| In the spring of 1970 a rival of sorts spread through our high school making an impact on several seniors including a few who declared they had been called to preach. They perpetuated the revival by answering their call by preaching series of revivals in Baptist Churches in and around Columbiana, Alabama.One of my classmates conducted a revival at a Baptist Church about halfway between Wilsonville and Columbiana and to show my support i attended one night. I can't remember the service very well, nor the message but I do remember the altar invitation. I felt no conviction so it wasn't a prayer of repentance (I'd prayed that a prayer at the age of 9 in 1961 during a revival at Wesley's Chapel Methodist Church in Sylacauga).After going to down to pray for a while, and I can't remember the specific prayer, I returned to my seat and when I sat down I experienced what possibly Elijah experienced and recorded in 1 Kings 19:12which in the King James reads the Prophet heard a still small voice. The message was simple; just five words: Go and preach My gospel.No lightning flashes, rolling thunder or booming voice. No earthquake or strong wind. No visions or oracles. Quietly in my heart, or spirit, I heard, Go and preach my gospel.For some this would be a call to preach. While I had a pretty good idea of what it meant, I kept it to myself and ran from that call.That was 45 years ago. The journey I took was long and involved 28 years serving as a pastor before leaving a pulpit in 2004.Time, technology, circumstance and a host of other things have changed since that night at a Baptist Church in 1970. But the call remains the same - Go and preach My gospel.Paul declared, Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel. Praying for Revival, Restoration, and Reformation.Praying for souls to be saved, families restored, churches to be revived and communities impacted.I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... - Romans 1:16 God-HonoringChrist-CenteredBible-BasedSpirit-Led |