We would like to share the highlights of our April 2014 mission trip to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in West Africa. Below is a general map and a link to Wikipedia giving more detail about the country.
Our mission was to make disciples and to teach them as Jesus commanded us in Mathew 28:19-20. More specifically He commanded His Apostles in Luke 9 to heal diseases, cast out demons, and to tell them about the Kingdom of God. Also in Luke 10 he sent out 72 ordinary disciples to do the very same thing. In John 14:12 Jesus said “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
Through a missionary friend Boukary Phillip, Mary and I were invited to teach at a 5 day conference / crusade and taught on the principals for healing with faith, authority, and power in which Jesus taught in the context of evangelism followed by the Gospel. Many were healed such as a man with heart disease who had shortness of breath and after being healed could run around with ease. A man walking with a cane had a limp and back problems he was healed throwing his cane down and walked normally praising God. Many women with back, stomach, feet, and pain throughout their bodies were all healed. Following these healings, I compelled all to repent and to trust in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation.I preached in the evening at an open air crusade with multitudes of people. I was teaching that there is a narrow gate and a narrow road that leads to Heaven ending with the Gospel believing and trusting in Christ alone through faith alone. I shared the story of Mark 2 when Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven. I told the people that the miracles that would take place will be proof to those who were like doubting Thomas and did not believe. This proof would show them that Jesus has authority on earth not only to heal their sicknesses but also to forgive their sins. Many were healed from blindness, deafness,and pain throughout their bodies (backs, lungs, etc.), and many followed Christ that night.
I don’t want to leave out that there were many difficulties such as power outages, slow to no Internet, some false teachers, people broke their promises to provide for us, 108 degree temp., transportation broke down on our way to our next destination etc….. but praise the Lord He saw us through and His will was done ! Our next stop was Kaya and we preached two open air meetings there with many delivered, healed, and born again.
The next town was Sapouy where we stayed with a Mennonite missionary family who were from N. Carolina and were wonderful Christian people. At this town we preached at a small rented hall, visited an orphanage, a school, repaired a water well in a nearby village, and I witnessed to the chief of the village. He was born again, following that two little girls were healed, and I turned and preached the Gospel to the whole crowd around the water well telling them that the Kingdom of God is near and that they should repent and believe the Gospel. Many including the chief said they had evidence that God was with us and they would come to the Mennonite church to learn more about Christ.
Our last evening in Sapouy we traveled to a village named Sia which was on the border of Ghana for an open air crusade. My Mennonite friend Leon loaned me their ministry truck and I drove with Phillips navigation down the highway exiting into the bush. It was a little scary not knowing where we were or how to get back, but I knew we were not doing this by our own might. Once we arrived we were in an open land with nothing in sight. We had a small generator, two small florescent lights, and a small amplifier and mic. There was a small mound of dirt for the pulpit. The people did their African style worship with dancing and drums. Following that I preached telling the story of 1 Kings 18 about Ahab, Elijah, and the prophets of Baal. I told them that God has not changed for He is a jealous God that will not share their affection with any other God. I presented to them the challenge that Elijah presented to the people and so I called upon the Father to send his fire of healing upon these people to prove that Jesus is the only way (John 14:6). There were about 500 people in all. They came closer to us and Mary and I laid hands on them commanding their sickness and demons to flee in Jesus name. There were so many it was overwhelming for they were pressing in with great expectation. We heard many testimonies of healing. I preached the Gospel and compelled them to come to Jesus Christ so that He could heal them eternally. Phillip told me we needed to leave, he said rain was coming so we hurried and left. We made it back home to Sapouy. It was like a monsoon came with mangoes falling on the roof and violent winds; I prayed for our houses and all the peoples safety. The following morning before we headed back to Ouagadougou the pastor of that village where we had just preached came and told us that many of the people had trusted Jesus that night. They were fully convinced that God had visited them not only with the miracles but the rain was so much that everyone had to spend the night in Sia. Just like in the story of Elijah their land was bare but now was blessed with rain. There were many other stories I could tell that happened but it would take a long time. I pray these stories will bring faith to all who read this that they may be encouraged and know that our God is greater than any problem or situation that they could ever face.
Act 4:12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
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