The names of Rev. John & Eunilah Mean, both of whom are pastors, have been associated with the United Pentecostal work in Nova Scotia ever since 1952 when the province’s first congregation of that persuasion had it’s beginning in Stewiacke. Since that time, the United Pentecostal Church Fellowship has attained a visible presence in over 20 communities, one of them being Amherst.

           In 1959, Mr. & Mrs. Mean inaugurated an outreach in Amherst. Their stay in the town has been described as short but is was of a length sufficient to permit the gathering of those who in 1959 were organized at the town’s Revival Centre - Faith United Pentecostal Church. At that time, a small one room building located at 16 King Street in the centre of the town was purchased for use as a meeting place. The initial fellowship soon grew to number 30. The structure was obtained from a Mr. Fagan and was renovated to meet the congregation’s needs by a member of the body identified simply as “Brother Steeves”. For the greater part of a quarter of a century the building served as the congregation’s home, it’s divine function suggested by the cross above the door and to the left of the cross, as one faced the building, the words, “Faith Pentecostal.”

          During those years, the congregation was led by a succession of pastors, Rev. Eric Hume, Rev. Frank McCarty, Rev. George Mott, Rev. Maude Mason and Rev. David Allen. Rev. Mason’s was the longest period of leadership. The Church was sold in 1981 although the congregation continued for a time to rent the building for its use.

          Rev. Harold Cole commenced his ministry in Amherst in 1981. Shortly after his arrival, fire destroyed the interior of the building, so the former African Methodist Episcopal Church on Popular Street was rented. Meanwhile, work was proceeding on a new place of worship for the people of Revival Centre. The Congregation was able to purchase 11 acres of land from Walter Cole. Not too long after that, the congregation sold a corner of the lot for the site of the Gables Lodge Nursing Home of Special Care. The Building of the Church, which stands at 262 Church Street near Robert Angus Drive commenced in 1982. Much of the construction work was done by the pastor and members of the congregation on a voluntary basis. As soon as the structure was ready for use, worship services were held there. 

           In April of 1999, Rev. Jonathan Cole, son of Rev. & Mrs. Harold Cole became the Associate Pastor of Revival Centre, and in March of 2001, he was voted in as Full-time Pastor while Rev. Harold Cole continues to serve as Senior Pastor. The Church has seen great revival over the years and it continues under the present leadership. Thanks to the Lord and a great team of workers, the church continues to grow. In 2002, the average attendance was approx. 90 and has grown now to over 130 with outreach works ministering to over 100 people. At Revival Centre, everyone is encouraged to have an outreach mindset. The Church is actively involved in reaching out to the nursing homes in the area, having open-air gospel concerts downtown, sharing its positive message in the annual local parades, helping with the area food drives, reaching out to other churches in the Amherst & surrounding areas with Gospel Concerts among many other things. This is some of the reasons the church has seen steady growth over the years.

          We are excited not just about our past and where God has brought us from but we look forward to the future to all the great things God holds for us. We hope to never take for granted the opportunity we have to be a part of something great and we hope you will join us in God's great story for our church and your life too!