In front of an impassioned crowd, the Rev. Melvin Amerson spoke words of inspiration to the Wiley students in attendance, at his sermon in the Julius S.Scott Sr. Chapel on Tuesday.

During the revival, songs were sang, the word of the Lord was spoken and Amerson's energy and charisma seemed to invigorate the Wiley faithful, often standing, clapping and applauding his didactic efforts during his sermon.

"Everything is not going to be tossed to us," Amerson preached. "We have to make an effort in order to withdraw something from our life. We must thrive and not just survive."

During his sermon, Amerson also took aim at the media, discussing the negative impact that are brought upon by individuals who are "high maintenance" on television and how these mediated images affect those who view them.

"They lack substance and make us high maintenance" he argued. "If you're going to be high maintenance, you need to be high performance and set high goals for the future," he added.

Not a stranger to using his words to touch lives, Amerson is a nationally-recognized stewardship consultant for the Texas Methodist Foundation and the author of "Stewardship in African-American Churches." He is currently working on a new book on stewardship that will be available in early 2008. Amerson has also led numerous training events around the country, including a stewardship workshop at Bishop's Week in June 2005.

Amerson, in addition, served as pastor for St. Lo United Methodist Church in Houston, earning the Small Membership Church Pastor of the Year Award for his leadership in increasing membership and the development of exemplary social programs benefiting the surrounding community.

He currently serves as chairman of the Extravagant Generosity Ministry of the Texas Annual Conference and he is on the board of directors of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Texas in Austin.

"We need to fuel ourselves with wisdom and knowledge," Amerson concluded. "Be like the Nike commercial, 'Just Do It'."