Guest preacher Apostle Andrew Holtz was on Island for the AME church’s Spring Forth RevivalBy Sara WestheadLiving Word Christian Fellowship hosted a weeklong revival last week.The “Spring Forth” Revival for Renewal was led by Pastor Veronica Outerbridge and featured guest preacher Apostle Dr. Andrew Holtz, the Presiding Elder for the Ozark-Troy District of the Southeast Alabama Annual Conference, which is a part of the Ninth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.The message, according to Pastor Outerbridge, was not only to seek revival among church members, but also to bring the island’s spiritual leaders together and promote unity.“It was about the walking in agreement of the heads of the church — the bishops, the bishop-elect, pastors from across the island — gathering together to find out what God has for us and the Island of Bermuda,” shared Pastor Outerbridge.She looked back to the Old Testament when the kings of Israel would call on the prophets for a word from God and likened Apostle Holtz’s ministry to local ministers to those days.Apostle Holtz was given very little background and information on Bermuda and its needs, but through “prayer and fasting” trusted God for determining his messages during the revival.“We were definitely all in one accord,” Pastor Outerbridge said. “Each one is better for what we have heard.”The revival met nightly at Heritage Worship Centre from Monday February 25 through to Sunday March 3.“Bishop Duncan was a gracious host,” said Pastor Outerbridge, thankful for the use of the Worship Center. “For him, it’s not about the New Testament Church of God, but about promoting the Kingdom.”While Bermuda certainly seems to be plagued at the moment with issues and struggles, she believes Bermuda is still a special, blessed place, but to retain that blessing, the church must come together.“Many are under the impression that the change in Government will put Bermuda straight, but it is God who will do it.“Even the Government has to be sensitive to God. We [church leaders] are the ones that has to recognise that God has His hand on us.”However, the job for promoting unity is not only the task of spiritual leaders. All Christians must take responsibility as well.“Are we our brothers keeper? The word came and we need to take our place. We are the voice crying in the wilderness ... We need to be unified in our thinking.”That unification, Pastor Outerbridge stresses, is found when we, as a community, come back to living as a village raising the children in our care and standing up when we see others doing what they shouldn’t.“When the body of Christ comes together, everything in this country will line up ... Is there a balm in Bermuda to heal our land? Yes, and that is through our Lord and Saviour.”“Who is going to lead us if we don’t change the mind set of our young people? We must be the examples to those who follow us.”However, the example must be set by Bermuda’s spiritual leaders and demonstrate Christian unity to their flocks.“We are the ones that have to recognise that God has his hand on us.”“All denominations need to be broken down because they are hindrances. No one has a monopoly on God.”“It’s time for us to come together — to sit with leaders and talk about where we are going, to say that’s not what God has for us ... Our responsibility as shepherds is great.“Our job is to lead God’s people; we serve the same Lord. And we must never forget who created us.”“If we’re not declaring what the Word says, then we are not doing what we are commanded.”Response to the weeklong revival was strong, with individuals and pastors from a wide variety of denominations being represented throughout the week.“I think we’ll be better for what we heard,” Pastor Outerbridge said.“Bermuda belongs to God, whether people want to believe it or not.”