Hundreds Choose Jesus in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa



Hundreds match for Jesus
through the streets
of Pietermaritzburg

Flying into Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, last month, the view over the snow-covered Drukensburg mountains surrounded by lush evergreen forests was breath-taking.  It was winter and just a week earlier, they had received a fresh coating of snow. 


Several youth pray to receive
Christ in a township

It had cleared off the streets of Pietermaritzburg by the time we arrived to commense the mission organized by our partners Africa Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE).   Not withstanding, the evenings and nights were brutally cold even for a cold-hardened Minnesotan like me. 

This woman who I was told was a
sangoma (witchdoctor) received Christ

However, it wasn't the cold that caught my attention.  No, it was the hoards of people that braved the cold in the evenings to come and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the unheated tents that we had strategically set up in several townships of Pietermaritzburg.  They would walk, often through the dark streets and unsure terrain to find their way into our cold and dimly lit tents.



Several older women receive Christ

Driving up to one of those tents one night, it was so foggy that our driver could barely see five feet infront of us.  The 45 minute drive up a steep and windy narrow road felt like an eternity.  Thankfully, my wife Suzanne prayed us safe all the way as we texted back and forth minute by minute updates of our progress up the mountain.

Each night I preached at a different township tent
and dozens from different ages would receive Christ

That same night in the course of preaching, a witchdoctor burst through the tent walls from behind the stage and came to sit right in front of me.  I could see the rest of the audience felt uneasy the moment she came in.  But I kept preaching the Word of the Lord without paying much specific attention to her.  Afterall she is one of those people that Christ died for.



I preached the word of God during
the youth rally inviting
the youth to follow Jesus

Sure enough when I made an altarcall, she was one of those who stood up to make a commitment to Jesus Christ.   For there is power in the Name of Jesus Christ that trumps all powers of darkness.  Whether they be those of witchcraft, secularism, or postmordernity.  Christ commands that as we go, we should preach the gospel saying, "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand."  We should heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leppers, cast out demons.  Freely we have  received, freely we should give. (Matt. 10:7-8).

We held a youth rally with hundreds of
youth at the local Rugby Stadium

Seeing her stand in front of me among eighty-five others with both hands raised and tears streaming down her eyes was a magnificent experience and testament to the amazing grace of God.  It made the whole dangerous drive worth it.


Several people respond to receive
Christ following ministry at God's
Family Church on Sunday morning

Another enjoyable aspect was listening to South African worship.  Zulu language worship is quite an extra-ordinary experience.  As the services commensed each night, they sang, danced, and celebrated the grace of God with amazing harmony and rythmic beauty.  I remember one night sitting there and thinking to myself, wow, in heaven we will definitely be singing in Zulu. 


Several Thousands gather for the
closing rally at Woodburn Stadium

Throughout the week of August 12-19th of August, I preached in a different township each night before concluding with the youth rally in the local Woodburn Rugby stadium on Saturday August 18 and Sunday morning ministry at God's Family Life Center, 271 Boshoff St, downtown Pietermaritzburg.

All through the week, I prayed with about 400 people who entered into a brand-new saving relationship with Jesus Christ.   Glory to God!!

With our next Festival to Adiedo, Kenya (Homa Bay City on the shores of Lake Victoria) just three weeks away, I request you to continue to pray for a great harvest.  God is doing amazing things all around the world and you and I get to be witnesses of these things.  Pray with us for continued financial provision to complete the task ahead of us.  We are in need of $12,000 to successfully complete our Fall commitments.  To donate, follow the link to the right of this page.