Nibbs joined Team Xtreme after watching the group perform in his home country of Antigua and Barbuda. Nibbs said, "Thank you for the opportunity to be here in St. Louis. It is such a wonderful city. You know, we really love connecting with the people and showing them the heart of God".
Missionary evangelist John Ritchers of the Church of God of Cleveland, Tennessee gave a sermon until nightfall where several people were then baptized outside of the tent.