Memories of my Favorite Preacher

I grew up in a Pentecostal church. In fact, my grandmother was the preacher. She was truly one of the most wonderful people I have ever known. Thinking about her the other day, brought me back to her church in downtown Cincinnati. I was about 11 years old at the time. I loved to sing, so my mom and I would always get up there and sing songs together. We would always sing, "Children go where I send thee. How will I send the oh, I'm gonna send thee four by four. Four were the four who stood at the door. Three were the Hebrew children. Two were Paul and Silas. One was the little bitty baby. Born of the virgin Mary. Down, down, down in Bethlehem.". This wasn't just any church, but a spirit-filled church. And my Mamaw didn't try to hide anything. Those doors were always open. I remember people running out into the streets, filled with the Holy Spirit. They'd run back in, run up and down the aisles and even jump over the chairs.

There were points where I doubted some of the things that were going on. I thought people were just acting, trying to please God. It's funny that I thought this, because many of these things were also happening to me. But I was a kid. Wasn't running around with a joyful spirit just normal? My biggest doubt though was when people fell out in the spirit. This also happened to me, but I could've sworn someone was down there pushing on my legs. Here's what happened on the day that I discovered that me falling out in the spirit was very real and it was definitely from God.

I went to church as usual, but I was sick and tired of wondering who gets down on the floor and pushes on my knees when I'm standing up front getting prayed over. I determined that this time, I would peak! So here I am with my arms up in the air and my eyes closed. There are people all around me speaking in tongues. And then I felt it. Somebody was down there tapping on my knees. So I peaked! It scared me half to death when I realized there was no one there. And then I immediately fell out in the spirit! I praise God for that moment. I had a major increase in my faith that day and it has stuck with me for my entire life.

I thank the Lord for a grandmother such as mine. She opened so many doors for me and taught me so much about Him. This story is just one of the great memories that her memory blesses me with.