A God-moment

A number of years ago I was invited to be an adult leader at a Christian youth camp and I willingly agreed to assist. Adolescents experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit often manifest an introverted innocence and yet a bubbling fountain of spiritual delight and growth and I find this crisis point an amazing place for ministry.

Amid drama classes trying to construct a humourous skit with a strong Christian message, group ministry with young people trying to come to terms with hormones let alone the presence of God, and sport opportunities which ended up with me chasing fit teens with half my wisdom, the men's voices (boy's voices?) were given to sing a chorus from the Jerusalem Passion entitled 'This is My Body". Beautifully written, it had a profound effect on the large group of boys every time we practiced.

On the concert night back in the city church where all the parents and many others gathered to hear the concert, we sang this piece of music and after we finished we did not receive the usual polite applause mixed with parental comments of approval. Rather, there was a complete silence so spiritual in nature that no-one spoke; everyone was very expectant that God was present and it was holy ground.

A minister took the microphone and said simply, "let's pray" and we did.

As I look back on that moment I am struck by one emphatic, recurring thought; the church has to plan and organise itself, and give shape to its ministry so that many people can participate and be reached. This is right and good. However, the great works of God come when we respond to Him in a moment of grace; when all the sermons, praying, home groups, missions, fetes, fellowships and conversations are still and we must act out our story of grace now, where God must be manifest in one of His people now; and they must minister in the power of the Spirit now.

Are you sensitive to these moments? Do you act now?

When these God-moments come, move with the wind of the Spirit of God and follow where He leads. You will never forget that moment when you see and experience God do something unannounced.