These are the things that happen when God comes to church, and he was definitely in attendance Jan. 25 at Whitefield Baptist Church in Belton.
Charles Strickland, Whitefield’s pastor since 2007, said that Sunday began like any other. The first service was good, but normal, certainly nothing supernatural. But in the second service, during the last congregational song, just before the choir special, the Spirit of God began to move.
“I’m coming back to the heart of worship -”
As the people sang, one lady came to the front and began to pour her heart out to the Lord. The pastor, minister of music, or any other staff member had given an invitation. But God said, “Go.”
“And it’s all about you; it’s all about you, Jesus -”
As the song continued, she was joined by a couple of other ladies and then a man. During the choir anthem that followed, a dozen more came to the altar. The congregation stood in recognition of what God was doing. When the choir finished, an almost speechless pastor stepped behind the pulpit.
“They don’t teach you in seminary what to do when the Lord really shows up,” Strickland said, “but I sure don’t want to mess this up.” Deciding to extend this spontaneous movement of God, he asked the music minister to lead in singing “Shout to the Lord.” The floodgates opened. More than 150 people responded to the call. Those known to be at odds with each other were hugging. Husbands and wives were asking God to restore the love to their marriages. Broken people were dealing with God and reconciling with each other. Then the pastor tried to preach. Twelve minutes later, he extended the “normal” invitation. People came?-?for salvation, membership, rededication; they came to God.
The revival continued that night during an evening testimony service. For more than an hour and a half, Whitefield members stood one after another and poured their hearts out before the Lord.
The following Sunday, Feb. 1, the sanctuary was packed. A lady was present who recently had been stricken with a brain aneurysm. The doctors said she wouldn’t make it, but God had given her complete healing, and this was her first service back at church. Pastor Strickland remarked that it was good to have her back. The congregation stood and applauded, giving glory to God?-?then started to the altar. God was at work again.
That evening there was a spirit of brokenness and forgiveness as the Holy Spirit changed Strickland’s sermon. Instead of preaching a sermon from Daniel, he and the senior associate pastor testified about the liberty of forgiving those who have wronged you. Again, the people came.
What did Whitefield do differently to spark this revival? Absolutely nothing, Strickland said. “You cannot market revival. It has nothing to do with me or any church program,” he said. “It is simply God doing what he wishes.”
“When you start getting below the surface and beyond the superficial, there are real hurts that people are dealing with; and when lives are being transformed, that’s a cool place to be,” Strickland said. “It’s fun to come to church right now.”
Repentance. Brokenness. Reconciliation.
“It’s all about you; it’s all about you, Jesus.”