Suddenly, I got “goosebumps” all over my arms and felt a sense of inner peace and power — God’s Spirit moving within me.
It was 1972. I was a sophomore at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, now the University of North Texas, just a “regular” Christian kid who read my Bible, went to church and had lots of Christian friends. Life as a college student was going OK but something began to happen that I couldn’t explain. Several of us in our dorm decided to begin studying the Bible together and praying for each other. Even my professors, many of whom weren’t Christians, were open to hearing more about what I thought about Jesus and His teachings. They were intrigued by Scripture verses I would include in my essays when appropriate. This wasn’t like me. What was going on?
As one of my class projects, I invited a group from the Children of God to come on campus (now, that was a “trip,” as we said in the 70s) and share with my speech class. Afterward, we all gathered for a picnic on the campus quad. What started out with our class and the Children of God folks ended up attracting a lot of students. The Children of God shared and then others from across the campus began to come and speak about their Christian views and sing scripture songs together. Even two of my professors stayed for the “spiritual” sharing and fellowship.
‘Deep stirring’
More and more I could sense a deep stirring in my soul to draw closer to Christ. The truths about the Holy Spirit I had learned from my pastor in an early discipleship small group as a young 9-year-old Christian began to awaken within me. In everything, I could sense God’s Spirit. Life was no longer just reading my Bible and singing a few Christian choruses, Jesus was everything to me — not just a part of my life, but my whole life.
The music of Christian singers stirred my soul like never before. The songs of Keith Green, Second Chapter of Acts, Barry McGuire and Ken Medema focused on letting go of everything and following Christ, whatever that might look like. God’s Spirit gave me a boldness and love for people that I had never experienced. The musicals of Jimmy and Carol Owens weren’t just songs to be sung by a college kid, but words that forever changed my life’s direction. I now saw the world through the loving and compassionate eyes of Jesus — sensing His Spirit leading and guiding me.
I longed to learn more. The pastor at my home church also was seeking an outpouring of God’s Spirit and started a weekly Bible study and prayer. Revival came to our college group with the desire to be filled with all of God. We even drove four hours to worship at a church in Houston, Texas, that was experiencing an outpouring of God’s Spirit. What a refreshing, worship time to freely lift my hands in praise to God and not worry about what others thought.
This isn’t to say I have gone through life walking around on a “spiritual cloud.” My life journey isn’t all praise and worship. There have been valleys and dark times. But since the early 1970s, I know God’s Spirit leads me, speaks to me, challenges me, rebukes me and through all of life’s ups and downs fills my soul with joy and hope that’s everlasting. God’s Spirit abides in every believer.
Let go. Give it up. See others through the eyes of Jesus. I did. And I’m never going back to just being a “regular” Christian.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Debbie Campbell, director of communications for TAB Media Group.
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