Arrival in Sapele, Nigeria

Tuesday, 8 December 2009

We have finally arrived in Sapele, Nigeria and we are all poised and ready for a mighty harvest of souls this week in the campaign that starts tomorrow night. 
 
This morning we arrived in town and were heartily welcomed by the townspeople (see the attached picture of a little princess who came out to meet me with flowers).  There is an atmosphere of eager expectation here and sense that this campaign has been Divinely appointed for this time.  Tonight at the pastors banquet, the campaign chairman said, "You are coming at a very strategic period in the history of Sapele, a time when everybody is hoping that God will divinely intervene in the affairs of this town.” 

He went on to say that the body of Christ in Sapele has already begun to benefit "in no small way" from our coming because it has "brought us together in a holy body of Christian unity like never before.  Denominational barriers have suddenly crumbled and believers as well as ministers are becoming more united." Praise the Lord!

Please keep us in your prayers throughout the week.  We are believing for salvation, healing, deliverance and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that will be historical and unprecedented in this region. As always, we will keep you updated each night so stay tuned...

Yours in the Gospel,

Evangelist Daniel Kolenda,
Together with the whole CfaN Team.

Let There be Light

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

We have just returned from the first meeting of this Great Gospel Campaign here in Sapele, Nigeria where the atmosphere was absolutely electric!  75,000 people attended tonight's opening meeting and brought with them an eager expectancy and hunger that was truly remarkable.  As I preached, it felt as though the people were drawing on the anointing through their faith.  I knew right away that mighty miracles would happen tonight and sure enough, after the prayer for salvation Jesus began to heal the sick.  Here are a few of the testimonies we heard:

• A man deaf in one ear for over 20 years received perfect hearing
• A man blind in one eye for 3 years said that he suddenly could see after the prayer
• A woman said that a tumor which she had for more than 10 years, fell of during the prayer
• Also, see the attached picture of a young man healed from Asthma.

Tomorrow, the Fire Conference begins first thing in the morning.  Rev. Peter van den Berg and I will minister to the local pastors and church leaders.  

In creation, God declared, “Let there be light” and the infinite void was illuminated.  Today God has put his creative and powerful word into our mouths and as we preach it, light is shed abroad in even the darkest of hearts.  Life and death are in the power of the tongue.  We are here in Sapele as His mouthpiece to speak life to this land and to shatter the darkness with the supreme radiance of the Gospel.  “Sapele…let there be light In Jesus name!”

Yours in the Gospel,

Evangelist Daniel Kolenda,
Together with the whole CfaN Team.

It was an emancipation proclamation

Thrusday, 10 December 2009

The Gospel is not Good News for everyone.  To the principalities and powers that have held Sapele in bondage for generations, the Gospel is a declaration that their demonic kingdom has come to an end.  The keys of death, hell and the grave have been confiscated and Jesus Christ is Lord of all!  

Tonight I preached about the power in the blood of Jesus to save, to cleanse, to heal and to protect.  After the prayer for salvation, I called out the names of the local curses one by one and broke their power over Sapele in the name of Jesus! It was an emancipation proclamation and it seemed as if every one of the more than 100,000 people in attendance received it with dancing and rejoicing as though their day of Jubilee had finally come. 

One of the attached pictures is of a woman whose tumor instantly disappeared tonight.

The other picture is of a man who told us the incredible testimony of his healing.  He had been insane for the last seven years.  Also, he was partially blind and paralyzed.  Because of all his problems his wife had left him.  But last night he was totally healed.  His right mind returned to him as well as full use of his body and eyes.  And the greatest part of all is that his wife had heard about his dramatic healing and SHE CAME BACK TO HIM.  He told us that she was there in the crowd waiting for him.  The crowd went wild as he danced for joy.  His mother stood at his side and confirmed this incredible story.  

What an incredible night!  We are truly rejoicing and praising the Lord!  More to come tomorrow…

Yours in the Gospel,

Evangelist Daniel Kolenda,
Together with the whole CfaN Team.

Momentum is Building

Friday, 11 December 2009

Momentum is building here in Sapele meeting by meeting on every front.  Word is spreading through Delta state that Jesus is here, mighty things are happening and the people are running.  Tonight the crowd increased to 135,000 and the response level was absolutely amazing!  I feel as though I am preaching to dry sponges that soak up every word and savor it with joy.  What a privilege to preach to such people!

