Revival Chronicle

It's amazing what the Lord can do when you humble yourself.

This year the girls and I promised ourselves, although a lot of our class wasn't going, that we were going to have the time of our lives. "Choir Trip 07 Baby! St. Louis here we come!" The night before, I made sure I didn't forget anything. My straightener was packed, toothbrush, swimsuit-oh yes, my Bible. I always forget my bible in pasts trips, but I didn't want to look bad so I threw it in with the other stuff.

We loaded the bus, I had my blanket in one hand and camera in the other. The trip to our destination in Illinois was about six hours, and to kill time, I listened to guys make fun of other people, I of course laughed at their jokes, and I even helped one of the guys by contributing to his prank- paying him $1 to ask ________ to jr/sr next year as a complete joke. We were scheduled to sing at church that night. We were so tired from our trip, but basically the plan was to just get it over with.

Before our concert, ________ pleaded that we prepare our hearts to sing. Of course while he said all of that I talked through it and laughed my head off with the girls. Not necessarily making fun of him, but talking about stuff that was important to me.

He asked that we take fifteen minutes to pray with another person. FIFTEEN MINUTES! Beth and I probably got done after about five minutes. Fifteen was too much to ask for.

We sang our concert and the next thing we know it's over. That night we asked the family that we were staying with what they thought of the concert, they said "You guys looked a little tired but did good". That was it.

… We went to St. Louis, MO and shopped and saw the arch. Pretty typical day....well up until night time.

______ came into each girls hotel room and asked that we go down to ______room on the first floor for a quick devotional and pizza. We were about to go swimming, but hey-free pizza? why not!

About 25 girls were in the room including _______ and _________ and ________. They didn't have anything really planned out, but they just asked us what we thought about the movie facing the giants. I raised my hand and explained how a lot of times we pointing our fingers at other "Christian" schools such as ________ and ________, when in all reality it's our school that we should take a look at. We're only Christian by name, etc etc.

What was supposed to be a fifteen minute devotion and free pizza, turned into a two hour discussion with cold pizza at the end. Girls were crying and giving their testimonies. I started thinking about how selfish of a person I have been. All the times I talk out in class, or talk about other people behind their back, etc etc. How the seniors are supposed to be examples, and I was none of that. I decided I needed to make a change. But then a thought came into my head....that means I have to change every aspect of my life...let go of everything.

After crying my eyes out at the girls testimonies, Beth, Monica, Jasmine and I went to our room and just sat on our bed thinking and examining ourselves. We wrote a list of every thing that we do wrong. Everything from talking in class to talking about each other. God then revealed to me even more things wrong in my life...it was at that moment when I truly realized what a HORRIBLE person I was.

We started talking about college plans. My original plans were to major in marketing management at southeastern university in Lakeland, Florida. I had everyone else's approval, why wouldn't I want to go to Florida?! but I've heard so many ppl talking about the ministry, so from time to time it had crossed my mind. but then I felt like God was calling me. I was so confused and I explained this to the girls and Beth was like "Dianne, maybe God is giving you a clear decision because you haven't fully surrendered your life to him"

So I went into the bathroom, got on my knees, and prayed like I've never prayed before. I don't even know how long my prayer lasted, all I know was for the first time in a long time, I had never felt so broken to pieces, with nothing left, kind of like David in the Bible. I never said such a sincere prayer. I lifted up any college plans and gave them to the Lord. And when I was done, I felt an indescribable peace in my heart. I felt the joy of the Lord.

After that I called my mom crying, and I apologized for my selfishness, rebellion, stubbornness, poor attitude...the list goes on. I told her about what happened that night. She was crying by the end of our conversation. We didn't talk too long though because I was really excited to go pray with the girls. There was truly a difference.

That night, we talked about how the devil will try to attack us and God will test us to see if our trust is real. We decided the next day we would do everything in our power to make sure that this feeling would prevail.

A main concern of many of the girls was that the boys in choir wouldn't understand...(hold that thought..)

The funny thing was, we were supposed to have a concert that night that got cancelled. The devotions wouldn't have happened if the concert went on.

That morning, as we were bringing our luggage to the elevator, an old man probably in his sixties came up to us girls and was like "can I ride down with you lovely ladies?" and immediately we all recognized this as an opportunity to reach out! So he asked us why we were dressed in black and white and we explained our ministry etc etc.

Then I invited him to come watch us sing at our concert. Soon after we saw our bus driver sitting alone at the Continental breakfast area, we talked to her and invited her to sit our table. Right after that the same older man walked past us and said, "you ladies have me singing hymns! God bless you!" and as we said it back, I noticed that a family had been watching us the whole time.

I can guarantee you that if we did not have those devotions and turn our lives around the night before, we would totally would have blown past the bus driver, old man and never have gotten the opportunity to show the difference in our group. I learned that day that I had been such a selfish person.

