David’s Turning Point: A Divine Encounter

It had been less than a year since David and Olga began their journey together. At the time, David was training intensively to earn his black belt in jiu-jitsu. His sparring partner, Harvey, was preparing for his wedding, and David and Olga were invited to attend the ceremony.

Olga, who loved visiting churches, was thrilled about the invitation. For her, stepping into a church always brought a sense of peace and serenity. David, however, was a different story. He avoided churches entirely, often waiting outside when Olga visited one. The idea of attending a full church service didn’t sit well with him.

David tried to persuade Harvey to let them skip the church ceremony and join at the reception instead, but Harvey was resolute. “You’re the closest person to me in the club,” Harvey insisted. “You have to be there for the most important moment of my life.” With no way out, David reluctantly agreed.

On the day of the wedding, David, feeling uneasy, dragged Olga to a nearby pub for a pint before heading to the ceremony—an unusual move for someone who rarely drank. When they finally arrived at the small countryside Anglican church, they took seats at the back.

The service was traditional and full of joy. Hymns echoed through the church, including All Things Bright and Beautiful. Olga glanced at David during the hymn and noticed his wide, uneasy eyes. “Are you okay?” she whispered. David stiffly nodded, but something about his expression told Olga to leave him be.

What she didn’t know was that David was in the midst of an extraordinary experience, one that no one else in the packed church could sense.

As the hymn played, David suddenly felt a mighty rushing wind, as if a jet fighter had flown right over his head. The wind touched the ends of his hair, accompanied by a loud noise. Then, he felt something press gently on the top of his head, and in an instant, he experienced a strange sensation: it was as if his body, now made of glass, shattered into tiny shimmering fragments that cascaded down to his feet.

Moments later, his eyes were drawn to a brilliant vertical light above the altar. Peace—unlike anything he had ever known—washed over him. It was a peace so profound that it left him stunned and quiet for the remainder of the service.

David didn’t share what happened with Olga that day. Unsure of what he had experienced, he turned to his mother, who suggested he had received a blessing. He also reached out to a childhood friend, a heart surgeon, to ask if what he felt could be a sign of insanity. His friend reassured him, explaining that insanity doesn’t manifest across multiple senses simultaneously—hearing, feeling, and seeing together indicated something very real.

The event had a profound effect on David. Though he was weeks away from his black belt challenge, he could no longer bring himself to train. The peace he felt was so overwhelming that the idea of fighting seemed completely unnecessary. He resigned from jiu-jitsu, explaining to his sensei that he had simply lost the desire to fight.

David’s quest for understanding led him to share his story with priests and spiritual leaders. Eventually, a priest directed him to the book of Acts, suggesting he read about Pentecost. Alone with his Bible, David found the passage describing the descent of the Holy Spirit. As he read, a warm, comforting presence enveloped him—a feeling he would come to recognize as the Holy Spirit.

That moment marked the beginning of David’s deep relationship with God. Over time, the Holy Spirit continued to guide him, often providing a sense of peace, validation and purpose during prayer or when he was on the right path.

This divine encounter was not just a turning point in David’s spiritual journey—it was the foundation for the faith-filled life, born again christianity he and Olga now share. It taught him that God’s presence can break into the most unexpected moments, transforming everything forever.