Caden Tellier gets his wish for revival as 600 pack Selma church for memorial service

Exactly a week after telling his youth director that he wanted to see a revival in Selma, to introduce more people to the love of Jesus, Caden Tellier got his wish.

On Wednesday night, 600 people packed the sanctuary of his church, Christ the King on Highland Avenue in Selma, to worship together. Dozens of kids packed on the stage and jumped to the beat of the live band’s Christian rock songs. Football players from teams across the Black Belt packed the pews. Parents raised their hands to the sky while singing along.

For a solid hour, Selma had a revival.

But Caden wasn’t there in body to see it. He passed away on Saturday after suffering a brain injury from a tackle at the Morgan Academy vs Southern Academy football game on Friday.

A funeral date has not been set as the family waits for the 16-year-old junior at Morgan to finish giving his last gift of donating his organs.

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“A week ago tonight, Caden said he wanted to see a revival in Selma, and he’s seeing it now,” Youth Director Roxanne Jones told the crowd.

A revival is more than just a one-time event, she said. It is a movement that expands the worship of Jesus among many and lasts over a lifetime.

Caden’s family attended the service but didn’t speak. Jones said they wanted to worship with their friends and community.

The event ended the way Caden would have wanted: with prayer leaders inviting the crowd to find a place of worship to continue their discovery of Jesus.

Watch a video report from the revival here.