When I landed in the capital of Madagascar, I received a report from our Festival director. He said,
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, but
our Festival was on a small island just off the northern coast of Madagascar.
It was in the city of Nosy-be, a city that is fifty percent Muslim. There are
many places we could go to preach the Gospel, but Nosy-be is the type of city I
like to visit. There are a few small churches in the city but the majority of
the population does not believe in Jesus.
As I flew into the city, I prayed, “God, help us to lift
Jesus up in this city. I pray that everyone in the city; Muslims, animists, and
Christians have an encounter with the living God this week.”
Our festival director still had a stack of posters that he
had saved. At 5am in the morning a team of young people from the local churches
marched out into the neighborhoods and put up new posters in order to replace
the ones that had been torn down. Our persistence in the midst of persecution
would produce results.
Despite the difficulty with the posters, the first night’s
attendance was strong. Everyone loved the upbeat music. When I started to
speak, I announced, “I welcome our Muslim friends and I welcome our Christian
friends. This festival is for everyone. Jesus will perform miracles for anyone
who trusts Him, regardless of your religion.” About one dozen people were
healed on the first night. The outstanding miracle was a man who was deaf in
one year who was suddenly able to hear perfectly. As I tested his hearing, the
crowd started to celebrate.
The next morning, about two hundred pastors and leaders
attended our Fire Conference. I taught on the importance of evangelism and
challenged the believers to go out into their neighborhoods and invite people
to the Festival. In the afternoon, I had some free time so I visited the local
food market to talk with the locals and invite them to come to the Festival. In
the market there were dozens of food stands full of carrots, tomatoes, spices,
eggs, meat, live chickens, fish, and open bags of rice. As I walked around, I
asked the shop owners, “Did you go to the Festival last night?” Many of them
had attended. One shop owner said, “I am a Muslim but I went last night.” I
asked him, “What did you think?” He replied, “I saw many miracles. My wife is
very sick. Tonight I will bring her for prayer.” Right there in the public market
place, this Muslim shopkeeper allowed me to lay hands on him and pray for him
and his wife.
That night, the crowd size increased. Word had spread about
the miracles that Jesus was performing. We announced, “Jesus is more than a
prophet. He is also Lord and Savior. Jesus came from heaven and gave His life
by dying on the cross to pay the price for sin. Everyone who calls on the name
of Jesus will be saved.” When the altar call was given, I noticed Muslim people
throughout the crowd that were praying with us for salvation.
On the final night, the crowd increased again. Four
thousands decision cards were passed out by our councilors to people who prayed
for salvation. Many of the people who decided to follow Christ came from Muslim
families. The local churches will be meeting with these people and they will
start the long process of discipleship.
The Bible tells us there will be great rejoicing in heaven
when a single sinner repents. I also rejoice when people decide to give their
lives to Jesus Christ. This is why we do what we do. Tears of joy fill my eyes
every time I have the privilege of introducing people to Jesus. There is no
greater feeling then knowing that a person has turned from darkness to light,
from sin to holiness, from a false religion to a true relationship with a
living God.
Thank you for helping me to preach the Gospel. Because of
you, the Muslims of Nosy-be, Madagascar had an opportunity to hear the good
news about Jesus Christ. Because of you, many sick people received miracles.
Because of you, heaven will be a little bit fuller and hell will be a little
bit emptier.
Making Jesus famous,
P.S. At the end of this month, I am headed to the Central American
nation of Belize. This is the only nation in Central America that I have never
ministered in. I will be preaching in several churches and meeting with a group
of pastors who want to invite us to do a crusade in this country. Your gift
this month will help with the expenses of this trip. To give a financial gift, CLICK HERE
