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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: GATHERING (07/14/16)
TOPIC: GATHERING:

TITLE: SPIRITUALLY CORNERED.

It was a large gathering. Throngs of people, from different walks of life, started arriving in mid-morning. The World Shine Ministry Convention [2015] was being held in a city suburb.

At exactly 3:00pm, the convention started. After several speeches, climaxed by that of the Guest of Honour who officially opened the convention, Bible expositions and teachings started. On the second day, there was this American speaker called Rev. Kevin Porter preaching about The Holy Spirit.

He started by sharing about the Holy Spirit as a ‘person’. I knew that already! I tried to withhold my full attention unless Kevin introduced a new topic which I needed to know about.

After exhausting the Holy Spirit, as a ‘person’, Kevin turned to the Holy Spirit as a ‘God’. I knew that, too. I asked myself:
“Since I am born-again, the Holy Spirit already indwells me, I received Holy Spirit baptism, speak and pray in tongues, why should I waste my time listening to this man?”

“Watch your pride and repent”, a voice in me convicted and challenged! I said a silent prayer and paid attention to the speaker.

For the next forty minutes, Kevin pounded his listeners with his cogent message– especially this author. He articulated how the Holy Spirit was not only a ‘person’ and ‘God’, but also the most important personality in the Universe who dispenses His gifts and fruit to humanity.

Little did I know that Kevin had a great message for me. I began to discern that Satan, the desperate specialist liar and mankind’s worst foe, was doing his evil duty, infecting me with pride and lies so that I may miss my blessings.

From then on, whatever Kevin uttered made sense to my heart. Every word ministered to my soul. I could not even notice the presence of my wife who, all along, was busy absorbing whatever Kevin was passionately preaching.

Suddenly, Kevin convincingly came to the peroration of his teaching. By this point, he had exhausted all he knew so well about the Holy Spirit and, most especially, His gifts and fruit and how to receive Him, be able to speak and pray in tongues!

There was a dramatic stampede when Kevin invited those who wished to experience the power of the Holy Spirit to come forward!
First to move were bishops, followed by reverends and pastors and, then, the rest of the people from various tents.

“You don’t have to go there because you have already received the Holy Spirit baptism, you can speak and pray in tongues!”, a very strong voice in me advised. That was true! I had told many people, most of whom were present.

“But even bishops, reverends and pastors are going?” I pleaded with the voice.

“Yes, they have never told you that they have received the Holy Spirit but you have!”, the voice urged me.

Suddenly, I realized that almost everyone, including my wife, had moved forward in response to Kevin’s call. At that point, I gathered courage and joined the hungry gathering in front.

More out of embarrassment and confusion than conviction, I begrudgingly moved to the front, found a darker corner whence to safely watch what might follow.

Kevin did what he had, probably, well-rehearsed and done many times before, with more or less similar results! All I saw were people falling down, praising and worshipping God, speaking and praying in tongues- total deliverance taking place!

Shyly, I gathered some modicum of courage and tried to mingle with the gathering. It was as if a monsoon wind had suddenly come upon this joyous gathering! What a galvanized scenery I was now seeing!

Before I knew it all, spasmodic power descended upon me. I started uncontrollably quaking, speaking, praying and singing in tongues! Navigating through the crowd, like a bullet, I found myself face to face with Kevin who quickly noticed the state in which I was.He invited me, speaking in English, to testify about the experience I was enjoying and I replied him in tongues.

I felt buoyant, liberated and transcendent. Whatever I heard was good, whatever I sang was melodious, whatever I saw was gorgeous and whatever I did was enjoyable. Was there anything so good like Holy Spirit baptism? Has life ever been so glorious, so superb? That because my spiritual turning point, up to today. Glory be to Almighty God, His Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

NON-FICTION
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Toni Babcock 
07/23/16
Thanks for joining the Challenge! One suggestion I would have would be to reconsider the title. The word "cornered" carries the idea of being trapped to some readers. I wondered if another word might better convey what you are trying to get across to the reader.
Lea Austin
07/24/16
I thought you did a good job conveying your emotions in this personal account, and feeling your emotions helped me share your experience. When I came across words like peroration, I felt more distance from the experience as it made the story seem more formal. When reading personal stories, I prefer simple vocabulary that makes me feel a part of the experience.
Larry Whittington
07/24/16
In one place you have a "speaker called"...

I don't care what he might be called but rather to know his name. I felt it better to say a "speaker named"...