SENT: Stepping out in faith

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). 

In January I experienced my first SENT event, and this passage came alive – I truly felt God’s presence. When Jacob invited me to SENT and asked me to be a part of the hospitality team I could not have anticipated what would meet me that night.
 
Anyone who knows me knows that I do not like being front and center – public speaking and choir solos are far from my favorite things! As someone who likes to blend in, I was a bit nervous to find out that the hospitality team would be doing more than holding doors open. Our job was to welcome guests, show them around, and connect them with others. I had to introduce myself and get to know a bit about everyone I welcomed. I thought to myself, “Okay, Domenique, you can do this!”
 
Taking our places in the hallway, I decided to allow the Holy Spirit to work through me, even though I was nervous and out of my comfort zone. People around my age from all over the diocese came to SENT, and as each person walked in, it became easier and easier to go out of my way to make them feel comfortable.
 
As the evening began, it was clear that we were all experiencing true community – we sang, we prayed, we worshipped together. Our speaker, Bob Rice, talked about true discipleship and how we can be a light to our peers. I experienced such peace being surrounded by Godly, like-minded people, and the evening had already exceeded my expectations, but God had one more gift for me.
 
When the end of the night drew near, the floor was opened to questions or comments. We had time for one more comment, and someone whom I had welcomed stood up. “I was a little nervous about coming tonight because I didn’t know anyone, but right when I walked in I was really warmly welcomed, and I knew it was going to be okay.”
 
Wow, I was in shock! I had stepped out in faith trusting that God would not let me fall and my presence had actually transformed someone’s experience. I know that the Holy Spirit is always with me, but to have such an immediate confirmation of his power was an amazing feeling. There’s no denying that the Spirit was alive and working through me and the whole hospitality team that night. I was expecting SENT to be just another night of quiet worship, but it turned into an experience I won’t forget.