REVIVAL OFFERS SPIRITUAL PREPARATION.

Byline: Holly J. Andres Staff Writer

The new millennium is coming, and Dudley Rutherford wants the congregation at Shepherd of the Hills to begin preparing for it tonight.

That's when the nondenominational Porter Ranch church will launch Revival '99, a five-day event.

``We've had 1,000 people praying for this event for 30 days. Their names are up on a banner in the church,'' said Rutherford, a third-generation preacher. ``This congregation is full of joy. They love God. They love the church.''

Rutherford said he likes to tell people that Shepherd of the Hills is a church that's ``on fire for God.'' However, remembering Psalm 85, which says, ``Revive us, oh Lord,'' Rutherford said the meeting is for those in the church and others, ``who have gotten complacent in their walk with God.''

Rutherford spent about a year writing letters to local and regional pastors inviting them to help his congregation ``recharge their batteries'' and recommit their dedication to God.

The hour-long services, with the Shepherd of the Hills choir, will include on different nights the Revs. David Moore, former pastor of the Church at Rocky Peak in Chatsworth, and Roger Spradlin, Tommy Barnett and Andrae Crouch, of The New Christ Memorial, Church of God in Christ in Pacoima. Crouch will perform a special concert that will close out the revival Wednesday.

The guest speakers will present their thoughts on spiritual preparation for the new millennium, the theme of the revival. Tonight's guest speaker will be David Martinez, pastor of Victory Outreach since 1975.

Although Victory Outreach, associated with Assembly of God churches, meets Sundays at Pacoima Elementary School, Martinez places an emphasis on street ministry. His work with young people in the Pacoima area includes helping gang members and those with drug or alcohol problems turn their lives around and follow Jesus.

``Many people go to church for five, 10 years, but never get involved. They think that's enough,'' Martinez said. ``A lot of times people say that they want the church to revolve around them; when it's convenient for them to go. I say, no. Church is a way of life. Our life has to revolve around the church.''

Martinez said he will challenge those at the service to make a commitment to the work of the Lord in the new millennium. ``Their lives aren't on the line,'' he said. ``Maybe they're not involved now. Maybe they're afraid or just complacent. I will be trying to move them to grow spiritually and help the community. Hearts will be challenged.''

Both Martinez and Rutherford believe their congregations can make a difference in the world. Martinez said that much of Jesus' ministry was in the streets, using the miracles of the loaves and fishes and opening the eyes of the blind as examples.

``That's where the people are, and, if you read the Bible, you will read that's where Jesus was. We can wait for people to come into church, but we also have to go into the highways and byways like Jesus,'' said Martinez, a Pacoima native.

Rutherford said his church believes changed people can change the world. If people can make an impact in Los Angeles, he said, a spiritual change will filter to the rest of the United States.

``We want people to live the way God wants us to live. This happens through prayer and repentance. This could be the last year before Jesus returns. I want people to be ready for his return. Be ready every day,'' he said.

His hope, he continued, is that everyone who comes to Revival '99 will ``renew their commitment to God and serve him with all their heart and soul and mind.''

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Photo: ``We want people to live the way God wants us to live. This could be the last year before Jesus returns. I want people to be ready for his return. Be ready every day.''

- Dudley Rutherford

Preacher at Shepherd of the Hills church, right, with Victory Outreach pastor David Martinez

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer