ST. PETERSBURG — More than 65 St. Petersburg District youth responded to a call from Western North Carolina Conference Bishop Charlene Kammerer to admit they were "bent over" with a personal burden and needed God’s healing, like the woman in Luke 13:10-17.

"There are too many youth bent over by drugs, alcohol and depression," Kammerer said. "Why can we not see that?…Tonight it’s okay to admit we’re bent over."

The youth were among more than 700 teenagers from United Methodist Churches across the district who gathered at the Pasadena Community Church here for the second St. Petersburg District Youth Revival Feb. 27. It was part of a three-day district revival Feb. 27-29 designed to "empower and equip" church members to be in ministry, according to Kevin James, St. Petersburg District superintendent.

"A revival is always for the saved," he said. "We need to be revived, refreshed and renewed as a district team and district family."

The entire event attracted approximately 2,400 people from the district, according to James. He said he was pleased with the turnout, especially since all of the district’s clergy participated, and will continue to work on building laity involvement.

He said this year’s revival was significant because it was a prelude to the district’s Share Jesus Mission June 24-July 2, during which 20 churches are planning to hold outreach events.

Kerry Foote, the education and youth director at First United Methodist Church, Hudson, and one of the youth rally’s coordinators, said he was thankful for James’ leadership in making sure the youth were involved in the revival. "We are very fortunate that Kevin James is very pro-youth," he said. "He wants to incorporate youth into this intergenerational revival."

The youth revival started with a carnival-like "Fun Day." Participants played inflatable games, including an obstacle course and jousting, and dunked local pastors and youth ministers. Music was provided by St. Petersburg Christian band Lorna Bracewell and Cross Eyed and national recording act Scarecrow and Tinmen.

The entire event was free to participants and paid for by the district and seven of the district’s larger churches, according to Foote.

The revival’s worship service featured music by local praise teams and choirs and Kammerer’s message in which she compared the imbalance caused by physical deformity to the imbalance caused by spiritual and emotional corruption. She challenged the youth to recognize the "victims of injustice" around them, including parents who "work 12 hours a day and cannot make a living wage" and victims of racism, police brutality and racial profiling.