Mariakani - The place where the river flows

Firstly thanks to all who have left their comments. It is very good for me to know there are people at home following events here. Not much hope of a tan at the moment as the whole sky is cloudy and we are having one shower after another. Given the state of the streets in Mariakani town centre this is one place where the river is flowing.

There is another river starting to flow as well. The first night of our open air crusade went well despite technical difficulties. Not only did the power stop but the back up generator kept packing up. It didn't make much difference. The singers sang and many people stood around to listen. Then I had the chance to preach before it got dark. There were quite a number who raised their hands in answer to the call of salvation. Many were in the crowds who didn't come forward. How many I don't really know. 20? 30? The Lord knows. The river of the Holy Spirit is beginning to flow here.

I was told on Friday that many of the muslims here consider themselves to be culturally muslim but are not really practicing the religion {or interested in practicing it}. They shut their shops for half an hour to an hour during friday prayers out of fear of the religious leaders who will hastle them if they are not seen at the mosque. I'm told that violence is the norm among the religious leaders however there have been numbers who have put there faith in Christ. Some of these feel too threatened to stop attending the mosque so they turn up discretely holding a small new testament and when they pray they pray to Jesus and not Allah.

The easter Friday service in the church went very well. I preached on the cross {can't go wrong with that subject} and then pretty much the same message but with a more evangelistic edge for the evening crusade. The singing and dancing at the crusades have to be seen. The atmosphere is excellent. I think there were seven conversions {perhaps more but that's how many came to the front of the platform. Four others testified of immediate release from all pain as we prayed for the sick.

Tonight and tomorrow are the last two days of the crusade. We had someone testify through the microphone last night of her healing so we hope this will draw many others. Muslims and Christians alike agree that God is against sin but for the Muslim there is no peace, no assurance of forgiveness, no guarantee of eternal life, no hope of answered prayer and no deliverance. Just preaching on what Jesus means to us and what He has done is enough to get their attention. Thursdays subject was 'What can take way our sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.' Friday's message was the cross and Sundays will be the resurrection. All of them ave basically the same theme. Jesus has the power to take away all sin, can heal disease, deliver from demonic oppression and curses and can save to the uttermost those who believe in Him. I think tonight should be more testimony based with accounts from the gospel of Jesus power to save and heal and then hopefully plenty of live testimonies.

The sun is now shining outside but I'm praying that the spiritual stream turns into a river this weekend.

God bless you...steve