Personal loss inspires Revive Habersham worship event

CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — When Bethlehem Baptist Church’s Director of Student Ministry Ethan Carlson talks about Revive Habersham, a three-night student worship event coming to Habersham Central High School this week, he talks about more than filling an auditorium.

For Carlson, the event grew out of personal tragedy, faith and a desire to reach young people across Habersham County.

Revive Habersham will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, July 30-Aug. 1, at the Habersham Central High School Performing Arts Center.

The free event is open to students in grades 6-12, with parents, teachers, coaches and other community members also invited to attend.

No registration is required.

Carlson, student worship leader at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville, said the idea behind Revive Habersham began taking shape after the death of his wife, Josie-Tatum Carlson, in a 2024 traffic accident.

Carlson had come to Northeast Georgia to attend Truett McConnell University and was working in student ministry at Christ Place Church. He and Josie-Tatum, his high school sweetheart, had grown up together in Pierce County and shared a desire to pursue ministry and missions.

On the morning of the crash, they were headed to a staff meeting that included a going-away celebration for Rick Hermann, who was leaving Christ Place to become pastor at Bethlehem.

Josie-Tatum died in the crash.

Carlson recalled sitting in a Gainesville hospital afterward, angry, confused and wrestling with God. When his family later returned to the couple’s Habersham County home to gather clothes for the trip to South Georgia and funeral arrangements, his father picked up Josie-Tatum’s Bible.

It was still open from her quiet time that morning.

Carlson said he initially couldn’t bring himself to read it, although he kept the Bible close to him. Days later, while riding with his parents to the funeral home, he opened it to the bookmarked passage.

Josie-Tatum had been reading Philippians 1. Among the verses she had marked was Philippians 1:21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

In the margin, Carlson said, she had written that God could use difficult circumstances to make the gospel and His glory known.

“In that moment, as angry and confused as I was, it was like purpose came back,” Carlson said.

The experience eventually changed how Carlson viewed surviving the crash.

“If God left me, then He still has something for me to do,” he said.

Carlson said he became determined to use his testimony to reach others.

“I don’t want to waste this story,” he said.

A vision for Habersham students

Carlson graduated from Truett McConnell in May and eventually followed Hermann to Bethlehem Baptist Church. One of the ideas he brought with him was an event aimed at reaching students throughout Habersham County.

Carlson said that desire became more urgent after seeing local students deal with suicide and loss.

He said his own faith gave him hope during suffering, and he wants young people to have that same foundation when they face difficult circumstances.

“The thing that broke my heart is, what about all of the kids that don’t know Jesus?” Carlson said. “When that stuff happens, it’s just darkness. It’s just no hope.”

Carlson said Revive Habersham is intended both for students already active in their faith and those who have no church connection.

For believers, he hopes the event encourages them to take their faith beyond the three nights at Habersham Central and into their schools, athletic teams, bands, homes and other parts of their lives.

“Our prayer is that two months from now, Habersham community is like, ‘Man, what happened to our kids?’” Carlson said.

For students who aren’t involved in church, organizers hope the event gives them an opportunity to hear the gospel and connect with a local congregation.

Carlson said students will have access to a QR code that will allow them to provide information and be connected with a church near them. Counselors also will be available during the event, including a Spanish-speaking counselor.

Churches come together

What began as an idea for an event at Bethlehem grew into something Carlson believed should involve churches throughout Habersham County.

He reached out to Logan, the youth pastor at Level Grove Baptist Church, and Riley, the youth pastor at River Point Community Church. Fellowship of Christian Athletes Director Thomas Burnett also joined the effort.

Carlson said organizers then sought to invite every church in Habersham County, regardless of denomination.

“It’s not about the name on your church sign, but the name above all names,” Carlson said.

Organizers have leaned heavily on social media to spread the word, particularly Instagram, and have asked youth pastors throughout the county to promote the event to their students.

Carlson said the goal is for students from every youth ministry to attend and for each student to invite a friend who isn’t involved in church.

The effort came together quickly. Carlson said organizers had about two months to promote Revive Habersham after securing approval to use the high school and completing the branding and other preparations.

The Performing Arts Center seats about 700 people, but Carlson said organizers don’t know what attendance will look like for the inaugural event.

“If we have five kids, God’s given us five kids to impact,” Carlson said. “If we have 500 kids, God’s given us 500 kids to impact.”

Three nights of worship

Each night will begin at 6 p.m., with games and music outside the Performing Arts Center before students enter for the service.

A worship team from Buford will lead worship each night, followed by a message from a local speaker.

Hermann will speak Thursday night. Burnett will speak Friday, and Level Grove Baptist Church Pastor Brian James will speak Saturday.

Carlson said organizers intentionally kept the speakers local.

“We want to see God do something incredible in our county,” he said.

The services themselves are intended to remain focused on worship and the gospel.

“Our idea is to take away all the distractions and stuff like that, all the attractional side of things,” Carlson said. “We’re just going to worship Jesus, preach the gospel.”

After each service, students can return outside for an “after party” featuring games, music, booths and a free treat. Frozen Frenzy shaved ice will be available Thursday night.

Organizations planning to have booths include FCA and the Habersham Christian Learning Center. Habersham Collective, a Christian band made up of local high school students that plans to hold worship nights during the school year, also will promote its activities. Carlson said Turning Point chapters are expected to participate as well.

Before the three-night event begins, organizers are inviting the community to gather outside the Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, for a time of prayer. Students, parents and other community members are invited.

Carlson said organizers hope Revive Habersham eventually becomes an annual event and grows beyond the county. The long-term vision could include expanding it into Revive North Georgia and bringing churches from throughout the region together at a larger venue.

For now, Carlson said the focus is on what happens in Habersham this week — and, more importantly, what happens afterward.

“Our prayer is that there’s a ripple effect down the road,” he said, “that we’ll look back months later and be like, ‘Man, my relationship with Jesus started at Revive Habersham.’”