COMPEL THEM TO COME

by Paul Duggan (Davie, FL)

My Encounter … My Freedom … I read those words on the banner on the wall and wondered what the next three days would hold for me. After all, I had been a Christian for over 30 years—there shouldn’t be anything left to be free. I was wrong …

My pastor at Liberty Life Center had first recommended that I go on the Encounter. I didn’t have any idea what it was about and thought, “I should probably do that someday.” Next a friend from church said that I need to go and told me how to sign up. That convinced me.

Just getting to the Encounter was an ordeal! I have a plane and needed to fly in to Tampa to pick up a friend who was going on the Encounter with me. He had to work in Houston that week and the plan was for me to pick him up in Tampa and fly to Sarasota. Everything needed to work perfectly in order to get to the church on time. Tampa International is very challenging because you need to be flying in between the big jets and fly much faster than normal. On top of this, I ended up flying the most difficult portion of the flight totally in the clouds! It was very challenging. After landing, I thought that the worst was over, but then found out that Sarasota was completely fogged in! Time was running out ... We went through Plan A, Plan B and a few other plans before we were able to obtain a rental and drive to the Lake Aurora campsite. Since we had so many challenges just getting there, I knew the weekend would be good.

On Friday night I was uncomfortable. I only knew two other guys and they were seated in another part of the room. Guys I’ve never met were greeting me. Handshakes are OK, but then were patting me on the back and shoulder and then hugging me. I told the Lord that I’ve had enough of that and would appreciate it if He stopped them. He didn’t listen to me.

Pastor Giancarlo was talking about his relationship with his father. I needed to hear what he said, but it hurt because my father died when I was eight. I was closing my heart, but after he was finished, he came over and prayed for me. Something (grief) that had been on me for about forty years had broken off. I cried like a baby. I felt true freedom as the banner had proclaimed! Pastor Vin kept saying that it only gets better and it did. By Sunday, I was able to rejoice freely and dance before the Lord. I knew I would never be the same!

Since the Encounter I’ve found myself doing things that I would not have done before and showing emotions I would have previously bottled up. There’s a joy now that I won’t let anyone take away. I’m speaking freely when before I may have shut up to avoid possible criticism. If criticism comes, it doesn’t have the effect it used to.

I went back to our church and got as many guys that I could to go on the next Encounter. I went as a server. It changed their lives as well. If you haven’t gone, you need to. If you have, I urge you to get friends and family to come as well. Compel them to come!