Together to build the kingdom of God

Awka is the capital of the Nigerian federal state of Anambra, which was only formed in 1991. However, it has been a cultural centre for many centuries. This was where the earliest bronze objects in black Africa were made – as long ago as in 900 AD. The town has a large university with 25,000 students. Agriculture is the most important economic sector in the region. There is oil in the vicinity of the Anambra River , and thestate-owned oil company Orient Petroleum Resources is planning to drill for it. The vast Niger River connects the country with the large ports on the Atlantic coast.

Preparations for the campaign in Awka are well under way. The local Christians have already been mobilised. They are following a ten-part course to train to be counsellors and are serving in prayer and intercession as well as in the many different tasks involved in organising the campaign during the preparation phase. Radio and television spots are broadcast by the local stations to draw people’s attention to this major event. Hundreds of pastors and spiritual leaders have joined forces to go with us into the harvest field.

CfaN’s Regional Director in West Africa , the Reverend John Darku is organising and coordinating the work with the local church fellowships. This is indeed a delicate task as in most towns people have never experienced interdenominational cooperation by the various church fellowships. John Darku says,

“We tell the pastors and church workers from the selected towns and regions how important it is to meet and work together. We talk about follow-up work in the churches and tell them that Reinhard Bonnke is not coming to set up his own church but to serve the whole body of Christ. We make it clear that at the end of the campaign the new Christian will be distributed equally among the church fellowships. It is not infrequent for the number of church members to double or triple after a crusade. We are there to work with the African Christians – not as people who can do everything better. We are not there to impose our ideas on them but to work with them hand in hand to bring the lost sheep into the kingdom of God .”

Arrival - Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

Today we arrived in Awka,Anambra-State/Nigeria. We first had a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Anambra State, HE Mr. Peter Obi. This was followed by a similar visit with the Traditional Ruler, His Royal Highness Obi Gibson Nwosu. Both welcomed us with open arms and both will be present at the crusade-opening. We also had a mighty welcome along the streets of the old city – there is great excitement in the whole area.
We are totally committed to the Great Commission. What is an evangelist? An evangelist does not a play a one-string fiddle, with a repertoire of one or two simple ideas drawn from a bag of half a dozen sermons.My own role model is Paul, the greatest proclaimer of the gospel that ever lived. He could tell the elders of Ephesus in utter confidence that he had delivered to them “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). An evangelist should be able to present the whole picture, not just choice snapshots. His mind should be overflowing with the riches of the Word of God. And that is exactly how we feel: filled with the Holy Spirit and sent by God!    

Thank you for your love and support for us to continue with the ministry of preaching the Gospel to the poor.

Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke and the whole CfaN Team

Day 1 - Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

We had a great start today, as you can see on the picture. Governor Peter Obi opened the crusade and I was immediately busy with the message of salvation. The hunger for God is very intense and the Word of God fell on excellent ground. Then healing-miracles began to take place – cripples walked and the blind saw. The crowd was ecstatic with joy, and we rejoice with them. It was a glorious start and we will see what happens to morrow. 

Whatever people think or say, we preach Christ! Our job is not polemical, to answer intellect with intellect. Human affairs are not settled in the head. The Bible tells us that out of the heart “spring the issues of life” (Prov 4:23). Our message is to the heart. People’s hearts are hurting, anxious, doubting, weighed down with guilt, in need of strength, hope and certainty. Paul knew the gospel was designed for every type of person, even if they were all as vastly different as Jew, Greek, Barbarian and Roman. Rome was a foreign world to Judea; its outlook, its religion and everything else alien was alien to it. Yet it was in that context that Paul wrote these famous words:  “I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation” (Rom 1:15-16).
The gospel completely conquered Greece and Rome and every other place in the Roman Empire, not by the sword but by its own inherent power. The gospel holds the secret of its own success. All we have to do AND CONTINUE TO DO is preach it.

Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke and the whole CfaN Team

Day 2 - Thursday, 6 March 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

Today the crowd more than doubled. What a meeting and what deliverance! The precious blood of Jesus was efficacious
and powerful. What a flood of salvation! And then the miracles: Have a look at the picture of the man who got healed. He is a police-officer who was crippled, dumb and blind. In one moment Jesus gave him the whole healing-package – from top to toe! A twelve year old girl who had never ever walked was brought by her mother and the girl demonstrated her total ability to walk, etc. The city of Awka is shaken by the power of God. This is Gospel-Power pure!
There is a feeling that the gospelmust be radically re-interpreted and shaped to the times, bowing to the superior wisdom of the world. They imply that the gospel of the apostles was apparently not made for our age. But this is ridiculous.  The sun is pretty old yet I prefer it to electric light. It is certainly not dependent on anything thought up by clever people. The gospel is the truth, not just first century theological theory. If ever the gospel was radical, it is now. It contrasts so strongly with everything else; it is truly a light in the dark. I consider its message ideal for today. We can show the promise, the power and the reality of the gospel as compared to the feeble speculations of our uncertain world. To preach the Word is the most glorious challenge!

Please pray for tomorrow. We are rejoicing!

Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke and the whole CfaN-Team.

Day 3 - Friday, 7 March 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

Although tonight’s meeting was totally rained out, the people refused to leave (please see the pictures). The tropical downpour just didn’t want to break off and I gave a short message, made an altar-call and also prayed for the sick. Torrents of water rushed from the hilly crusade-field, but the people stood their ground singing and rejoicing. New converts had brought loads of witchcraft items which we burned with plenty of petrol. It was a mighty signal to the visible and invisible world that Jesus Christ reigns even in the rain.

We are neither discouraged nor deterred. Tomorrow we will be dry again and back on the field. We will never give up seeking the lost! The effort is more than worth the while. Evangelism is nothing less than the Holy Spirit channeled through human lives to embrace the lost world. It is the Father running to meet the scruffy and hungry prodigal. It is the shepherd searching the wild hills for one stray sheep. It is the woman desperately sweeping to find her lost coin. It is Jesus in us tirelessly welcoming the unwanted.

Tomorrow morning is the climax of the Fire Conference and then in the evening the great Gospel Crusade meeting. Please continue to pray for us.

Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke and the whole CfaN-Team.

Day 4 - Saturday, 8 March 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

No rain fell today, but instead the Fire of God. 18,000 church-workers gathered at the Fire Conference and were filled with the Holy Spirit. It was a truly mighty move of God which will be felt for decades. God does not call the half-hearted to action. He gives up on those who give up and lets quitters quit. We are not looking for excuses but for action in the name of Jesus. The fire of the Holy Spirit is the best equipment possible.

Have a look at the crusade-picture from tonight. A wave of salvation flooded that big field and then God’s power fell. A mother brought her two mentally deranged twin-daughters - who were in chains - and both were totally set free. It was heart-moving and many people wept. Jesus sets the captives free – that sums it all up. “Here are tons or miracles” said my assistant Scott to me through my ear-monitors. Yes indeed, they were innumerable.

Tomorrow is Sunday and we will have our big climax crusade-meeting. Thank you for helping us to do this work. We love you and thank God for you.

Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke and the whole CfaN-Team.

Day 5 - Sunday, 9 March 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

Hundreds of thousands of people crowded into the crusade-field. It was another mighty and glorious harvest of souls. The miracles of healing were most notable. A twelve year old boy who was born totally blind, could see. His aunt had brought him and was beside herself with joy – and we of course as well. My team and I are overwhelmed that the Lord has honored us with such rich eternal harvests, together with you. Thank you for all your prayers, all your support and love. Have a look at the picture from tonight and I am sure you will feel something of the awesome blessings spill over to you.

Yours in His love and service,

Reinhard Bonnke and the whole CfaN-Team.