September 2003
Crusade
EMAIL FROM PASTOR MARTIN. I tell you, this is all so exciting. I just received the email below from Martin. All
I can say, "Glory to Jesus!" Remember, the DECEMBER CRUSADE is just weeks away, again in BRITS, DECEMBER 7-11. The TITLE/THEME
God's given Martin for this Crusade is: THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS. Glory to Jesus!
Here comes Martin...
Hello my dear brother,
Forgive me for "disappearing" for a while. I am okay. I have been away due to my mother’s
health. She is not well please pray for her. She has been in out of the doctor’s room, but she will be okay. She sends
her love. Thank you, brother.
But know that everything’s well. Preparations and Prayers for the December Crusade are well
underway. We are having to arrange for a larger venue than we discussed as people are calling from many districts to participate.
Christians are praying for God’s favor and the Harvest of Souls during December.
We are still receiving testimonies from the September Crusade. I will send reports as they
come in. Some are below that have come from the follow-up churches that were planted. I Love You.
Martin
MARIA RAMMOLOTSI (from Letlhakaneng) She was completely blind. She accepted the Lord at the
Crusade and was prayed for. She began to see the light and now she received her sight back.
MAENE LEKALAKALA (from Bethanie) Delivered from drug addiction. SINA KUTWANE (from Modikwe)
Delivered from alcohol.
RAMAKUTWANE MAKIKGOMPO (from Modikwe) Suffering from having a stroke. Now completely healed.
J NGOETE (from Modikwe) He was partially blind now he’s healed he can see 100%.
Please folks, it is as obvious as day that this is an exciting, vital, cutting edge work
that is going on here. Please, please pray for the December event, and if you can, please jump in and help--we've only got
weeks to make the budget--God has always been faithful and He will be here--nothing can get in the way of souls, souls,
souls... So glory, glory, glory to Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
Our mailing address is:
Marchiano Ministries (Crusade)
11333 Moorpark Street 171
North Hollywood, CA 91602
Thanks!
Go to Top
REPORT OF BRITS CRUSADE, SEPTEMBER, 2003
VENUE: BRITS RUGBY STADIUM
Brits is a town in the Northwest Province of South Africa. A town which, in the history of South Africa, ca be classified
as a town of fear and hatred due to the past where it is amazing that I write this report from.
Moving into a stadium that was used by white people only, we began to sense that God has taken away the past and is bringing
a new breath of Love. Some years ago I was expelled from this town, but today as we stand together declaring the Love of
Jesus together with Pastor Bruce, I cannot stop thanking God.
No pen and paper or lips can fully describe the humility, devotion, obedience, faithfulness, dedication and love that Pastor
Bruce has displayed during the planning and execution of the plans for the success of this Crusade. We thank God about the
partnership of faith and Love between myself (Pastor Martin) and Pastor Bruce. My prayer is that God should sustain the
partnership by His grace and Love. I have never seen such a thing before.
CRUSADE PREPARATION
There are men and women of faith who left comfort of their homes and spent days and nights at Prayer’s house praying and
pleading with Almighty God to grant His favor and make this dream and vision a reality. By His true mercies, God answered
their prayers and the Scripture says, “For where two or three come together in My Name, there am I with them.” (Matthew
18:19). We thank God about these intercessors.
The leadership team showed the strong stuff they are made of as they put everything aside and devoted their time to meet,
plan and organize for this Crusade.
Although the bus company did not offer the service that was expected, plans had been made in advance. The turnout at the
Crusade was thousands each night, but it could have been much higher had it not been because of the poor service of the
bus company. However everything went according to scratch and each worker performed to his/her utmost best. There was unity,
peace, and Love in everything that was done.
THE HARVEST
God used the anointed man of God, Pastor Bruce, in a mighty way. He taught about the Love of God amongst other things.
The worship was so strong that it ushered in the presence of God in a tremendous way. God’s anointing throughout the Crusade
was so evident that many people were touched and gave their lives to the Lord. Pastor Bruce also taught about faith, hope,
and the trust people put in lies instead of the Truth of God.
