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By: Marty Martinez
In December 2009, Brother Roy Chacon (a JSM minister in music and testimony) and I (a former J.S.B.C. Student) were invited to minister in Arua’s giant Crusade in Arua, Uganda, East Africa. Arua is the birthplace of the former dictator Idi Amin who brought so much chaos and destruction to that nation in the 1970’s. Arua sits in the northwest corner of the nation, bordering the war torn regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west and southern Sudan to the north.
The crowds streamed in over the borders of both nations as well as from many Ugandan towns and villages to the Crusade. By the evening services their numbers reached to 100,000 people, which were all the grounds could accommodate. Many more people overflowed into the surrounding streets. The majority of the population was Catholic or Islamic with many still holding to their ancient tribal rituals. The people of this area were so desperate for a true message of hope that they stood at the Crusade grounds in an attitude of worship for up to six hours each day. On top of that, the pastors and community leaders also attended six consecutive hours of Bible instruction prior to the Crusade meetings each day. These people have long endured poverty, brutal tribal warfare, sickness, disease, and every kind of oppression for which their witchcraft and empty religious systems have proven to hold no answer.
Brother Chacon held a special interest for the people, as they had never seen a “Red Indian” (as they refer to American Indians) before, so they were very attentive as he spoke to them of his experiences with tribal ritualism and the destructive powers of alcoholism and tribal feuding. Catholicism allows its members to continue in paganism causing much bondage and confusion for many who consider themselves to be Christians while practicing their tribal religion. Brother Chacon issued a clear condemnation of witchcraft and pagan practices calling for the complete renunciation of such and total dependence upon the Power of Jesus Christ. Many of the people, whom the Lord healed during the Crusade, testified that they had been pressured by friends and family to go to a witch doctor to receive their healing. One particular healing at the Crusade occurred in the body of a seven year old boy named Francis. Francis was stricken with cerebral malaria at the age of seven months, which affected his nervous system to such a degree that he had never been able to walk and drooled continually onto his shirt. The Lord miraculously healed this little boy as the crowd watched him first walking very awkwardly and then dancing till he danced all over the platform. The joy in this child’s face said it all. When little Francis walked through the door of his home that night where his grandparents had been waiting, they were stunned and immediately gave their hearts to the Lord! Francis’ miracle continues to impact his community for Christ.
As in most of Africa, Islam is a great threat to Christianity and to the free governments of east Africa. It is the anointed preaching of the Gospel alone that can counter this threat, and drive back this darkness. During the Crusade there was great rejoicing as a Muslim man and seven of his friends testified publicly that they had accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour after one of them had received a healing. They testified despite the life-threatening persecution they would surely face from the Islamic community. A large group of local pastors came after the Crusade to express thanks to Brother Martinez for preaching so boldly against Islam. Brother Martinez made the clear distinction between the false prophet Mohammad and Jesus Christ, Who is the One and only True Son of the Living God showing the difference between Allah and the One True God of the Bible. The pastors said that they had not previously realized how much they were allowing Islam to intimidate them, until hearing such preaching and seeing the resulting Power of the Holy Spirit to confirm the Word with tens of thousands responding to Christ.
The local pastors also apologized for being somewhat apathetic toward the Crusade during its preparation, stating that many other ministries had come to Arua before with little results. The pastors further stated that they had never seen such a response, they were literally being overwhelmed with the thousands of converts desiring discipleship. While many of those in attendance had to return to their own towns and villages, still one week later 7,000 people showed up to be baptized in the Nile River!
BROTHER SWAGGART’S VISION
In July of 1985 Brother Jimmy Swaggart was given a Vision from the Lord. In the Vision the Lord showed him, as far as the eye could see, great fields of cotton ready to be reaped for the harvest. In the same Vision the Lord showed him two harvesting machines attempting to reap the harvest. Brother Swaggart further described the fields as being white with giant bowls of cotton, so heavy that the stalks were literally bowed over because of the weight of the cotton. It was then that he remembered the Scripture which says, “Say not you, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (Jn. 4:35). The Lord then directed Brother Swaggart’s attention to the eastern sky. When he looked toward the east he was shown a massive violent and treacherous storm that was headed directly toward the fields, putting the harvest in jeopardy. At that moment he heard the Voice of the Lord telling him that, “time is running out, that Judgment is coming upon the Earth, but that God would hold back the storm for a short time in order to reap the harvest.”
