The crowd, with hands raised and voices lifted, shouted, “Amen! Yes, Lord! Praise Jesus!”

Another chord, louder and more intense.

“I said, the Bible tells us!”

Chord.

“To make a joyful noise—unto the Lord!”

“Praise the Lord! Amen! Jesus love! Tell it, brother! Praise him, praise him.”

Short riff . . .

“For where two or more are gathered together in my name . . .”

He assailed the guitar, hurling himself into a driving instrumental that would have caused even Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton to hang their heads in shame. The people lifted their arms and hands and called out in many voices. Excitement electrified the room. It went on and on as the excitement built.

Then the man suddenly slapped a hand over the strings and killed the music. The crowd went mute and stood frozen in place. The only sound in the building was the soft hum of the amplifier.

The man leaned forward and called in a loud whisper, “I am there amongst them.”

He strummed softly.

“He is here amongst us. Do you feel him, people? Do you feel the presence of your Lord? He is here—he is here.”

The crowd rose up on their toes. Arms lifted higher, while some of the worshipers stood with upturned faces and tightly closed eyes.

The congregation moaned their plea, “Yes. Oh, yes. Come in, sweet Jesus. Come down, Holy Spirit.”

I found myself straining forward, white-knuckled hands gripping the back of the pew in front of me, breath caught short in my throat.

Then the man on the stage leaped into the air, renewing his attack on the guitar. When he hit the floor again it appeared as if his legs had taken control of his body, and he danced across the stage as though compelled by a hidden force. He threw forth one shivering leg, the toe of the uplifted foot just skimming the surface of the floor, the pulses of his lower body propelling him across the stage as the music overwhelmed the house.

The voice of the crowd rose in intensity along with the power of the music. How a lone man could wrench such sound from a single instrument is something beyond explanation.

Then he made another tremendous leap into the air that carried him almost to the ceiling. When his feet hit the floor again he threw back his head and sang out in a compelling and powerful voice that positively electrified the room. And with his first words, I felt chills rushing down my spine.

I once was lost in siiin
But Jesus took me in
And then a little light from heaven filled my sooooul
It bathed my heart in love
And wrote my name above
And just a little talk with Jesus made me whoooole