Models of Revitalization
An Angel Moment
by Francine Taylor-Thirus

I will give thanks to the lord with my whole heart:
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds,
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
      (Psalm 9:1-2, NRSV)

A few days ago, I was asked the question, "Where has God's grace appeared in your life?" I was able to recall that I had recently had an "angel moment." An "angel moment" is one of those unexpected God-given experiences that leaves you knowing that you have been in the presence of God.

Not long ago, I was sitting in a small plane, going over my presentation. The plane was almost ready to take off when a young lady arrived and asked if she could take the seat next to me. I got up and let her take her seat. She was obviously somewhat disturbed and agitated. As she settled in, she looked down at what I was doing and asked me whether or not I was a recruiter. I have no idea what she saw that made her think that I was a recruiter. Explaining to her that I worked for the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church opened the door for her to give me an abundance of information about herself.

This young lady, who was about thirty, had experienced a disconnection with churches and Christians for a period in her life. However, she said that she now was attending a church that she was very excited about. Before this church experience, her impression of church consisted of seeing people reading, memorizing, and singing in a detached and habitual way. She felt disdain for this kind of church and could not connect with it.

Her new church welcomed, nurtured, involved, loved, and reached out to her. In addition, she believed that church members were willing to be vulnerable and to live out God's reign in their lives each day. This vulnerabillity touched her in a way that invited her to be excited, energetic, and committed — a witness and a disciple for her church and for God. She was living these experiences as easily as she was breathing.

She modeled an important component of congregational revitalization, which is praise. In addition to Bible study, reading, memorization, attending classes, singing, and preaching, there must be a real experiential relationship with God that is just as strong outside the church as it is inside the church!

Meeting this young woman was truly an "angel moment" for me. One of the natural ways of praising God is witnessing. We naturally want to tell others about our joy. It is authentic and real. I guess you could say that I am a recruiter, the young woman on the plane is a recruiter, you are a recruiter, and all God's children are recruiters . . . for God.

The clip art pictured above is from www.cruzblanca.org.

Posted 7-29-02

Francine Taylor-Thirus is a former staff member of the General Board of Discipleship.