Melanie A STE
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Experience description:

It was the first Sunday of October.  I was in my early 30s.  My husband and I had two sons, ages 3 and 5.  I was raised in the church, and so going to church was always important to me.  On this particular day, my husband had left after Sunday school to head to another town to visit his daughter (from his previous marriage).  I had put my boys in the nursery (an important point because I've always joked that I probably wouldn't have heard the 'voice' I was about to hear if my kids had been with me).  On this particular Sunday there was some kind of special recognition for our student pastor intern, and my thought at the time was how nice it was that we were doing this for her.  We came to a time of silent prayer, and for some reason we were all standing.  My mother-in-law was right next to me and there were people in the rows ahead and behind me. 

All at once I 'heard' a strong voice say to me, 'Melanie I want you and Harry to go into the ministry.'  At the very instant I heard this, I felt an energy almost like electricity (but entirely pleasant, in fact euphoric) pass from the very top of my head all the way down to my toes.  My eyes flew open to see who had spoken to me, because although this voice spoke to me 'in my head' it was so real, I didn't realize it at first.  I was SURE someone near me had spoken.  After opening my eyes and looking around quickly, it was clear that no one had spoken (all heads around me were bowed in prayer).  So I shut my eyes, and then I opened them again to see who had said it.  Again, everyone around me was bowed in prayer.

For the rest of the service, my body tingled.  I couldn't even feel my feet touching the floor!  I kept checking.  And I was just sure others that I talked to after church would see that I looked different or something.  But no one seemed to notice.  I had such a sense of euphoria and joy and wonder at what had just happened to me.  The voice I heard was powerful, yet I felt absolute love and acceptance.

That very afternoon, I told my mother-in-law about what I had experienced.  She told me I needed to talk to our pastor right away.  So, the very next day I went in and told our pastor about my experience.  And from that day forward I began my long journey toward becoming a pastor. 

My husband told me years later that he had receive a strong feeling on that day that HE should go into full-time ministry.  Although he never did become a pastor, he certainly has found other ways to serve God. 

Certainly, in my journey of faith and my work as a pastor there have been times of doubt and questioning.  It is in those moments that I remember this powerful experience that happened years ago.  When I start thinking about it, it is as it happened just yesterday.  I consider it to be a great, and very humbling gift from God.  I know that God is love and that nothing is greater than that love, which is the creative power of the universe.

 Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience? No     

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words?          Yes    The experience was hard to explain, in that I couldn't really express how powerful it was for me.

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

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?      I would say it was a heightened level of consciousness.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  NO

 Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?  No     

What emotions did you feel during the experience?          euphoria, joy, wonder, love

 Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?         A voice

 LOCATION DESCRIPTION:  Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?   No     

Did you see a light?        No     

Did you meet or see any other beings?         No     

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state?         No     

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

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different? Uncertain     I heard a 'voice' and felt a physical electrical energy throughout my entire body, beginning from my head and almost instantly moving all the way down through my toes.

 Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  No     

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?         Yes    I learned that my purpose was to become a pastor in order to share God's unconditional love.

 Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?           No     

Did you become aware of future events?      No     

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?          No     

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         Uncertain          I have had some times in which I seem to sense things that are going to happen, but I'm hesitant to say it is psychic.

 Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience? Yes    A deepened faith, and a clarity as to my purpose.  Over the years I have become more and more certain that learning to love as God loves is really all that is important, but that it takes a life-time and beyond to really learn this.

 How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?   My career choice BEFORE this incident was to be a teacher.  In fact I was teaching school at the time this happened.  I made a sudden change in career as a result of my experience.  And when my husband questioned why I had to go to seminary within months of this experience, my only answer was that it was not within my power to say 'no' to this.  I HAD to do it.

 Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes    I changed careers.  I have grown more and more in my journey of faith.  My views on the nature of God have expanded and continue to do so.  I believe that all persons are sacred to God, no matter what religion/faith/practice.  The key is to love others.

 Have you shared this experience with others?       Yes          Many people over the years have heard my story, starting with immediate family (some were open to hearing it and believed me, others were a bit skeptical at first).  I have told people in the congregations I served as well as some friends.  Many were very open to it and even had some experiences of their own to share.

 What emotions did you experience following your experience? Euphoria, joy, wonder, love

 What was the best and worst part of your experience?     The best was the encounter I had with what I would say is the Holy Spirit.  The worst was probably only that the journey has not always been easy.  But it has been worth it!

 Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience? Thank you for letting me share.

 Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?    Uncertain     There have been some more minor, yet powerful, experiences over the years.  I have not had any experience as strong as the experience I have described here.

 Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?                     Yes    I think I've explained as well as I can with human language.

 Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.       none that I can think of.