On November 8, 2003, I witnessed one of the greatest miracles I've ever seen -- all pure Gift of Jesus' expansive Grace! As an ordained minister of the Gospel, I officiated at the church wedding of new believers who were formerly Buddhist. About 100 people from all over the Pacific Rim were in attendance. Every soul present at this wedding, held at Treasure Island Chapel here in San Francisco, voluntarily received Jesus Christ into their hearts and lives as Lord and Savior, right during my wedding sermon. Even the photographer got saved! God helped me preach a wedding sermon that was a clear, compelling exposition of Who Christ is, and what He has done for us. EVERYBODY WANTED JESUS!! The ever-increasing Kingdom is so sweetly exploding into the cultures and subcultures of the world.

Here's the story:

The Lord graciously has been giving me great favor for the past year at a local nail salon. Sharing testimonies about who Jesus is and what He has done and is doing, I visit the salon for a few hours twice a month or so ... refer my friends ... and always give big tips (which demonstrate in practical terms the largesse of our generous God, The LIVING GOD). In San Francisco, predominantly Buddhist Asian manicurists work in this beauty industry. By God's grace, I lead many people to receive Christ in my favorite nail shop on Noriega Street. The manager received Christ during her engagement and she then asked me if I would be her minister at her wedding. God's Holy Spirit had been working in her heart. She wanted a proper Christian wedding in a proper Christian church, not a Buddhist ceremony! Her still-unsure Buddhist fiance was nonetheless, very open to Christ. "We want to do this GOD's way! Whatever you say, we will do!" they both agreed. Wah - hoooo!!

The wedding rehearsal and gatherings beforehand were just full of God's Presence and Anointing. The groom had quietly come to faith in Jesus Christ, and I could sense sweet openness of heart in ALL the bridesmaids and groomsmen, too. In the context of a wedding -- a place and time of commitment -- it made perfect sense to explain why the bride and groom are doing it right: why they chose a Christian marriage, and what a Covenant is . . . a Covenant with the One, True, and Living GOD. Jesus was just as present at this beautiful wedding ceremony as He was 2,000 years ago in Cana of Galilee!! It was formal, and yet it was very much in the River of JOY!! Everybody in the church voluntarily chose to open their hearts to the MOST HIGH GOD Who is above all gods by receiving Jesus Christ, into their hearts, lives, and homes as LORD and SAVIOR forever. About 100 people were present, and everyone prayed the sinner's prayer aloud after me.

I watched people's faces change, wholesale. The groom's parents didn't speak much English, so they had a young lady in the family translate everything! The first thing that happened after the Recessional back up the aisle was that the beautiful bride jumped on me in the foyer -- she just smooched me, saying, "Thank you! This is the best wedding gift I ever could receive, Lani!" Nobody wanted to leave—even after the picture-taking was over! People kept thanking me, even wanting to know more. One of the groomsmen told me, "We fell in love with you AND your God." Another one of them told me yesterday that he was so happy, & that he would never use Jesus' Name as a swear word ever again. "I didn't know!" he kept saying. The Lord Who graciously answered our prayers even withheld rain during the church wedding! The sunshine through ominous rain clouds was a sign and a wonder in the heavens for all to see, that day, since nonstop storms had been predicted here that weekend.

The bride and groom were vocal in their spontaneous public praise and thanksgiving to God for all these precious miracles in answer to prayer! What I prayerfully desired was to pastor everybody at that wedding with terrific heart, just like Blazing Fire Pastors Brent & Suzanne Lokker do!! I blessed everybody at the reception, too, and everybody received it like thirsty li'l plants. There was the most amazing sense, all during the wedding ceremony and reception, of being in a place with perfect strangers who are all perfectly wonderful (foretaste of Heaven?) . . . God's Holy Spirit was present indeed. I nearly flew home!! THANK YOU, JESUS, for saving all those beautiful precious people, and thoroughly blessing them at this wedding filled with the River of your overwhelming love!!

†