Saturday, June 5, 2021

Barn Story Three: The New Altar

In the summer of 1987, as a young 17 year old hungering for more of God, I knelt at an altar bench in a small prayer room in the Chapel at University of Richmond and experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

From 1988 - 1992 I often found myself experiencing more of God as I positioned myself at the altar in the chapel at Bethany Bible College in Santa Cruz, CA.  Those times at the altar came at the end of chapel services, during the day, or even late into the evening.

From 1992 - 2005 the sanctuary at West End Assembly of God became another altar for me.  Frequently, I would go and sit to ponder and pray.  Sometimes I would walk the sanctuary or kneel at the front.  God would always meet me in that space.

From 2005 - 2015 the little church building at the corner of Park and Meadow in the historic Fan District of Richmond, VA became my new altar.  The old floor would creak as I walked in that space.  It was a place of refuge with the Lord, renewal in the Lord, and re-baptisms of the Spirit - all needed for fresh strength, power, and focus for the day.  It was in that space that I also began anointing with oil and praying over chairs, instruments, door posts, and the pulpit.  I wanted there to be a lingering residue of God's Presence there.

From 2015 - 2019, for the first time ever in years of ministry, I had a huge office.  It was actually too big.  But I made it my new altar.  I would walk in it; pray in it; not answer the phone in it; study God's Word in it; rest in it; and dream God-sized hopes in it.  

Today, the barn off Route 250 has become my new altar as well as an altar for all who gather on Wednesday evenings to pray and worship together.

God can help you find an altar anywhere.  An altar is a sacred space where you mute the crazy voices of life and listen to only One Voice.  His Voice.  The only Voice that knows everything about you and yet still desires to speak life, hope and goodness into you.

Altars are spaces that we travel to.  We walk to or drive to. Sometimes we run to.  They are spaces where we externally and internally surrender ourselves unto Him.

Altars are spaces where we delve deep into the abiding Presence of the Lord.  We cry out.  We experience healing or strength to walk in a season of struggle.  Altars are places that we never forget because our lives are altered at altars.

I now have the joy of traveling often on weekends to minister in different churches.  I love the ministry of Ascent College and Potomac School of Ministry and am so appreciative of the opportunity.  On the drive back to Richmond, as I ponder all the ministry that has taken place on that given day, I inevitably plan my next trip to the barn - to the new altar in Goochland, VA that God has provided.  To the new space where His Presence is re-baptizing people in the Spirit, renewing hope in the discouraged, and reminding us to continue practicing the presence of the Lord.

The barn is the new altar - a phrase I never thought would be spoken from my mouth!

Ex nihilo,


R.J. Rhoden

Join us every Wednesday night at 6:30pm to pray in the barn.  For more information you can contact me at 804.239.0032 or robertrhoden1970@gmail.com.


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