Preview - Kafanchan

Our new season of evangelism 2008/2009 begins on 20 August with seven campaigns in Africa. As in the past few years, we are launching our campaigns before the end of the rainy season in West Africa.That is, as ever, a particular challenge but we have already experienced wonderfully dry meetings during the rainy season and others in the dry period when it never stopped raining! Whether it rains or the sun shines, the one thing that is truly important is for the gospel to be proclaimed.

Kafanchan, which is today an important regional centre, is the capital of the small administrative district of Jemaa in Kaduna State in northern Nigeria. It is a two-hour drive north of the Nigerian capital of Abuja – where we held an evangelistic campaign in February 2006 – and 1.5 hours to the west of the town of Jos – the site of a very blessed major evangelistic campaign in January 2005. Located on the important north-south route through Nigeria, it is a major railway hub.Over the years a lively town has grown up around the railway station in a densely populated region with over 800,000 inhabitants. Many people from other districts and several different tribes have found work here – with the railway, in trade or in agriculture.

Agriculture ist he main economic sector in the federal state of Kaduna, employing around 80% of the people.Yams, cotton, peanuts, tobacco, beans, millet, ginger, rice and manioc are cultivated. More than 180,000 tonnes of peanuts are harvested each year. The most important source of income is cotton and Kaduna is the leading producer in Nigeria.Cattle-breeding and mining are also important.

The coming season, which starts in Kafanchan and then moves on to six other Nigerian towns, will present some mighty challenges. Once again our lorries will face difficult conditions as they travel back and forth across Nigeria. Today it is just as urgent as ever for the gospel to be proclaimed in that African country, the most densely populated on the continent and home to almost one-quarter of the total population of Africa. A lot has already been achieved but vast numbers of people are still enslaved by occult practices, a mix of different religions,ancestor worship and witchcraft. The percentage of the population which is HIV-positive in the region around Kafanchan is said to be one of the highest in the world and is well above average even for Nigeria – some sources put it at over 40%.

The preparation phase in advance of the evangelistic campaigns, which involves the local Christian fellowships and churches, and the training of thousands of Christians to work as counsellors and helpers is a huge challenge for our team. However,this work has to be done to ensure that, at the end of the meetings, the completed decision cards really are distributed to the local churches and the people followed up. Our follow-up work, in which over many years we have worked hand in hand with the local Christians, has really proved its worth. Many church fellowships have grown – often by 200% to 300%. Our desire is for every new Christian to find a home in a living local church fellowship.

We just know that it is time to go to Kafanchan. The people need Jesus as their Saviour and a great many people need healing – the Christians need encouragement and vision and they need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

We are sure that God has great things in store for Kafanchan and we look forward to seeing him at work in wonderful ways. Please continue to pray for us. Intercession is as important for us as the air we breathe. Please join us in praying, in particular, for the peace of God to reign during the campaign.

We greatly appreciate your faithfulness and your support, including financial. It is what makes our ministry in Africa possible.

Your fellow worker in the harvest for the Kingdom of God.

Reinhard Bonnke, Evangelist

Arrival - Tuesday, 19 August 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

Today we arrived in Kafanchan, Kaduna-State , Nigeria to an overwhelming welcome. The streets were packed with people wherever we looked...their eyes shining, often with tears of joy, arms in the air, shouting “Welcome in the name of Jesus!” (See pictures taken by Oleksandr Volyk). The State-Governor welcomed us and so did his Royal Highness the king of Southern Kaduna-State. They assured us that crusade will be peaceful and secure. Police is teeming around us with sophisticated attack-weapons, guarding us day and night, but our trust is in the Lord.

We are interested in what God is interested: SOULS! And when we are interested in what God is interested, then God is interested in us. Thank you for your love, prayers and support. Please pray that we have a dry week with regard to the rainy season. Our eyes are on Jesus.

We love you and send our greetings to you with these few lines.

For a Blood-washed Africa.

Reinhard Bonnke and the CfaN-Team.

Day 1 - Wednesday, 20 August 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

It is the Rainy Season alright here in Kafanchan in Nigeria, but we had our first open-air-meeting today. Despite some rain 90,000 people gathered on that open field and were highly responsive and receptive. The altar-call was glorious. Jesus truly saved sinners in huge numbers. When the prayer for the sick to be healed followed, there was no end to most notable miracle-testimony. A seven year old girl, who was born blind, saw perfectly. Many blind received their sight, and the crowd was beside itself for joy. The Jesus who healed blind Bartimaeus so long ago is still doing the same wonders today. The whole area is under current. We are all of the same opinion: during this week there will be a huge bumper-crop for Jesus. Please keep praying for us.

