Pilgrimage

They came. Housewives, businessmen, clergy and students. They prayed that the Spirit of God would prepare the way for the conference. They prayed that crooked roads might be made straight and the paths would be leveled for the pilgrims.

They prayed for the speakers and the music leaders. They prayed for the organization and for the facilities.

But most of all they prayed that God would put pathways in the hearts of his people to return to him. They prayed that the pilgrims would put aside their daily business and cares and seek God with all their hearts.

There was no fanfare for their work. No thanks. No pay. It was a secret work. Often done late at night, in the morning, on lunch breaks. But they prayed and God heard their quiet, earnest prayers.

And so the pilgrims came. They came from 31 states and 197 different churches. Often the pilgrims came one or two from a church. They did not always understand exactly why they were coming to the conference, but they came none the less.

The came by airplane, by car. Often they came listening to praise music on their CDs and IPODs. They came with their spouses and their children. But many also came alone. They hoped to meet others like themselves but they hoped more for an experience with God.

As in the Canterberry Tales they came each with a history and a story. From all walks of life and all ages, they came.

They came to meet God and to experience the fear of God and the awe of the supernatural. They came to see, to touch, to experience the reality of God.

And they would not be disappointed.