Day 1 - Wednesday, 21 March 2007

Dear Mission-Partners,

Our arrival in Aba yesterday was wonderful. The Governor of Abia State received us with great honor and so did also the traditional ruler, “His Imperial Majesty” Eze Dr. I.A. Ikonne in his palace. The Gospel Crusade could now begin – and so it did. I preached my heart out to those present and we experienced an true maximum altar-call. 
Then the miracles happened. That dear lady, who had suffered a stroke ten years ago and was now able to perfectly. She demonstrated it again and again and the crowd was roaring with joy and praise to God. Miracle after miracle happened and I am sure we had a good start against all odds.
 
Next month is the presidential election in Nigeria and the nation is already in election fever, as one can imagine. Yet we knew we should not stand back, but bring in another harvest of precious souls for Jesus.
 
Please pray for tomorrow and the whole week.    
Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke, with the CfaN-Team.

Day 2 - Thursday, 22 March 2007

Dear Mission-Partners,

What an anointing! The power of the Gospel almost exploded in this meeting. We saw a dramatic increase in attendance. The news is spreading everywhere. We experience heaven’s joy right here in Aba, Nigeria!
 
The miracles were numerous and notable. Very severe cases of Arthritis were totally healed. A father brought his little daughter who, since birth, was never able to lift her right arm – and there she did it! The crowd burst into jubilation. A 6 year old boy, deaf and dumb from birth, was brought by his uncle and suddenly could hear and speak. And that is how the miracles continued. We are rejoicing. Jesus is wonderful. Thank you for your prayers. We watch great Holy Spirit dynamics and believe for a glorious weekend here in Aba.
 
Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke, with the CfaN-Team.

Day 3 - Friday, 23 March 2007

Dear Mission-Partners,

Today I preached on restitution, a very important theme here in Africa (and everywhere else). The response was unbelievable. The people truly repented and are ready to clean up their old lives, as well as asking the folks they have wronged for forgiveness. I am sure that there is great joy in heaven. Let us pray that these dear respondents may follow through with the help of God.

Then the prayer for the sick followed and many wonderful healings were reported. Fibroids and Hernias disappeared momentarily, just as pains and immobility. We thank the Lord for being the same today as in Bible days. Please pray for this weekend. We love and appreciate you.

Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke, with the CfaN-Team.

Day 4 - Saturday, 24 March 2007

Dear Mission-Partners,

Today the Fire Conference had its climax in the stadium. God’s fire truly fell upon thousands and thousands. I felt that the Lord had done a really deep thing in many hearts.

Tonight’s meeting was wonderful again – a mass-exodus from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light! Jesus saved, healed and delivered! The fire of God also fell on that huge field. To me it looked to me like an ocean of humanity. (See attached picture.) What a privilege and what an honor to do this work. Thank you for your wonderful help in prayer and finances. It enables us to get the lost saved wholesale and also God’s people motivated and equipped to be soul-winners.

Tomorrow is the final day and we expect the biggest crowd. I will then send you my final report from here in Aba in Nigeria.

Reinhard Bonnke, with the CfaN-Team.

Day 5 - Sunday, 25 March 2007

Dear Mission-Partners,

Tonight a crowd of double the previous night assembled for the final meeting but just minutes after Reinhard Bonnke arrived on the platform a mighty storm, which can only be described as a ‘super cell’, exploded in unparalleled fury above us and in a matter of minutes the huge rain drops falling out of the night sky turned into a deluge of water, wind, thunder and lightning. The great crowd stood their ground refusing to leave but as the thunder and lightning crashed overhead the huge sound system could barely be heard as Reinhard Bonnke could only pray a final prayer of blessing before close the meeting.
 
People knelt in the mud and rising water to receive this blessing and then moved slowly away in the blowing wind and rain as the platform party were practically blown off the stage. Despite this unwanted end, the harvest has been brought in over the past week and a multitude has been added to the kingdom of God.

Thank you to all of you who pray for us in good weather and bad and the gospel will be preached we press forward to the goal set before us in Jesus name.

Peter van den Berg, with the CfaN-Team.

Outpouring in Aba

The evangelist’s closing prayer for the nation echoed across the gathered crowd, through the driving rain. A mighty response of ‘Amen!’ filled the air just in time to avoid being drowned out by the crash of thunder as a bolt of lightning hit one of the crusade sound towers. It was an explosive start to the West African rainy season on this, the final night of CfaN’s Gospel Crusade season in the region. For many however, the week of meetings marked the start of a new life. For thousands whose hands had been raised in a simple gesture at one of the week’s altar calls, it was the beginning of a transformed lifestyle … a turn from darkness into God’s marvelous light, the beginning of a new life in Jesus. Night after night, the Gospel message had slammed home … power from on high to change even the darkest life into one of fulfillment and purpose.

