The Aftermath of An Encounter 30 October 2004I’m still staggering from the residue of the presence of the Holy Spirit which we basked in during the conference last week with Arthur Katz. Sitting under his ministry and interacting with him on a personal basis, I could not but feel that I was speaking to someone who walks in a degree of similarity to the saints in the early Church. I have never met an OT prophet before, but I think that Art sure comes close! A lot of people I spoke to have been deeply impacted by Art’s ministry (including my wife and I), though several in the church have expressed that they could not fully understand the messages. I think they got lost in his vocabulary. But here is a classic excerpt of an email from a member of the church who was deeply impacted by Art’s ministry. I have ‘edited’ his email because of length and I am reproducing it for you because I think it pretty much sums up the feelings of many in Cornerstone. Here goes:– “I am overwhelmed by the message. I am in a state of euphoria. It has transformed me from abject misery to a state of bliss. I wouldn’t know yet for sure the source of this joy though. But the fact that it has lasted these few days and has not run out of steam is in itself a proof that it springs from some source that is not superficial. It seemed to have served as the panacea for all discords that I have been struggling with within me … “I always read this message in the Christ of the New Testament. The Christ of courage, the Christ who questioned the established religious order, not the Christ who encourages us to live within the confines of the secular comfort and to call on His name to further our worldly ends. Alas the charismatic Christian order wouldn’t let me subscribe to this notion of God, and to his grandiose for redemption for humanity. Fear and insecurity, reward and punishment were the focus of popularized Christianity. I have sworn I shall not belittle my Lord’s sacrifice with my cheap expectations and worldly petitions in future! “I have never answered an altar call in all my church going ‘Christian’ life. Yesterday was the only day I found myself moving towards the altar in spite of me. I had desperately wanted to be anointed with oil by this man but the whole group of people standing at the back were left out including me. Ironically the only time I wanted to be prayed for (to me this was a moment of eternal significance) I was missed out. Never mind though. Pastor, the whole thing has been shaken into perspective!! I’m not willing to let go of this clarity, this enlightenment! Not even if the devil should offer me the care-taking of all his kingdom and its riches! Thanks so much for bringing this man.”I encourage you to listen to Art’s messages which are available on CD format and on our website. And you need to listen to them over and over again to let the Word sink in. Have a nice weekend! Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong