Father Ajani Gibson, a young man displaying the spirit of an old soul, was revivalist for the 35th Annual East of the River Revival held Oct. 7, 8, and 9 at Mount Calvary Catholic Church in Forestville, Maryland.
Over three nights, the theme “Anchored in God: Hold on to Your Purpose — Unapologetically” became a call to action and a message of comfort as the pastor of St. Peter Claver Parish in New Orleans exhorted listeners to examine who and what they trust in during times of trouble, and to unapologetically make God the anchor of their faith, and guide of their lives.
“We have a world that needs Christian folk to be anchored in Christ Jesus, holding on to His purpose unapologetically,” Father Gibson told the congregation. He explained that God’s purpose is for Christians to “proclaim the Gospel and reveal the Good News” of God’s love and redemption for all, including people “like that co-worker who gets on your nerve. Or that person with the stank attitude, who has that attitude because no one will listen to their cry” for help.
Drawing on the Gospel reading of Matthew 7:21-27 on the final night of the revival, the priest cautioned believers not to become overwhelmed by trials that will surely come to test if the foundation of their faith is built on the solid rock of Jesus or on worldly sand. “We can talk about being anchored and walking on water, but is your house built on that rock that does not move?” he asked. “You will be pushed, challenged, and stretched,” but if a person is anchored in Jesus, “you won’t fail, because the God of love enters into our mess” to save, cleanse and reconcile us to himself, he said. “He sees us as He created us, in His image, after His likeness.”
So “our time of revival brings us back to our foundation, Jesus Christ,” he concluded. Anchored in Jesus, “then and only then, does your life truly give itself to ‘Total Praise’” he said, breaking into the gospel hymn by Richard Smallwood that drew the assembly to its feet, hands lifted in praise, as they joined Father Gibson in singing the song’s lyrics that declared of God:
“You are the source of my strength.
“You are the strength of my life.
“I lift my hands in total praise to you.”
Washington Auxiliary Bishop Roy E. Campbell, Jr., was the main celebrant for the Mass on the closing evening of the revival.
Over three nights the revival drew more than 1,900 people to Mount Calvary Church and attracted some 2,200 worshippers— over 1,400 the first night—to a YouTube channel hosted by St. Thomas More Parish in Washington, one of the 14 parishes that comprised East of the River Revival Committee churches.
Bishop Campbell later commented on the meaning of the revival saying, “It revives people’s spirit, and presents gifts of God in so many ways. It lifts people up. Father Ajani was an excellent revivalist.”
Spiritual gifts were displayed throughout the revival, in the playful banter offered by the emcee, Deacon Keith Somerville, to unite religious and lay congregants each evening; and in the joyful music delivered by musicians and more than 30 singers forming The Washington Liturgical Mass Choir directed by Lynné Gray and Henry Herrera. And the St. Teresa of Avila Liturgical Dancers from that Washington parish were nightly crowd pleasers.
But it was Father Ajani Gibson – a 30-year-old native of New Orleans who is featured in the Stella Maris documentary, “A Place at the Table: African-Americans on the Path to Sainthood” – who captured hearts and spirits with his humility and quiet soft-spoken demeanor that seemingly gave way to Holy Ghost power and authority each time he broke open the Word.
He began each homily with a song and delivered every sermon with a strong, impassioned voice that rose and fell with the rhythmic, musical cadence reminiscent of older Black preachers and storytellers.
On the first night, the Scripture reading from Ephesians 6:10-20 was used to establish what it means to be anchored in God unapologetically, and prepare for battle in this world by “being doers of the Word, putting on the whole armor of God.”
On the second night, Father Gibson’s storytelling was highlighted in his presentation of the Gospel of Matthew 14:22-33 as he painted a vivid picture of the various interactions between fearful disciples in a boat during a raging storm, their fear making Jesus unrecognizable as he walked toward them on the water.
“Can you recognize Jesus walking towards you in the midst of your storms?” Father Gibson asked. “If so, will you humble yourself like Peter when overwhelmed to seek salvation? Will you ask Jesus to save you? He will save you, immediately.”
Calling the revival a celebration of “praise, prayer and preaching,” Father Raymond Moore, the pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Washington and a pioneering member of the East of the River Revival Committee, asked “Are you revived?” and received thunderous applause and affirming shouts from people in the congregation.
“I think the Lord sent a priest and a prophet to us this season,” he said, thanking Father Gibson, religious and lay leaders, the revival committee members, and congregants for the success of the revival, as he invited all to put Oct. 6, 7, and 8 in 2025 on their calendars for next year.
The revival theme was developed by the East of the River Revival Committee. Several people recommended Father Gibson after hearing him speak at the National Black Catholic Congress that met at the Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center in National Harbor, Maryland in 2023, and he selected the Scripture readings for the revival.
Noting the priest’s popularity, Gail Carter of St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland, the revival committee’s chair, said, “We thought we wouldn’t be able to get him.” But she said he readily accepted the invitation and was humbled by it.
For months Carter worked with committee members such as Gail Ruffin of Mount Calvary, along with a multi-racial coalition of pastors to develop the revival, and a Youth Day led by committee member Chris Chapman that featured Josephite Father Stephen Sohe, the pastor of the Church of the Incarnation in Washington as the featured speaker. About 80 youth attended that program, the youngest being 6 years old.
While the name of the revival reflects its roots in parishes East of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C., Carter said the revival mission and evangelical outreach has always been to bring the gifts of Black Catholics to all parishes throughout The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and beyond. This was the longtime vision of the Southeast Deanery and revival committee leaders like Msgr. Raymond East, the pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Parish, and Colleen Nelson, who Carter said mentored her and others. They are determined to keep building the revival, despite advancing age and health challenges.
The vision now, said Carter, is to encourage young Black Catholic religious and lay leaders to pick up their mantle. She says anyone who desires to work with the East of the River Revival Committee or learn more about them can contact her, Gail Carter, at gcarter713@verizon.net or Christopher Chapman at errcommittee.sedc@outlook.com.
Ansel Augustine, the assistant director of African American Affairs in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, has proudly witnessed Father Ajani Gibson’s growth and impact, first as his friend and youth director in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and now as a member of his congregation.
Augustine said that when the future priest was a high schooler, he helped with retreats and with youth ministry. Seeing the flowering of Father Gibson’s ministry now “is worth every effort and sacrifice made. He’s an answer to prayer for me and many in my community,” the USCCB official said.
