Day Two of Loud Cry 2026: Weeping Between the Porch and the Altar

On April 9, 2026, day two of the 2026 Loud Cry International Convocation began with morning worship led by Pastor Samuel Thomas Jr. of The Narrow Way SDA Church, who delivered the morning devotional, followed by Dr. Isaac Olatunji, the morning keynote speaker.

Dr. O delivered a sincere, moving, and deeply personal message that served as both a warning and a redemptive call. He spoke of the abandonment of the pillars of our faith and expressed concern that the church’s standards regarding the use of jewelry and dress are being lowered. He warned that our religion was being changed and read passages from the Spirit of Prophecy illustrating how our historical teachings are coming to be regarded as error and how books of a ”new order” are working to dismantle our beliefs. [1]

That is precisely why the straight testimony must be given—because God requires that truth, correction, and reproof be faithfully brought to bear upon these matters among His people.

“The plain, straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people” (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 269).

The straight testimony is not optional—it is a heaven-appointed safeguard for the purification, revival, and preservation of God’s people. This is exactly what we need, especially in our camp meetings, if we truly desire to receive the Latter Rain, and Dr. O did not hold anything back.

The difference is that Dr. O delivered his message with a spirit of redemption, restoration, and salvation. During his sermon, when some of the most difficult topics were addressed, you could see the tears in his eyes and the pain in his heart as he spoke on these matters. I looked around the audience during his sobering message and saw others weeping as well. Dr. O then made an appeal for prayer on behalf of our fellow believers who are standing on dangerous ground. He called for repentance, the forsaking of sin, and a firm stand upon the truth.

We have a duty not to remain silent when souls are in danger because God expects His faithful people to be deeply concerned and actively engaged when worldliness is corrupting our fellow believers. We are called to mourn over sin, pray for the church, and stand for truth rather than silently tolerating wrongdoing. Do we do it in love? Absolutely. Respectfully? Of course. But we must do it.

“At the time when the danger and depression of the church are greatest, the little company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the land. But more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of the church because its members are doing after the manner of the world” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 209).

A similar sentiment was expressed during Pastor Ron Kelly’s closing message for the day. Although the primary focus of his message was that God’s people must not go backward but continue moving forward despite the many challenges we face, Pastor Kelly also shared that he would have loved to experience the joy of Adventism during the first fifty years of its existence—to witness and sense the movement in its infancy when it was at its purest. [2]

At one point in his message, Pastor Kelly stated that some in the church today have said Adventism has been reduced to a “dog and pony show.” By this, he meant that some believe our church services and programs have become too worldly, flashy, and entertainment-driven rather than spiritually substantive.

Pastor Kelly then expressed that if this has indeed become the case in Adventism, then “shame on us.” This attitude is similar to when Daniel declared, “We have sinned” (Daniel 9:5), even though Scripture presents him as a faithful man. Although Daniel had not personally committed the public sins that brought judgment upon Israel, he did not distance himself by saying, “They have sinned.” Instead, he humbled himself and confessed, “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity” (Daniel 9:5). This demonstrates that when the people of God suffer under divine judgment, the righteous do not stand at a distance and act superior—they identify with the body on whose behalf they are seeking to intercede in mercy.

This type of attitude reveals the spirit of a true and faithful watchman. Rather than accusing others while exalting himself, Daniel felt the burden of the people before God. He placed himself in the midst of the problem because he desired to plead for the people, not merely point fingers. The faithful will always agonize, plead, and labor in love for the restoration of souls.

“The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211).

Just as the ancient prophets wept for Israel, and just as Christ wept over Jerusalem, the faithful cannot watch rebellion and spiritual corruption spread without inward grief. Their mourning flows from love—love for God’s truth, love for the purity of the church, and love for the souls in danger.

That spirit was evident throughout the meetings at the 2026 Loud Cry International Covocation. The closer a person comes to Christ, the more clearly he will see his own unworthiness before God. Yet he will never become comfortable with sin—either in his own life or in the lives of God’s professed people.

“While others try to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent, those who have a zeal for God’s honor and a love for souls will not hold their peace to obtain favor of any. Their righteous souls are vexed day by day with the unholy works and conversation of the unrighteous. They are powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity, and hence they are filled with grief and alarm. They mourn before God to see religion despised in the very homes of those who have had great light. They lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of almost every kind are in the church. The Spirit of God, which prompts to reproof, is trampled underfoot, while the servants of Satan triumph. God is dishonored, the truth made of none effect” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 210).

Sources

[1] https://www.youtube.com/live/iG0U-kwQUyk?si=I32ZGEEFtOzWzmyA

[2] https://www.youtube.com/live/PrlMXC3QVm0?si=IIkotfZQPUjO5fQe