Tonight in the middle of the Worship Gathering, I was reminded of a very important anniversary for Allison Park Church. It was 10 years ago, on January 12th, 1997--that APC had an explosive spiritual moment that was transformation both for the life of the church and for the lives of many individuals as well.
Friday (Jan 12, 2007) marks that 10 year anniversary to the day. Therefore, I am going to do a series of blog entries on my remembrances of that amazing season in the life of our church fellowship.
As I write these remembrances, we are pursuing God for a new and unique 'suddenly' to explode into our midst. What is a 'suddenly'? I am using that term for a 'sudden visitation of the presence of God that is so real and so powerful that it changes everything'. When a 'suddenly' occurs, souls are saved, bodies are healed, young people are called into ministry, the backslidden return to God, people are set free, and most of all--God gets even more up close and personal in our lives.
Tonight, as I was worshiping--I sensed the very real and tangible presence of God. It felt very much like it felt in 1997 when God burst onto the scene. Now, I believe that there is so much more than what we are experiencing right now. But I look back on that moment with great fondness and respect and a moment that shifted the trajectory of our church's history.
One way that I can see the shaping of that moment was through those who were leading the Worship Gathering tonight. Kate Griffin was 14 or 15 years old at the time, just a young person being impacted by God's presence. She wasn't even from APC, she just came to visit during that season of the move of God. Now she is leading our Fine Arts Department.
David Santistevan who is leading our worship, was like 13 years old. He was just beginning to play his guitar and piano. I recall laying my hands on David (and his brother Mike--who is now the pastor at ACC) and praying over him during that season of outpouring. There was such a strong anointing on the them, that I just wept and prophesied over them and how God wanted to use them. Now, those words are being fulfilled as they are part of leading the next wave of what God is doing.
Pastor Chris Griffin was 17 years old at the time. He could be found at the altar as a young person with his hands raised to God, declaring aloud his praise. He attended North Allegheny H.S. and God touched him powerfully during that time, and called him to ministry. He led many of his friends to Christ and became a student leader in 220 Youth Ministry. Today, Chris leads our 24/7 Prayer Ministry and tonight he led the service.
Brian Lippert, who was our drummer tonight--was just 11 years old. Brian now is our Media Tech and does our Web, our Videos, our APC Minute. He was just a quiet little kid, sitting in his seat in the midst of all that God was doing at the time. Now God is using him to help us communicate creatively to the next generation.
I am so grateful to God for what He has done in the past ten years, and so proud of these young men and women who were touched by God at APC. As we pray for the 'suddenly' to be released once again among us, we are praying for more than just what will happen today or tomorrow. We are praying prayers that will shape and release the lives of the next generation. When God visits a church, He changes everything.
Recent Comments