God is doing a new thing at Wilson Memorial UMC
By Rev. Sharon Milton
On Sunday, August 3, God led us to do something new at Wilson Memorial in Gambrills, MD. We held a special "Testimonies & Communion Worship Service," a powerful move of the Holy Spirit.
In the weeks leading up to this service, I had been praying for direction on how to lead our congregation. As I sought the Lord, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly: “There are many prayer concerns among the people, but this Sunday, let them testify. Let their testimonies of My goodness be the sermon. Let them tell what I have done in their lives.”
So we came into the service, as always, expecting a mighty move of God. And God showed up mightily.
We opened with songs of praise, followed by an invitation for anyone to come forward and testify. It began with a powerful testimony from a member who shared how, on April 3, while working from home, she suffered a stroke. She could hear her coworker on the phone but could not speak or move. Alone at home, her coworker sensed something was wrong and called 911. Paramedics arrived some time later. She was hospitalized, unable to walk or talk, was in a wheelchair and required therapy. But that Sunday, she stood before us with a walker, on her own feet, testifying to how God had brought her through and the healing is still taking place.
Another member shared how doctors had discovered a blood clot, but after a second exam, it had vanished. "God turned it around." A young adult came to the microphone in tears, testifying about recent struggles and how God had brought her through. Even our drummer set down his sticks, walked to the front, and testified boldly how God delivered him from a life on the streets and now he follows Jesus.
After each testimony, the room filled with praise. The choir sang, we worship in God’s presence, and more testimonies flowed. Our youth blessed us with a praise dance, followed by even more "BUT GOD" testimonies. The line to the microphone never stopped; everyone had a life-changing story they wanted to share.
One woman shared how her house had burned down, and how the church family stepped in to support her. But God! The presence of the Holy Spirit was overwhelming. It truly felt like a Holy Ghost party.
Then I saw a young adult visitor making her way to the podium, visibly shaken and in tears. She shared that she had been battling depression and suicidal thoughts and had been seeking professional help. As she listened to the testimonies, she got up to say: “I have heard the testimony of the people, I was discouraged before, but now JESUS, I know You will deliver me. I trust God.” The sanctuary erupted in praise, claps, hugs, and cries of God’s goodness. Deliverance and Restoration were happening right in our midst.
Another guest stood to testify. She hadn’t planned to be there that Sunday, but was led to return after visiting the previous week. At that earlier service, she came forward for prayer, burdened with chronic pain. She was prayed over at the altar, and her pain disappeared and has not returned. She came back simply to thank God and tell others what He had done.
Over an hour passed, filled with nothing but testimonies. So many people were eager to speak. I had to assure them that we would have another testimony service in the near future. After all the testimonies, tears, and shouts of praise, we continued in worship as I led the congregation in Communion. We remembered the great sacrifice of Jesus, His body broken, His blood shed, and rejoiced knowing that the same God who gave His life for us is the same God we had been testifying about.
Many visitors and members alike shared that they had never experienced a testimony service like this, and how deeply it blessed them.
In many churches, our prayer lists are long. But sometimes, we need to pause and testify. The testimonies list is even longer than the prayer list, because that’s the kind of God we serve.
We’re excited about the new thing God is doing at Wilson Memorial UMC. Lives are being transformed. Disciples are being made. The Gospel is being shared in new and powerful ways. The sermon is being preached through the testimonies of the people. And everyone is telling somebody about the goodness of God.
To God be all the glory!