Never in his wildest imagination did Bruce ever think that one day he would be sponsoring and organizing South African Crusades that reach some of the poorest of the poor, but that is exactly what God has done.  Glory to Jesus!  It all began with Bruce meeting Pastor Martin Tivane of Northwest Province.  Bruce spoke at Pastor Tivane's church and following the service Pastor Tivane asked Bruce if he could organize an outreach to all the surrounding villages for the following weekend.  Bruce thought, "Who could possibly organize something of that magnitude in only six days?"  Still he agreed and when he arrived the following Sunday there were souls numbering over two thousand seated beneath a collection of old army tents, hungry to hear The Word of God for their lives.   

The kingdom results that morning were spectacular and Bruce remembers thinking about Martin just as he did with Regardt van den Bergh who directed Matthew, "I'm going to be spending lots of time with this man."  Sure enough God had birthed a kingdom partnership and since that Sunday in 2002 Bruce and Martin together have conducted numerous Crusades.  Each Crusade gets bigger and bigger with thousands upon thousands coming through, and there is no end in sight as God takes this work "from glory to glory." 

And the testimonies are mind-blowing!  Scores and scores of salvations--we've had to plant 25 churches to follow them all up!  There is healing of bodies, hearts, relationships...  Families are restored, and on and on.  Truly, this work has become a cornerstone of Marchiano Ministries and one of Bruce's deepest passions.  Below, enjoy just a few remarkable testimonies. 

Bruce Shares a Dramatic Testimony of Healing
During the April '06 Crusade in South Africa

Those of you who follow me and MarchMin know that I rarely highlight things like physical healing.  As remarkable as this story that I'm going to share is, I'm guessing that most of you don't know that remarkable healings actually happen with regularity during our South African Crusades and in the churches we've planted as an outgrowth.  That's because we don't talk about them much--and that's because it's of the utmost importance that both your focus and ours be riveted solidly on, well, what our Father is focused on: The salvation of human souls unto eternal life.  Yes, that is truly the most remarkable miracle of all and the one we children of God should always be the most astounded by and excited about.  Glory to the Name of Jesus! 

That having been said, folks, I can tell you that our God is BIG.  I've seen him do things that would bend one's mind in ten different directions.  Truly, I could tell story after story... 

My first encounter was back in December 2002.  A week after our first Crusade I was in one of the churches and a young man came to me saying God had healed his asthma.  (Now check this out as it's a common thread through most of the healings that we've seen) He said he was just sitting there listening to the preaching when it happened.  No one was praying for him, no one was "exercising faith" or anything like that.  He was just sitting there listening to the message... and God healed Him.   

Today that young man is married with a beautiful child--something that was impossible for him with the asthma if you understand the dynamics and specific value system of the African culture.  He's gainfully employed and a part of the church's leadership.  I saw him and his wife just last week at this past Crusade.  He's totally healed, spirit, body, and soul.  Glory to Jesus. 

Then there was the time I was standing outside the hall one Sunday on the final day of a Crusade two years ago.  I was just catching some sun and fresh air before I took the platform.  A late-comer, a woman, quietly walked to me and told me that God had healed her when I was there the May before.  She'd had a stroke--said she couldn't move her arm on her right side.  She was prayed for and "bingo!"  Amazing.   

This may shock some but there are several church members who have been healed of AIDS.  One of them is in teen leadership--entirely healed, tests that were positive are now entirely negative.  That too is a story we've heard over and over.   

There was the blind woman and the other blind woman in the first two Crusades--totally restored.  I remember Sharon (who came from a very conservative doctrinal background and was thus very skeptical) telling me that when she was there in July 05 she literally, physically saw cataracts literally disappear from a woman's eyes right in front of her.  Needless to say, Sharon's not skeptical anymore.  

And there was the time when I saw an old woman come into the Crusade with this primitive cane, barely able to walk.  As I was the last to leave the service that night, packing up the sound equipment, there was that cane lying on the floor.  She was there the next night and every night thereafter, dancing up a storm in praise to Jesus.  I saw her in this past Crusade in April still dancing up a storm in praise to Jesus.  Glory to Jesus!

So... it happens and it happens often.  A lot of folks try to reduce things like this to a formula of exercising faith or saying the right words or whatever...  I'm sure there's some truth there somewhere and I'm no teacher or anything, but the healings I've experienced have nothing to do with any of that.  These healings are entirely sovereign acts of God, mostly happening when no one is even thinking about it--most especially me!  I mean, again, it's a story I've heard over and over: "During the preaching."  Glory to Jesus! 

At the same time there are specific qualities that I see in many Africans but rarely if ever see here.  Sadly, these are qualities we seldom hear teaching on and I don't think we ever hear them mentioned in terms of "keys to God's power."  I may be wrong but I have a feeling that they are the key; that they're as fundamental to experiencing the power of God as they are uncomfortable and challenging to consider. 

I'm talking about deep, unrestrained, extreme desperation for God.  I'm talking about deep, unrestrained, extreme prideless-ness before God.  I'm talking about sacrifice like you and I will never know sacrifice.  I mean, what some of these people go through just to get to a service is phenomenal--the expense, the hours of dirt roads and public buses, the hours of walking carrying their kids on their backs... 

One has to believe such qualities and commitment are the sweetest incense of all to our Lord.  So much so that I've returned home from this latest African adventure so challenged and determined to pursue these precious gifts in my own walk with Jesus.  May God grant me the grace!  Glory to the Name of Jesus!