Bishop Wille Murray believes that faith can heal, but a healthy lifestyle is also important. As pastor of the Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus Christ located in Auburn, he has helped bring education and healthy habits to people in Auburn since 1971.

From Thursday, June 4 to Saturday, June 6, the church will be holding a Gospel Jubilee, a free health and wellness class and a barbecue dinner. The events will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and at 3 p.m. Saturday. Bishop Murray explained the timing: “The Saturday afternoon service is to get people that we couldn't reach during the week nights. Young people especially find it easier to get to church on a Saturday.”

The events will start off each day with a revival-style service of testimony. “It's like an old revival meeting,” Murray described, “We have people, some young people, that come from streets and seek deliverance. We're praising the Lord with music and with testimony.

We'll have some people come up and talk about what they've been through in the past year, and how the Lord has helped them in their struggles.“

The health and wellness class will be held by Evangelist Samantha Lewis. Lewis carries out work centered on youth in both her professional and spiritual roles. As a certified family nurse practitioner, she works extensively with state programs focusing on youth. She also works as the president of the New York State Council of the International Pentecostal Young People's Union. The union is a division of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) that counsels on outreach programs dedicated to the education of young people.

“They have great programs, they help teach young people how to make better choices,” Murray said. “You know: how to avoid drugs, how to respect themselves and other people.”

Murray added, “Samantha will talk about things like high blood pressure, cholesterol, healthy eating habits in children, how to stay away from fatty foods, that sort of thing. Just talking about how to live in a healthy way.”

Bishop Murray has plenty of experience with these programs. Since 1969, when the group that would become Auburn's Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus Christ first began missionary work, Murray worked on programs to educate and promote healthy choices, primarily among the youth of Auburn.

“The main thing we want is for young people to educate themselves, to better their lives and their communities.”

Bishop Murray went on to talk about the progress that has been made in the past 40 years.

“It has improved a great deal. It's slow, but it's an improvement. Since we've been here, there have been a lot more African Americans going to college, helping out, joining the military. They have been looking for opportunities for service, to help the people around them.”

While many young people move away in search of job opportunities, Murray tries to stay in contact with as many as he can.

“They may end up down in Atlanta, or maybe still in state somewhere like Buffalo, but they come down in the summers, or they may send some donations back to help with the church or our programs.”

Murray recounted one remarkable experience: “I remember we had one young man, years ago, from the city. He had leukemia and was struggling. We all prayed for him and supported him, and he is still going strong, living with his family down in Atlanta.”

That sense of community support and faith will be in full force at the Apostolic Church next weekend, and at other events to come. Bishop Murray commented specifically on a summer-long event that the church holds.

“Down on Market Street, we get some professional musicians, have some barbecues and music parties right there downtown.”