Covenant Community Fellowship - New Albany

As many of you know, in addition to evangelism, I have been involved in church planting initiatives for several years. Three wonderful churches have been planted as a result. This past weekend I traveled to New Albany, Indiana (just outside the city limits of Louisville KY) to minister in one of those churches...Covenant Community Fellowship.

Even though the church is only a few months old, the Lord has blessed them with an incredible facility, a highly anointed (and talented) ministerial staff and a bunch of wonderful people. They have been experiencing notable signs and wonders there, and I felt Sunday that they have only seen the beginning. If you live in the "Kentuckyanna" area I would highly recommend their "Crave" services that take place once a month on a Friday night. Please visit their website for more information: www.ccfindiana.com

After the service, on the way to the airport the wind began to blow. Bands from hurricane Ike came raging through shaking our car as it drove down the road. I made it out okay but received reports later that the wind had gotten worse, power was out and a lot of damage was done. The picture below is from the house of one of the pastors.

Please pray for Covenant Community Fellowship in New Albany Indiana and the staff there. If you would like to help them financially, please email us. USA@CoverTheEarth.org

F.I.R.E.

Last week I had the privilege of ministering in Charlotte, North Carolina at FIRE Church and FIRE School of Ministry, led by Dr. Michael Brown and Rev. Bob Gladstone. I myself am a graduate of the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry of which FIRE School is an offshoot. Most of the faculty members at FIRE were my professors in the Brownsville days, and the atmosphere of fire and revival is the same. I felt very much at home.

On Thursday night I ministered to the church, encouraging them to live dangerously for God. Then on Friday morning I was able to speak to the senior students of the school. I know they will go on to do great things for God.

I would encourage anyone who has a desire for ministry or who looking for a good Bible School to consider FIRE School of Ministry in Charlotte. To view their website visit www.Fire-School.org

Also, Dr Brown has a fascinating radio program that airs locally in Charlotte. He tackles current events and a broad range of subjects from a Biblical perspective taking phone calls and even accepting challenges to live debates. If you would like to subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE

In Season and Out (Kafanchan, Nigera – Crusade Report)

Ten years ago Kafanchan, Nigeria was ground zero to a bloody rampage of Islamic extremism against the local Christians that left hundreds of churches burned to the ground. These acts of aggression were world news at the time and the one event for which the region was known…until recently. This August, Christ for all Nations held a Gospel Crusade in this very city. Aware of the volatility of the region and unsure of what awaited us there, we went, knowing that the heart of God is to seek and to save those that are lost. As we approached the city, still miles away, crowds were lining the streets and burst into joy at the sight of our caravan approaching. Finally, Evangelist Bonnke poked his head out of the sun roof of his SUV and the people were ecstatic. It was evident from that very moment that we had landed on some extremely rich soil and a mighty harvest would surely follow.

This Crusade fell into the Nigerian rainy season where daily downpours are the norm. The CfaN team calls this the "Out-of-season" crusade because of the inevitably unfavorable weather conditions. Our crusade organizer, who was in Kafanchan for 2 weeks prior to the event, told us that every day they were receiving heavy rains from morning until night. He said it was "heart-breaking." We were praying that the Lord would hold back the rains enough to allow the Gospel to be declared and a harvest of souls to come in. Our prayers were answered in a most spectacular fashion. On several occasions it rained for a couple hours prior to the meeting. But when the preaching started, the rain stopped. And as soon as the altar call was over, the rain started once again. It happened too often to be coincidental, and although there were a couple of occasions during the five days of meetings when it did rain during the service, it was mild enough that it never hindered the preaching of the Gospel.

