Dr. David J. Hoyte - Spiritual Formation

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Brother David has always been a person who has sought after God. Ever since his childhood, the practice of prayer and personal devotion has adorned his constant desire to know God, to please God, and to obey God. His faith in God has been a constant ingredient in his development, both at home and at school. At times, the school children and even the teachers would ridicule him, calling him the little pastor. But he never allowed such comments to deter him in his desire for a personal and intimate relationship with God.

In his adolescent years, his passion for reading stories of the lives of great men of faith started to show forth itself, and he was constantly inspired and challenged by reading of pioneer missionaries to India, China, Africa, and America, as well as men who attempted great things for God such as George Mueller, Smith Wigglesworth, and Rees Howells, among others.

In his young adult years, his interest became more focused upon the inner spiritual life, and the practice of deep spiritual meditation and prayer. The works of Watchman Nee, Fenelon, and Madame Guyon, along with several others of the Christian mystics, served to more fully fan the flame of desire for the deep knowledge of God or, as Madame Guyon would put it, the desire to experience the depths of Jesus Christ. He became increasingly interested in prayer and fasting, prayer vigils, the study of the Word of God, and the practice of recording his personal spiritual experiences in journals. He has maintained spiritual journals for greater part of forty years.

Brother David earnestly believes in the life of faith and in being directed by God. His daily prayer is that the Lord would lead him, guide him, and tell him what to do, where to go, and what to say. The Lord would speak to him through dreams, visions, and even through His audible voice, as He would show him things to be done, and journeys to be undertaken. For seven years, Brother David travelled almost the entire nation of America, and other countries of the world, being prompted by visions from the Lord to go to specific places and render ministerial and evangelistic support to specific pastors and churches. Even though Brother David never informed them beforehand that he was coming to visit them, yet they always seemed to be expecting him for God had also given them a vision or a dream that His servant was going to visit them. 

Brother David has never had the charisma to attract a following, and oftentimes has found himself quite alone. Pastors often devote their lives to helping and encouraging others, and sadly find themselves alone and abandoned during times of their most earnest need. Brother David’s key verse of personal encouragement comes from the reference to David, the king, of whom it was said, in the face of serious trial and tribulation, “But David encouraged himself in the Lord!” (I Samuel 30:6) 

In the course of his spiritual development, Brother David was blessed and influenced by several meaningful experiences, personal prayer retreats, and association with different Christian communities.

The following is a short list of meaningful experiences that have marked and influenced his life:

1975   Berbice mission revival conducted, Berbice, Guyana, South America

1977: Personal spiritual retreat at Trappist Monastery, Bardstown Kentucky

1984-1988: Three and a half years of personal prayer and spiritual retreat, Falfurrias, Texas

1988: Forty days of fasting and prayer for revival and spiritual preparation

1987-1995:  Seven years of Spirit-led evangelistic travelling domestically and internationally
  in support of local pastors through personal and group prayer and teaching

1994: Contact with the prophetic ministry of Hna. Mima, Rey de Gloria, Santa Ana, El Salvador

1994:  Six months of ministering and observing spiritual deliverance ministry at Iglesia
  Monte Santo, Hugoton Kansas

1994:  One-month ministering and experiencing Christian community life at Ministerio
  Parroquia Vida Nueva, Pamplona, Navarra Spain

1994: Eighty nights of prayer in house church, McAllen, Texas

1994-1998: Spiritual prayer and discipleship ministry, McAllen, Texas

2004: Forty days of fasting and prayer for revival and spiritual growth in students

2015: Visit to the Prophetic Ministry of Hna. Mima, Rey de Gloria, Santa Ana, El Salvador