In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook, I share one of the most pivotal moments of my life—a story of how the Holy Spirit broke through years of resistance, depression, and theological misunderstanding to transform my ministry, my marriage, and my heart. I take you back to December 1975, when I reluctantly attended a Methodist pastors’ conference that I was certain would be a waste of time. Instead, I encountered God in a way I could never have planned. Through unexpected conversations, a prophetic word, and the gentle prayer of a pastor who simply said, “I love you,” I experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit—and with it, a new joy, power, and purpose that changed everything. My prayer is that you, too, will open your heart to the fullness of what God wants to do in your life.

— Dr. Mark Rutland