We all have a story. I believe every story shows God at work in our world. That's why I enjoy Story Sundays. This Sunday I'll share an encounter with God that transformed my life.
I was born into a Christian family. Even though I checked all the boxes – Sunday school, confirmation, high school youth group – God was never personal to me. He was someone you acknowledged an hour a week on Sundays. I fell away from even that minimal relationship in college. I was a believer, but I didn't understand what I believed. After college I married a wonderful Christian woman, but still I pushed back when my wife gently suggested we go to church. Then our boys were born. For their sake I made church a priority, but embarrassingly, I was ill equipped to be the spiritual leader God called me to be (Eph. 6:4). I tried, and to be honest, the church experience didn't help, but the responsibility was mine, and I was letting my family down.
Then, we attended a church that was different. The first time we went, I immediately met a man my age who made a statement that I thought so profound, I'll remember it forever: “The Holy Spirit is really at work here.” Hearing this opened my eyes, and I started to realize there was much more to God than just acknowledging Him an hour a week. Over the next few years, my eyes were opened more and more. I started to serve in various church capacities, culminating in service on the Leadership Team. Then came the encounter with Him on February 20, 2004 at Mountain Springs B&B, in nearby Palmer, Alaska. I didn't realize it at the time, but God had been preparing me for this encounter my entire life.
I was at a Leadership Team retreat, and we were worshiping together. It wasn't long before I felt I should kneel in reverence, for God had something to show me. I went prone behind the sofa and immediately, I was before Jesus on the cross. I could touch the nail through His feet and smell the fetid odor of a human body under grievous assault. He showed me how much my pulling away from Him in college and into marriage had agonized Him. And here He was, in incredible pain and suffering on the cross, for me.
Then, He showed me how much sin had broken Eagle River. He took me to a hilltop where I could look down and see all the homes. God was standing next to me and next to Him stood Satan. Then, the roofs of all the houses were removed, and I could see into each household. Every household was in so much torment. I could see all the addictions, abuses, anger, pride, and pain. I could hear the yelling and screaming. It was horrible, and it got worse.
Satan was taunting God. He was pointing to all the households and said, “You created this? They have chosen misery and torment and don't even know you exist. See, no one cries out to You.” God heard every word, sobbing uncontrollably. That's all I could do, too.
Fortunately, the encounter didn't end there.
God then showed me a restored Eagle River. Satan wasn't there, just God and I. I looked down and saw all the houses were gone. In fact, everything made by man was gone. There were no buildings, roads, power lines – nothing. All that remained was God's perfect creation. There were spruce trees, ravens, the Eagle River, mountains – everything God had originally created. Everything was so vibrant with life; there was no death. Everything looked healthy and lush. There wasn't even a brown pine needle or bent blade of grass. The air I breathed was pure and refreshing.
Then, I looked down upon a grassy field. On that field were 30,000 people, all communing with each other. I could recognize each person, but though they appeared as they did in the un-restored world, they shone with a bright light. And Jesus roamed among the group. He too shone with a pure white light, which I recognized as His love. His love penetrated everywhere, and the people plugged into it. Without Jesus' love, you'd shrivel up and die. The people were experiencing such joy. They relished in talking with each other. Though they knew everything about each other, they wanted to hear each others’ story. It was like the best dinner party you've ever been to. Every time you turned around, there was someone else you were absolutely thrilled to see. God showed me this and was beaming with pride. This was His creation, and these were His people.
And where was the field? The field was where ACF Church stands today.
The vision of a restored Eagle River has encouraged me through many hard times. For over 21 years I've been aching to share this story, but the timing and the place never felt right...until now. I find it heartening that the leadership of ACF has received a similar vision. I hope this foretaste of God’s plan for Eagle River will be an encouragement to you, as well.
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We all have a story. I believe every story shows God at work in our world. That's why I enjoy Story Sundays. This Sunday I'll share an encounter with God that transformed my life.
