Erie Church Holds Revival After October Violence
Second Baptist Church hosted a fall revival in Erie on Tuesday and Wednesday to offer hope after a painful October for residents.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Civic
Second Baptist Church held a fall revival worship service in Erie on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing in guest preacher Reverend Dr. Tellis Chapman. Church leaders described the revival as a response to traumatic events in October, including the Perry Street mass shooting and a homicide case in which a man has been charged.
Why it matters
The revival gives residents a communal space to process grief after a difficult month in Erie. Church leaders framed the gatherings as an effort to offer hope and renewal to the community.
Second Baptist Church has organized community gatherings for eight decades, and the revival is part of that long record of gatherings. The extraction does not include attendance figures for the Tuesday and Wednesday services.
The players
Second Baptist Church
Second Baptist Church is a Baptist congregation in Erie that has organized community gatherings for eight decades.
Reverend Dr. Tellis Chapman
Reverend Dr. Tellis Chapman is senior pastor of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit and was the guest preacher for the revival.
Erie Mayor Daria Devlin
Daria Devlin is the mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania, who issued a proclamation recognizing Chapman's visit.
The details
Second Baptist Church held a fall revival worship service in Erie on Tuesday and Wednesday, led by guest preacher Reverend Dr. Tellis Chapman, senior pastor of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit. Church members first gathered in prayer on November 1, and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Erie Mayor Daria Devlin each issued proclamations recognizing Chapman's visit.
Timeline
October 2026: The Perry Street mass shooting and the homicide case involving a man now charged occurred.
November 1, 2026: Church members gathered in prayer at Second Baptist Church.
November 10-11, 2026: Fall revival worship services were held at Second Baptist Church.
Seasonal Patterns
The revival extends an eight-decade tradition of community gatherings at Second Baptist Church into a period of collective mourning following October's violence in Erie. It positions the congregation as a recurring gathering place for the city in difficult times.
Residents of Erie who are processing the October events can attend community worship and gatherings at Second Baptist Church. The revival offers a local, organized space for collective reflection after a difficult month.
The takeaway
Community institutions like Second Baptist Church often serve as anchors when a city faces shared trauma. Residents seeking support can look to local congregations and civic gatherings as places to connect with neighbors.
Further reading
Explore more Erie civic news to see how the city's community organizations are responding to recent events.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WJET-TV.
