|
MALAWI
REPORT - GREATER BATTLES, GREATER VICTORIES
BY FRESH FIRE MINISTRIES
LILONGWE, MALAWI
FRESH FIRE CRUSADE: JUNE 4-7, 2003
“… For dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.” (Malawi,
Africa) Psalm 22:28.
GREATER BATTLES, GREATER VICTORIES
Somehow, I knew that this long awaited crusade in Malawi was going to ‘go
over the top’, just because of the constant opposition we were encountering
even before we arrived. As an example, just days before the crusade was to
begin, Gerald Mwebe, FFM African Coordinator, sent an urgent request telling
us that the Malawian health department entry into their country because of
the fear of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). However, we praise God
for assistance because we know that when the going gets, tough the tough get
going. Gerald was able to convince the Malawian health authorities that if
the Canadians would get a special medical checkup from the local doctors
indicating negativity to SARS, they could come. We praise the Lord for all 24
Canadians who were able to get these reports just in time. Other
complications among team members prior to the disembarking included stolen
laptops, accidents, stolen vehicles, delayed flights, etc.
As God would have it, this was to be one of the most memorable and amazing
trips FFM has ever experienced, as over ninety people from Canada, U.S.A.,
South Africa, Austria and Australia joined with Todd and Shonnah Bentley to
help feed the poor in Malawi and to live out Matthew 10:8, “…Heal the sick,
raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.” It was only later on
in the crusade that we learned from Pastor Ruben, a local pastor from
Lilongwe,( capital city of Malawi) and Todd’s interpreter for the meetings,
that this region is a paradise for witchcraft and most North American Evangelists
prefer to go to Blantyre, a neighboring large city to Lilongwe, where the
churches are much bigger and the crusades better attended. Pastor Ruben
indicated to us that having 2500 in an evening crusade would be considered a
great success. Of course, we at FFM know Todd to be a man of great vision and
therefore attendance would not be limited to human expectations.
The Lord promised a great harvest if we would feed the poor in Malawi and
preach the Gospel in this nation. FFM cooperated with Rolland and Heidi Baker
(Iris Ministries) to engage in a massive feeding program to the Malawian
people, as this nation is just coming out of a severe famine due to drought
during the last couple of years.
THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE
Because ninety people were represented on this Malawi/South Africa FFM team,
8 team captains were appointed, having 10-12 on their team. Every day, from
Wednesday-Saturday, teams were sent out to local villages and areas for the
express purpose of feeding the poor and preaching the gospel. Already on the
first day of the outreaches, team captains came back ecstatic with awesome
reports of the blind seeing, the crippled walking, the deaf hearing, and the
sick recovering.
LOCAL CHIEFS RECEIVE BORN AGAIN MESSAGE
On one of the outreaches in the morning, as the Gospel message was preached
and the salvation invitation was given, nearly thirty village chiefs came
forward to accept Jesus into their hearts. Another 500 from the crowd
responded to the alter call. Revival had come to the land. The Great
Commission was being fulfilled as dozens of reports were coming in from team
members regarding salvations, miracles and healings.
TEAM MEMBERS PRAY FOR THE DEAD
Todd Bentley has been encouraging the local people to bring the dead to the
crusade meetings where opportunity will be given to see them raised up with
resurrection power. On one of the days when an outreach was scheduled at a
1000 unit hospital, the opportunity did come allowing a handful of FFM access
into the holding room of the hospital (morgue). Although there was no visible
evidence of a ‘Lazarus coming forth’, we know many more opportunities will be
waiting in the future, and yes, the dead will be raised in Jesus name.
REFUGEE CAMP HEARS THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
Dzaleka, a refuge camp comprised of five different countries including
Somalia, Burundi, Congo, Rwanda and Malawi, was our final outreach. There are
about 20,000 people living in this camp, having fled civil wars and other
catastrophes in their homelands. Todd preached a powerful salvation message
and hundreds of hildren got born again. For some unknown reason, many adults
in the crowd were very skeptical. By the unction of the Holy Spirit, Todd
invited those who needed a miracle to come forward and assured they would
witness the power of God in demonstration. A number of deaf and dumb mutes
came forward, and when the first miracle took place of a deaf and dumb being
completely healed, the crowd literally went into a frenzy. Imagine what one
miracle from heaven can accomplish! The crowd surged forward, almost
suffocating some of the team members. Now we know the experience Jesus
witnessed when the crowd pressed toward Him because of the many miracles
preformed by Him. Immediately after we prayed for the sick, FFM team members
and Iris Ministries passed out bags of beans and rice to every family
represented in the community. Although we assured everyone they would receive
food, potential riots were beginning to take place, especially among the
Muslims. To the North American mind set, we have no idea what hunger and
starvation is all about until a visit is made to one of these third world
impoverished countries. What a blessing it is to fulfill the Matthew 25
mandate of Jesus-“feed the poor, clothe the naked, visit the sick and
imprisoned.
OVER 10,000 SOULS RECORDED IN LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE
The opening night of the crusade saw approximately 2500 in attendance. The
local pastors were very encouraged by the turnout as they repeatedly told us
Lilongwe was a preacher’s graveyard. Approximately 500 responded to the altar
call the first night. Todd knew in his spirit a breakthrough was needed in
this ‘tough turf’ area, so he invited everyone on the FFM team to participate
in a fast over the next few days. The second night of the crusade had a much
better attendance. Before Todd had opportunity to preach, he felt led by the
Holy Spirit to call those who had made blood covenants to witch doctors to
come forward and be set free. Amazingly, over 400 responded to the call, and
by the end of the evening, there were over 1000 recorded salvations. Hundreds
of children were receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence
of speaking in tongues. Children could literally be seen all over the crusade
grounds, totally intoxicated with the wine of the Spirit.
