Next thing, I was surrounded by this awesome white light. The light was bright and very calming. I felt as though a power had me in its grip. It began to lift me up. What a feeling of care and love!! The power was very gentle yet strong and confident not to drop me. I felt quite secure in its grip.

Next, It, (the light) lowered me down on a pavement also glowing with light. I felt at first a little nervous, but it disappeared. I raised my head to see where I was, and gazed upon a place very familiar. It was the part of town where I had gone to high school. It was now beautiful, unlike the ghetto place it was back on earth. Everything, the buildings, homes, and even the streets were illuminated with a beauty indescribable. The very cobblestones in the street were radiating a praise within their own beauty. The bricks, in what I knew was a bank building shone with a splendor I had never known. It was absolutely astounding. The sky was as a blue as I have ever seen here on earth. Then I noticed a passenger bus approximately two blocks away, and knew instantly that every passenger was in perfect harmony and peace with each other. The entire scene was so peaceful. I thought, I'm home. I'm home! Believe me, this was real; not a dream, but real!  

 I started to run into the beauty of that heavenly place. I started, then, a voice (couldn't determine if it was vocal or what, maybe in my mind said to me,) "James, turn and look behind you and tell me what you see." The voice wanted me to see something in a black void or black space with no light at all. I tried to see a round object but couldn't with clarity until my vision was suddenly accelerated and I discovered it was the earth. Again my vision accelerated, and I saw the earth as though it had been burned up. It was charred and ugly, disturbing. I thought, man, it's all black. But then the same voice said to me, " James, look a little closer and tell me what you see." When I did, I saw the earth in bad form, but also a torch with a light barely staying lit. My vision and sight accelerated once more, and then I saw behind that withering but steady light, an untold number of smaller lights following the touch." 

Somehow in my mind I had the understanding that I mustn't resign my position at the time. Again, in my mind I felt the voice saying, "James, hold the light, hold the light,...if you don't, all of the little lights behind you will lose their way...Hold the Light!! 

I don't remember what happened next except I woke the following morning. I said to my wife, "I started to quit my pastorate, but the Lord just took me to heaven and showed me why I mustn't."

I was happy and dancing in the hallway. I was refreshed and invigorated.

I often now tell the story during visits to other congregations hoping it will give them hope in the afterlife.

As I end this writing, my soul wants to leap with joy. Hallelujah!

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          No      

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    My highest level was all through the experience.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    More consciousness and alertness than normal

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            My highest level was all through the experience.

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  Yes     Unimaginable! Everything was ............different!

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?            Yes     I only heard through some kind of telepathy. I think. The voice was very assuring and completely confident in what it was saying to me.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Protection and happiness.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          No      

Did you see a light?           No      

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     Those on the Bus I saw two blocks away.

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No       Yes, endure until your time is up.

Do your work with more determination because there is a reason for being here on earth.

The days following the experience, I was more than sure of my calling to ministry.......to do the Lord's work in community.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No      

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?           No           

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     I knew that this wasn't the same earth I'd just left.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Uncertain            I only knew that this was the most beautiful place I had ever been.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No      

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Yes     A higher propensity to Minister.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Immediately!!

Their reactions ranged from being stunned to happiness. From sadness over the lost of loved ones to joy of meeting them after death.