by Michele Connell

Created on: August 01, 2008

SPEAKING IN TONGUES
I went to the prayer meeting because of a friend. She had been attending this prayer group weekly for quite some time now and insisted that it was amazing. I had never been outside my denominational territory, and I was a little nervous about what to expect.

My first shock came as everyone circled and held hands for prayer. The minister walked around and lay hands on several people, claiming bold prayers over their lives. I was taken aback! I had never seen a group of people circle someone and pray corporately.

Then the prophetic (I later learned that this is what it's called) began to flow. Words of knowledge and revelation moved freely. Women were crying out to the Lord, as the Lord spoke over certain areas in their lives. At the time, I wasn't sure that I believed that all this was real. How could someone speak for the Lord? Did God really talk to a person? Of course, I had read the Word of God, after all, I'd been denominational for almost twelve years.( Before that I'd had no formal training in church, and had rarely even heard of God.).

I stood quietly next to my friend as she prayed aloud and wept; thinking what is wrong with these people? It was at that moment that the lady opposite me began to jabber incoherently. It was strange words - dialect - proceeding from her mouth. It intensified and several others joined in with their own words and prayers. No one was talking to each other, but each one directed their sounds toward the Lord. With hands stretched high, people around the room began to shout, some wailed, others jumped and cried. I felt like I had entered another dimension, and someone had forgotten to give me the right room.

I didn't feel afraid; only curious. What made these people feel such intensity? I had attended church for twelve years and never once had I been moved with such passion. I felt bewildered to see a side of the Lord that I had never seen before. Could God really be this wild and passionate?

Suddenly, a lady across the room fell backwards, and with no one behind her, she hit the floor with a resounding thud. I covered my mouth in horror. My friend tapped my shoulder and smiled. "It's okay. She was slain in the Spirit."
Huh?
It was about as much as I could handle for one day. I left the meeting more confused than ever. I wondered if others knew about this type of Charismatic movement. And what was with all that jibber-jabber coming from people's mouth? I wanted to shake it off and chalk it up to a little too much

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