Hope Rally 2025 Ignites Spiritual Revival in St. Louis: 58 Baptized
By Gianna Snell, Breath of Life Communications Director
St. Louis, MO — July 2025
“Initially, I believed that we were invited to St. Louis by the leadership of Central States to be a part of an evangelistic push leading into the General Conference Session,” said Pastor Debleaire Snell, Speaker/Director of Breath of Life Ministries. “But as I look back, I am convinced that coming here was a providential assignment.”
From June 22 to July 5, the city of St. Louis experienced a spiritual revival as Hope Rally 2025 swept through the city, bringing hope, restoration, and renewed faith in God. Hosted at Northside Seventh-day Adventist Church and co-sponsored by Breath of Life Ministries and the Central States Conference, the two-week-long evangelistic series was led by Pastor Snell, whose nightly preaching drew large crowds and powerful responses. The revival culminated in the baptism of 58 individuals, marking a significant move of God in a city still recovering from the devastation of May’s deadly tornadoes.
“St. Louis is still dealing with a collective grief,” said Snell. “And there was a deficit of hope that only the gospel of Jesus Christ was able to offset,”
Each evening, Pastor Snell delivered one of ten biblical reasons for hope, preaching relatable Spirit-filled messages that resonated deeply with both long-time believers and those just beginning their faith journey.
Each year, Breath of Life Ministries travels to a different city under the banner of the Hope Rally—a movement dedicated to preaching the good news of Jesus Christ to those in need of encouragement, hope and spiritual renewal. This year, God led Breath of Life to St. Louis, where the message of hope met a city longing for restoration and revival.
“I choose to teach on hope because I believe the world right now is in a constant state of anxiety,” Snell explained. “There is always unrest about the state of affairs, a great deal of division and uncertainty about the future. Hope allows people to settle. It becomes the basis through which we experience peace… and the reminder that as believers, there is a better world that awaits us.”
Special musical guests helped to reinforce the message of hope, including Jonathan Nelson, Melvin Crispell III, and Myron Butler & Levi, while Singing Evangelist Tamara Bodie ministered in song nightly, preparing hearts for the Word.
The rally was the result of unified efforts from churches across the St. Louis Area Ministries (SLAM) network, which came together in prayer, planning, and participation to reach the city for Christ.
“This has been one of the most energetic and united evangelistic efforts I’ve witnessed in St. Louis,” said Trevor Barnes, pastor of Northside SDA Church. “There’s a real sense that something special is happening. We’re seeing people come out who haven’t attended past meetings or week-of-prayer events.”
Throughout the revival, an excitement filled the building, matched by a deep hunger for the Word of God. Each night, a spirit of expectation permeated the room—hands were lifted in heartfelt worship, attendees leaned in with notebooks in hand, and individuals both young and old responded to the nightly appeals. It was an atmosphere where hearts were open, faith was stirred, and God moved in a tangible way.
“One of the greatest joys of evangelism is to see people who are unchurched or disconnected from God begin to settle into the truth of the word,” Pastor Snell shared. “From night to night, I saw the word settle into the hearts of people who did not know God was real, who were not sure they could be saved, and who had no knowledge that Jesus was coming again. The greatest joy each night was seeing the Lord add to the church daily, such as should be saved.”
The closing service on July 5 brought the revival to a triumphant conclusion. Pastor Snell preached his final message of hope, entitled, ‘God Stays Up Past Midnight’ and the service ended with a beautiful baptism ceremony, followed by a fellowship lunch welcoming the new members into the family of God.
For those who attended, Hope Rally 2025 was more than just another evangelistic effort—it was an encounter with the Most High God! And as each individual rose from the waters of baptism and dozens more were inspired to recommit their lives to Christ, one thing became clear: Hope is still alive in St. Louis. And His name is Jesus Christ!
