Recovery Healing through Praise
by Jim Sarvello
Since December of 2005 I have been in a very blue season. God has seemed to very far from me. I have continued in my day-to-day activities, but was edgy, irritable, cross, and downright awful. I had lost confidence in myself and others and just generally felt unloved, unneeded, and like my ministry was at an end.
My wife and I were in a downward spiral over matters of our church. I was at odds with the pastor and his wife over “perceived” hurts and neglect, and felt that our days in the church we served both as District Pastor and Prayer Leader were close to ending. I had already quit the praise team where I was a percussionist for the last seven years, and as I looked forward to being the Director of the School of Ministry that we are supposed to open in the fall, I just didn’t feel like I was in charge.
In May, we had the opportunity to go to a three day conference with Bob Griffin. He was speaking at City of Zion Church in Jackson, Michigan. When we arrived on the second evening, I saw Bill Latocki (who was joining in on percussion with Bob’s band) and went over to say hello. He introduced me to Bob Griffin and mentioned that I was a fellow percussionist – Bob immediately asked me to play along with his band. He let me play his brand new dumbek (an Egyptian drum that is played with the fingers) that he had received as a gift from the people of the village in Iraq where he had just ministered. The praise time was fabulous!
The following evening we went to the last session of the series. We were late because of a church softball game and I had to attend in a dirty softball uniform. As we entered the auditorium, the praise had already begun and I was thinking that I wouldn’t have an opportunity to play, but Bob caught my eye and motioned for me to come up and join the band! It was an even more anointed night than the previous one!
At the end of the evening as Bob was giving individual prophecy, he looked at me and told me EXACTLY what was on my mind – that I wanted to play drums that night. I wanted it so badly and thought I had missed the opportunity, but God knew, and God told Bob to ask me up there. God also said, through Bob, that I would exude His power, His word, and His anointing because I would be a gatherer of His sons and daughters.
That was on May 7, 2006 and I have just now had the breakthrough I have been praying for. I have purchased my own dumbek (similar to Bob Griffin’s) and then a djembe drum from the PraiseToys Store, and I continue praising God with my friends at the Wellspring Praise Center. I have also returned to the praise team at my own church and through all this powerful praise I have finally broken the depression that has gripped me for the past six months. Praise God!!
