Publisher's Synopsis
George and Sheila McAuliffe from Co. Kerry, Ireland were typical Catholics going about their daily lives when tragedy struck in the form of their first-born son, three-year-old David, being diagnosed with terminal cancer. God graciously revealed Himself to George and Sheila in the mist of their terrible grief and pain. George said, I often think David like Jesus' Mother Mary paid a big price, but his suffering and death opened the door for Sheila and me to come to a living faith and an intimate relationship with Jesus through his Holy Spirit. Sheila always said 1973 was the best year of our lives, which sounds contradictory considering that was the year we lost our beautiful boy. George was seeking for answers. He said, Five days after David's death I told Sheila I'd like to have a prayer meeting in our home with a few people. I wanted to read the Bible and see what sense was to be made of David's death. Sheila agreed. I invited Rev Ted Woods and some folk from the Church of Ireland and some of my fellow Catholic teachers. On November 19th 1973 twelve of us met in our front room for our first ever prayer meeting. I'd no idea what was supposed to happen. We read and discussed the Bible. Ted Woods was the only one of us who knew how to pray spontaneously in his own words. We agreed to meet for ten weeks and if nothing of any significance happened by that time we'd just let it all go. But significant things did happen. God filled George and Sheila with His Holy Spirit and showed them signs and wonders they never thought possible. George and Sheila remained within the Catholic Church and held a Thursday night weekly prayer meeting in their own home for over forty years. George writes, In the summer of 1975, I went to my first Charismatic Conference in Dublin. There was tremendous excitement in the air. Thousands were singing and praying and praising in tongues. At one point I raised my hands and said, Okay Lord, here goes, tongues or burst. And immediately out of my mouth poured a river of words I'd never learned. Full Gospel meetings were always an experience. It was always encouraging and inspiring to hear how God was working in ordinary people's lives. We overcame Satan by the blood of the lamb and the power of our testimony. The meetings weren't just about teaching and preaching. There was usually a tangible demonstration of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. People were healed. People were delivered. Miracles happened. Prayers were answered. God was alive and well in our midst. Jesus was the same yesterday today and forever. It wasn't just a ritual. We were constantly experiencing God in brand new ways. Our County Kerry Gaelic team had their Golden Days and sometimes I think of the Golden Days of the Holy Spirit in County Kerry. The beginning was exciting and exhilarating, full of heady hope and promise. A new wind of the Holy Spirit was sweeping the land and Acts 29 was taking place in Ireland.
