2016 Ttip Pictures
Lubunga Kisangani – 27 to 31 July 2016
Lubunga is a city across the great Congo River from Kisangani. We crossed the wide strong‑flowing river on a dugout canoe, which was fitted with a small outboard motor on the back. It only took seven or eight minutes to complete the journey, but there was a totally different spiritual climate permeating the whole of Lubunga. Here, there was a real openness and sensitivity to the Gospel.
Arriving at the church for the morning Fire Conference, the church was almost full. Our goal is to stir up the church in order to be actively involved in Evangelism. The word was well received, and some of the local members made a video recording of each session. I believe this message will go far and wide.
During this three day Fire Conference, some of the leaders told us that there had been a noticeable drift from the purity of the Gospel. When wrong doctrine is embraced in the Congo, it usually involves money! However, God’s Word stabilised the church, and the plumb line of God’s standard re-calibrated many. The call to become involved with Evangelism within the church was accepted by many of the pastors and leaders.
In order to avoid crossing back to Kisangani, we decided to go straight to the field for the Gospel meeting.
At first, the people were slow in coming, perhaps on account of the sweltering heat, but slowly the field begin to fill. I preached a clear message – turn from darkness to light. By the time of the altar call, the Holy Spirit had touched their hearts as almost every hand shot up saying yes to Jesus. No one who comes to Him will He refuse. Tears flowed, knees bowed and Jesus saved. It was wonderful.
It was heart-breaking to see the sick and suffering standing in the intense heat so we arranged special seating for the very sick and those that came especially for prayer. This special area was in a rectangular concrete foundation, somewhat like a swimming pool. It had been constructed for a building that was never completed. We called it the ‘Pool of Bethesda’. Wonderful healing miracles flowed. A lady, who could barely see out of one eye, testified how she was so discouraged because she had been prayed for all week without change. Towards the end, the Lord gloriously touched her, and she testified that her sight was now restored, and rejoicing that God had heard her prayers! I was amazed that she could actually see, because her eye was all milky with no colour in it. Yet she was overjoyed that now she could see!
When we finally closed the meetings, we made our way back to the beach and crossed the river at night. Canoes were buzzing across in almost pitch darkness. How they did not collide is a miracle in itself! For our crossing, a co-navigator stood at the front of the canoe using the light on his mobile phone in order to show our position. It seemed to work, since we arrived safely. A cool breeze from the river was very refreshing, but I am not sure that I liked the thousands of biting insects on the way back! It had been a long hot day, but all this faded to insignificance when we reflected on what the Lord had done to reach Lubunga with His love. A joy overwhelmed us that we could be a part of His eternal plan.
On the second day, the heavens opened again, and it rained like it can only rain on the equator. For an hour or so it poured down just flooding the field in places, which was knee deep water. We had to turn off all power for safety reasons and eventually, when it had stopped, I preached to a small crowd without a microphone. A wave of God’s saving grace swept many into the Kingdom.
We had to rush back to the dugout canoes for it was now six o’clock, and when there is rain they stop operating at six. Thankfully, we caught one of the last ones back. The thunder storm was now over, but lightning poses a very real threat on the river.
On Friday afternoon, there was no sign of rain at all, but it was very, very hot. Normally the crowd can be quite noisy and has to be encouraged to keep quiet. Lubunga was so different; there was a great attentiveness to the preaching of the Word and a great reverence when it was time to pray. Again many believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and were saved. We prayed for the sick and went down and prayed for all those in the ‘Pool of Bethesda’, where the very needy and sick were located. I was puzzled why there seemed to be so few testimonies of healing, until one of the organising pastors showed me a little exercise book with pages of recorded miracles. They had reported their personal miracles to the local pastors and leaders, who made a permanent record of them. Surely the Lord is the Lord God our healer – Jehovah Rapha.
The town of Lubunga heard the Gospel with gladness and opened their hearts wide. The Lord saved and healed and there was great joy in the city.