Yours for a Blood-washed Africa

Reinhard Bonnke and the CfaN-Team.

Day 2 - Thursday, 21 August 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

Tonight’s attendance jumped to 160,000 people. What a picture! It appeared as if there were as many people behind the platform as in front. The skies held, it was a dry night, but the power of God flowed like a mighty river. Evangelist Daniel Kolenda preached and ministered to the sick tonight. The Lord truly blessed and honored His word with many conversions and glorious healings. Evangelism is the very essence of the Christian faith. We are not diluting the salvation Gospel and leave nobody in doubt that to come to Christ means to pass from death to life. 
This morning the Fire Conference began in the stadium. We are amazed at the deep hunger of the people of Southern Kaduna. Please continue to pray for all of us over here.

We love you and thank God for you.

Yours for a Blood-washed Africa

Reinhard Bonnke and the CfaN-Team.

Day 3 - Friday, 22 August 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

Today the crowd grew to 250,000 – it was awesome! The power of God shook the whole area. Salvation full and free, as well as most remarkable miracles! A young man crawling on all fours all his life, 20 full years, suddenly stood up straight! A deaf mute from birth heard and spoke for the first time in his life. A little girl born totally blind received her sight (see picture). A mad woman receiving a sound ming.... The crowd didn’t stop to rejoice!
The Fire Conference is in full swing and tomorrow the Fire will fall. We as team are “totally blessed” and thank the Lord for the unspeakable privilege to lead hundreds of thousands of souls into the arms of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
Please continue to pray for us. A big burden on my heart is to find the finance for the next 7 crusades, which are now to happen in rapid succession. May the Lord touch some hearts to help us to continue with this ministry. Please check the crowd-picture of tonight. It is fabulous!

Yours for a Blood-washed Africa

Reinhard Bonnke and the CfaN-Team.

Day 4 - Saturday, 23 August 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

This morning was the last morning of the Fire Conference. 20,000 registered delegates attended and partook in the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit that took place on the sports field.
Tonight rain began to pour 2 hours before the meeting began. Yet, more than 220,000 people walked to the muddy crusade field in spite of the downpour to hear the Gospel. I preached from Romans 6, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Multitudes received Christ and were born again.
Mighty miracles followed. One young man testified that he had come to the meeting two nights ago. During the prayer for the sick, HIV AIDS was mentioned and he fell to the ground under the power of God. That night he dreamt that Jesus came to him and told him that he was healed. He went to the doctor yesterday and was tested again.  The report came back...HIV Negative! (see the picture) He received a blood transfusion from Heaven. Praise the Lord! Eyes blind from birth were healed along with cripples and countless other miracles.

We are rejoicing and looking forward to one more night of meetings tomorrow when the Holy Spirit will and a mass baptism will take place.  Kafanchan will never be the same.

Together in the Harvest,

Evangelist Daniel Kolenda
Associate Evangelist to Reinhard Bonnke

Day 5 - Sunday, 24 August 2008

Dear Mission-Partners,

Today it rained almost the whole day incessantly, but when we arrived at the crusade-site 300,000 people had gathered to hear the Word of God. It was another glorious meeting: people received Jesus as their Savior with great eagerness. When we prayed for the Holy Spirit to fall, it was absolutely glorious. Little Kafanchan has been shaken to its foundation. Although Kaduna-State in Nigeria is majority Muslim, we did not have a single incident. The miracles of healing are too many to mention, but each one was and is a blessed original from Jesus. Have a look at the little girl. Her mother could not have children. Three years ago she attended our crusade in the city of Jos/Plateau State and little Mercy was born 9 months later. Yesterday my associate evangelist Daniel Kolenda preached and today was my turn. We together, young and old can extend the harvest of souls for many decades to come, if Jesus tarries. IT IS HARVEST TIME. Thank you for your love – and all the financial help to press on. The Lord will bless and reward you a hundred-fold.

Yours for a Blood-washed Africa

Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke
and the whole CfaN Team.

The Holy Spirit’s Agenda

Kafanchan, Nigeria is not a place featured on many travel agendas and like most people, you have probably never heard of it before. But despite this fact, the relatively small town sheltered by the green and fertile hills of the southern region of Kaduna State was very much on the agenda of the Holy Spirit during the week of Christ for all Nations’ August crusade. Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke, Daniel Kolenda, and the CfaN team arrived to an amazing and tumultuous welcome from the local inhabitants. The thousands of excited and cheering people that lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the visitors signaled the start of what was to be an amazing week.

