A Time To Remember
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
On December 20th, 2008, the decorations were in place for the Christmas youth banquet, and the line of nearly 200 excited youth was streaming from the front doors of the Kye's II building. Brother Joseph was waiting to greet each one as they walked into the large banquet room. There were young believers who came from as far away as New Mexico, Arizona, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Louisiana, New York, and many other distant places to join us for the one day event. It was no doubt a highly anticipated time for everyone.
Once the seats were filled inside, Brother Joseph greeted us in the name of the Lord Jesus and asked a blessing over the food. Table by table, we loaded our plates with freshly cooked omelets and delicious breakfast foods and enjoyed a time of eating and fellowship.
By the time everyone was full and comfortable, a 10 minute warning was given to prepare for the upcoming play that would be performed by some of the Jeffersonville youth. A stage was sitting on one side of the room and decorated with props that belonged to Brother Branham. While the kids wondered what was going to take place, out walked mother and her young daughter. They set the table and prepared dinner for dad, who was next to walk onto the stage. After dad blessed the food and prayed for his deathly sick wife, young daughter, and wayward son, out came Johnny. His slicked back hair and leather jacket was a dead give away the he was the wayward son. Grandpa played a crucial role by encouraging the family to turn to Christ, and Brother Branham wasn't far away when the situation got desperate.
The play was a great blessing to the youth and provided an enlightening view into the life of a desperate family that was reunited through faith and the prayer of God’s prophet.
Following the play, was a special presentation that Brother Joseph had prepared for us concerning the Jesus Jar project. He gave a brief introduction about how the project began and the role we can play in helping the Bride of Christ, and then started the video that showed the poverty stricken country of Zimbabwe in southern Africa. It was a short but powerful presentation that touched and burdened many of our hearts. To help feed these people that are part of the Bride of Christ would be the next project that our Jesus Jars would sponsor.
Brother Joseph then took a few minutes to speak from his heart to the young group. What an encouragement and blessing he was to us all. The love and burden he has in his heart for God’s young children was undeniable. It was a timely introduction to prepare us for the youth service that night.
The banquet was ended with a prayer and the mindful words from Brother Joseph to “Come expecting great things tonight.” Everyone left happily filled with natural food and with a taste of the spiritual food we were soon to receive. It was a blessed time.
Throughout the afternoon, we fellowshipped with one another and prepared for the evening youth service. Everyone was in high expectations for what the Lord would do that night.
Church started at 6:30, and the seats were filled with anxious souls long before that time came. You could feel that the Lord was present from the beginning and that He was going to move on the scene; and that’s exactly what happened. The Holy Spirit filled our hearts as we worshiped Him in song and listened to the special. When Brother Joseph introduced Brother Branham to the platform, the presence of the Lord only intensified. “A Man Running From The Presence Of The Lord,” was the perfect message that was chosen before the foundation of the world for this group of young people to hear. By the end of the sermon, the altar was filled with repenting hearts. Nearly every person present rededicated or surrendered their life to the Lord Jesus. Truly, God did great things for our group of young believers. Those who came expecting, left with the desire of their hearts granted.
The following Sunday morning, there were 35 souls that stepped into the cold waters and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a blessing to know that the will of the Lord was carried out and confirmed through the Scriptural baptism of so many. Had it been for even one, it would have been worth every bit of preparation, time, and effort that was put forth for such a series of events that led to these acts of surrender to God.
