Eureka Special Meetings

April 24-26, 2009

The theme for the special meetings at the Apostolic Faith Church in Eureka, California, was “Go Light Your World.” The focus verse was Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The guest speaker was Reverend George Burton, who came with his wife, Barbara, from Englee, Newfoundland.

The weekend began with a rousing prayer service Thursday evening, during which a woman from Hawaii surrendered a burden that had plagued her for more than ten years. The glow of victory was readily visible by those praying with her.

The Friday evening service started with the congregation singing “Family of God” and heartily greeting one another. Visitors came from the Oregon branch churches in Portland, Grants Pass, and Medford, and from the California branch churches in Sacramento and Richmond. Music specials included a flute solo by Lori McKibben, from Medford, a vocal ensemble from Sacramento, and a vocal solo by Barbara Burton. Following Reverend Burton’s sermon, many gathered at the altar and poured out their hearts to God, and a backslidden woman from Eureka was saved. After the altar service, everyone was invited to a meal of hamburgers with all the fixings.

Having been given the opportunity to sleep in on Saturday morning after such a late night, the young people’s choir met for a rehearsal before lunch in preparation for the afternoon youth service. During the youth service, the Holy Spirit once again placed His blessing on the music, testimonies, and preacher, culminating in another good prayer service.

Those from visiting churches were informed during the youth service that they would be asked to provide musical selections, testimonies, and a new song to teach to the congregation during the Saturday evening of music. Special highlights of the evening included a special from Hawaii, “Majesty,” sung in the Hawaiian language; a Sacramento group, who taught the congregation to sing “This Is the Day” in the Romanian language; various members of the audience playing after-time on kazoos to accompany a Richmond group; and a very special testimony from a member of the Portland church. The Burtons also taught the congregation a Newfoundland song, “Look What the Lord Has Done!” This song became the theme song throughout the rest of the weekend, as the Lord moved in people’s lives. Reverend Pierre Hancock, the pastor in Eureka, concluded the evening with thoughts on the importance of having a light worth shining.

During the Sunday morning service, the Spirit of God was prevalent from the beginning, and when Reverend Kerby Thompson, from Medford, started singing the last special, he found it difficult to sing as the Holy Spirit blessed him. Those blessings flowed into the congregation, and then a backslider, whom the Eureka church had been praying for over the years, literally dashed to the altar! That was the end of the morning service, and all went to prayer! Almost two hours later, the pews were still filled with people singing songs of victory. Two were saved, one was sanctified, and one received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many also received spiritual encouragement and felt revived in their souls. At one point, while everyone was singing “There’s a New Name Written Down in Glory” in celebration of the one who had already prayed through, another young lady who was praying to be saved stood to her feet and loudly sang “and it’s mine!” Her arm flew up toward Heaven, and her face shone as if a light from Heaven was beaming down upon her. It was quite glorious, and her family is still rejoicing that she has been saved!

By Sunday evening, most of the visitors had returned home, but the smaller group once again enjoyed a sweet Spirit on the service and thanked God for the many blessings of the weekend.

It has also been very exciting to see the blessings continue. Two branch churches have called with praise reports that two who had resisted the call of God during the special meetings have given their hearts to God upon returning home. And one who was saved in the Friday night service has since been sanctified. Those who attended the special meetings in Eureka can attest that God is willing to move when hearts earnestly seek Him and are willing to allow Him the freedom to work.