Neighbors, Law Quell Plans for Tent Revival

For four nights, it was to have been “born-again” Christian testimonials set to gospel hymns, under a giant tent pitched on a vacant Northridge lot overgrown with weeds.

It was to have been the return of Old-Time Religion to the San Fernando Valley--the first revival meetings under canvas in at least 30 years, its organizers say.

But a Los Angeles zoning ordinance and neighborhood opposition ended plans for the series of revival meetings that was to have run tonight through Sunday.

‘We’re Rather Green’

“It’s a pretty complex thing--putting up a tent,” said Mitch Schuster, an evangelical Christian from Granada Hills, in describing the difficulties the group ran up against trying to put on the event. “We’re rather green at this sort of thing.”

A group of about 50 informally organized evangelicals from the Valley chose a one-acre corner lot at Parthenia Street and Balboa Boulevard for the meetings. The owner’s permission was secured, organizers say, and the group hoisted a sign on the lot announcing the revival.

Then the trouble began.

“I didn’t think kindly of it when I saw the sign,” one area resident recalled Wednesday. “We already have some guys playing the drums loud around here. Sunday night I was going bonkers,” said the resident, who asked that her name not be published.

Neighborhood residents began phoning the offices of 12th District City Councilman Hal Bernson to complain about potential parking, traffic and noise problems around the busy intersection.

Meanwhile, the evangelical group secured fire and electrical safety permits and also contacted Bernson’s office, asking for guidance in securing a zoning permit.

But they were told by Bernson’s office and city building and safety officials that the meetings would violate the law because the land is zoned for residential or agricultural use.

Expected 200 Nightly

“We could grow potatoes on the land, I guess, but not have a meeting,” Schuster noted dryly.

“The neighbors were very hostile to any event on that lot, but I don’t think they were picking on us as individuals or as Christians.”

Schuster said his group, which meets Sunday mornings in Granada Hills, expected to draw 200 people a night to the free revivals under a rented, 40-by-60-foot, blue and white tent. The evangelicals put up $1,500 for the revivals and planned to provide musicians and preachers, followed by punch and cookies.

After hearing that the lot was unavailable, the group looked elsewhere for a site, Schuster said.

Talked to University

He said the group asked officials at California State University, Northridge, if they could use its North Campus Annex, formerly known as Devonshire Downs.

“They said they already have too many activities going on there,” Schuster said.

The evangelicals then asked an official of the city Department of Recreation and Parks if they could stage a revival on city parkland. The answer, again, was no.

“We talked to a big guy there who thought it wasn’t very recreational.

“We regrouped and prayed about it,” Schuster said.

The decision was made to set up a canopy on Zuma Beach north of Malibu, where the group intends to deliver an oceanside version of the Valley revival Saturday afternoon.

“We’re not stuck on tent meetings; we just want to get the word out,” Schuster said.