The little girl walks into the Pentecostal service now underway....
nervously she takes a seat near the back where her friend is motioning with her hands to come sit with her! The music is loud and the drums a little disturbing at first, but she comes to relax and enjoy the upbeat sound as they begin playing "familiar" sounds from the guitars and piano. Everyone is waving their hands in the air, and when the little girl joins in she receives a feeling of freedom. She relaxes even more. When the preacher comes up to the pulpit he is likeable and funny. She intently focuses on his voice, unconsciously accepting whatever he says, her mind nearly asleep. He quotes scriptures left and right; he must be a very smart man! Near the end he raises his voice to an all out yell and though frightened a bit, the little girl accepts this as a person of authority that she needs to heed. The music begins again. This time its very repetitive and nearly puts everyone into a subconscious state; the cares of dinner burning on the stove, the thunderstorm going on outside the church, the thought of having to get up early for work the next day....all GONE...those thoughts are all GONE....all that they can think about is "staying in the moment." The Holy Spirit is in this place, the little girl is told. She imagines in her mind what the Holy Spirit looks like as He walks up and down the isles searching for "a bride." She wonders if He is looking at her right now and searches the air in every direction so as not to miss a hint of His presence. She is very interested in the group gathering at the altar. What are they doing, she asks her friend? "They are being slain in the spirit. See, the Holy Spirit is making them pass out and fall down." The little girl is convinced that she too wants to walk boldly up the isle and receive the "anointing" just as the others have in her group. " She steadies herself and does walk up. But when the preacher touches her head, the warm feeling is not enough to make her pass out. She doesn't want to disappoint her friend, she wants to be known in the group as a believer, and since she is feeling very "sleepy" decides to fall backwards into the arms of the nice lady behind her. Another lady covers her with a nice little warm blanket. It is peaceful on the floor, and the voices seem muffled to her while lying there. "This is special," she thinks!
After the service, cookies and punch and sandwiches are served downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. What a lovely ending to such a fascinating and educational night! The little girl feels loved, happy, and content.
Why would she ever doubt a thing that the preacher tells her now? Why would she ever want to go away from such wonderful "fellowship?"
The church members will promise to pray for her every need. They will call her when she doesn't show up for service to check on her and make sure she is alright. They will invite her to "special classes" where she can learn even more of the "deep things of God." And there is really very little pressure to begin giving the church ten percent of her money. Afterall, for the little girl that is only about 10 cents a week. What harm can come from that?