Azusa Now 2016 Sets the Stage for Historic Gathering with Major Gains in Momentum and Support

Azusa Now 2016 Sets the Stage for Historic Gathering with Major Gains in Momentum and Support

900+ Church Leaders and 50,000+ Attendees from the Faith-based Community Already Registered for Extraordinary Event

By Dan Wooding, Founder, ASSIST News Service

LOS ANGELES, CA (ANS – April 7, 2016) – Azusa Now 2016 is now gaining support in record numbers as church leaders and the faith-based community join together to support their upcoming gathering taking place on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

According to a news release, this collaborative effort of church leaders and organizations sharing a message of unity, prayer and the breaking down of racial barriers has led to the participation of over 900 churches, along with dozens of partner ministries such as Bethel Church, Christ For All Nations, Heidi Baker’s Iris Global, and more. Pre-registration has now reached more than 50,000 attendees with thousands more who have been registering each week. Registration to attend is free but required.

According to Rachel L. Holden, CEO of the host ministry TheCall, “We feel we are in a historic moment for the body of Christ to gather in unity together. This amount of engagement is very encouraging. To our knowledge, the last time the Los Angeles Coliseum was filled to overflow for a gathering of this type was the Billy Graham Crusade on September 8, 1963 with a record attendance of 134,256. We are looking at contingency plans if overflow is needed.”

Azusa Now will also be seen by millions around the world as it will be televised live on the day of the event by God TV and other media, as well as live streamed via the Internet.

Azusa Now has been holding a number of pre-event activities such as Flood LA, where Circuit Riders, a collaborative ministry of YWAM, one of the largest youth organizations in the world, have joined with Bethel Church for a citywide evangelistic outreach. Todd White’s School of Power and Love is also training people in Los Angeles and around the country in effective street evangelism ahead of the event.

One of the most important resources to an event of this size are the volunteers. Several thousand volunteers have come forth from churches and organizations, however several thousand more are needed. Those wanting to volunteer, to register for the gathering, to take part in the United City Gospel Choir, or to be part of the pre-rally activities should visit the website at www.AzusaNow2016.com.

What Is Azusa Now?

There are times which Scripture describes as “full” — periods of unusual ripeness in which God unleashes His prophetic purpose across the earth. Such days of faith and expectation often come during periods of crisis or widespread uncertainty. For 15 years, amidst massive cultural decay, Lou Engle and TheCall have sought to proclaim the bold, uncompromising message of consecration to Jesus. Like John the Baptist, we have cried out, “Prepare the way of the Lord!”

Yet the last statement of John was not “Prepare the way,” but “Behold the Lamb!” If there was truly a John Movement, then a Jesus Movement is surely coming! Believing that decades of globe-spanning prayer have saturated the heavens, we will boldly ask God for the rain of revival on April 9th, 2016. We will consecrate an entire day — 15 hours — for the purpose of unity, miracles, healing, and the proclamation of the gospel. Our rally cry: Come, Holy Spirit! Instead of 120 in the Upper Room, we seek to gather as many as 120,000 in one place and one accord to simply exalt Jesus. And for inspiration, we turn to the most powerful expression of revival in modern times: the historic Azusa Street Revival of 1906.

Azusa Then

What made the 1906 Azusa Street Revival so special? Three key factors at Azusa mirrored the reality of the formation of the church in Acts 2. Firstly, there was a multi-ethnic gathering of unity in Christ (Acts 2:1-11). Secondly, the miraculous, attesting ministry of the Holy Spirit was enjoyed in a unique way (Acts 2:2-4). Finally, there was a clear presentation of the Gospel leading many to salvation (Acts 2:37-41).

This outpouring of Heaven descended on the poor districts of Los Angeles during an incredibly dangerous, volatile and prejudiced period of American history. God used an African American named William Seymour to launch this modern Acts 2 movement. Black, White, Asian and Hispanic came together in bonds of love, unity and prayer. It came to be said, “the color line was washed away” at Azusa.

The web site stated, “This is the legacy — the well of revival — we seek to reclaim: Unity. Prayer. Miracles. Healing. Salvation.”

Photo captions: 1) Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. 2) Lou Engle 3) William Seymour of the original Azusa Street Revival. 4) Norma and Dan Wooding on a reporting assignment in Hollywood. (Bryan Seltzer).

About the writer: Dan Wooding, 75, is an award-winning winning author, broadcaster and journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, and is now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for more than 52 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. Dan is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS), and is the author of some 45 books. He also has two TV shows and a radio show, all based in Southern California.

** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net).