Greetings!

(Click on the headings to go to the report)

The Miracle of Bwema
The Miracle of Belonging
The Miracle of Broadcasting
The Miracle of Bebington

Our dear praying friend,

The traditional way to claim a place as your own in Western Kenya, is to stick your diamond-shaped spear in the ground. It is then your land. As Michael Caine (film star) would say, 'not a lot of people know that'.

Hello there! Welcome to a letter which is to be a further proof that Paul Simon was right in one of his songs: "These are the days of miracles and wonders." Settle back to read of some of God's twenty-first century miracles.

THE MIRACLE OF BWEMA (Back to top)

It is Sunday 14th January, 2001. I have already preached at two packed services at St Crispin's Bungoma (W. Kenya). After lunch I am taken in a four-wheel drive vehicle out of the town, off the road, off the track, and upwards to the summit of a rocky, bumpy hill. The 40:3 Trust has given the Diocese some powerful public address equipment, and this is being set up on a huge rock on the very top of the hill. The views are breath-taking - over forty miles in most directions. This is Bwema.
The vast rock has been used for animal sacrifices to tribal gods, and this is the first-ever time the Gospel has been preached here. There is no church, but the local Christians are trusting that God wants to claim this ground for his Kingdom. With my interpreter, Joseph, I proclaim God's love and his call. An African storm is coming from our right, and it beats me to the end of the talk, so we run to a nearby hut to shelter.

Within twenty minutes the sun returns, and we go back to the rock. The P.A. equipment is now wet, so we have to preach without it, which brings the listeners much closer. I call for a response, and twenty brave people come forward openly to give themselves to Jesus Christ.
Throughout the week we see many blessings, with hundreds responding in churches, conferences and open-air meetings. Now it is Monday 22nd January: eight days on from the meeting at Bwema. The local vicar arrives. His story is this: The previous day he held a service beside the rock. Eighteen people came. He baptised eight of them. After the service they went to the rock. A man pointed. There - in the rock - pink rock in brown rock, was the exact shape of an African spear, pointing to where they had held the service. 'God has chosen here for his new church', they said. 'Here is his spear, claiming the land'.
I tell you, their excitement could be felt. What a miracle! The lines had always been there, discovered many years before by archaeologists, but overgrown and forgotten until that moment, when God showed his presence, as he had shown his power.

THE MIRACLE OF BELONGING (Back to top)
I'm excited and honoured to tell you of a miracle in my own life as well. In my last letter I wrote of my continuing ill-health. Ever since my first visit to Africa in 1993 I have felt increasingly debilitated and exhausted. Extensive medical tests have recently shown me to have nothing visibly wrong physically. In December I went away to spend quality time with some friends I trusted. We talked through my whole life. It became very clear that I was, unknown to me until then, carrying impossible burdens deep inside, including accumulated hurts which had built up over the years. In a most wonderful way I was able to lay these all down at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. It was a tearful and painful process, and included many forgivenesses of others' trespasses.
At the end, I saw Jesus come down from the cross, and the burdens all disappeared. With his help I was able to draw a line and leave all my past behind. I have come into an amazing new experience of the Father's love - in my 50th year as a Christian! Although I believe this will impact my ministry, the greater blessing personally is a new freedom and a release from many years of overwhelming burdens, with a consequent physical healing. Thank you for your prayers into this area - the miracle has happened. And if for me, then - if you need it - it can be for you, too.

THE MIRACLE OF BROADCASTING (Back to top)
I asked for your prayers also for some radio recordings. I can now report wonderful progress. Trans-World Radio have acquired a channel on Sky Digital T.V.. I have been very busy recording programmes, as a result of which I can now be heard four times a week across the U.K. and beyond on Sky Digital, Channel 953. The times are: Sunday 10.15, Monday 21.30, Friday 11.30 and Saturday 02.30. Millions already have Sky, and many thousands are added every week. Included in each 30-minute programme is a song by my son Andy. What a potential! You can do four things here:
Pray - for many to hear, receive blessing and respond.
Put it in your church newsletter, so Sky Digital viewers know the channel (953) and the times.
Help us with the finances (if you want to!)
Get yourself Sky Digital, and enjoy!

What a miracle the media is. We are now negotiating with other TWR stations world-wide for the programmes to be broadcast elsewhere, and also with TWR partners for the scripts to be translated into other languages for countries such as China and India. Pray that these things may happen!
My book writing continues, with two books on the go, and others possibly in the pipeline. Please pray for a clear mind and a skilful hand, directed and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

THE MIRACLE OF BEBINGTON (Back to top)
Sylvia Johnson and I went to Bebington in November, and saw a real miracle of blessing, with great numbers responding to Christ. Sixty-five men came to a breakfast, with eleven responding. Sylvia said that it was the week-end when she felt truly affirmed as an Evangelist, seeing people trust Christ after she had spoken. We saw a mother come forward with her twenty-year-old daughter, both in tears: the mother said that her daughter wanted to trust Christ. Recently I was at another men's breakfast near Warwick when a third of those present said that they were trusting Christ that morning. God's miracles are for this country, too!
I had a lovely e-mail from Ballymena the other day, where a good friend and prayer partner wrote:
"It is most encouraging to read in your [prayer] letter of all that God is doing through you and I pray that you will continue to know his blessing in 2001. You will be interested to know that two of the men folk who came to Christ in our Mission in 1994 have just been selected to our Kirk Session (i.e. the eldership)."

Isn't Easter the greatest miracle of all? "Christ is risen". "He is risen indeed". May the Spirit of the Risen Christ fillyou with all joy and peace in believing.

The whole team joins me in sending our love, thanks and greetings.

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