Sis. Ritah Emenari | Member, Northern New Jersey Chapter
African Christian Fellowship, USA
*Endorsed by Sis Appolonia Anike | President, Northern New Jersey Chapter
Introduction: Revival Begins with God
Just as there is physical revival, there is also spiritual revival. In my work as a nurse, physical revival means responding to a person in crisis and using the necessary interventions, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, to restore life. Physical revival is considered successful when the patient regains a pulse and begins breathing again. In the same way, spiritual revival is needed when we are spiritually dead or no longer walking with the Lord as we should.
God’s Pattern for Restoration
A clear example of God’s way of reviving His people is found in Ezekiel 36:25–27. In this passage, God promises to cleanse His people, give them a new heart, place a new spirit within them, and cause them to walk in His ways. This reminds us that revival is not something we can manufacture on our own. It is God Himself, by the power of the Holy Spirit, who restores spiritual life.
If we try to create revival in our own strength, we will fail. God is calling us back to Himself, both physically and spiritually. He is calling back those who once belonged to ACF and stepped away. He is calling back those who are still around but have become inactive or spiritually weary. He is calling us away from the things that have replaced Him and from the distractions that keep us from spending time in His presence.
Repentance and Renewed Devotion
The revival in Nineveh is another powerful example. When Jonah preached God’s message, the people believed, fasted, and repented from the greatest to the least. Their response shows us that revival begins with humility, repentance, and a willingness to turn back to God.
1 John 1:9 also assures us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. No matter how far we have fallen, God is gracious enough to receive us back. His mercy is greater than our failure, and His invitation to return is still open.
Prayer as the Path to Healing
2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us a timeless pattern for spiritual restoration: If God’s people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, He will hear, forgive, and heal their land. This is why prayer is such an essential part of revival. Things do not change by accident. Revival is awakened when God’s people rise up and seek Him intentionally.
I believe ACF is a people called by God’s name. If we humble ourselves and return to the place of prayer, we will see transformation in our fellowship and in our hearts. Revival must begin individually before it can overflow into the larger body.
Remembering Our Roots
I am blessed to have been born and raised in Uganda, a nation with a powerful history of Christian revival. I grew up hearing stories of how born-again believers and Pentecostals stood firm through persecution, even when public worship was restricted and many were threatened for praying openly. Yet the church did not disappear. It went underground, meeting in homes and hidden places, and continued to pray.
Those were difficult years, marked by suffering and fear. But even in those days, believers held on to God. After the fall of Idi Amin in 1979, a great revival followed. Churches began to spring up everywhere, and the move of God was unmistakable. Lives were changed, miracles took place, and many came to Christ. I am grateful to come from a church heritage shaped by this kind of faith and perseverance.
The Legacy of African Christian Fellowship
I was deeply encouraged to learn that ACF also began in 1977, just before a time of spiritual awakening in Uganda. It is beautiful to think that ACF was birthed by people who were revived, passionate, and on fire for Christ. These were believers who may not have had much materially, yet they had deep personal and corporate encounters with God that sustained them for decades.
Their love for God and for one another built a strong foundation. I once heard a story of how, in the early days of the Washington DC chapter, only one person had a car and used it to help transport brethren whenever needed. That kind of sacrificial love is part of the heritage we must not forget.
Passing the Story On
To our beloved aunties and uncles who have been in ACF for many years, have you told the younger generation what God has done through this fellowship? Have you shared the stories, testimonies, and sacrifices that have kept this ministry alive? The younger generation needs more than participation; they need understanding. They need to know why ACF matters and why it is worth continuing.
A people without history is like a tree without roots. If the younger generation is to carry this ministry forward, they must know where it came from, what God has done, and what legacy they are being asked to preserve. The same applies to spiritual inheritance in every generation.
The Role of Every Generation
Both the older and younger generations have a responsibility in the revival of ACF. In the early years, ACF functioned with a close blend of fellowship, discipleship, and community care. Today, many members already belong to local churches in addition to ACF, so it is important to clearly understand the unique purpose of the fellowship.
ACF must remain relevant by being distinct, purposeful, and spiritually alive. If what ACF offers can be found fully elsewhere, members will struggle to see its value. But when the fellowship reflects the beauty of Christ-centered community, prayer, and spiritual renewal, it becomes a vital part of the body of Christ.
The older generation has laid the foundation. Now it is the turn of the younger generation to seek God for fresh direction on how to continue the work in a fast-paced and highly competitive world.
A Call to Personal Revival
We must renew our devotion to God and to His work in ACF. This is a choice we make with the help of the Holy Spirit. There are so many distractions, comforts, and responsibilities in this country that it becomes easy to lose spiritual focus. We must intentionally turn away from the idols that compete for our attention and prioritize time with God and His Word.
Revival will not begin in a fellowship until it begins in the heart of each believer. We must cut off the things that cause spiritual dryness and decline. God is calling us back to Himself, and His invitation is both urgent and full of grace. Our response must be simple and sincere: “Yes, Lord.”
> REGISTER FOR OPERATION: REVIVE & RESTORE 2026 <
About Sis. Ritah Emenari
Ritah Emenari is a member of the African Christian Fellowship whose journey with the organization began in her birthplace, Uganda. Called to serve the Lord through mission, Ritah’s healthcare background and love for God connected her to ACF Uganda. While serving faithfully in ACF missions, she met her husband, Dr. Chibuzo Emenari, whose healthcare background and missionary calling also brought him to the field. Ritah now lives in the United States, where she works as a registered nurse and serves as a vessel of honor in African Christian Fellowship’s Northern New Jersey Chapter alongside her husband and three children.