The 2026 special meetings of the Apostolic Faith Church in Wharton, New Jersey, were held in conjunction with the congregation’s 10th Anniversary Celebration. The meetings provided a precious opportunity to reflect upon God’s faithfulness, give thanks for His many blessings, seek spiritual renewal, and recommit to the work of evangelizing the lost and preserving the sound doctrine entrusted to us.

The meetings were preceded by a pre-revival service on Friday, August 21. The service featured a violin solo, “Let the Redeemed,” a vocal ensemble singing “Salvation Has Been Brought Down,” congregational singing, testimonies, and prayer. Members testified of salvation, healing, protection, and divine provision. Before the sermon, a soloist sang “Wonderful, Merciful Savior.” Bob Downey, from Chehalis, Washington, delivered the message from Genesis 32:22–32, using Jacob’s encounter with God to emphasize the importance of “praying through,” complete surrender to God, and seeking Him earnestly until spiritual victory is obtained. He encouraged the congregation not to wait for the official commencement of the meetings, but to immediately seek God for revival.

On Sunday, the congregation commemorated ten years of God’s faithfulness in Wharton. The service included orchestral renditions of “Blessed Be the Name” and a hymn medley comprised of “Higher Ground,” “How Firm a Foundation,” and “The Solid Rock.” The choir sang “Almighty Medley,” while the youth choir presented “Blessed Be the Name of the Lord” as the first special. The choir later sang “Praise the Lord of Love” as the final special. Brother Bob and his wife, Sister Cheryl, were recognized for their longstanding guidance, encouragement, and support in the establishment of the Wharton church. Brother Bob preached from 1 Samuel 7:12 on the theme “Ebenezer,” encouraging the congregation to remember how the Lord had helped throughout the journey—from the humble beginnings of a small group of Christians meeting in Teaneck, New Jersey, to the establishment of the church in Wharton.

The Sunday evening evangelistic service focused on prayer and faith. The orchestra opened with “Keep on the Firing Line,” followed by the choir singing “Standing in the Need of Prayer.” Testimonies of salvation, healing, divine intervention, and spiritual endurance were shared. A soloist sang “Jesus Will Give You Rest” before Brother Bob preached on the accounts of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1, and Elijah in 1 Kings 18. He emphasized sincere prayer from the heart, genuine consecration, and the importance of maintaining faith even before the answer to prayer becomes visible.

From Monday through Thursday, the evening programs combined historical reflection with spiritual exhortation and prayer. Documentary presentations titled “Memories: Part I,” “Memories: Part II,” “Memories: Then,” and “Memories: Now” traced the development of the congregation from its early years in Teaneck through the establishment and growth of the work in Wharton. Members shared testimonies of their personal journeys with the church, while photographs, videos, musical presentations, and excerpts from previous meetings provided vivid reminders of God’s faithfulness. The accompanying exhortations encouraged the congregation to count the blessings of the Lord, to “look back in order to look forward,” and to faithfully pass the Gospel on to the next generation. Particular emphasis was placed on the believer's responsibility to instill in young people a love for God, faith, discipline, and steadfast commitment to Christian living. Each evening concluded with earnest collective prayer for revival, salvation, spiritual growth, unity, renewed consecration, and God’s continued guidance and blessing upon the future ministry of the church.

The Friday evening revival service was characterized by heartfelt worship, prayer, testimonies, and reflection upon God’s faithfulness. Special guests included the Superintendent General, Sola Adesope, and the District Superintendent, Josephine McElveen. Members testified of their experiences of salvation and the significance of the altar in their spiritual lives. A mother-and-daughter duet of “Does Jesus Care?” preceded the sermon. Sister Josephine preached from 1 Samuel 7:12, presenting “Ebenezer” as a memorial of God’s help. She encouraged the congregation to remember past victories and allow the record of God’s faithfulness to strengthen their faith for present and future challenges. The service concluded with an altar call and prayer for God’s continued power and blessing.

Saturday was devoted particularly to the 10th Anniversary Celebration. The morning program reflected upon the congregation’s journey from the early prayer meetings in Teaneck to the establishment of its permanent church home in Wharton. Following the pastor’s welcome address, Brother Sola challenged the congregation to look forward in faith and remain committed to soul-winning and discipleship. Vida Magnusen presented a history of the church, tracing its development from house meetings through rented facilities and eventually to the church building in Wharton. Greetings were received from former Superintendent General Darrel Lee, who dedicated the church in early 2017, as well as from spiritual leaders in Canada, Ghana, and Nigeria. The congregation reaffirmed its commitment to sound doctrine, holy living, evangelism, and the responsibility of passing its spiritual heritage to the next generation.

The concert on Saturday evening featured a combined choir and orchestra drawn from various visiting branch churches, congregational singing, and a variety of musical selections, including arrangements of “Ebenezer” in multiple languages. During the program, citations and plaques were presented to individuals whose leadership and support had contributed significantly to the growth of the work in Wharton. Appreciation was also expressed to the Tetteh and Timbilla families for their leadership, sacrifice, and dedication to the ministry. Glory Thomas delivered a brief Gospel message emphasizing salvation through Jesus Christ.

Before the Sunday morning service, the congregation gathered at the church at 10:30 a.m. and sang “Ancient Words,” and they poured out their hearts to God in earnest prayer in preparation for the service to follow.

The orchestra opened the service with “I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord” and “Ebenezer.” The choir followed with “Surely the Presence of the Lord” and “He Is Here.” The service also featured the recognition of the many visitors and guests in attendance, including church leaders, ministers and pastors from other branches, students from Morgan State University, and members of the webcast audience. Brother Sola preached on the theme, “Ebenezer: Our Stone of Help,” from 1 Samuel 7:12. He emphasized the importance of believers remembering where God had brought them from, both as individuals and as a congregation, and of never forgetting their humble beginnings. He exhorted the congregation to remain steadfast in sound doctrine while trusting God for future guidance and strength. The prayer meeting that followed was particularly memorable. The congregation continued earnest prayer, accompanied by singing and music. The presence of God was deeply felt as the congregation sought Him together, recalling the rich seasons of prayer and spiritual blessing experienced in previous meetings.

The final meeting focused on the importance of Christian unity. Drawing from Psalm 133:1 and Ephesians 4, Brother Sola emphasized that unity is fundamental to the mission and witness of the Church. He explained that unity does not require uniformity of personality or method, but rather a common commitment to the purpose and mission of the Gospel. He further emphasized that unity begins in the home and encouraged leaders and members to communicate openly and humbly, recognizing that everyone has “blind spots.” The congregation was cautioned against “majoring in minors” and allowing small differences to distract from the greater mission of spreading the Gospel. Christian leadership, he reminded the congregation, is ultimately about service rather than the exercise of authority.

The saints in Wharton gave all glory to God for the spiritual blessings received throughout the meetings. One student was reported to have experienced salvation, while four individuals testified to being reanointed with the Holy Spirit. Beyond these recorded testimonies, only Heaven holds the complete record of the blessings received—the renewed consecrations, answered prayers, strengthened faith, encouragement, healing, and other spiritual victories experienced during this period.

While reflecting on ten years in Wharton and the journey that preceded them, the Wharton church acknowledges with gratitude that the Lord has indeed been their Helper. This anniversary was therefore more than the celebration of a historical milestone; it was a testimony to the faithfulness of God and a renewed call to the work that remains ahead. With gratitude for the past, humility in the present, and faith for the future, they raised an Ebenezer and recommitted to evangelizing the lost, preserving sound doctrine, strengthening the next generation, and faithfully proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.