Countdown to Election Day
Aba, the so-called ‘Japan of Nigeria,’ the country’s industrial heartland, rejoiced at the presence of the evangelist in their city. It was in the run up to the elections, a time when most people were preoccupied with all of the political wrangling that would usher in a new leader for this, one of Africa’s most populated countries. Yet it was also a time for much needed prayer for their nation, a country that over the years has gone through cycles of peace and turmoil, prosperity and bloodshed, a country that has huge influence and packs great economic and regional power.

For several years, Bonnke and the CfaN team have worked in Nigeria, a fact recognized by the State Governor as they were welcomed to Abia State just weeks prior to the nation’s first civilian-to-civilian handover. It was a crucial time for the nation, an important consideration when the CfaN team had, months before, planned its Gospel Crusades for the season, coordinating and pressing home each one prior to this upcoming time of political change.  

In 8 months of meetings in West Africa, literally millions have made decisions for Christ. In churches across the region, new converts are being followedup and new believer meetings are being organized.

The churches have been inspired to Holy Spirit evangelism in a wave of Gospel Crusades and Fire Conferences that have touched countless lives, knitting together churches in unparalleled unity. 
 
Heaven Rains Down
A great multitude had gathered on that final night of the Aba Gospel Crusade. Levels of enthusiasm and anticipation were high after the climax of Saturday’s Fire Conference and ‘Holy Spirit night.’  Looking down from the ‘genie’ (a self-elevating observation tower), I estimated that the numbers had at least doubled from the previous night, and although no final count was possible, it was evident that in excess of 200,000 had gathered across that huge expanse. Areas that were once empty at the far ends of the grounds had rapidly filled with people, hungry for the Word of God.  Before a full Gospel message could be preached however, a huge ‘supercell’ unleashed its full fury directly overhead in a powerful electrical storm that shook the city. In the closing minutes, Pastor Bonnke prayed for the sick, the unemployed, and for the nation. Although deeply saddened that he had been unable to complete the meeting, he was satisfied that it had been a most fruitful campaign!        
 
Powerful Conclusion to the 2006-2007 Crusade Season
It had been a great week of powerful gatherings – crusade meetings each evening from Wednesday through Sunday and morning Fire Conference meetings for church workers, Thursday through Saturday.The Gospel message had been proclaimed, and signs and wonders followed. Each night, a steady stream of those claiming and demonstrating their healing came forward to give testimony of what Jesus had done in their lives. Every evening, the army of counselors (each one of them having gone through a training course in the preceding weeks to teach them to become effective soul-winners), followed-up the many new believers who signaled their decision to receive Jesus into their lives. Praying for them, sharing with them, filling in the decision card at the back of their Now that You are Saved booklets, and connecting them to a local church. At the conclusion of the Fire Conference on the Saturday morning, all in attendance received the Holy Spirit… the power behind the Gospel! 

As the crusade sound system finally fell silent, hastily switched off to avoid the possibility of electric shock from now submerged cables as was all the other electrical equipment to minimize the risk of lightning damage, a new sound filled the air. It was the sound of countless thousands of people praising God. Hands raised and hearts open, they continued to praise their wonderful Jesus despite the lashing, torrential rain. This week they had experienced a mighty outpouring from heaven, physically upon their parched lands and spiritually upon their once dry lives. Many stood or kneeled in mud or in inches of rain. Lightning had struck four times within close proximity, striking the sound towers three times, yet nobody had been hurt. The torrential rain brought the final Gospel meeting to a rapid close, but the people’s hearts were filled with an unstoppable thanksgiving, and they continued to praise their Lord for all that He had done in this week of glorious meetings.

Report by Rob Birkbeck

Dear Mission-Partners,

What an anointing!  The power of the Gospel exploded in our meetings in Aba! We witnessed a mass-exodus from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light. Jesus saved, healed, and delivered! What a privilege and what an honor to do this work.

Kingdom Come
Huge crowds of people attended the crusade, and thousands upon thousands gave their hearts to Jesus Christ. Though the nation was in campaign fever with the presidential election forthcoming, we did not stand back, but pressed forward to bring in another harvest of precious souls for Jesus.

In addition to the greatest miracle of all – salvation – the healing miracles were numerous and notable. Very severe cases of arthritis were totally healed. A 6-year-old boy, deaf and dumb from birth, was brought by his uncle and suddenly could hear and speak.  We rejoiced along with the family and entire crowd. Jesus is wonderful!

Outpouring in Aba           
Because of torrential rain, we could not finish our final meeting. The people stood their ground refusing to leave, and continued to pray and praise despite the deluge. As the thunder and lighting crashed overhead, the huge sound system could barely be heard, and I could only pray a final prayer of blessing before regretfully having to close the meeting. Despite the downpour, we truly experienced heaven’s joy in Aba, Nigeria!  Thanks to your prayers and contributions, such things are possible. Please continue to pray for us and invite someone to join with you!

Stand with us and believe with us for great things and a multiplied harvest of precious souls as we prepare for the upcoming 2007/2008 Crusade Season in Africa and India! Thank you for your prayers and timely help. The Lord will richly reward you!

Yours in His Love and Service,

Reinhard Bonnke, Evangelist