Tonight we brought out the big metal barrels and burned witchcraft stuff.  This is an area steeped in idolatry, but tonight, the people made a powerful statement best put by the words of the song they sang, “I will never worship a man-made god.”  We all rejoiced as “the devils property” went up in a tower of flames.

Here are a few of the miracle testimonies we heard:

• A man deaf in his left ear began to hear tonight
• Woman was healed from a fibroid she had carried for 17 years
• A woman unable to lift her arm for 10 years suddenly felt the power of God come on her body and demonstrated that she now has full use of her arm.

Tomorrow is the conclusion of the Fire Conference when we will pray for every one of the thousands of delegates to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  Please pray for a mighty outpouring that will shake Sapele to its core.

Yours in the Gospel,

Evangelist Daniel Kolenda,
Together with the whole CfaN Team.

Living in the Book of Acts!

Saturday, 12 December 2009

Today was the conclusion of the Sapele Fire Conference.  When we arrived at the venue, early this morning, we were amazed to see that the crowd had literally doubled in size!  The people had come to receive.  Rev. Peter van den Burg preached a poignant message about “Final Steps to Receiving the Power of God” and then I followed with a short teaching.  When we prayed, heaven came down.  Many thousands were touched.  It was glorious!

Tonight, after the prayer for salvation, we also prayed for a mass baptism in the Holy Spirit over that huge crowd.  As Evangelist Bonnke sometimes says, “On the day of Pentecost the crowd watched as the disciples were baptized in the Holy Spirit.  Today, we watch as the crowd is baptized in the Holy Spirit”. This is truly that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel.

Last night I told the people that were not healed in the meeting that some of them would wake up tomorrow morning to find that Jesus had healed them.  One woman who had been crippled by a stroke and rheumatism said that Jesus appeared to her in a dream at 2:00 this morning and healed her legs.  She threw the crutches away and demonstrated her healing to the delight of the crowd. 

I also received a word of knowledge last night about someone who had been wounded by a gunshot and had not been able to recover from it for years.  Tonight that woman gave her testimony.  Shot in the leg four years ago, she had been partially crippled since.  Tonight she and I danced together on the platform…she is healed!

We heard other wonderful testimonies as well including a woman deaf in one ear for nine years that was totally healed.  One thing is sure; Jesus is alive and well in Sapele, Nigeria!

Salvation, repentance, healing, deliverance and Holy Spirit baptism - all in one night!!  It is as though we are living in the Book of Acts!

Yours in the Gospel,

Evangelist Daniel Kolenda,
Together with the whole CfaN Team.

A 3-year old boy raised from the Dead!

Sunday, 13 December 2009

Last night after the service, a woman stopped me as we were getting in the car to leave.  In her arms she held her dead 3-year-old son.  I held the body for just a moment, prayed and then left.  Tonight we heard the testimony; as we drove away, the boy came to life and he is now perfectly well.  She shared the testimony tonight and the crowd went wild!  All of Sapele is rejoicing.  Praise the Lord!

The crowd grew to 200,000 tonight.  The mood was bitter/sweet.  We are all so thankful for what the Lord has done, but sad that it has to end.  We may never see the beautiful faces of the people of Sapele again in this world, but one day I know we will meet at the feet of Jesus for all eternity.  That is why we come.  That is why we preach.  That is why we pay the price to reach them.  We will return home now with the knowledge that hundreds of thousands have heard the Gospel and an entire city has been impacted.  What a privilege!

I also wanted to share some special pictures with you in this report.  Since this is the final campaign of 2009 we (the CfaN crusade team) celebrated Christmas together in one of the technical equipment containers.  Some of our resourceful technicians prepared a wonderful turkey dinner in their make-shift oven…it was delicious! Our team is like a big family; united by a common calling to take the Gospel, “From Cape Town to Cairo”.  I share this with you because we feel that you are also a part of this family.  Even though we are separated by many miles today, we are laborers together in this historic harvest.  We recognize the valuable part you play in this team as a prayer partner and a financial partner and we appreciate you.

From all of us here in at Christ for all Nations MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Evangelist Daniel Kolenda,
Together with the whole CfaN Team.