From then on I am now able to take a step back from my life and realize that there are people around me watching me as a Christian ,waiting for me to fall, there are people around me who need being witnessed to, and while i might not all out witness running around saying "Jesus died for you", I may be the only bible they could see that day. Actions speak louder than words that's for sure...

First thing on the bus Beth shared all this with Josh and I shared this with Jordan. They completely understood and I really feel that God convicted them to examine their lives that day.

We had a choir concert that morning at a very small Bible church. Our choir was cramped up in very small stage which they called "The sauna". Immediately, ________ announced that the order of the program would change. Instantly, all the guys flipped out and started complaining.

To watch the anger on their faces was shocking. Monica, Beth, and I wondered why they were getting so angry, it's not that big of a deal. But then we remembered how we were acting the night before. It was a picture perfect image of ourselves, like looking into a mirror.

This church was not originally on the schedule. One of the other churches fell through and this one took us in a week before the trip happened. The ironic part of all this was his message was a very convicting one talking about praising the Lord for the wrong reasons. (Hmmm...praising him to go on a choir trip and have fun perhaps?) This was the beginning of the working in some more hearts.

We went to a park for about an hour. The weather was perfect, the breeze a nice warm temperature, and while the girls slept, I read my Bible. (doesn't sound like me at all). I randomly opened it up to the book of Joshua and read about seven chapters or so. I got to the story about the walls crumbling at Jericho and thought, wow, this is so inapplicable to the situation.

But then it hit me- this "tale" that I've heard over and over again was more than just a story. Think about it: God had people walk around the city and the walls fell down. GOD CAN DO ANYTHING AND HAD THE POWER TO DO SO. So many times to we put him in this box thinking he can only do so much. We pray for a change in the boys hearts, but do we believe he can actually change them? I didn't up until then.

That night we sang for a bigger Baptist church. A couple guys were screwing around and Josh M boldly stepped up and told them to stop talking. Of course they got upset, but hearts were being changed. We sang our first song, and it was time for the next, I will sing, and then ______ stepped out and said to the congregation "Let's see what some of the students have to say, why do you sing?" Aaron being the first to step up said "I sing to bring praise and glory to God." Then Ben S. stepped out and said his reason and broke down in tears. That's when I spoke up and said "I sing because God can make the impossible, very possible." Slowly but surely, people stepped up and gave their reason and cried. People who were once the most rebellious kids, actually sang their hearts out. We seriously sang the rest of our concert in tears.

After our concert, what started out as a group of five girls praying, turned into our whole choir crying for the Lord, praising him and praying as we felt called. We spent about an hour and a half praying as a group, and eventually split off into small groups. Lots of kids didn't have dinner that night because they were praying. Mr. Doese had to break us up twice to stop praying so we could go home with the families.

______ and ______ hated each other. By the end of the night, when they found out they were assigned rooms together, they couldn't be any happier. They're good friends now. ______ doubted his salvation for so long, that night he rededicated himself to the Lord. Girls who hated each other, made best friends, people I never even took the time to talk to, I hugged them and prayed with them. Aching hearts made new. Sins forgiven. Confessions made.

That night, ______ and I roomed together, and we couldn't go to sleep. We were so excited about the miracle that happened that night! A new perspective of life was brought out in us. For the first time in a long time, I actually wanted to go to church, read my bible, pray..

The next day on the bus, people were praying in small groups. Hymns were being sung. Testimonies and bible passages shared.

Our bus driver had witnessed this all. That afternoon as we read bible passages over the microphone, the bus driver took out her ipod. When I saw this I closed my eyes and prayed that she would give our group one last shot to be an example. Instantly, she took the ear buds out and set her ipod down and listened. That is the power of God.

I could tell that that there had been some people who really didn't feel anything. That afternoon, I asked the Lord to give me an opportunity to reach out to one of the guys I felt so burdened for. That same day, he asked me some questions about my life and bit by bit and piece by piece I shared my testimony with him. I didn't really get a response but I figured I would wait patiently.

As we rode the bus home, we wondered if anyone at school would even begin to understand this revival, let alone act on it.

Chapel time came around. The time was spent sharing our testimonies. The guy that I felt so burdened for cried in front of everyone and totally surrendered himself to the Lord. Rededications were made. Even students who weren't on choir trip shared their testimony. After hours of testimonies, people were crying, praying and apologizing to others for all their wrong doings.

Mr. Gallert had been praying for revival for 30 years, the time had come.

NOW:

Our school is a changed school. Kids don't talk out as much. Disrespect is not an issue for the majority anymore. I find myself talking to and getting to know so many different people I never took the chance to get to know. I want to read the Bible, I want to go to church, I want to pay attention in class (for the most part lol). I mean everywhere I sing and speak. But seriously, I am so in love with the Lord and I have this peace in my heart-something I had never experienced before. “A peace that passes no understanding.” It’s incredible and unreal.