Maridi Southern Sudan

Maridi South Sudan 23rd to 27th June

Dear friends,
Sudan is indeed a ripe harvest field and a fertile ground. I believe the answer is for men and women, boys and girls to hold fast to The Word of God and not let go; to do and to practise what they know and have heard. Since our last visit to Maridi in 2002, only one other gospel meeting has taken place, but there has been much development in the town – piped water to distribution points of rows and rows of water taps are dotted all over the town; by December there will also be electricity, and mobile phone networks are in operation. The greatest need remains for the BREAD OF LIFE TO BE BROKEN among the people.
We had a small taste of the effect that the Gospel can have on a people. I was told that in the Dinka culture, it is very much an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, forgiveness is considered a weakness. So usually, when someone is harmed or wrongly treated, strong revenge is planned. As God’s Holy Spirit moved in saving and touching lives, a man came up onto the stage to testify how he had surrendered to Jesus. At home, the Lord then convicted him about a severe disagreement that he had had with someone, which  caused great bitterness in his life as the two parties had not talked in years. And so he began to reason, “Why should I not forgive that man who did me great harm”. He realised that he was truly forgiven and now he wanted to forgive in return, so he said, “I now release this person”.
On Sunday, the crowd swelled to close to 10,000, and at least three quarters of the people indicated that they were sick when we asked, “Who needs prayer?” As Robin Aim, the Cathedral Bishops, and myself moved among the thousands of sick, laying hands on them, our hearts were moved with compassion at the dreadful state of some of the people. There were literally hundreds of blind people, and oh so many sick children.
On one of the days, during ministry, the Lord instantly opened the eyes of three women standing together. The deaf also heard as Jesus truly moved. One moving testimony concerns a lady who travelled 65 miles to the crusade. She had heard that God was healing and she came in great faith. Her hands were so weak that she could not feed herself and she could not even take a bath! The Lord rewarded her faith, and she went home strong. She was able to feed herself and also carry a basin of water for a bath! The Lord had completely healed her.
As I gave the call for salvation, it was wonderful to see how the Lord touched hearts. Almost the whole crowd responded. There were multitudes of salvations, healings and deliverances. The Holy Spirit ministered and filled many.

Daily Leaders Seminars

I shared the daily teaching seminars with a missionary friend, Robin Aim, who heads up AfriLift here in Kenya. Robin taught and ministered on “How to hear the voice of God”, which caused the leaders to hunger and desire more and more to hear the voice of the Lord.

Fruit that remains

In 2002, we had a notorious man get up and testify how he had been addicted to alcohol. I remember him saying the taste had gone and that he did not want it anymore. I wondered if this was still true. As I walked into the Church on Sunday, there he was, still faithful, and still serving the Lord. This was a true salvation.

Bishop Justin Badi writes.

Dear brother in Christ Evangelist Roger West
Grace and peace of God to you.
On behalf of the churches in Maridi and the entire people of Maridi, I would like to convey our words of thanks and appreciation for your ministry and especially the work done in Maridi. We have seen that the Lord has really used you to revive the church in Maridi. The situation in Sudan has made many people to stay with bitterness in their hearts and always planning for revenge. But I am glad that, through your ministry in Maridi, the Spirit of God has cleared this evil spirit of revenge and violence from the hearts of many people. I personally received two people who came to confess that they had forgiven those who offended them. There many other stories of people who have come to our pastors in different churches. We really thank God for such healing and the physical healings that many people received. The power of the devil and his kingdom was brought lower and lower as people surrender their charms, and those bewitched were released and healed from their troubles. The Gospel message is being uplifted higher and higher. People now have a fresh interest to listen to the local evangelists and preachers. Thank you, and may God continue to work through you for the expansion and advancement of His kingdom in the world.
We are in a critical moment in Sudan. We very much need your prayers and presence in Sudan to encourage and mobilise the churches to God in prayers and confession. We look forward to receive you again this year and next year in 2011. Greetings to your wife and may God bless all your ways.
Once again thank you
Yours in Christ
+ Justin Badi
Bishop of Maridi