MAHONING VALLEY Pastor's letters ask peers about spiritual revival

A pastor says the clergy must put God's will first.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
POLAND -- A local pastor wonders why spiritual transformation isn't taking place in the Mahoning Valley.
The Rev. Rusty Wills, 48, the affable pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for eight years, asked that question of about 400 area ministers.
The pastor sent a letter to the clergy based on a mailing list from The Greater Youngstown Community of Christians.
The Rev. Mr. Wills, who isn't trying to be offensive, said, "I may not be popular."
E-mail roots
The letter's roots are in an e-mail Mr. Wills received from researcher George Otis Jr., the president of The Sentinel Group, in Lynnwood, Wash. The Christian ministry helps communities have a spiritual revival that transforms its society.
Otis wrote that he was receiving many reports of large-scale revivals throughout the world that were resulting in new community hope and reduced crime and drug abuse.
None of the revivals, Mr. Wills wrote, were in the western hemisphere.
The researcher attributed the obstacles to modern culture's influence on the church, such as obsessions over success, time and programming along with low expectations of God.
That prompted Mr. Wills to ask, in the letter, why a revival hasn't occurred in the Valley.
"God wants to bring his people together," said the pastor.
One problem, he said, is that though there are many denominational and geographical groupings of clergy in the Valley, there's no one central group that could facilitate a revival.
Asking questions
Mr. Wills wrote that since reading the report, he's been asking himself "honest, reflective and painstaking questions."
The questions he asked local ministers include, "Am I pursuing holiness and living a holy life?" "Do I have high expectations of God's promises?" "Is it all about God or is there a little about me?" and whether clergy was spending enough time praying and reading Scripture.
Mr. Wills said, "It's all about [God]. It's not about us."
But clergy are often so busy they lack time to focus on God's word. It's critical that they take time to pray and reflect to determine what God wants, he said.
The pastor isn't jumping on a pedestal, saying he is "sinful."
Seeking direction
His only call to action is to find God's direction, though he expects great things.
Mr. Wills cites John 14:12, in which Jesus says, "I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these."
The pastor said he's seen some pastors discussing a new spirit in the Valley.
And Mr. Wills noted there are efforts to transform the city, such as Wick Neighbors Inc., which plans to build apartments and houses in Smoky Hollow near Youngstown State University.
The Valley is in a good location between Lake Erie and the Ohio River.
"This is a great place to live," said Mr. Wills. "It has a lot of potential."
Mr. Wills believes the future of the city is in the strength of the church, but said, "Only God can turn the city around."
wilkinson@vindy.com