Two-day tent revival turns into a 13-day event as Easter arrives

By Gina Williams

Standard Democrat

BERTRAND, Mo. — This Easter Sunday, many citizens are reflecting on the purpose of Easter after a 13-day revival in Bertrand called the “Grassroots Bertrand Tent Revival,” which ended during Holy Week.

Many people in the area are on fire for God, according to Morehouse resident Caleb Hodgkiss of Life Church in Sikeston who shared the story of how the tent revivals began and evolved.

According to Hodgkiss, he and his pastor, David Craig, went to Asbury University in Kentucky a year ago for an ongoing revival, and when he returned, he had been changed.

“I had a holy experience there,” Hodgkiss said. “I rededicated my life and came back and got water baptized. I decided after that, I was going to take action and commit to becoming a very active Christian.”

As time passed, Hodgkiss said he had a sign ministry going on, which his church paid for.

“I would just go from town to town, just holding a sign on the side of the road,” Hodgkiss said. “I also carried crosses here also.”

According to Hodgkiss, everything after that evolved.

“Fast forward to September, me and my best friend, Terry Allen Comstock, he gave his life to Christ,” Hodgkiss said. 

A few weeks later, Hodgkiss said he and Comstock decided to organize a men’s group in Morehouse Park.

Hodgkiss said he expressed a desire to see his hometown of Morehouse saved.

Hodgkiss said they held their first tent revival at Morehouse on Oct. 19 and 20.

Hodgkiss said he and others passed out numerous flyers detailing the fact the event was neutral and that people of all denominations and backgrounds were welcome. 

Hodgkiss reported a great turnout of 100 people per night, with 12 being water baptized.

Hodgkiss said after the first tent revival, they continued to hold more tent revivals over the next few months, and the number gradually increased.

“The next tent revival was in Essex,” Hodgkiss said. “And then that went to Puxico. The next one was in Qulin, then we went to Campbell and next to Bloomfield. The tents were really a buzz after the Bloomfield one.”

Gabbie Hodgkiss, Hodgkiss’ mother, added many people from different towns attended the Morehouse tent revival, which led them to other towns. 

“The people at the Morehouse revival were so moved, they were saying, ‘How can we get this in my town?’” Gabbie Hodgkiss said. 

According to Caleb Hodgkiss, the Bloomfield tent revival took place Feb. 16 and 17. 

“Chris and Roxan Rauscher from Essex wanted the revival in Essex,” Hodgkiss said. “They attend the Assembly church in Bloomfield and that congregation, along with churches friendly to them, played a huge role in getting the tent revivals in the other towns just by passing out flyers and knocking on doors.”

After Bloomfield, they went to Advance and then the next one was in Bertrand.

“All of these tent revivals had been two night events,” Hodgkiss said. “But Bertrand was scheduled for Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 and we end up going for 13 days.

Hodgkiss continued: “It was just so powerful that we decided to go on for a third night on that Sunday night. There were exactly 100 water baptisms.”

Hodgkiss and his mother described the 13-day revival as a life-changing experience, and on Palm Sunday, everyone came together to form a Palm Sunday caravan parade in their vehicles.

“People who had been coming to the revival, they all went out and gathered in their own communities on Sunday,” Gabbie Hodgkiss said. “People from Sikeston, Charleston, East Prairie, etc. and they caravanned through their towns, praying over their schools and community and then made their way to the tent that Sunday night.”

Gabbie Hodgkiss said there were a total of 748 people present on Palm Sunday night.

The mother and son agreed the revival had a significant impact on many people’s lives. 

“We could tell you a thousand stories that have happened,” Gabbie Hodgkiss said. “There have been whole families saved and baptized.” 

Caleb Hodgkiss also mentioned there was a man who was saved and delivered from suicide and depression.

“There was also a lady who even was delivered from cutting,” he said. “She laid her razors on the alter.”

Gabbie Hodgkiss said it has been amazing to see so many lives changed, as well as to see so many pastors and churches come together as a result of this revival.

“For me, one of the things that has been so powerful is seeing all of the churches coming together,” Gabbie Hodgkiss said. “It’s like the walls of religion are coming down.

Her son agreed.

“Many churches decided on Wednesday to move their Wednesday night services to the Bertrand Tent Revival,” Caleb Hodgkiss said. “At least 14 different pastors from different denominations came. We had to take the side walls off of the tents and get more chairs.”

Gabbie Hodgkiss said she believes one of the reasons the tent revival was so successful was because it was a nonjudgmental environment.

“With the tent, you truly can come as you are, wear what you want to wear and nobody is judging or looking at you,” she said. “Jesus is just meeting people where they are.”

Gabbie and Caleb Hodgkiss both agreed they believe the revival was God-led and it is no coincidence t occurred just before Easter.

Gabbie Hodgkiss expressed her hope and prayer that everyone who attended the tent and had a salvation experience would join a local church. 

Caleb Hodgkiss agreed with his mother.

“We aren’t trying to fill our church; we are just trying to fill the churches,” he said. “God will lead you and guide you into whatever church you need to be in.”

Hodgkiss added the revival not only saved many lives, but it also provided many professing Christians with a refreshing experience and renewed their faith. 

Hodgkiss said he would like to recognize all of the denominations represented dat the revival, including Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Apostolic, Church of Christ, Catholic, Lutheran, nondenominational and more.

Caleb and Gabbie Hodgkiss said the tent revival ended Wednesday, March 27, and the next Grassroots Tent Revival will be held in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at Moriah Ranch.  The Grassroot Tent Revival at Moriah Ranch will take place April 5-7 and they plan for the revival to go on through the week.