CONFRONTATION: POWERS OF DARKNESS AND POWERS OF LIGHT
Friday night was truly the breakthrough night we were looking for. Though we
were met with much resistance, including some of the stage and platform
giving out causing injury to a number of people, Todd preached a message that
burned nto the hearts of the attendees. Over 3700 came forward for salvation
and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Lilongwe had never experienced anything
like this before. The local pastors were astounded by this harvest. Before
Todd could direct the new babes in Christ to a special designated tent area
for further prayer and follow up, a back lash of demonic powers surged
through the crowd. Obviously Satan was not happy with the harvest. As if out
of nowhere, those demonized began manifesting and creating commotion in the
crowd. Immediately, Todd asked the ushers to bring them onto to the platform.
Over one dozen, mostly women, were hurled onto the stage writhing around like
snakes, screaming and turning in every direction. Todd prayed for one of the
demonized victims, commanding the evil spirit to loose its hold on the
woman’s body and mind. The evil spirit defied Todd and spit on him, cursing
him. Todd actually felt an evil like poison shooting up his arm. Thank God
for the blood of Jesus and His resurrection authority. By the end of the
evening, every one of the demonized were no longer victims but victors, all
because of Jesus.
WITCH DOCTOR RECEIVES JESUS AND RENOUNCES PRACTICE
One of the more outstanding miracles was that of a local witch man who heard
Todd preaching over the radio, and responded to the alter call. He also
received a physical miracle in his body, as Todd told those who needed
healing to place one hand on the radio and the other on the part of the body
that needed the healing power of God. 1 John 4:4 is a reality to us at these
crusade meetings- “Greater is He that is in you, than he who is in the word.
JESUS APPEARS IN THE CROWD OF NEW BELIEVERS
Saturday was the final night of the crusade, and again, approximately 2200
received Jesus in their hearts. This was to be an evening never forgotten as
Todd literally received an open vision of Jesus clothed in a scarlet robe
walking among the new believers. Wherever Jesus was standing, dozens of
people in that area would fall under the power of the Holy Spirit. The
presence of God came as a glory cloud and hovered over the crusade grounds. Truly
Malawi will never be the same.
CREATIVE MIRACLES #1 OVERSIZED HEAD SHRINKS TO NORMAL
Every evening after the salvation message was given, Todd released the FFM
team to pray for the sick and cast out devils. During one of the evening
crusades, a number of team members witnessed a creative miracle as hands were
laid on a little babies head, commanding the healing virtue of Jesus to flow
into the body. The babies head was noticeably enlarged, and appeared to have
water on the brain. Instantly, the head began to shrink back to normal size
to the amazement of the parents. To God be the glory! He does all things
well.
CREATIVE MIRACLE #2 THREE HIV POSITIVE VICTIMS RECEIVE CLEAN BILL OF
HEALTH
Malawi, as well as some other African countries, is plagued with the AIDS
epidemic. Although local governments are finally promoting a message of
sexual abstinence in schools, the epidemic has already hit an alarming rate. Quite
often, those who attend the crusades who are HIV positive are hesitant to
come to prayer. Todd invited them to come unashamedly and receive forgiveness
and cleansing. We were glad to report three different individuals who were
tested by their doctors after receiving prayer, to be totally healed of this
dreaded virus. AIDS can be beaten!
CREATIVE MIRACLE #3 EYE FORMS IN SOCKET
Some of the team members witnessed a creative miracle where an actual eye was
formed in the socket where no eye existed before. By the end of the evening,
the man testified as being able to see out of the eye for the first time in
his life.
CREATIVE MIRACLE #4 BABY PARALYZED FROM BIRTH RECEIVES HEALING
Is it true? Is Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever? Come to a FFM
overseas trip and see for yourself. A little child, paralyzed from birth
received a miracle, being able to walk for the first time. “And they’ll come
walking and leaping and praising God.” Acts 3:8
PASTORS AND CHRISTIAN LEADERS RECEIVE FRESH IMPARTION
During the AM sessions, Heidi Baker and Todd Bentley preached messages on
Philippians 2 and the anointing and favor of God. Many of the pastors in
Lilongwe are discouraged as most churches are very small in size because of
the horrendous witchcraft existing in the area. On the final morning, Todd
and Heidi and a number of FFM staff escorted over 350 pastors, Christian
leaders, and workers outside to an open field and imparted special grace over
each one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance. (Ps
2:8)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phone Number in Vienna June 14-July
9
(+43) (0) 676 / 517 4008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mag. Claudia R. Wintoch
10808 Fremont Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64134
USA
(+1) 816-966-9294
claudia@healing2thenations.net
www.healing2thenations.net
www.glorywebservices.com
Talk to me online - I'm
"healing2thenations":
yahoo/msn messenger
Your support - whether by prayer or giving - is
greatly appreciated.
In Europe:
Bank name: BA/CA
Bank number: 12000
Account number: 509.101.468.00
Online (it will say Glory
Webservices):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|