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| It’s mid July and the Malawi winter weather is a welcomed relief from the typical extreme heat – a pleasant climate for church. Bangula was the venue for thousands of people hungry for the presence of the Lord. Even though poor, stung again by inadequate harvests after such little rain fell on farmer’s fields, desperate people found a way to attend four days of worship and teaching hosted by Iris Ministries. People managed to save a little money over several months and pooled their resources, hiring lorry trucks for the journey to Bangula from all over the southern region of Malawi. There were hundreds whose only means was their own two feet, who walked for two days, a sacrifice that these precious poor were very willing to make. Missing the fellowship, Bible teaching, worship and the presence of the Lord was not an option for them – determined and unstoppable, over 4,000 people arrived and camped out on mats on the dirt ground.
There is a risk when doors are opened to thousands of people for church. You wonder whether there will be enough food, water, or ground space for people to sleep. What is the contingency plan if God doesn’t show up? Thankfully, back up plans are unnecessary – We trust God and rest in His promises.
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| It is encouraging how the poor seek after God – they expect that He will show up, and He does. Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’. Our God is so generous.
Leading up to the conference our team of intercessors discerned that the Lord wanted to fill people up with Holy Spirit, a real prompting to let God order the meetings and not function in a performance spirit, but rather by the Holy Spirit. We chose the theme “Filled Up”. God wanted to invade us all, heaven invading earth with healing miracles, love, peace, joy, deliverance and salvation. |
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During the four days the presence of the Lord was powerful. Many people left healthier then when they arrived. We have testimonies of more than thirty people who experienced miraculous healings from sicknesses. About three hundred people accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Many were delivered from demonic spirits so they could be free to worship the Lord and free from the burden of pleasing man. People experienced the supernatural joy and peace of the Lord, overwhelmed by the power of the Holy Spirit they fell down, resting in the Lord’s presence, then rose laughing with joy, more filled with the goodness of God.
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There was not any fighting, arguing, or stealing. People waited patiently in lines for food. There was cooperation, patience, humility, helpfulness, respect, forgiveness, thankfulness – these are confirmations that the Lord was really present and at work among His people. The church of Malawi received new life – resurrection life, and will never be the same again.
It was wonderful to have pilot Joe Vaine fly in Rolland Baker (Director of Iris Ministries International) and two friends, Pastor Peter McHugh from Melbourne, Australia and Pastor Paul Black from Washington, DC. In the mornings Peter & Paul taught from the Gospels. The afternoons were led by our senior Malawi leaders. In the evenings Rolland taught about living our lives in surrender to God and under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In the dirt, men and women, the elderly and the young, sat and listened intently to the teachings from the Scriptures. |
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At the end of the conference, after escorting Rolland and team to the Cessna 206 waiting on the Bangula airfield, I returned to where people undistracted by the departing airplane were still worshipping. The presence of the Lord was lingering – it was like a glory cloud presence of the Lord over the people, pouring out grace without measure on the lowly and hungry. I sat down on the stage to delight in the presence. A dear old lady came up on the stage and knelt before me. I couldn’t understand many of her Chichewa words but enough to realize she was sick and she wanted healing from the Lord. As I laid my hands on her to pray, I could feel the heat, she had a very high fever. I prayed for a couple of minutes then she got up. Her appearance had changed from the discomfort she expressed just moments earlier. With a warm smile she thanked me and then walked towards the front of the stage. She was frail so I got up to lend her a hand. I reached out to assist by grabbing her arm. Her arm was cool. Just to be sure, I took my hand and gently touched her forehead – it was cool. Halleluiah – The Lord is cool! Sickness healed in Jesus’ name – a wonderful final blessing to confirm that the Lord never holds back His love. |
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