...The ministry was called Shekinah Fellowship. There were probably close to 100 of us who traveled as lay ministers throughout the Southwest to wherever we were invited, holding huge miracle and healing services. It was intense and a real partnership with the Holy Spirit. The faith healer himself was Brant Baker, a personal friend of ours, and a man undeniably under the anointing of God. The services were often televised with no attempt to hide the signs and wonders which were being manifested continually. We saw incredible miracles of healing every week and the ministry got a real boost when Paul & Jan Crouch of TBN began supporting it. In its heyday there was nothing like it, and I've shared some of the things in my forthcoming book showing how God used and blessed us; gay and straight together. When it got to a place where it no longer could be denied that Brant and many of us in the ministry were gay, the spotlight on us was quickly turned off and we were dropped like a hot potato to a point where Brant's once household name was never allowed to be mentioned over the TBN airwaves again.
In time, due to a series of unfortunate events, the ministry dwindled to nothing. Brant died of AIDS. So did his brother. So did David, and Jerry, and so many others. All of us knew in our hearts that this was a one-time shot for us, that we'd never walk in the anointed miracle power of the Holy Spirit in the same way again in our lifetimes. We'd go in our separate directions and some would find a degree of fulfillment in other things, other ministries, but never again would we be so up close and personal with Jesus Himself. 2000 years ago when Jesus went forth to bring healing and salvation to multitudes of people, scores of disciples and supporters went both with and ahead of Him, setting up the crusades and working in a body ministry just like we did in Shekinah Fellowship all these centuries later.
Hang on, there's a reason why I'm sharing this with you. Sometime during the years of our involvement in this incredible miracle ministry, Vince took some time off and vacationed in Europe. He attended a small church in the south of Spain and recorded part of the service. Fortunately it included a young woman with the most beautiful voice, one of exceptional quality by any standards. As she sang the church fell dead silent. Her melodic voice echoed throughout the church. It was extraordinarily mesmerizing, spiritual, hallowed, and even eerie. The presence of the Holy Spirit hovered over the parishioners like a cloud.
The experience translated right through the tape recording. Only God can do that. Neither of us could catch the name of the song, thought to be of African origin, but the melody has haunted my head for almost 30 years now. I took the tape to the office where I worked at the time and had my boss, a Christian, listen to it. The song bothered him too in the same spiritual way as it did us, but none of us were able to come up with it's title no matter how much research we did.
Just recently a number of web sites have been put up on the Net in honor of the Shekinah miracle ministry of all those years ago. You can find them. People who were involved with Shekinah are still hurting in their hearts because that intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit and particular anointing of power has been a once in a lifetime experience for most. What I didn't know was that Brant used to sit on the steps of the Shrine Auditorium after Kathryn Kuhlman's miracle and healing services for hours crying to the Lord to allow him to be used like she was. The part I knew so well was that God did do exactly that. What I also didn't know was that that song was instrumental in the formation of the Shekinah Fellowship and that it was called His Name Is As Ointment.
Why has it taken so long for me to connect with this one song which has unceasingly haunted me day after day all these years? Am I coming full circle? I think so. The Holy Spirit is reminding me what this is all about. It started with Jesus and it will most decidedly end with Jesus. Alpha and Omega; the first and the last. Without Him my life would have been a waste. If you're young you may not know it, but in retrospect I can tell you that I regret not even one moment, the bad with the good, because I have walked with Jesus. I have known Him intimately, and yes, Jesus' name is like an ointment poured upon me. And on you. An ointment of comfort, protection, and all encompassing love beyond description. His name is unspeakably Holy. It's the warm liquid whisper of love infiltrating deep within your soul. It's the ointment. Let Him pour Himself on you, through you.
In time, due to a series of unfortunate events, the ministry dwindled to nothing. Brant died of AIDS. So did his brother. So did David, and Jerry, and so many others. All of us knew in our hearts that this was a one-time shot for us, that we'd never walk in the anointed miracle power of the Holy Spirit in the same way again in our lifetimes. We'd go in our separate directions and some would find a degree of fulfillment in other things, other ministries, but never again would we be so up close and personal with Jesus Himself. 2000 years ago when Jesus went forth to bring healing and salvation to multitudes of people, scores of disciples and supporters went both with and ahead of Him, setting up the crusades and working in a body ministry just like we did in Shekinah Fellowship all these centuries later.
Hang on, there's a reason why I'm sharing this with you. Sometime during the years of our involvement in this incredible miracle ministry, Vince took some time off and vacationed in Europe. He attended a small church in the south of Spain and recorded part of the service. Fortunately it included a young woman with the most beautiful voice, one of exceptional quality by any standards. As she sang the church fell dead silent. Her melodic voice echoed throughout the church. It was extraordinarily mesmerizing, spiritual, hallowed, and even eerie. The presence of the Holy Spirit hovered over the parishioners like a cloud.
The experience translated right through the tape recording. Only God can do that. Neither of us could catch the name of the song, thought to be of African origin, but the melody has haunted my head for almost 30 years now. I took the tape to the office where I worked at the time and had my boss, a Christian, listen to it. The song bothered him too in the same spiritual way as it did us, but none of us were able to come up with it's title no matter how much research we did.
Just recently a number of web sites have been put up on the Net in honor of the Shekinah miracle ministry of all those years ago. You can find them. People who were involved with Shekinah are still hurting in their hearts because that intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit and particular anointing of power has been a once in a lifetime experience for most. What I didn't know was that Brant used to sit on the steps of the Shrine Auditorium after Kathryn Kuhlman's miracle and healing services for hours crying to the Lord to allow him to be used like she was. The part I knew so well was that God did do exactly that. What I also didn't know was that that song was instrumental in the formation of the Shekinah Fellowship and that it was called His Name Is As Ointment.
Why has it taken so long for me to connect with this one song which has unceasingly haunted me day after day all these years? Am I coming full circle? I think so. The Holy Spirit is reminding me what this is all about. It started with Jesus and it will most decidedly end with Jesus. Alpha and Omega; the first and the last. Without Him my life would have been a waste. If you're young you may not know it, but in retrospect I can tell you that I regret not even one moment, the bad with the good, because I have walked with Jesus. I have known Him intimately, and yes, Jesus' name is like an ointment poured upon me. And on you. An ointment of comfort, protection, and all encompassing love beyond description. His name is unspeakably Holy. It's the warm liquid whisper of love infiltrating deep within your soul. It's the ointment. Let Him pour Himself on you, through you.
It's no stretch for me to see how blessed I have been, that God has chosen to protect me for 62 years. My life has been spared over and over from close brushes with death - car accidents, near drowning, concussion. Not to mention escaping AIDS which stole the life from well over 100 friends throughout the years; many of them spirit-filled Christians. I don't have answers, but I can speak to the mercy of God. When nothing else is left, God's mercy faithfully endureth.
His name is as ointment poured forth
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
His name is as ointment poured forth
His name is as ointment poured forth
His name is as ointment poured forth
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
His name is as ointment poured forth
His name is as ointment poured forth
by Richard White
"Thy name is as ointment poured forth."Song of Songs 1:13
"Thy name is as ointment poured forth."Song of Songs 1:13
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