Engage the Nations

Shortly after arriving in Mumbai, India yesterday in transit to my next destination of Hyderabad, I decided to get something to eat.  I was hungry and, wanting to stay on the side of caution, looked for something familiar.  Guess my delight when I saw a KFC joint in the domestic flights food court.  I went over to the counter and requested for chicken, and wanting to adapt slowly, some rice on the side.  I cannot claim to have eaten a lot from KFC in the United States.  Perhaps 4 or 5 times that I remember.  I always try to avoid fast foods.  But being here in India, hey, it looked pretty good given the unfamiliar alternatives. I knew exactly what to expect once I bit into the crunchy exterior of the chicken that looked just like the KFC chicken back in the United States States, right? Wrong!   To my surprise, the Indian KFC had a bit of Indian flavor to it.  It was spicy, though of course not to...

From my family to yours, Happy New Year, 2012!  As I am sitted in my home office reflecting on the past year, one thing that stands out for me is the generosity of God.  Yes, the Prophet Jonah was right in his (absurd) lament: "Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country?...for I knew that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm." Like Jonah, I am totally blown away by the generosity of God.  But unlike him, I am elated that God is a generous God.  Jonah forgot that he, like the Ninevites, was a benefactor of God's abundant mercy.   I am grateful for the things which Christ has done in my life and in the lives of thousands of others around the world as we reached out to proclaim His love, grace and mercy.    I am grateful for the hundreds of our partners that participated with us to make it a reality.  Here is...

 In 2005, I visited several villages in Tamil Nadu devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami to comfort the residents This January, in answer to a long time prayer, our SWIM ministry team has been invited by several churches in South India to conduct a Festival of Hope and pastoral/evangelism leadership conference touching several cities near Chennai, Tamil Nadu.  We have been working on preparations for the festival since early this fall.  With just one month to go before the outreach events, join me to pray that this effort will be fruitful beyond my expectations.  In 2005, my friend and fellow evangelist Nick Hall and I knelt on the expansive Marina beach in Chennai, India, in earnest prayer. “Lord, please make it possible for us to come back here and share your gospel with the people of India,” we prayed. We dreamed of the beach being filled by thousands of Indian people listening to the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Six years lat...

Sammy Wanyonyi speaks to several hundred students at Mankato State on November 4th Sachi- Student from Japan "When you first visited our campus I wasn't a believer. But I came out to hear you speak. It was really powerful and touching!  Soon after, I repented and gave my heart to Christ.  And yes, life is so much better!   Now, I am serving God and people to lift His name high here in Mankato! I am happy seeing more people getting saved and becoming bold here at MSU! God is moving!! I thank God so much for everything He is doing here. Thank you for coming to MSU." That was Sachi (right), a student at Minnesota State University, Mankato as she prepared to help with the follow-up process for other students who came to Christ this past week at our Flame Night sponsored by SWIM and co-hosted with various campus ministries.  Hip Hop Artist Flame gets the crowd excited Artist VRose gets the crowd excited Like several other students who c...

 Sammy Wanyonyi leads a crowd in repentence prayer They came from all walks of life, strutting across the gentle hills of Rubavu, to attend the SWIM Ministry Festival of Hope events that lasted for a week. These same hills, that not long ago hosted thousands fleeing for their lives from the genocide and ethnic gangs bent on revenge, became places of gatherings of hope, forgiveness and reconciliation.   Often, they withstood the elements, rain, wind, slippery hillsides, in order to listen to the Good News of Jesus Christ.  250 Women leaders attend the conference facilitated by SWIM team members Kimberly Wolf and Judy Chase.  Each night, our ministry team proclaimed the love of God to several thousands. Each time, hundreds of people responded to the invitation to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. By the closing of the festival on the 7th day, 11,980 people out of the 78,000 that attended the meetings, had prayed with us to receive Christ. I...

We thank God for a great start to the outreach here in Rubavu, Rwanda. 489 people prayed with us to receive Jesus Christ into their lives at the openning Festival events this evening. The audience of about 4000 was very patient and enthusiastic, responding well to my message at the openning rally.  See some pictures on our Facebook Page There is incredible unity among the churches of the city. They were all united in their morning services with each church preaching on the Festival theme. We give God the glory. Continue to pray for the remaining seven days of activities that thousands more will come to Christ as we take the festival to various neighborhoods around the city.  Pray that the hundreds of leaders attending the leadership conferences will be equipped transformationally to impact their communities for Christ.  You can support this effort financially by following the donate button on the right panel on this page.  We need your ...

More than 300 intercessors are spending the whole night in prayer together here in Rubavu ahead of tomorrow's festival kick-off.  They have been fasting and praying on site since Thursday.  I can't wait to see how God answers our prayer throughout this whole week of mission.  2 Chronicles 7:14 "And My people who are called by name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  That is a sure promise! One may preach and be unreal, but one cannot pray and remain unreal.  For the prayer that reaches heaven is one born from a heart's communion with the Holy Spirit.  True prayer arouses in the heart love, peace, joy, patience, wisdom, trust, sincerity, courage, and compassion- all that is divine.  To be forgiven is divine.  For humanity to be saved therefore it must be by prayer born out of communion with the Holy Spir...