Leaders representing the ethnic Asian churches of the Los Angeles area will convene this spring following the centennial anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival.
The “Together…beyond Azusa Street Revival” conference, planned for April 30, will bring together the representatives of Korean, Asian Indian, Chinese, Indonesian and Vietnamese churches in prayer for the revival of the Holy Spirit in Christian communities worldwide.
“The emphasis is on prayer,” says Nakules Veran, spokesman for the Agape Renewal Center. “If you look at history, prayer has to supersede the movement of God in order for there to be a revival. You are looking at a group of churches of different ethnicities who will come together in prayer.”
The upcoming conference succeeds the ‘Together…..Igniting the Fire’ Prayer Day, which was held Feb. 5 at the Vineyard of Harvest Church in Walnut, CA in Los Angeles County. Over 120 pastors and intercessors attended the gathering.
“The mission of this movement is to catalyze and maintain spiritual revival among Asian churches in the Los Angeles region through the development of united worship, fellowship, prayer and mission together, until God’s blessings permeate the Asian communities with the good news of Jesus Christ and the strengthening and multiplication of local churches,” a ministry press-release stated.
According to the 2000 U.S. census, Asians make up 10.9 percent of the total population in Los Angeles. As of 1997, 6 in 10 Asians residing in the city were born abroad.
“For Asians, you are looking at a representation of well over half of the world’s population. We have trained leaders from there, offering them master and doctorate courses in theology and sending them back,” Veran explained. “Many of those we trained have brought the gospel back to their home countries. A lot of leaders believe Asia will be the key to the end-time harvest.”
The Agape Renewal Center has worked extensively with the international Asian Christian community starting with Chinese churches for the past 19 years. In its lifetime, the ministry has offered seminary education for Chinese church leaders in centers in North America, Europe and Asia.
The centennial anniversary of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Azusa Street Revival is expected to draw in 100,000 Christians worldwide, including those from Asia and overseas Asian communities. The five-day event will be held on April 25-29 at the LA convention center.
The celebrations will honor a mass spiritual revival that started in Azusa Street, in 1906 Los Angeles. Many historians have pointed out that the revival was unique in its diversity as many of those gathered included African Americans and Caucasians. Since then, churches representing all major ethnic groups in the city meet every year in commemoration of the revival.