I preached two of the five evening messages that were each accompanied by a wave of salvations and incredible healing testimonies. One night after I had finished praying for the sick, I was already taking testimonies on the platform when I sensed the voice of the Holy Spirit prompting me to pray for those with HIV AIDS. I took a break from the testimonies and prayed once again for those with this terrible disease that has ravaged the African Continent. As I was praying, one young man with AIDS was suddenly hit by the power of God and fell to the ground. That night he had a dream. In his dream, Jesus came to him and told him that he was healed. The next day, inspired by the dream, he went to his doctor and requested another blood test. The following evening I interviewed him on the platform as he held his doctors report in the air. There on the report were the words so clearly written. HIV NEGATIVE!!! Praise the Lord.

One woman testified that she had been unable to bear children, but three years ago she attended a CfaN crusade in Jos/Plateau state. Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke prayed at that meeting for women with barren wombs. She received it by faith and 9 months later her beautiful baby “Mercy” was born.

A deaf mute, handicapped from birth suddenly heard and spoke. A 7 year-old girl blind from birth was suddenly able to see. We saw her wince as the bright lights on the platform hit her newly healed eyes. Many more testimonies were given…too many to mention. And each night as we left the field there was a huge line of people still waiting to testify of all that Jesus had done.

In spite of the reputation Kafanchan has for violence, we were protected by the mighty hand of God and felt very much at peace the entire time. In the end there were exactly 738,615 decision cards collected from people who had responded to the call of God and received Jesus Christ as their Savior…not bad for a week's work – In the rainy season. Thank you for your prayers which really do make a difference all over the world.

Paris On Fire

At the end of June, I ministered in Paris at the Christ for all Nations Fire Conference along side Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke and Rev. Siegfried Tomazsewski. In the final service, more than 6,000 people packed out the "Palais des Congrés de l’Est Parisien" where the meetings were held. Many wonderful testimonies of healings and hundreds of salvations and an outpouring of Holy Spirit power, were the highlights of the meetings.

Conclusion of Amazon Crusade

As we pulled up to the stadium we could see that it was filled to capacity and hundreds of people were standing outside wishing to get in. The venue, reminiscent of a baseball stadium, could potentially seat 50,000 people if all the grass on the sports field was used for seating. Unfortunately, the city authorities restricted us from using the field to seat people, so the bleachers, which could accommodate 25,000 people standing were completely filled.

The platform, which was set up in the best position for everyone to see, had about 200 yards between it and the nearest person. I would say a line, wait for the interpreter to interpret, then wait for the sound to reach the people then wait to hear their response. Because of the distance, I could not see the expression on one single face. It was a first time experience. A short panoramic of the crusade venue

The distance barrier however did not hinder the people. They received the Gospel with great joy, and as the altar call was given, they began to pour onto the field making the long journey to the platform to accept Christ. Those that came forward knelt in the grass and repented of their sins putting their faith in Christ and were born again. Those who answer the altar call kneel before the Lord as they receive salvation

One very special treat was to have the worship led by my friend Antonio Cirilo. When he began to play I could feel a strong tangible presence of the Holy Spirit flood the field. Testimonies came in that people were healed during the worship. I have posted a clip of his worship (not related to the crusade). You will be blessed. Even though it is in Portuguese, the anointing transcends every language barrier.

Sunday I preached twice in a wonderful, thriving local church there in Santarem. Afterwards we went to an authentic Brazilian Churrascaria, and then, one of the pastors took me on a boat tour of the Amazon River. This area of the River is flooded for six months out of the year. During this time, the water rises more than 16 feet, and most homes, elevated by stilts are surrounded by water. The people, who cannot plant or harvest crops, simply have nothing to do. They canoe from place to place and wait for the water to reside. The pastor told me about their ambitious church planting initiative that has resulted in dozens of churches along the Amazon. We visited one such church to which most of the little village's inhabitants were members. Though it had no walls or chairs, it stands as a symbol of the faith of a village that has been won for Christ.

Catching Up

Much has happened since I wrote last. With almost constant travel and many new adventures, it has been difficult to make the time to blog. I am now in Calgary, Canada and will be posting several "catch up" blogs with pictures and reports of the most all that has happened in the last several weeks. I hope you are blessed by all that God is doing around the world.