In the late afternoon each day while in Kimaeti, we had a crusade. Prior to coming to Kenya, I didn’t know what a crusade was. Isaac insisted that we have one during each of the 3 days I would be in Kimaeti. He also preferred that we have one at every place we went, where I was teaching God’s Word.
The church is designed for the followers of Jesus Christ to get nourished spiritually. The crusades are designed to reach out to the community with the gospel message of Jesus Christ. My God-given ministry is that of a teacher, not an evangelist. Nevertheless, I believe we need to be flexible to serve in whatever capacity is needed and so I jumped in to this new role while in Kenya.
The location for our Kimaeti crusades was right next to the church where I had been t
eaching God’s Word each day. I mentioned the large stage that had been built for this purpose in a previous letter. It is during the crusades that we would use this puppy.
We would have loudspeakers, an 
amplifier, an organ and microphones. The music would be played loud so it could be heard throughout the community. People would hear it from the surrounding area and then flock towards it, gathering around the stage. We had rented plastic chairs for the church service. All of these were now placed outside so people could come and sit. Once the chairs were filled up, people would find seats on the ground, on the porch of a nearby building or they would stand.
We would start the crusade by playing very fun African music. Many would begin dancing in front of the stage. Each song that was played seemed to have specific African dance steps that went with it. But many people didn’t care about these steps. They simply swayed back and forth to the music with a very pleasant smile on their face.
The children especially like to dance. But there are also people in all age groups. Even adults that looked to be in their 50’s or 60’s would occasionally come out to dance. A long time ago I had been part of an International Folk dance group. We had practices twice a week and did performances about every two months. So I knew a little bit about dancing.
The dancing I saw here in Kenya was different than what I had experienced with my International Folk Dance routines. But dancing is dancing. I had learned how to observe the movements of other people who were dancing and then I could step out on the dance floor and imitate those movements fairly quickly.
I was the only white person in this crowd of approximately 300 people. There was a group of about 15 young people, dancing together in front of the stage. Their movements were all in sync with each other. I ran out to where they were dancing and joined them, imitating their movements as best I could. A huge ‘roar’ came from the crowd. They were very pleased and excited to see this white guy doing African dances! It was so much fun. I don’t know how else to describe it.
There is a young man, Peter Andrea that had traveled from Tanzania to be with 
us. He is very gifted in singing, dancing and being an entertainer. After many dance songs had been played, Peter would come out and do a performance in front of the crowd. It would be a skit. He would sing, dance and do a routine that was very funny to watch, while also showcasing his skills.
As Peter began his act, the crowd would gather around in a circle to watch. They would laugh out loud as he performed very funny scenes. Peter’s dance routines were unique from anything I have seen performed in the USA. I’m pretty sure he choreographed them himself. At times, he would do something impromptu.
For instance, one time he actually climbed up a tree and hung from a branch during the middle of the skit! I have videos from some of these performances, including the one where he climbed the tree. I don’t know anyone else who would even dare try something like that without a rehearsal. His confidence was amazing.
Peter is one of the many people I built a bond with while in Kenya. He traveled with us to Manyala. And stayed at Isaac’s house with me for quite some time. He is very talented, but not prideful at all. He is totally focused on using his talents to reach people for Jesus Christ. I can read people fairly well and I saw no selfish ambition in him whatsoever. He was quiet and humble off the stage. But once he got on the stage, he could really perform! The crowd would go wild watching him.
After his performance, several praise and worship teams would perform. Then it was time for me. I would get up on stage, grab a microphone and deliver a short 10-minute message to the crowd. After introducing myself, I would talk about why I had come to Kenya. Then I would share about God’s unconditional love and how God has a wonderful purpose in mind for every one of them. And that the good works God is calling them to do are just as important as mine.
I would then begin talking about Jesus Christ. I would share about the sin of Adam in Genesis 3 that put man in a state of sin that would require a savior. I would follow that with explaining that Jesus Christ had feelings just like you and I. That he didn’t want to get arrested, beaten and nailed to a cross. That he prayed very intensely in the garden of Gethsemane to God the Father, asking if there was any way that he could do God’s will without having to go through this.
God the Father told Jesus, “No. There is no other way.” And so Jesus relinquished his own will to do the will of His Father. He allowed himself to get arrested, humiliated, horribly beaten and then nailed to a cross. In spite of it all, just before he died, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.”
I then explained that he was dead for 3 days. But then God raised him from the 
dead and that through him, by confessing him as Lord and believing in our heart that God raised him from the dead, we would be saved and have eternal life. I then asked if there was anyone in the crowd who would like to invite Jesus Christ to be their Lord tonight.
I looked across the crowd. What great joy I had in seeing an abundance of people raise their hand in the air! The ages varied. Bishop Isaac then took over and prayed for these people, while other spiritual leaders took note as to who raised their hand so they could do follow up visits.
After that, I invited people to come 
to the front if they desired to be prayed for. Around 40 people came to the front! I had a translator with me. As I went up to each person, they would speak in Swahili to the translator. He would then communicate to me in English. And then I would pray for them with the authority and power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
One guy who had come for prayer was an older man. He asked me to pray for his legs which were hurting so bad he was only able to walk short distances. I commanded bone marrow to be put into his bones and for the bones to heal. I then moved on to the next person, thinking nothing more of it.
The next evening this man comes to the stage and asks for the microphone. Once 
he has it, he shares with the crowd about his previous situation. That he could now walk long distances again without any pain. He tells them that a visitor prayed for him and that he was healed. He then looks over at me, points at me and says, “That’s the man who healed me.”
I thought to myself, “I didn’t heal him. God did. I don’t want the credit for it.” But I could understand what he was saying. Many people had likely prayed for him previously. But he had never gotten any result until he came to me.
This was my first time seeing someone get an immediate, miraculous healing when I prayed for them. It was so simple. When I had walked up to the man, I 
simply commanded with the authority of Jesus Christ that God would heal him. And then he got healed. I don’t have any power in myself to heal. But I can get people focused on God to the point where they believe in Him to get healed. My life was being changed in many ways while in Kenya. This was one of them. I now have great enthusiasm and confidence when someone asks me to pray for them. I know that I have no power within myself to heal someone. But God’s power is very, very real. And you and I have complete authority to command healing to take place in the name of Jesus Christ as we are directed by God to do so.
God does want to see His people healed. First physically. And then spiritually. And miraculous healing is one way God communicates to man His love and need for a savior. And so the ultimate goal is to lead people to salvation through Jesus Christ and then to get them to commit their lives to serving him as their Lord for the rest of their life.
Then they cry out to Yahweh in their trouble; he delivers them out of their distresses.
He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their pits.
Let them praise Yahweh for his covenant faithfulness and for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
Psalms 107:19-21 REV