Special to Southern Torch by Laura Glover Pruitt
RAINSVILLE, ALA.--”Julie, we’re coming to Rainsville. I’ve already told them we’re coming. If I have to haul the sound equipment in on my back, we’re coming.” Those are the exact words that Pastor Jim Cymbala told Julie Hicks Dabbs over a conference call several weeks ago when finalizing the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Event coming to the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum next month.
Almost two years ago, Julie had a burden. She had a burden for revival. The Lord started dealing with Julie about having some type of event in Rainsville that would hopefully spark a revival and do the Lord’s work in this area in hopes that it would spread like wildfire. What better way than have Pastor Jim Cymbala from The Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City just come here, right? Well, that’s a lot easier said than done.
“How would I even get in touch with him? I don’t know him; I don’t know anyone that knows him. There’s no way I can get in touch with Pastor Cymbala and just ask him to come to Rainsville.” Said Julie. After tirelessly using every outlet she knew through email, website communication, and countless other ways, she was feeling defeated. She began to get discouraged and thought it just couldn’t be done.
Talking with a friend one day out of the blue, she was sharing her feelings that she just knew the Lord wanted Pastor Cymbala to come to speak in Rainsville. The friend said, “well I know someone that has Pastor Cymbala’s personal cell phone number if you want it.” Stunned, Julie said, “Well, can you get it for me?” A few days later, Julie had his phone number. Now, what to do with it?
Julie called the number, the phone rang, no answer. She hung up the phone without leaving a message. Days rocked on, and after deciding Pastor Cymbala would never call back a number he didn’t recognize, Julie tried again. This time, she left a heartfelt message that only the Lord himself gave to her.
On a Friday morning, Julie’s phone rings. She looks, Pastor Jim Cymbala, from The Brooklyn Tabernacle, is calling her. She rushed to a quiet place in her home. Pastor Cymbala was trying to connect the dots on how he knew Julie. She laughed. “Sir, you don’t know me. I just called you because I’m praying for a revival in this area and I think you are the one that could help us start that.”
After several weeks of planning, several phone calls later, and several prayers later, Pastor Cymbala and his team know that Julie’s heart is pure and the Lord has laid this on her heart for a reason. Not only has Pastor Cymbala agreed to come to Rainsville to speak, but of his own idea, he is bringing his wife and about thirty to thirty-five members of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir to perform. The best part? They’re coming here, to Rainsville, on their own dime, because they are also praying for revival.
“So many things have lined up, only because God allowed it to, for this event to happen here. From the location, the sound equipment, the promotions and just getting them here in general, it’s all been a God thing from the beginning. They had a chance to go to Huntsville, or the largest church in Nashville, or really anywhere they wanted to. They can sell out any auditorium in the US, but Pastor Cymbala said he wanted to come to Rainsville because he believes the Lord is in this.” Julie said. “This has been two years in the making and it’s finally happening. Good things are going to happen and I hope anyone else who is praying for revival will join us.”
Jeff Hawes, local Youth Minister at New Home Baptist Church and previous Southern Gospel tour member of Karen Peck & New River said, “What a wonderful opportunity this event will be for North Alabama! This group consists of some of the best voices in all of church music, and the Cymbalas have been faithful servants unto the Lord for many years. Please support this event; I am praying for revival!”
Pastor Jim Cymbala and his wife, along with about thirty-five members of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir will be at the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum on April 7th & 8th at 6:30pm., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets were $15 and that was just to cover the cost of renting the Coliseum but due to generous donations and ticket sales, the remaining tickets will be free. You can pick up the tickets at the following locations: (Fort Payne) Southern Torch, Alice Circle, (Rainsville) Newsome Insurance, Fortify Chiropractic, and The Fellowship Church in Albertville. Tickets can be purchased online for a small handling fee at www.itickets.com/events/462112. Pastor Cymbala is also hosting a FREE pastor’s conference on Thursday, April 8th at Nazareth Baptist Church from 10 am-1 pm. This conference is free, but you will need to register at www.subspla.sh/x64tcwc. There will be an Unhindered Night of Prayer on Wednesday, April 6, beginning at 6 p.m. Area churches and everyone is invited to join in prayer for this wonderful event.
