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St. Pete Revival Will 'Reach Out To The Lost'

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By KATY HENNIG of News Channel 8 and RAY REYES of The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - A seven-day revival involving 49 St. Petersburg churches started Sunday night with songs, sermons and a mission to "deal with the ills of society" and to "reach out to the lost," according to pastors.

"The energy is very high," said Louis Murphy, pastor of Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. "People are very excited about the revival coming to St. Petersburg."

Mt. Zion members, along with six other churches, set up a large white tent at 22nd Avenue South and 18th Street South. Church members lined the sidewalks, waving to passing motorists and inviting them to join the revival.

Murphy said 42 other churches, in six different locations and tents, were spread throughout the city Sunday. Each of the seven tents features seven ministers from seven different churches.

The simultaneous revivals run for six more consecutive nights, Murphy said. At least 200 people were gathered at the 22nd Avenue South tent early Sunday evening.

The event is called the "Seven x 7 Movement" and pastors say the revivals take "the gospel to the streets." The tents are placed in areas that are plagued with crime.

"We want to take back our community from the drugs, the violence and the crime," said Audwin Scott of Mt. Zion. "Everybody that sees this program are welcome to come out and join us."

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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