By Loretta Fulton

Love & Care Ministries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its fall revival Oct. 12-15 at the Abilene Convention Center.

Beginning in 1995, Love & Care pitched a tent and filled it with worshippers who were seeking revival and a little tender loving care. The revival moved from a tent to the convention center in 2015, but the “tent revival spirt” lives on. 

Mark Hewitt

Each night will begin with worship at 6:15 p.m., followed by a meal, clothing distribution, haircuts, spiritual foot washing, and nail polishing for women and children. Love & Care is partnering with United Rescue Alliance, a ministry started by Norm and Angel Poorman and located on part of the World War II Camp Barkeley site. URA is providing new shoes every night of the revival for anyone attending. Local restaurants are partnering with Love & Care to provide food for the meals. 

Kickoff night, Sunday, Oct. 12, will feature worship led by Billy Bob White from North Way Christian Community in Pittsburgh. Preacher will be Kelvin Kelley, associate professor of religion and coordinator of student diversity programs at Hardin-Simmons University. 

“It’s just going to be a fun celebration night,” said Mark Hewitt, founder and executive director of Love & Care Ministries. 

The daily schedule follows:

Sunday, Oct. 12
Preacher: Kelvin Kelley, HSU
Worship: Billy Bob White, North Way Christian Community, Pittsburgh.

Monday, Oct. 13
Preacher: Terry Davis, Love & Care director of ministry
Worship: Broadview Baptist Church choir

Tuesday, Oct. 14
Preacher: Mark Hewitt
Worship: FountainGate Fellowship

Wednesday, Oct. 15
Preacher: John Whitten, senior pastor, Pioneer Drive Baptist Church
Worship: Pioneer Drive orchestra and choir
Additional: Jeff Reid, associate pastor at Pioneer Drive, will talk about the trip to Russia that he and Hewitt made that was the spark for Love & Care Ministries. 

Worshippers enjoy a meal at the original tent revival sponsored by Love & Care Ministries

Love & Care Ministries will soon announce plans for expansion of its Abilene headquarters, 233 Fannin St. The ministry also has locations in Clyde, Merkel, and Anson. The annual Mission: Thanksgiving, which will be held at all three locations, is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21. 

“It’s an exciting time,” Hewitt said. 

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene