Is Jesus Christ still doing miracles today?  Can entire cities be transformed by the power of gospel like in the book of Acts?  From our recent Gospel Festival in El Banco Colombia, I can report to you: YES, God’s love and power through Jesus is touching and changing history today.  God spoke to our hearts one day when we arrived in El Banco through an invitation to preach in a local church.  I remember seeing the people and feeling God’s compassion for them.  The phrase came to me. “El Banco may be forgotten by some, but it’s not abandoned by God.”

El Banco is one of Colombia’s oldest and industrious cities, with a population of approximately 80 thousand inhabitants.  The majority are Catholic with some Jehovah witness, Mesons, and a smaller population of evangelical Christians.  50 years ago El Banco was infested with violence and distress from the Gorilla forces.  Fear and suffering griped the hearts of many, until two Canadian missionaries named Nancy Penner and Mary Fulton came to El Banco in 1942.  They planted the first evangelical church and school.  I thank God for the sacrifice of these precious woman of God who sowed the seed of the gospel.  Who would have thought that 60 years later, with would have the great joy and honor or reaping a mighty harvest that made history where others sowed in tears.  

DAY ONE

After preaching a message entitled “The Gospel is the Power of God”, the platform became filled with people eager to testify.  Miracles rained down on people without discrimination.  The first miracle was from a young man of 22 years named Jose.  He was crippled and confined to a wheelchair from an accident that left him with a broken back and unable to walk.  He testified on the platform with tears how Jesus had healed him demonstrating to the multitude the power of Jesus by pushing me in his wheelchair.  It was like a bomb of God’s love went off in the stadium.  The crowed roared with praises the God.  Most importantly many responded to receive Jesus for salvation.  

DAY TWO

7 AM.  It was so exciting to visit Jose with my team in his home to hear more of his story.  He greeted us upon arrival.  The camera man started filming as Jose along with his family and friends shared with great excitement how Jesus had transformed his life.  News reporters came.  It didn’t take long until a crowd had gathered to see what the commotion was all about.  The Holy Spirit showed me the opportunity and I was able to share the gospel with the amazed crowd.  Many received Jesus!  

7:00 PM.  The meeting starts with a much bigger crowd.  It grew from just over five thousand to seven thousand!  I preached one of my favorite messages “The Secret of the Power of the Blood of Jesus.”  with a focus on Jesus healing the deaf.  After leading hundreds in a prayer of salvation, many came forward to receive healing for deafness.  It was clearly explained to the people that God is a good God and the devil is a bad devil.  I shared how Jesus often rebuked the evil spirits that cause the sicknesses before he healed them.  Next I told them that Jesus had sent me with his same authority to cast out demons in His name and that Jesus will open deaf ears.   Praise God Jesus once again proved himself faithful and opened many deaf ears.  One after another testified on the platform to how Jesus opened their ears.  The crowd stood in amazement as one particular lady held up her hearing aid telling the people with great conviction that without the hearing aid she was completely deaf and could not hear a thing.  Next she demonstrated the power of Jesus by repeating words spoken to her.  The people rejoiced with praise to God,  What a mighty God we serve!

DAY THREE

The crowd grew to nine thousand.  Message: “Jesus opens blind eyes”.  There are so many promises in the bible about God opening blind eyes.  One of those promises is found in Psalm 146:8 “The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down.”  To prove that Jesus was who he claimed to be He said in Matthew 11:2-6, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”  Next I took the story of blind Bartimaeus from Mark 10:46, and shared with the people about who Jesus is and what Jesus has done on the cross for everyone.  An invitation and prayer was made for SPIRITUAL SIGHT.  Hundreds received Jesus as Saviour.  Then I had the people who needed healing in their eyes place their hands over the place where they needed Jesus to heal them.  With the faith of Jesus, I told them that now Jesus is going to open your blind eyes.  After the prayer, the presence of Jesus was moving in the crowd as one after another stood before the multitude and showed El Banco that Jesus Christ still opens the eyes of the blind today.  

DAY FOUR

Eleven thousand expectant people filled the stadium to capacity the last and final night of our great Gospel Festival.  The mayor’s wife who invited my wife and I over to their house for breakfast, told us that it’s the greatest crowd in the history of El Banco.  Even larger than any political campaign.  The crowd clapped and shouted for Jesus as I welcomed all the people from every religion and background.  It’s a Jesus revolution.  The message was about twenty minutes with a focus on the fact that “Jesus is alive!”.  Almost 8 hundred people responded for salvation and received follow-up material.  Another short teaching was given on the baptism of the Holy Sprit.  The power of God and miracles from Jesus rained down over the multitude in a climactic final night of God’s love being revealed through Jesus to El Banco.  Thousands of eternal souls were brought out of darkness and into His marvelous light.  History was made!  What a joy and privilege!  Thanks and appreciation was given to my wonderful wife and team for their dedication and sacrifice.  Then praise roared to heaven giving Jesus all the glory!  Thank you partners for making a difference in so many lives.