A Divine Encounter

A Divine Encounter

On Saturday April 26, I had the privilege of being a presenter at the Hudson Valley Leadership Summit. My workshop, attended by about 25 people, was entitled "Being Church in a Media Driven Culture". In about 50 minutes we surveyed the history of media (from Icons to Ipods) and explored the impact our digital culture has upon the way we do church today. It was a blast.

At the final session of the day (our keynote speaker was Rev. Charles Crabtree, former Assistant Superintendent of the Assemblies of God and now president of Zion Bible College), all the pastors were asked to stand. Then others in attendance were invited to lay hands on them and pray. As I closed my eyes, I felt the warmth of a hand on my right shoulder and heard a voice with obvious "African inflections" (I've been to Africa and have several African friends) begin to pray for me. Almost immediately, my eyes began to well up in tears and I sensed the presence of God in a way I haven't felt it in a long time. I don't know who that brother was nor do I remember what he prayed, but I sensed God saying to me that he has his hand on my life and ministry. I know it sounds rather trite, but it was a powerful experience for me.

I have learned a long time ago, that we can not manufacture those divine encounters nor should we try to "conjure" them up through all kind of spiritual gymnastics. God is God. God is sovereign. We just need to be open to Him doing in us what he wants and when he wants.