He also taught about the reason why sometimes people put their trust in lies, especially the youth. That it is because
of rejection, being unwanted and unloved, so they do things to attract attention and feel important. The final message was
about the trust people place in material things that ultimately end in ruins and destruction. God used Pastor Bruce in a
mighty way and hundreds of people gave their lives to the Lord every night and Sunday. They will all be followed up and
guided into the churches we have planted for them.
THE HEALINGS AND TESTIMONIES
We experienced God’s powerful move throughout the Crusade. Many miracles and wonders occurred. Many people were set free
from bondage of evil spirits. There are a lot of miracles that occurred. The following testimonies are but a tip of the
iceberg of what happened:
Idah Dlakude of Lethlabile is a widow whose husband died 7 years ago. During these years she became homeless as they were
forced out of the house, the children could not go to school, and there was no food for them. She was prayed for and the
following day she received contact from the municipality who said she must have her house back. The former employer of her
husband also offered to provide for school for the children and to free them from poverty. Mpho Mejelo of Hartebeesfontein
fell as criminals chased her during the night. Her spinal chord was injured and she suffered from severe pain and could
not walk properly (limping). She was prayed for and the following day she was completely healed. Daniel Tlapane of Erasmus
suffered from swelling of legs and severe suffocation during epileptic fits. He used to go to the hospital very often and
as soon as the treatment pills were finished the swelling would start again. After being prayed for he is completely healed.
Irene Dithakanyane of Hartebeesfontein never had peace in her marriage for 20 years and her husband left. After she was
prayed for her husband came back home and he was different, and also agreed to attend the Crusade the following night. They
are together without problems.
A young man from Jericho had hearing problems and needed hearing aids. He was prayed for and received healing and can hear
normally. One elderly woman and a young lady were both blind. They were both blind. They were prayed for and received sight
back immediately. A white man in Brits who was experiencing serious problems at work came to the Crusade frightened for
his career and with a broken heart. He was prayed for and the next day he took the stage and testified that when he went
to work that morning the problems were sorted out. Mpho Mogale is an elderly woman who stays in Bapong. She had been blind
for quite some time and came to the Crusade to be prayed for. While she was still blind, though, she spread the news about
the Crusade in her community. She met heavy opposition until she finally managed to assemble a group of twenty sick people
who came to the Crusade to be prayed for. She was prayed for and received her sight. Like the Samaritan woman in John 4,
this lady met Christ at the Crusade and received her sight and now continues to tell the whole village about Christ, especially
the sick. She has even offered her property for a church site. So we will be pitching a tent there every Sunday.
There are many more testimonies. These are only a small sampling.
TWO CRUSADES: MAY AND SEPTEMBER
We have experienced God’s mighty hand. As a result, 25 churches have been planted, and some of the Pastors are pastoring
as a team to effectively minister to the flock of God.
More will follow on this report as Pastors will be sending more testimonies.
TO ALL AMERICANS WHO CONTRIBUTED
To all Americans and the lady from Sweden who contributed prayers, finances, and love to the Crusade, I pray that Almighty
God should reveal to you more and more the achievements in the spiritual and earthly realms of the Crusade.
THE DEVIL IS ASHAMED, HE IS COUNTING LOSSES THAT HAVE BEEN SNATCHED FROM HIM. SURELY THE DEVIL HATES THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER
OF THE CRUSADE IN BRITS.
To God be the glory!
Pastor Martin and the leadership team
Go to Top
BRITS, SOUTH AFRICA. There’s that saying, “It’s all over but the shouting,” and as I sit here the morning of September
8 with that all-too-familiar mix of thankfulness for the rest and sadness to see it all end, the shouting is long-over as
well.
The microphones are silent, the instruments are packed away, the stage is taken down, the chairs are on their way back
to wherever we rented them from… The September 2003 Crusade is in the books, and all I can say is, “Glory to the Name of
Jesus!”
I tell you, the life change we saw in the past week—I just couldn’t even begin to know where to begin. Martin and I sat
together for the longest time yesterday, quietly enjoying an African meal while just on the other side of the wall 3000+
were laughing and feasting and enjoying the same, and we just sat across from each other astounded.
“It was the most fruitful Crusade, Brother,” Martin told me, “Far more fruitful than May.” And just as Martin said that,
completely by coincidence, two of his leaders came into the room to pick up the literal crate full of salvation/follow-up
cards that had been filled out. I said, “It looks like we’ve created a lot of work for you, Brother.” “Yeah, sure, Pastor,”
was Martin’s reply. “Yeah sure…”
So I sit here at the keyboard, and I just don’t know what to say. People were healed—and I tell you, it was many people.
Friday night, I think, Martin opened the microphone for testimonies and the people literally lined up. An old man who was
blind—now he can see (yesterday in the Sunday service I spotted him in the front row, just going crazy in worship for Jesus).
A woman who suffered under years of some sickness that left her debilitated—now healed and set entirely free…
A woman whose husband had long left her and her children—we prayed for her family to be restored and the next morning he
walked in the door (we actually heard this kind of testimony a lot—God restoring families—it seemed to be a specific work
He was doing). An old woman who had to be carried into the stadium walked out in her own power. A man who walked in with
an old, homemade crutch walked away without it. A man living a drug-infested existence testified he was completely free…
There were so many people, and the testimonies went on and on, and it was just plain breathtaking. But the one that touched
my heart the most, I think, was a girl of only 18. She had been gang-raped (“Oh Lord, have mercy—oh Lord, oh Lord…”) and
came forward for prayer.
I remember her well—Martin gave a call for anyone suffering in heart—the volume of people was more than we could handle
and this girl was among them. We prayed for her and because her story was known by some of the leaders, it was brought to
my attention.
I tell you, I couldn’t sleep that night because of that girl. We prayed and she collapsed in a heap of tears. She just
kept crying and crying, “Why me? Why me?…” I’ll never forget it—it was one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever seen,
this girl crying out to God, “Why me?”
But I stayed with her a long time, as did others. We just kept praying and holding her, and praying and holding her...
I tell you, I was shaken.
But then there she was in that line to testify Friday night. She had a smile like all 18 year-old girls should smile. She
took the microphone and told the people she had been raped. She told the people how it crippled her in every way. And she
told the people that God had healed her—that today she can forgive the men who did that to her, and that there was happiness
in her heart and freedom to move forward in her life… She just testified, and testified, and testified—glory to the living
God!
And then there she was Saturday night and Sunday, too, sitting up front, hands raised high in glorious worship, joy bouncing
off her person, just joyously in love with Jesus. I tell you, all I can say is, “Wow!”
And then there were the salvations. It’s hard to describe, but it’s downright mind-bending. Every night Martin took the
microphone from me and I would tip-toe off the stage and just sit with my back to the audience and just pray. He would say,
“If you’d like to receive Jesus as your Savior, lift your hand…”
I will never forget that first night—there was so much trouble, and the buses bringing the people late, and the rugby team
trying to mess us up, and the whole thing… Everything went wrong, and then Martin gave the call and I had my head down praying,
and forgive me, but it had been such an awkward night I was expecting little. Then I heard Martin from the stage half whisper-half
gasp in the pin-drop silence, “Hallelujah…”
It was the reaction of a stunned man, and I turned, and I tell you, I couldn’t believe my eyes—it was literally massive.
The “sea” of raised hands was literally massive.
And then the people just came. They came, and they came, and they came… They swarmed and overwhelmed the pastors and counseling
tables as they just came. I tell you, it was breathtaking, and all the angels in heaven just dance, and dance…
The people came like that every night, and every night the angels just danced. And I’ve said it so many times, but therein
is the biggest miracle—the miracle of miracles--the truly most glorious of miracles—the miracle Jesus had His eyes on from
day one and still has His eyes on today—people coming into the kingdom of His Father. Glory to His precious Name!
One really neat story—the story of Anthony… Anthony came to me Friday night—a handsome well-dressed guy, maybe 30 years
of age. The evening was nearly finished and he walked over to me and asked if I could pray for him. He said he wasn’t feeling
well. He didn’t know what it was, but he had constant headaches and was losing weight.
I didn’t remember him from when Martin called the people forward who wanted prayer for sickness, so I asked him why he
stayed behind. “No, I was in the tent (getting counseled),” Anthony said. “I gave my life to Jesus.”
I tell you, that just blessed my socks off. But with a measure of embarrassment, Anthony went on to say that he’d only
come to the Crusade because he wanted prayer for healing. “Well, that’s just fine with me,” I told him. I mean, who cares
why anyone comes, as long as they go home with Jesus!
But then guessing from the look on his face, not knowing anything about what his symptoms may mean, I asked what he thought
was wrong with him. I’ll never forget the way his face dropped into his hands and how he struggled against tears—oh, how
my heart came out for him—“AIDS,” he said. “I think I may have AIDS.”
Anthony went on to tell me he’d gone for a test but they lost his results. He went back for another test but now the computers
are down so he can’t get them for 3 more weeks. (Welcome to Africa, I guess…)
But man, the fear and brokenness—Anthony just tore my heart out. So I prayed for him—I prayed and prayed for him. Then
I told him to come back and he assured me he would.
With Jesus afresh in his heart, I saw him Saturday night and again yesterday. Anthony was alive in Christ and well, just
worshipping his heart out, coming for prayer and coming for prayer and even more coming for prayer—seeking God and seeking
God and even more seeking God. Glory to His Name!
So with Sunday’s meeting over, as Martin and I were eating, here came Anthony. His bus was leaving and he wanted to say
good-bye. I walked him to the door.
“How do you feel?” I asked him. “Better,” he said, and with a smile he continued, “I think I will go for another test.”
You should have seen the confidence in his eyes—he felt he’d been touched by God and wanted another test.
“But you know what?” he went on to say, “I’m not afraid anymore. I feel peace in my heart. Everything’s going to be ok…
Yeah, I’m ok…”
Anthony had come to the Crusade with fear and walked away from it with Jesus. And who knows what that new test will prove
out? Just maybe the next time I find myself in this direction—maybe at the next Crusade, even—I’ll hear a “Hey, Pastor Bruce!”
(Yeah, they call me “Pastor”). It will be Anthony, and he’ll just be so excited. “My test is negative! The first one was
positive, but then the second one was negative! Jesus did it, Pastor! I’m healed! Jesus did it, and I’m healed!”
Healed in heart, healed unto eternity, maybe even healed in his body—we can only trust Jesus. Glory, glory, glory to His
precious, precious Name!
So that’s Anthony, and that’s his story. So many precious “Anthonys,” so many precious stories… and the September 2003
Crusade comes to a precious, precious close.
I tell you, sometimes the privilege God has given me to participate in these things, well, it just blows my mind. That’s
all I can really say about it—it just blows my mind.
So thank you, those of you who came alongside to make it happen. Take Anthony’s story as your own—take that little girl’s
as your own, too. I know, I know—“all the glory goes to God, Bruce”—but thank you anyway, and I just know He’d be so pleased
for you to take them into your heart as your own.
You and I are Him and His heart extended, folks, and that’s the just plain, unarguable never-ending-until-He-returns truth.
Without me on my end, you on your end, this guy on his end and her on her end… well, none of anything gets done and the
Anthonys perish, and the Anthonys perish, and oh, what heartbreak when the Anthonys perish.
So again, thanks. Believe it or not, we’re doing it again in December—yes, another Crusade in 2nd week of December. We’ll
be in Okasi—a “black township” like Lethlabile, just outside Brits, that has no church of its own among 10’s of 1000’s of
hungry-for-God people.
They do have a public hall, though—it seats about 4000, and that’s just about right for an indoor Crusade during the area’s
rainy season. Funny, but Martin said he must book the hall immediately, as it is often used for political rallies. Forgive
me for this editorial comment, but that means it’s been a place of empty promises for these people—a place of self-proclaimed
“saviors” who, all good intentions aside, get the people all excited then save no one but themselves.
Well, in just a few short months the one, true, only Savior will be taking the platform in that hall. He will spill the
fullness of His promises—promises that are beyond true, promises that are beyond reliable, promises of eternal life and
glory, glory, glory to His precious and saving Name!
Yes, come December, that hall will be wall-to-wall with God’s goodness, shaking with His holiness, quaking with His saving
power, reaching into people’s lives on unimaginable levels. As plans take specific shape in the days to come, I’ll be telling
you more about it, but suffice it to say, I just can’t wait until December!
The September dust has hardly settled, and I can’t wait until December. And again, glory to His Name! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
Glory to His precious Name!
Go to Top
BRITS, SOUTH AFRICA. Night two of the Crusade is in—only night two, and I sit here astounded at what I have seen—astounded
that it isn’t even the beginning. “Oh Lord, Your breathtaking faithfulness--if we had any idea of the degree of Your faithfulness…
Glory to Your Name!”
Night one was a war—pure and simple, all-out war. Martin phoned me in the morning deathly ill out of nowhere. He said,
“Bruce, I have never felt like this in all my life.” Funny, but as he described his symptoms it was exactly what I experienced
back in December during our first Crusade.
But Martin was determined to pray it through. The “pray-ers” were alerted, the knees hit the sand, and when I saw him at
the stadium at 4:30 he was 100%. You wouldn’t have known there had been anything wrong.
But that was just the beginning. My brand new rental car—couldn’t get it started. We prayed and prayed—it started. I know
this stuff sounds funny, but it’s true. And there was just so much more--Martin told me I didn’t know the half of it—he
was sparing me the details.
And then the practical wars—undoubtedly the physical manifestation of the war in the spirit. First there were the guys
sent out—and this just blows my mind—by their pastors to tear down our posters. At night they would go out and tear down
all of our posters.
They were from churches—Christian churches. Leaders who somehow felt threatened, I guess—afraid they would lose their control
over their people. It’s so beyond understanding, and all I can say is, “Oh Lord, have mercy.”
Then there was the white/black thing. My goodness, cultural arrogance is such a killer. Brits is a traditionally white
conservative stronghold, and though we were received with open arms by the town council and guys at the top, the hands-on
workers were another story.
Every step for Martin was like pulling teeth—oh, how it grated against these guys to do what a black man asked them. As
it was, there we were on night one, 30 minutes into the time to begin and the stadium lights had yet to be turned on. Martin
went to the guy and went to the guy, and it was one excuse after another. “Another agenda,” is the way Martin phrased it.
And with the pray-ers still praying, the lights finally were turned on.
Then there was the rugby team—I tell you, I would never have believed it if I wasn’t standing there watching it. Here we
were beginning the worship, and they came on to the filed just behind the stage and started practicing, kicking their balls
toward us, crashing into our instruments and speakers and wiring and everything. I tell you, it was clearly intentional,
and I was so unbelievable we all just stood there not knowing how to even begin to address it.
Then they would just run in to retrieve their balls, right into the middle of the worship team and band. Again, it was
mind-blowing. One guy ran in and one of our worship team told him to stop it, and I tell you, even this was calculated—the
next thing he knew a rugby player was in his face about to drop him with a punch.
Praise God I was white and close by, and man, how the Lord uses funny things—praise God for my American accent. When I
told the guy to back off I could see he was totally side-swiped by my accent—I wasn’t “one of him.” It kind of shocked him,
and he trotted off.
I gulped big and went to chat with the coach. Again, I could see my American accent was a shock—it just took him by surprise
a bit—enough to give me an advantage, so to speak. And of course, the pray-ers were praying—praying ever harder--and the
rugby team moved. Praise God for His faithfulness.
Then the big thing--the buses never showed. It was an hour after the evening was set to begin and the buses had yet to
show. We’d paid an enormous amount of money to this company, and their buses never showed.
Martin was frantically calling everyone he knew to call. I never saw him so intense. There was so much that played into
it—lazy bus drivers that didn’t want to do another route just not showing up at the bus stop (welcome to Africa). There
were Muslim bus drivers who intentionally missed their stops. There was one district that was “controlled” by a powerful
influence of witchcraft, and one call was made to that bus driver and he never showed up.
There was a bus that caught fire, a bus that had an accident, a bus that broke down, a bus driver who said his bus broke
down just to get out of work, and there were buses that just were late… It was amazing—here we were an hour after the time
and note even one bus had arrived.
I could go on and on—there was the guy who parked his BMW just next to the seating area, and the alarm kept going off during
the preaching. It must have gone off a dozen times, and you’d think he would use his head and just turn the alarm off but
he didn’t. He just got up, walked to his car, clicked his clicker, then came and sat back down. And you know, now that I
think about it, I can’t help but wonder if he wasn’t intentionally doing it.
But like I said, I could go on and on. But I’d rather switch to the good part—the part where we laugh in the devil’s face--the
part where the living God displays His victory. Glory to His Name!
The buses finally arrived at 8:30—just 5 out of the 15 we hired. Well, that was good enough for about 2000 people. With
the late-ness of the hour, the preaching was short, but the Holy Spirit was long. (Man, I love this part!).
I spoke of all the difficulty of the evening and how it was an allegory to life in general—one difficulty and hardship
after another, sometimes, the enemy always trying to knock us out. I spoke about the stadium lights, saying, “How many times
in all of our lives have ‘the lights’ just not gone on?” I spoke of the buses not arriving and asked, “How many times in
all of our lives has ‘the bus’ just not arrived--the bus of our dreams, the bus of our success, the bus of our happiness,
the bus of…” I asked, “How many times in all of our lives has a ‘rugby team’ come on to our life’s field and just caused
a mess? A rugby team—broken people who bring betrayal and difficulty, who trash us and cause pain, who try to hurt us and
turn us away…”
I spoke of Jesus at the end of John 16, saying, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome
the world.” I spoke to them of Jesus and who He is in the middle of all that life throws at them.
And then came the really good part—Martin and his salvation call. Folks, in a word the response was simply massive. The
people came, and came, weeping before God, they came. Teenagers came, adults came, little kiddies came, grandmas came. They
just came, and came, and came… They came to Jesus!
We were overwhelmed. It was just too much to handle. Counselors were outnumbered 30 to 1. The people lined up for an hour
to receive counseling and fill in their follow-up cards. I tell you, it was cold out there by this time—my hands were like
ice—and the people just stood in line for an hour. Oh glory to the living God!
And it was the same last night. Oh, God was so faithful! The stadium was probably 4000 strong and the response was mighty.
Yes, there were still difficulties, but largely subsided—praise God for the pray-ers.
And on the aside, you should see those pray-ers—largely little old ladies who arrive at the stadium about 3:00 and just
march around and around it, all over the field, all through the crowd, until the evening is over. I tell you, we could learn
a lot from those ladies.
So the victories are breathtaking. God is doing a huge thing, and tonight we’re expecting even more. We’ll probably be
5000 tonight, then a multiplied leap Friday with no work for the people the following morning. Then, man, I don’t know what
we’re going to do Saturday night.
Martin and I were praying and he said to me, “Bruce, I feel the Lord saying we need to make a special invitation to widows
and orphans to come Saturday night, and we need to feed them. We need to just bless them.” It was something the Lord showed
me days before and so I just smiled when Martin said it.
When I arrived last week, Martin told me he felt the Lord’s word through this Crusade was “Feed My people.” He meant it
spiritually, but I felt it literally. I never said a word to Martin—he’s the leadership on this boat—but then last night—“We
need to feed the people, Bruce.” “Amen, Brother. Amen, and amen.”
And when he announced it to the people—oh my goodness, the people went bananas. So I can promise you, Saturday night will
be standing room only, and the cow is falling as I write (yes, we’ll literally buy a cow and have it slaughtered to feed
the people—it’s the Africa supermarket!). But you know, there will be so many people, I am guessing one cow may not be enough.
We may need a whole lot of cows! Better run for mercy, Ol’ Daisy! Glory to Jesus!
So we’re having an amazing time out here, and as long as the pray-ers keep praying there’ll be no end to the glory in sight.
So keep praying, pray-ers. God is moving, God is victorious, God is changing lives, and glory to His precious Name! I’m
off to night three, and glory to His precious, precious Name! Jesus!
Go to Top
South Africa. Hello, hello! By the time you receive this I will be nestled into some South African bed sleeping
off my jet lag and gearing up for another Crusade mixed with another month of general ministry. Man, sometimes I just sit
back in awe at it all--how did all of this ever happen? By God doing miracles and dragging me along every step of the way,
I think!
Now obviously that line is meant to get a chuckle, but I'm not so sure it's very far from the truth. Glory to Jesus! And
at the bottom of it all, underlining it all, inviting it all, opening the door to it all... is you praying--ushering in
God's kingdom and His order, and just praying. Yes, it's entirely true--so I guess I can blame you! Ha! Glory to Jesus!
But thank you so much. All the Crusade budget came in, and man, I was sweating it this time. But God did it--glory to His
Name. Thank you for your prayers in that regard, and thanks to those of you who gave, too, and glory to His Name!
So now we turn our prayers toward the event itself--toward souls, souls, souls! The dates are Sept. 1-7, so please "join
me" on that platform with your prayers, and beg the Lord for souls. Thanks.
There is the added dimension to this Crusade of a first-time racial mix. It's so exciting and unimaginable that I just
haven't been able to even wrap my mind around the way God has given favor across the board, and how people are excited to
join together across traditionally uncrossed lines. So pray, pray, pray, and I can promise you, God will melt away long-held
divisions and fears big-time. Thanks!
And obviously I'm moving quickly in this letter--so much to do to get ready--but please, please, please keep steadfast
in praying for John. A couple of weeks ago I had a landmark meeting in that regard, and it was a great success. But I'll
never forget walking out of that meeting and thinking, "Now is the time to pray--like never before." The spiritual battles
are "humongous" over this, so please, please, all while I'm gone, let's commit to standing strongly together. Let's pray,
and pray, and pray. Thanks!
And that's the focus I'd ask you for in this coming month--John. The Crusade, my protection over there (it's a pretty violent
country), and John. John, John, John... "'Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord." And I just have
to believe as a "prisoner of hope" (Zechariah 9:12) that God is not a God who misleads, but a God who fulfills His purposes.
So thank you for all your standing with me--and please, stand with me. We will see His hand, we will see the fulfillment
of His every promise, we will see salvation in legions and legions and thousands upon ten thousands, and all we have to
do is cry out, stand in prayer, love and worship Him, praise His glorious Name... All we have to do is call on Him and call
on Him to fully be all that He fully is. I tell you, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Glory to His precious Name!
Thanks so much. If anything pops I'll drop you an update from Africa. Meanwhile, I've got to go do some laundry! Thanks!!
Glory to Jesus!
Bruce
Go to Top
WELL, HERE I AM DAYS FROM ANOTHER AFRICAN JOURNEY, just a week and a half from my third crusade in the past 9 months.
I tell you, I stand amazed at what God has done, and all I can think to say is, "Who'd of ever 'thunk' it..." In a million
years, certainly not me, that's for sure.
But it's true, and it's what the Lord has put in front of me these days, and it's as exciting as life gets, and it's as
big an adventure as life can offer, and wow, the Lord sure is something!
But I just wanted to stop a minute and say thank you. As with the past 2 crusades, some of you gave your hard-earned dollars
and so many of you sent encouragement and promises to pray... I tell you, it just overwhelms me sometimes, and I can't tell
you the number of times I'm out there and it's one of those days when as real as the glory is that's how difficult it is,
and it's in those times I remember you-all who are praying. I remember all you who gave and have trusted me to manage your
finances with integrity, and I tell you, something of strength just rises in me, and it's "Glory, glory, glory to Jesus!"
So God has shown His favor through you, His hand of blessing on the Crusade, and His faithfulness once again. Yes, the
Crusade budget came in--just under the wire, through the goodness of you precious people, it all came in. Yet again, God
did it, and yet again, "Glory to His Name."
So thanks. I know, I know--"All the glory goes to God, Bruce." But God works through people--people who have wills of their
own--people who can just as easily say no to His "still, small voice" than say yes.
So again--and I know He would want you to just enjoy it and be blessed by it--thanks. Souls will come into the kingdom
directly through your goodness, and that is so huge, so thanks.
But switching gears a bit, I just need to do something that I've never done before--I need to thank someone specifically
and publicly. His name is Ian, and he's a little boy, and he lives in New York, and his note was accompanied by 3 dollar
bills, and man, he just touched my heart so much, and I just know he'll touch yours, too...
"Ian, all I can say is you're a very special little guy. And I just want you to know that I'm going to hand-carry each
of your dollar bills to exactly where you asked for them to go. You're a very special guy, Ian, and the Lord loves you so,
so much. He's smiling on you right now at this very moment, and His smile is so big, and He just loves you--so, so much."
"So thanks, Ian. From me, from the babies, from the souls at the crusade that God will save through your dollar, from the
souls He will save at the church--and more than anyone, from Jesus, too... thanks!"
God bless you all! I'm off to pack and fly. I'll keep you as updated as I can, but it can be difficult sometimes to get
to a computer, so be patient with me. And pray, will you? Pray like you've never prayed before.
He is our only hope, and He comes on the wings of our prayers, and we all need so much hope these days--we all need so
much of Him--so pray.
Bless you, bless you! Glory to the living God! Go to bed, Ian--it's past your bed time. And glory, glory, glory to His
holy Name!
Off and running--
Bruce
Go to Top
SEPTEMBER CRUSADE UPDATE. I received this email
from Pastor Martin just a few days ago... I tell you, what an honor to work with him. Read on, be blessed, be encouraged,
be excited in Jesus, thanks to those of you who are praying and supporting, and glory to Jesus!
My Dear Brother and Partner,
The planning and build up process
to the September Brits Crusade is well underway. We are now moving into unreached villages to make announcements, and
by all signs we are expecting more people than in May. Oh Brother, we are encouraged. Everyone is working so hard to invite
people to the Crusade. Again, we are looking forward to an overwhelming Harvest of Souls. I am excited that again the
anointing of God will pour out. Let us continue to pray for the Crusade because I believe that this is another opportunity
from heaven to snatch thousands of souls from the devil's hands. THE HARVEST WILL BE MUCH GREATER THIS TIME!
Myself, Alcy and the Leadership
of the Church we are greatly humbled to be in partnership with you. My dear Brother, I pray for a very special Holy Spirit
guidance upon your Life. And also for the finance for the Crusade. God will be faithful!
Please pass our heartfelt regards
to the Americans who are standing with us. GOD BLESS YOU.
Martin and Alcy
Go to Top
AN UPDATE FROM MARTIN, JULY 20.
My dear Bruce, brother and pastor
in the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank you so much for the love and care you are giving me and my family, and the church in South
Africa. Your brotherly love in the Lord is beyond explanation and I do not have words to describe the partnership and relationship.
Firstly, our mission to Mozambique
was a great success. We saw new ground breaking for the kingdom of God and it was exciting to see how many souls came
to Jesus. We were moving from village to village followed by miracles of the Lord.
One woman who has been lying
sick for months, she could not do anything. We spoke a word and she was healed immediately. This attracted many people
to the meetings and God was greatly glorified.
A young girl of 14, who had
a relationship with a serpent under the water (this is part of the witchcraft in the culture) was delivered after we have
prayed for her 8 hrs non-stop. This was challenging. We started praying around 5 in the morning and she was freed around
1 o'clock.
I am telling you, brother,
Mozambique was exciting. We are planning another mission in October after our Brits Crusade.
BACK HOME (SOUTH AFRICA)
The Church in South Africa
is growing at fast and unbelievable pace. I have never seen such thing before. Everyone is praying so hard for the September
Crusade. Regarding the finances, starting on Monday the 21st we are praying around the clock for God to supply finances
for the crusade. I am having a meeting with all intercessors on Sunday to pray and continue to pray. The September Crusade
will be an exciting one. We strongly believe that God will open doors very soon as we call unto Him.
PROPOSAL FOR SEPTEMBER
Meetings will be in the evenings
like in Lethlabile. I want to submit this to you, if it is okay that you can have extra meetings with high school students
(+2500), one university, and the labor-workers in Brits. If it is okay with you can I arrange these meetings during the
day?
Finally my brother! Thank you,
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I Love you, I Love you, I Love you! Please tell the brethren in the USA who are supporting
the Crusade that we say in SOUTH AFRICA, "SIYA BONGA! RE A LEBOGA!" Thank You!
Seeing you soon, brother. We
love you.
Martin and Alcy
Go to Top