Rainy Season Harvest
No less than twelve regional tribal kings led by the paramount ruler, His Royal Highness Dr. Gomna Awan, gathered to welcome the visitors and expressed the theme of great expectations; that theme was echoed that evening by local and regional pastors who hosted a welcome dinner for the team. All was set for the Great Gospel Campaign except for one nagging problem, and that was the fact that rain had been falling heavily everyday for weeks on end and the weather forecast promised no hope of any respite for the days ahead. The abundance of rich green undergrowth and large pools of standing water everywhere bore silent and ominous witness to this fact.

Everyone was praying for dry weather so that the crusade could take place and the CfaN technical team told stories of incredible difficulties in getting the big trucks loaded with crusade equipment into place, on what had become a soft and muddy field more suited to farming than to holding a big public meeting.

On the day that the campaign was to start, the arrival of the first miracle slowly became apparent as the regular daily morning rain showers failed to materialize for the first time in weeks and the town was buzzing with the awareness that something was changing. By the afternoon, tens of thousands were streaming to the crusade site in dry weather and ever-increasing sunlight. And this was not the only change or miracle to take place that day, because as Reinhard Bonnke preached a clear and direct gospel message in the evening meeting, thousands responded to the call of salvation and hundreds more experienced the healing power of the Lord.

Miracle after Miracle
This ongoing miracle of clear weather continued with patchy showers falling throughout the week but never during the many crusade or Fire Conference meetings. Evangelist Daniel Kolenda took his turn in two crusade meetings, preaching captivating and effective messages, each of which resulted in tens of thousands responding positively to the salvation call. After both messages, he too prayed for the sick, and hundreds pushed forward each time to testify to the many wonderful healings that had taken place. (See side bar for healing testimonies.)
As with all CfaN campaigns, this one also included a Fire Conference during the day for thousands of pastors and church workers; each morning 20,000 delegates gathered on an open soccer field to listen to the inspiring and challenging messages delivered by Reinhard Bonnke and the team.

The Fire Conference ended on Saturday at noon with all 20,000 delegates standing to receive a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will echo on throughout the churches of the region for decades. Every delegate left the venue carrying in his or her hands a free copy of Reinhard Bonnke’s book Evangelism by Fire and carrying in their hearts the fire of the Holy Spirit.

The week of soul-winning at the great crusade field came to a spectacular conclusion in the final meeting on Sunday evening as over three hundred thousand people gathered despite hours of persistent rain falling for most of the day prior to the start of the meeting. As Reinhard Bonnke preached the gospel, the crowd hung on every word and right after that message, thousands of personal counselors were hard at work attending to the tens of thousands who responded positively to the call of salvation

Thunderous Praise
Right after the salvation message, he prayed for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and literally hundreds of thousands raised their voices in thunderous praise as they received the wonderful gift of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The overriding sentiment among everyone by the end was that the crusade in Kafanchan had been a succession of miracles of every description that had shaken the whole region in an unprecedented display of the wonder working-working, soul-saving power of God.

Report by Peter van den Berg

Dear Mission-Partners,

There was nearly no end to the notable miracle testimonies at the Kafanchan Campaign. A 7-year-old girl, who was born blind, saw perfectly. A young man crawling on all fours his entire life, suddenly stood up straight! A deaf-mute from birth heard and spoke for the first time. A mad woman received a sound mind … The crowd didn’t stop rejoicing!
 
One young man testified that he had come to the meeting two nights prior. During the prayer for the sick, HIV AIDS was mentioned and he fell to the ground under the power of God. That night, he dreamt that Jesus came to him and told him that he was healed. He went to the doctor yesterday and was tested again. The report came back … HIV negative! He received a blood transfusion from Heaven.

Unspeakable Privilege
The greatest miracle however is the countless hundreds of thousands of lives that we see make a decision for Christ through these Gospel meetings.
Indeed, we are interested in what God is interested: SOULS! And when we are interested in what God is interested in, then God is interested in us. Thank you for your ongoing and faithful love, prayers and support.

We as team are “totally blessed” and thank the Lord for the unspeakable privilege of leading hundreds of thousands of souls into the arms of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Kafanchan will never be the same.

Yours in his Love and Service,

Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke