This is a testimony from a children's pastor in Youngstown Ohio, it's long, but so worth reading!
"Greetings friends Just wanted to give you an update about this past week.Monday through Friday 6 of our children attending Heartland Kids Camp, anincredible event for kids grades 3-5 from churches all over Ohio. I knowfrom first-hand evaluation that these children will never be the same. Herewas the run down.
Monday the service was specifically geared towards the unsaved- and by theend of the night not one of the 350 children remained in their seats, butstood with their hands in the air, either surrender their lives to God forthe first time, or recommitting to their first love.
Tuesday we leaders prayed all day long for the night service- the call forthe baptism of the Holy Spirit. And this was actually a life-changing nightfor ME! The speaker, Pastor Dave, an incredible children's speaker fromFlorida who uses Christian magic and tricks to capture the hearts andattention of the children, spoke perfectly about the baptism of the HolySpirit and why it is a MUST in our lives. By the end of the night, easilyover 75 children received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidenceof speaking in tongues, each child carefully monitored and verified by theleaders that this was a genuine experience. A very small little girl wasstanding at the altar, and as I watched her, she was being passed constantlyby the leaders. But I could sense in my spirit by the way she was worshipingthat she desired this gift. (I later found out this little girl was PastorJosh- our Ohio Youth Director's- 4 year old daughter.) I went up to her andasked her why she was there. And she responded with a very confident "I'mpraying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit." So I explained the gift assimply as I could, and we began to pray together. I allowed her to listen tomy prayer language, to let her know it was simple and something we just needto receive. As she began worshiping and praying the Lord with her little"yes Lord"s and "thank you Lord"s and "I love you Jesus"s, immediately shebegan to speak in, not just a few little syllables, but a FLUENT tongue. Itwas incredible!! The little girl ran to her mama after we celebratedtogether, and I could tell her mom was questioning it, so I ran up andverified it, and her mom just stood in awe of God and her little girl. (Thenext day I would find out that this little girl "practiced" her prayerlanguage all night and day, and even let mama hear it.) It was authentic. Itwas real. It was something I will never forget.
Wednesday the service was a call for healing and I was amazed to see howmany kids had broken hearts that needed to be mended by God. I've never seenkids cry out like that before. Boys and girls burying their faces in theirhands, sobbing as leaders held them close and prayed healing over them. Kidspraying for each other with POWERFUL prayers of confidence and boldness.Kids crying out in intercession for our nation and our families. It was aGod-moment. And so beautiful.
Thursday, the last service of the week, Pastor Dave spoke on the call of Godon the lives of the children, and that God can call us even at their youngages. By the end of the night, children and leaders alike were on theirfaces before the Lord, listening for his voice and direction. At the end,Pastor Josh (the director) had all of the children who felt they "heard thecall" come up on stage and you would be absolutely amazed at how bold thesechildren were, as one by one each proclaimed what they believed God wascalling them to be. missionaries, pastors, preachers, evangelists, doctors,etc. It was amazing!
The daytime sessions were lots of fun, lots of games and had a ton of goodfood. But the children NEEDED those night sessions desperately- and theywill never be the same. And hey, neither will I"
No comments:
Post a Comment