I was born into a Christian family. Even though I checked all the boxes – Sunday school, confirmation, high school youth group – God was never personal to me. He was someone you acknowledged an hour a week on Sundays. I fell away from even that minimal relationship in college. I was a believer, but I didn't understand what I believed. After college I married a wonderful Christian woman, but still I pushed back when my wife gently suggested we go to church. Then our boys were born. For their sake I made church a priority, but embarrassingly, I was ill equipped to be the spiritual leader God called me to be (Eph. 6:4). I tried, and to be honest, the church experience didn't help, but the responsibility was mine, and I was letting my family down.
Then, we attended a church that was different. The first time we went, I immediately met a man my age who made a statement that I thought so profound, I'll remember it forever: “The Holy Spirit is really at work here.” Hearing this opened my eyes, and I started to realize there was much more to God than just acknowledging Him an hour a week. Over the next few years, my eyes were opened more and more. I started to serve in various church capacities, culminating in service on the Leadership Team. Then came the encounter with Him on February 20, 2004 at Mountain Springs B&B, in nearby Palmer, Alaska. I didn't realize it at the time, but God had been preparing me for this encounter my entire life.
I was at a Leadership Team retreat, and we were worshiping together. It wasn't long before I felt I should kneel in reverence, for God had something to show me. I went prone behind the sofa and immediately, I was before Jesus on the cross. I could touch the nail through His feet and smell the fetid odor of a human body under grievous assault. He showed me how much my pulling away from Him in college and into marriage had agonized Him. And here He was, in incredible pain and suffering on the cross, for me.
Then, He showed me how much sin had broken Eagle River. He took me to a hilltop where I could look down and see all the homes. God was standing next to me and next to Him stood Satan. Then, the roofs of all the houses were removed, and I could see into each household. Every household was in so much torment. I could see all the addictions, abuses, anger, pride, and pain. I could hear the yelling and screaming. It was horrible, and it got worse.
Satan was taunting God. He was pointing to all the households and said, “You created this? They have chosen misery and torment and don't even know you exist. See, no one cries out to You.” God heard every word, sobbing uncontrollably. That's all I could do, too.
Fortunately, the encounter didn't end there.
God then showed me a restored Eagle River. Satan wasn't there, just God and I. I looked down and saw all the houses were gone. In fact, everything made by man was gone. There were no buildings, roads, power lines – nothing. All that remained was God's perfect creation. There were spruce trees, ravens, the Eagle River, mountains – everything God had originally created. Everything was so vibrant with life; there was no death. Everything looked healthy and lush. There wasn't even a brown pine needle or bent blade of grass. The air I breathed was pure and refreshing.
Then, I looked down upon a grassy field. On that field were 30,000 people, all communing with each other. I could recognize each person, but though they appeared as they did in the un-restored world, they shone with a bright light. And Jesus roamed among the group. He too shone with a pure white light, which I recognized as His love. His love penetrated everywhere, and the people plugged into it. Without Jesus' love, you'd shrivel up and die. The people were experiencing such joy. They relished in talking with each other. Though they knew everything about each other, they wanted to hear each others’ story. It was like the best dinner party you've ever been to. Every time you turned around, there was someone else you were absolutely thrilled to see. God showed me this and was beaming with pride. This was His creation, and these were His people.
And where was the field? The field was where ACF Church stands today.
The vision of a restored Eagle River has encouraged me through many hard times. For over 21 years I've been aching to share this story, but the timing and the place never felt right...until now. I find it heartening that the leadership of ACF has received a similar vision. I hope this foretaste of God’s plan for Eagle River will be an encouragement to you, as well.
Written by
ACF Devo Team
Eagle River Campus
16620 Brooks Loop
Eagle River, AK 99577
NE Anchorage Campus
Regal Tikahtnu
1102 N Muldoon Rd B
Anchorage, AK 99504
