Local churches to take part in national ‘Return’ event

“I feel an urgency for believers to not only be made aware, but also to participate in this day of prayer and repentance.  I realize that not only the nation and the world needs to repent, but the Church as well. I want God to hear from heaven and forgive our sins and heal our land,” emplored Denise Burroughs.  Burroughs was referring to an upcoming event called “The Return” taking place on the National Mall in Washington, DC on September 26th.

Burroughs, who attends Freedom Fellowship at 1730 West Street in Radford, said her Pastor Jerry Collins has been in touch with members of The Return and has arranged for their church to be one of the simulcast live stream locations starting at 9:00am on the 26th.

Collins has personally met one of the sponsors, Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, through his friendship with Evangelist Perry Stone and says that he believes he and his church needed to extend this opportunity to the community.  “If we don’t seek this opportunity now (referring to repentance and turning back to God during The Return) we may lose the opportunity for revival in America.  The Church has to lead the way to get back to God.  If judgement begins in the House of God, then the return has to start there,” explains Collins.

He believes it is a mandate from God and time for the Church to come together and understand the unity of purpose.  “The mandate of the Church is to preach the Gospel to the nations.  At this time more than ever, we need a unified effort in repentance, turning back to God and setting an atmosphere for revival.  Some want to bypass the return and just enjoy the fruit of revival, but we can’t enjoy the fruit without the labor.  I am hoping we will have one more Great Awakening,” adds Collins.

In Pulaski, the Family Worship Center, pastored by Jeff Willhoite, on Memorial Drive is also hosting The Return simulcast on Saturday, September 26 beginning at 9:00am.  Willhoite received a link about “The Return” in an email and was already familiar with Cahn’s books.  He immediately stepped forward and registered to host a simulcast live stream.

Willhoite and his wife, Verna served for over 30 years as missionaries in China and the Philippines and have been ministering at Family worship Center for the past three years.

According to Cahn’s website, everyone from Pat Robertson to Dr. James Dobson to Billy Graham’s daughter Anne Graham Lotz to Martin Luther King’s niece, Alveda King to Maurio Murillo and many more – leaders, pastors, believers from every background and denomination are joining together in The Return because they all sense that this is critical.  The Return is about one thing only – not any ministry or organization or person, or anything but the heart of God for redemption – according to His Word – There will be no costs involved. It will be free. It is solely for God’s purposes for this hour.

“I really felt this was something we needed and believe it is the Holy Spirit, in unity with other Christians national leaders, prompting us to do this.  The Return is a movement, an appointed time, a specific day set apart for one purpose – the return to God by coming before His presence in humility, in sincerity, in prayer and in repentance,” stated Willhoite.  Like Cahn, he believes this is a Kairos moment in time where the Church can be awakened again.  In Biblical terms a Kairos moment means the appointed time in the purpose of God, or the time when God acts.

“We need to have ears to hear what the Lord is saying to us, and then not just be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word lest we deceive ourselves, as the book of James 1:22-25 instructs us,” explained Willhoite.

“When God’s people return to Him, then we’ll see restoration and revival.  The future of our nation as we know it hinges not on the next election or what Congress does; but on what the Church does in the next 90 days,” states Willhoite.

Many believe this is a most critical time for America and the world.  Morally, spiritually and  culturally America is rapidly descending away from God; and that falling away could shortly accelerate beyond what we could imagine.  Religious freedom is imperiled and on top of all these things, America is being shaken in a way no one now living has ever experienced.

“We are living through difficult times.  COVID-19 has broken the lines of communication.  It is a test of our faith in some form but we need to move forward.  We all struggle with ‘what’s our purpose?’  We look around Pulaski and see the needs.  Dozens of churches have a fraction of the people in them that were built to hold many more in the pews.  So many people are not following the Lord but rather following the world.  But there is hope. I need revival.  Our churches need revival.  America needs revival.  We are still in the disposition of grace, love and mercy,”  assures Willhoite.

When Cahn wrote his best seller book, The Harbinger, he mapped out the biblical template of national judgment – which warns a nation, then allows the nation to be shaken, in the hope that it might return to God.  If the nation doesn’t return, it heads toward judgment.

Cahn writes, “I believe we are now at a critical moment in that window of time.  Without revival, America is lost.  Without repentance and return, there can be no revival.  And it must be with God’s people – us – coming before Him according to II Chronicles 7:14.  We, and America, may not have this chance again.”

For more information about The Return, please go to:  TheReturn.org

For information about the simulcast in Pulaski, please go to:  https://www.facebook.com/FamilyWorshipCenterIPHCPulaskiVA/

For information about the simulcast in Radford, please go to:  https://www.facebook.com/FreedomFellowshipChurchVA/

By Danielle Reid, The Patriot