I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support of our ministry. Without the financial and spiritual partnership of people like you, what we do would be impossible. This month begins one of the busiest stretches in our ministry’s history and we need your help in order to accomplish all that the Lord has in store. I want to highlight what we are getting ready to do so that you may pray for us and give as you feel led to do so. We believe in the power of prayer and we are asking for you to join with us in prayer for the upcoming months. Let me tell you about what is in store!
In July 2013 our ministry partnered with many other ministries for an historic event in the nation of Honduras: 1 Nation 1 Day. We took a team of 25 to the island state of Roatan, while other ministries simultaneously did the same in each of Honduras’ other states. The entire week culminated with crusades in each of the states’ capital cities where hundreds of thousands received Christ. What is so encouraging is the sustainability of what occurred. A year later violence had decreased by 40%, school attendance was at an all-time high, the largest gang in that nation disbanded and for the first time in decades, the country had a peaceful election.
We have had the privilege of traveling to many incredible continents, countries and cities over our 15 years of ministry. Many are surprised that we have ministered in so many different places, many of them very dangerous places, and one of the more common questions that we get asked is, “How do you decide where to go? Why do you choose to go to the places that you do?” This is a great question, and I want to answer it today. There are a number of factors that go into our decision of where to minister, but one of the primary reasons is because of the prayers of the people to whom we are ministering. We truly believe that when we go to minister, we become an answered prayer to the people in that place. Let me explain.
I have some great news for you—Our Crusade in Ethiopia last month was sensational—Praise Jesus! Thanks so much for praying and giving so that we could go. It was probably the most obvious week of spiritual warfare I have ever been a part of. Let me tell you all about it…
I recently had the great honor and opportunity to travel to Cambodia and hold a 3-night Evangelistic Crusade, as well as a Leader’s Conference. By the end of our time in Cambodia, we had witnessed many local pastors ministered to and encouraged to lead their churches with new Holy Spirit empowerment, as well as a great number of people saved and healed. It truly was an experience that I will never forget, as it was my very first trip preaching at all the Crusade and Conference meetings. I learned so much about what it means to follow Jesus, as well as about the ministry that each and every one of us is called to do while we live on the earth.
For over 15 years now we have been bringing the message of the Gospel to some of the most unreached areas of the world. Some of you have been partners with us from the beginning, while others are only more recently part of our ministry. Whether you are new or old, we want you to know that we so greatly appreciate your support and partnership that is making a difference around the world.
Thank you so much for praying for our recent Revival in 2 remote cities in southern Egypt! Jesus used your prayers mightily to impact many lives for the Kingdom. I preached 11 services in 6 days. One night was a Teen Revival. Another day was a Children’s Revival. And every day and night, the churches were packed with hungry believers in that Muslim nation, eager for a touch from Jesus Christ—the one true God!
Recently Joshua and I had the pleasure of spending a week in El Salvador with some of the most friendly, accommodating, loving people I had ever met. In a week the two of us preached over 30 times to people of all ages and saw the Lord do incredible things!
“He’s completely healed!” “What?” I responded. “Are you serious?” “Yes,” they replied, “The doctors are amazed. God has done a miracle!” For the third year in a row I have had the privilege of traveling to Reynosa, Mexico and ministering with an incredible Church down there. Last year when I was there ministering I met the Reyna family.
As I look back on this past year, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. In 2015 we have had the privilege of traveling among the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In February we held a crusade among the Buddhist people in Cambodia. In March we had a Crusade in the middle of the Amazon in Peru. In April we ministered to the Muslim people in Egypt. In July we took a team of 38 to the Dominican Republic and helped bring transformation to the entire nation. In August we traveled to the island of Madagascar for a groundbreaking crusade. In September, we returned to Egypt. In October we did nationwide ministry in the Central American countries of Cuba and El Salvador. As I recap the year, I am blown away by the grace of God in our lives and how He is using us to reach the nations of the world with the Gospel.
