"I will remember the deeds of the Lord;yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago." - Psalm 77:11 (NIV)
October 26, 2006 changed everything. I attended a prayer meeting with my bride to be (though neither of us knew it at the time) that sparked the beginning of something I had never seen before: the real, tangible power of God.
I was baptized in the Holy Spirit my junior year of high school. Being raised in church, I never knew anything about this empowerment that was available to believers who wanted to receive. After I was baptized in His Spirit, intimacy with the Lord replaced routine and religion. My sophomore year in college, however, was when I met Keeli. Before we traveled down that road, I met her dad.
After the prayer meeting that night in October, we sat for dinner. Keeli's dad, Kermit, sat to my left and my friend (the only familiar face at the table) sat across from us.
"Jonathan?" Kermit started. "When were you baptized in the Holy Spirit?" I could hardly believe it! Of all the people I knew, this stranger was asking me the question nobody had cared to ask before about the most monumental experience of my life. I told him the story, excited for my friend across the table as I had spoken often of this baptism. Suddenly, he asks the same question to my friend. Five minutes later, my friend is baptized in the Holy Spirit and praying in tongues. I was astonished! It was then my discipleship began.
Before meeting Keeli and her family, the desire had been stirring in me to host a Holy Spirit conference on campus. At the slight mention of it, Kermit announced to the entire table, "Hey everyone! Jonathan is going to plan and host a Holy Spirit conference on ASU's campus!" He then turns to me and says, "You need to meet with Keeli to make this happen." Best advice ever.
Jonathan Fawcett