TWO MOVES OF GOD
Not long after the overthrow and exile of Idi Amin, Brother Jim Woolsey flew to Kampala, Uganda by Faith, in order to try to place the Jimmy Swaggart Telecast on the air in Africa. By the Grace of God, the Ugandan television authorities agreed and Uganda became the very first nation overseas where the telecast was aired. Subsequently, the Jimmy Swaggart Telecast became the first Christian ministry ever aired in Uganda and a great Harvest was reaped! At that time the Lord opened the doors for the telecast to continue on and circle the globe reaping the Harvest.
Once again the doors of global Harvest are open to this ministry. I’d like to point out that there were two harvesting machines in Brother Swaggart’s Vision. I believe they represent two distinct Moves of God, the early and the latter Harvest. Now, 25 years later, a new generation has come to fruition and the Harvest stands ready to be reaped once again. While the western church is focused on its own needs, preaching a gospel of materialism; the preaching of the Gospel of Salvation through the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is needed now more than ever! That is why I believe the greatest days of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries are just ahead of us.
As evidenced by the photographs, the harvest truly is ready. Time is short and what we do, we must do quickly! Your support of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries at this time is vital. Let us remember the Words of the Lord, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields: for they are white already to harvest” (Jn. 4:35) and, “Pray you therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that he will send forth laborers into His Harvest” (Mat. 9:38). We know and surely believe that Jimmy Swaggart Ministries has been strategically positioned in this final hour to reap the Endtime Harvest. The Lord is near!
I would like to request that you put contact information on your website for Brother Martinez. I have wanted to write him since I saw him at your Thanksgiving campmeeting.
THANKYOU !!
In October we were in the same area , and were able to encourge and teach , using J Swaggarts books . that they so kindly gave to us , and We are planing to Go back for this area was deeply on our hearts .. Praise the Lord for you being there and the Work the Lord has done .. GOD BLESS YOU ~!!see you at the campmeeting J Desrochers
Just want to join you to express gratitude to the Lord for Brother Swaggart's telecasts of the 1980s in the nation of Uganda. The telecasts surely edified many Christians and raised such a great crop. At that time there were not many evangelical churches to teach sound doctrine as Uganda had just been out religious persecution of Idi Amin's regime that had driven the church underground.
Am one of those would be glued on the TV on one of those saturday evenings to watch Brother Swaggart. I was a born again Christian but did not have a true Christian Fellowship/ Church to attend and so I found Brother Swaggart's Telecast's as my source of spiritual nourishment. Brother Swaggart, a great reward surely awaits you in heaven. - William email bujingo@gmail.com
There is a definite change in my church and the way services are conducted and I would like your opinion. We no longer have altar calls where the people are asked to come forward for salvation. Instead they are told to pray "right where they are" so they don't get embarrassed by coming forward. Also the dress code is at an all time low for people on platform ministry. We have young people who sing solo roles wearing short short skirts and leggings with stiletto heals and no hose. Tight form fitting clothes and cleavage are the norm any more. I have been a member of this church for 20 years and have seen them come and go but I am truly thinking about leaving because of the casual attitude they take. Is this a new movement or am I just old fashioned.
From what you describe your church seems to be going the same direction as most of the other churches, It is called seeker sensitive, where they don't want someone who is lost to come in and feel uncomfortable or convicted. They like to say that you can change the method of presenting the gospel without changing the message, which is wrong, all of this comes from the purpose driven, church growth lie, that has been swallowed by the leadership in every denomination for the last 25 or 30 years and has to do more with having a big congregation and more money than anything else,from what I have seen and the churches that I have been a part of that have gone this direction the pastor will not listen to those in his congregation who oppose this unbiblical direction. They will call you a trouble maker or something along that line and hope that you will either be quite or leave, they don't really care, so long as you don't rock their boat. If your church is small you might be able to get the pastor to see the error in all this, but if he has the majority of the congregation deceived and following along with him you will probably need to find another church.
I wish it were that simple. I'd like to blame all the trouble on Rick Warren. I'd even settle for being able to blame the devil for it all. Sadly the enemy is us. God has promised to give us the desires of our heart. Just like the wayward hearts of the previous children of God we get the kind of leadership we desire within and demand.
No longer is it a mega church driven program. The focus today seems rather than having a giant mother with a break down into personal contact groups, we are back to a program for the old fashioned small church.
These may look like the old but you won't find a true representative of Christ. You will find one representing a Christ acceptable to all.
Don't blame Rick Warren,he's not all that influential or powerful. God will give you a True leader if you really want it.