Have I got some stories for you! Last month, I preached Revivals in 2 different cities in Cuba. From the start, we knew it was going to be an amazing week—a week of divine appointments! We were the last to leave the airport when we arrived in Cuba. When we saw our friends outside, I did what I typically do—I yelled “Hallelujah” loudly! That’s when the fun began. A lady came up to me and said, “Are you a Christian?” Enthusiastically, I said, “Yes,” and she said, “Well, I have something for you!” She had smuggled Bibles into Cuba, and gave them to us to give away that week! Here’s who we gave them to…
I’ve got good news for you, friends: Muslim North Africa is hungry for Jesus! I just got back from preaching a revival there, and it was powerful. Every night, the church was packed with hundreds of precious people. I preached strongly against sin and for repentance through the blood of Jesus. Many repented of their sins each night. One Muslim woman had a demon cast out of her and the blood of Jesus healed many people. It was a dynamic breakthrough for the power of the Holy Spirit, in a city that had never hosted a revival like this before.
There are few places in the world that are farther from North America than Madagascar. On arriving, we were certainly ready for a good sleep. Pastor Jules’ son, Tank, picked us up from the airport around 1:00 AM, and, while we were driving to his home, he explained I would be picked up at 5:00 AM that morning. I was scheduled to preach in a city a few hours from Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, and would head there early in the morning. It’s probably obvious to you that I did not get my full eight hours… So, with the sun still yet to rise, I stepped into a small car and met the beautiful young family that would drive me.
In 2013, we, alongside dozens of other ministries, invaded the nation of Honduras as a part of 1Nation1Day with one common goal: to see national transformation take place. Working with the highest government officials, the key business leaders, and virtually all pastors in the nation, we were able to see God work in miraculous ways. Since that trip two years ago, violence in the nation dropped nearly 40%, the largest gang in the nation was disbanded, school attendance is at an all time high as they are teaching biblical values in their curriculum, and the church is stronger than ever.
I have just returned from the Dominican Republic, a place full of poverty, an uneducated population, witchcraft, idolatry and many other wicked things. When we arrived in San Juan our team was full of excitement and anticipation for what God was going to do in this city. Sleep deprived and hungry we started off the day practicing dramas and skits, so we could use them to make an impact in the villages in which we would enter. I had used dramas before, but little did I know the impact that they would have on this community of people. In fact, the very first night we were practicing, a man named Brian, from the local TV station, gave his life to Jesus just watching us practice! Praise the Lord, we were off to a great start!
I have great news for you, Ministry friends and partners: Jesus is on the move in North Africa! Because of security reasons, I can’t tell you the exact location I preached last month, but I can tell you this: It is a nation where Believers live with the daily reality of potential persecution—even death—at the hands of ISIS and other militant followers of the false religion of Islam. In spite of this, I preached a great Revival there last month, where many were saved and healed by Jesus...
Deep in the heart of Peru, surrounded by cloud-capped mountains lies the city of Tarapoto. This is truly one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited, but far more beautiful than the mountains and the waterfalls and the jungle found in this country, are the people of Tarapoto. After spending a week with the Peruvian people, my heart has been captured and I am thankful for the week of ministry done amongst these people...
You do not have to go to faraway countries to see God move in powerful ways. This past week Luke and I spent the week in El Paso, TX for a week of spiritual renewal at a Christian school. We spent time teaching in classrooms and preaching in the school wide meetings. I want to tell you about one of the meetings we had...
The past few months have been some of the most enjoyable (and busy) months of my life. Michelle and I purchased our first home. I started teaching at one of my alma mater’s, Victory Bible College. But most enjoyable of all was the opportunity to preach the Gospel all over the world. From July to November I traveled to the United States, Canada, South Africa, Madagascar, Egypt, El Salvador and Mexico preaching at crusades, churches, leadership conferences, school conferences, youth camps, Bible colleges, parent meetings, teacher meetings and more. It has been such a fun and rewarding season to see how the Lord is working all over the world. I have updated you on most of these trips but I wanted to share about one that I haven’t yet talked about...
I recently returned from the country of Cambodia with my dad, and this trip was such an incredible way to start off the New Year. For as long as I could remember, my dad has been doing ministry overseas in distant, foreign countries, ministering to lost and unreached people groups. When I turned 13 I finally got the chance to experience this myself. We crossed the ocean and arrived in the country of Pakistan. It was a wild adventure, and it has been from then until now, and I wouldn’t exchange this life for any other life...
