The voice on the other end of the phone line said, “Mike, is the latter rain falling in your conference?” I was taken aback for a couple of seconds, and then said, “No.” The voice then said, “It sure is falling here on our church!” Not to be too embarrassed, I responded, “Well, there are a couple of churches here where I know God’s Spirit is mightily blessing.”

While I had been anticipating this annual phone call, I confess that I was not prepared for that particular question. My friend went on to tell of unbelievable soul-winning miracles and asked if I would be willing to speak at his church in early 2008. I agreed to do so and looked forward to the opportunity.

The Sabbath I arrived I was shocked at the full sanctuary and the sea of new faces, representing a wide variety of ages. I thought that indeed the “latter rain” must be falling here. Later, after the fellowship meal, I made fast work of acquainting myself with as many of the new faces as possible. What miraculous testimonies they shared. How they praised God for their new spiritual friends! I left that church saying, “Wow, praise God!”

I was so intrigued by what I had witnessed at this church that, during the following week, I contacted many of its long-time members to find out what happened. The answer was the same from each: “We stopped criticizing each other and started loving each other. We started praying for the Holy Spirit to change us, to transform us by His grace. We chose to focus our prayers on God changing our hearts, rather than others.” I was told that after this took place, new people began showing up on Sabbath mornings eager to worship and seek God’s truth. These were complete strangers whom the Holy Spirit had been working with.

God’s “inspired pen” explains the phenomenon preventing our churches from having this “latter rain” experience: “The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of the church members who have never been converted and those who were once converted but who have backslidden. What influence would these unconsecrated members have on new converts? Would they not make of no effect the God-given message which His people are to bear?”—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 371

Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, states in his book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire that when his church outlawed peoples’ criticism and slander by telling each other “We don’t do that around here,” God started miraculously growing their church.

Could God be waiting for us to declare, “We don’t do that around here,” in order for us to truly be able to welcome the outpouring of His Latter Rain?

Mike Ortel is the president of the Northern New England Conference.