In the summer of 1997 I became
one of a kind. I could say that for a short time it made me famous, or maybe
scandalous I'm not sure. I was the leader of a the immortal ministry team from
from Indiana Wesleyan University, The Masters Praise. We we're a group of 7
young men who traveled all summer for the university going from church camp to
church camp all over the nation leading worship. We also were camp counsellors
although from time to time we did get a break from that responsibility. On this
particular weekend we were headed to northern Iowa, Floyd to be precise, to
sing songs, paddle canoes, listen to teenage crisis, and lastly and most
Importantly
be a part of the last night. Testimony night. It's the night where the camper
got to share their story from the past year. These stories usually began by the
said teenager telling everyone how sinful they had been the previous year,
followed by a delicate, but oh so intense increase in the next persons story
that topped the previous story's yearly debauchery. The "this takes the
cake" testimony that I remember the most began with these three words-
"I killed a moose". (It's ok to laugh at this point in the blog) I
fell out of my chair.
This time around, we wouldn't get
to be a part of any of this. Why? Because they kicked us out of the camp. Yep!
I was the first person to lead a ministry team that was let go, booted, kicked
to the curb. We had, for a variety of unforeseen circumstances, arrived 24
hours late to the camp. Exhausted and over extended emotionally, we just didn't
live up to the expectations of the camp I guess. Was the ejection from the camp
justified? Absolutely not. At any rate, we were booted. We all cried like
babies. What were we going to tell the university? Were they going to fire us?
Is there such a thing a ministry team purgatory? Firing squad?
They gave us 100 dollars for a
hotel for 7 grown men. So generous. #sarcasm
We set sail for Marion Indiana at 10 PM and around midnight we stopped to find
some luxury lodging with the 100 dollars they gave us. For seven grown men. We
were in Davenport Iowa. Every hotel was booked because Davenport is so popular,
except one. The Hilton. They had two rooms available. For 125 dollars each.
There was a young woman behind the desk, and I said "we need both, but we
only have 100 dollars". She laughed. I paused for a moment and said,
"what if we sing for you?" I don't know how, but it worked. We sang
two acapella hymns in the echo worthy rotunda of the Hilton Hotel, and we got
our rooms. Rest. At last. God had another plan though...
Across the lobby, the bar at the
Hilton was alive and in full swing. It was late, so the remaining folks were
extremely happy. Extremely. Happy. The bar manager approached us and asked who
we were and asked if we would be willing to come in and sing a set on stage for
some free drinks. I was the only 21 year old in the group, and I didn't want
"ministry team jailed because of underage consumption" added to my
resume so we politely declined. We walked up on stage in this foggy hotel bar
and began to sing. The first three songs were upbeat and foot stomping in
nature. They went nuts! Then we sang three hymns. Come Thou Fount, It is well,
and ended with Amazing Grace. A holy hush came over the crowd. It was eerie and
profoundly powerful. Several tears were shed by the patrons, and we stuck
around and heard their stories and spent time praying for a few. In all my
years of traveling for the Indiana Wesleyan, it is my favorite memory. Seeds
were planted, and God was glorified in the midst of our most humiliating day.
I often wonder about those folks.
I hope to see them in Glory.
In Acts 8 Phillip was whisked
away from a very fruitful evangelistic ministry in Samaria to minister to one
man. An Ethiopian eunuch, on his way to Jerusalem. Phillip shared the story of
Jesus and he was baptized into new life. Church history tells us that this
eunuch went back to Ethiopia and became the patron saint of that entire nation.
God wanted Phillip there. Not in Samaria where all the action was.
I am not sure, still, after all
these years, certain as to the reason we were expelled from the camp. But I
know why...
We had a scheduled appointment we
didn't know about....in a bar...in Davenport Iowa.
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