Ray of Hope Christian Church is preparing for the Lenten season with a Spring Revival beginning Feb. 19.

The Rev. Dr. Jerry Carter, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Morristown, N.J., will kick off the Decatur church’s revival at the 7:30 and 10 a.m. services on Feb. 19.

Carter, a lecturer at the Hampton Ministers Conference, served as an adjunct professor of preaching at Drew Theological School and an instructor of homiletics at Princeton Theological Seminary’s Summer Institute.

He received a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and completed the Master of Divinity degree at Princeton Theological Seminary. He earned a Ph.D. in liturgical studies with special emphasis on homiletics from Drew University.

The Rev. Dr. Marcus Cosby, senior pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston, Texas; Dr. Cynthia James of Evangelistic Ministries Inc. in Oakland, Calif.; and Bishop Joseph Walker III, senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., will be featured at the Feb. 20-22 services, held nightly at 7 in the Main Sanctuary.

The 40-day Lenten period runs from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Its theme of penance is suggested by Christ’s 40 days in the desert. Easter falls on April 8 this year.

Ray of Hope is at 2778 Snapfinger Road. For more information, visit www.rayofhope.org or call 770-696-5100.