Sarepta Shed Gears Up For 117th Annual Revival

By Mark Keith, 07/2/19 10:41 PM

Near the center of Nevada County, off US 371 on state highway 299 is a large, open-air shed that has probably hosted the longest-running revival in Nevada County.  It’s the Sarepta Shed which has been hosting revivals each summer since 1902.  According to a 2004 article in the “Sandyland Chronicle”, Jerry McKelvey traced the deed back to 1902 when W.E. and Mary Evans deeded the land to trustees J.W. House, B.W. Beauchamp, and J.N. Reagan as a gift for “the purpose of religious worship”.    This year’s Sarepta Shed Revival is set for July 7th through 10that 8pm each evening.  Hopefully, the mild early summer weather will last through the revival because long-time attendees can often remember attending when the temperature would still be over 90 degrees at 8pm.  Speakers this year will include Matthew Pagels on Sunday night, Neal Ridling on Monday, Donnie Dillard on Tuesday, and Mike Steed on Wednesday.  The revival often features speakers from a variety of churches including Baptist and Pentecostal.      The revival has at times lagged in attendance but attendance has rallied in recent years and the average nightly attendance in 2018 was 75 with one night having a congregation of over 90 worshippers.      The Shed may date back to 1902 but it is believed revivals have been held on the spot since right after the Civil War.  The revivals in the past lasted as long at two weeks and sometimes families would camp and bring live animals such as chickens and cows.  Thankfully the worship now is now marred by clucking or mooing!     All are welcome at the annual Sarepta Shed revival.  Those who have attended have remarked on how moving the services are in the historic setting.  Anyone needing further information may contact Sandy Helm or Selma Hicks in Prescott.