When Doctrine Meets Divine Encounter: The Presence Conference

Tuesday, July 1

07:00 am

Dr Daniel & Mary Beth Gilbert

Last January, I (Daniel) stepped into a room pulsing with spiritual hunger—a gathering of Asian house churches in California united for their Presence Conference.

Dozens gather at the Presence Conference in California, where doctrine and divine encounter merged in a powerful move of the Holy Spirit.

What unfolded over that weekend wasn’t just a series of sermons, but a masterclass in how deep theology and supernatural encounter can ignite revival.

A Convergence of Faith and Culture

Hosted by a vibrant Korean-led house church movement, the event drew 150–200 believers from across California.

Many were second-generation Asian Americans, eager to bridge their rich spiritual heritage with fresh expressions of faith.

These weren’t passive listeners. They came ready to wrestle with doctrine and experience God’s power firsthand.

My passion is to bridge deep theology with everyday practice. Over three days, we unpacked:

• The Holy Spirit’s role in personal and communal transformation

• Biblical foundations for spiritual gifts and healing

• The critical need for doctrinal integrity in charismatic practice

Miracles in the Making

The conference became a laboratory for Spirit-led ministry. During prayer sessions, along with local pastors, we witnessed breakthroughs that are still rippling through families and churches:

✅Creative Anointing: A young artist wept as we prayed—guided by a word of knowledge—over her hands. “The Lord is anointing your hands to create,” I declared.

Astonished, her pastor confirmed she’d nearly abandoned painting due to creative blocks. Days later, she began new works infused with spiritual themes. 

✅Marital Restoration: A doctor and his wife approached prayer with desperation—bitterness toward her father was fracturing their family. Through prophetic insight and deliverance prayer, she experienced profound emotional healing. “My kids see the difference,” her husband later told me. 

✅Medical Mystery Solved: That same doctor had endured chronic pain from a leg length discrepancy.

After prayer, his hip suddenly realigned during worship. “I’m a doctor—this defies logic,” he told the stunned crowd, discarding his orthopedic insert.

The Ripple Effect

By Sunday morning, the atmosphere had shifted from anticipation to awe.

My final message culminated in spontaneous worship, with attendees lingering for hours.

This conference reveals a crucial need. American churches—especially immigrant communities—crave both sound doctrine and supernatural encounter. They don’t want hype; they want substance.

House church leaders reported renewed vision, with many planning follow-up workshops on spiritual gifts.

One pastor shared, “Our people finally understand—the Holy Spirit isn’t just for miracles, but for making Christ real in daily life.”

In an era where some churches prioritize emotion over truth or dogma over experience, the Presence Conference showed a third way: The Spirit and the Word are partners, not rivals.

This January gathering proved that when believers ground spiritual practice in biblical truth, ordinary living becomes extraordinary ministry.

Interested in hosting Dr. Gilbert for a conference or seminar? Email drgilbert@elimtoday.org to learn how your church can experience this blend of theological depth and Spirit-led transformation.

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” — Romans 8:16