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Village transformation can be habit-forming!
If we can be so bold as to claim that God has “habits,” then surely one of them is transforming villages in a radical way as heaven invades in response to the visits and commands of His sons [Mt.6:10]! Several times now, we have witnessed remarkable changes and shifts in the atmosphere and lifestyle of villages in East Africa where our teams have been privileged to visit as “carriers” of the Father’s loving touch. This last trip in late November/early December was no exception, as we saw powerful moves of God in three more villages visited by our teams in Tanzania and Uganda!
The powerful miracles of healing and salvation that our team witnessed on this trip have truly “wrecked us beyond recognition;” both the “rookies” and the veterans reached new levels of amazement in God!
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Youth revivals reach hundreds for Jesus!
FTM Associate Minister Lynne Chapman conducted two outstanding Youth Revivals in Tanzania, with over 300 young people giving their lives to Christ and many more receiving powerful experience with the presence of God! Village transformation not only includes the pastors, leaders, and parents, but especially the youth! Lynne prophesied over the eager children in these villages and helped propel them into their destinies as future leaders of Tanzania! She conducted several workshops for the youth (and parents!) to help them believe that they have a powerful future in the Kingdom of God!
In both Mwaniga (which has a new name now – see below!) and Nyamatala in Tanzania, Lynne touched the hearts of hundreds of children with the love of the Father. The enthusiastic response of spontaneous praise and rejoicing that accompanied the meetings evidenced the revival that is happening in these future leaders’ hearts and minds as they begin to see what is possible in Christ! Lynne also greatly encouraged our Children’s Home Administrator, Anna Hande, shown here with Lynne and a sea of children in Nyamatala Village proudly sporting their new Revival Shirts!
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What's in a name?
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Even before we arrived in Tanzania in late November, I felt strongly that the Lord desired us to change the name of the village of Mwaniga, where we had scheduled our first Freedom Festival and Youth Revival of the trip. In the past, we have seen the Lord change the name of two villages, one in Tanzania and the other in Uganda, as part of his awesome plan of transformation!
The story of Mizorozoro in Tanzania is now becoming well-known, since our first visit there four years ago. At that time the prophesy of a permanent open heaven over the village, and the concomitant name change to “Village of Miracles” (“Kijiji cha Miujiza” in Kiswahili), seemed pretty wild, but God has been faithful to heal every sick person who has visited the village for prayer since then!
Similarly, in the summer of 2005 when we visited the village of Lungujja (a “suburb” of Kampala in Uganda), we discovered that the name means “Death has taken another person!” Right next to the village is a cemetery (a rare thing for African cities) where many victims of former dictator Idi Amin are buried. When we broke the power of the spirit of death over the village and changed its name to the “Village of Life”, remarkable freedom came to the region and reports flowed in of amazing transformation afterward, not to mention that all the sick were healed by the last night of the Festival!
When I found out that the name (Mwaniga) of the first village we were to visit on this trip means “You have killed him,” I was sure that the Lord would assign a new village name as part of the transformation he was planning! I was waiting on the Lord for the new name when, as a wonderful surprise, he gave it instead to FTM Associate Minister Jessica Maldonado, who changed the village name as she preached the Gospel the second night of the Freedom Festival in Mwaniga. The new name given is “He is risen!” and in Kiswahili it is “Amefufuka!”
The villagers began celebrating wildly! And they gave Jessica the name of “Mama Amefufuka,” which means they regard her as the spiritual mother of the village! Several women climbed up on the platform to drape African dresses over Jessica’s head and shoulders, even as she was inviting the lost to come forward for salvation prayer!
Jessica will be taking a team back to Amefufuka next June to minister for a whole week in the village filled with her “children!”
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Never too old for healing!
A particularly precious healing miracle took place in Tanzania before our team left Amefufuka to travel back to our base in Igoma Village and then on to Uganda for the second Freedom Festival. On our last morning in Magu Village where our hotel was located, we had breakfast at the home of the Christian mama who managed the hotel. Afterward, she said she had a surprise for us and disappeared in the back room for a few moments. I asked Holy Spirit to “spill the beans,” which he did. So I knew the surprise but kept quiet so not to spoil her joy in bringing out her 99-year old grandmother to greet us. This wonderful old believer may be the oldest person in Tanzania! She had a sound mind, beautiful smile, and the presence of the Lord filled the room as she entered! What I noticed, however, was that her left eye was blind. So we asked if we could pray for her and as we commanded sight to return, her eye was healed, to God’s glory! The powerful lesson we learned was that just because someone is very old doesn’t mean she must live without sight, and we are never too old to be healed!! Amen!!
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Holy Spirit thwarts the enemy!
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As we were returning to our hotel one night in Tanzania, there was an attempt by the enemy to spoil our trip by setting an ambush along the road. Though it was dark, our host, Rev. Samuel Kitula, spotted two cars up ahead on the road close to a narrow bridge. Though the car in front began flashing its headlights, to indicate car trouble and the need for us to stop to give help, Holy Spirit told Samuel that the several people up ahead were actually robbers intending to take all our belongings at gunpoint (and maybe worse!). So our beloved host calmly told our driver to stop and turn around to head back the other way.
Then we flagged down a big semi truck heading in the direction of the bridge and alerted him to the possible ambush. He said he was armed and would run interference for us! So, we followed right behind the semi as he passed over the bridge and beyond. The “stalled” car and its companion had “miraculously” taken off across the bridge to get away from us!!
At the police checkpoint on the other side of the bridge, Samuel discerned that the police had actually been in cahoots with the villains, allowing them to get away. Sometimes such things happen in the harvest field of the Lord. Yet Holy Spirit rescued us by revealing the plan of the bad guys and sending the semi at just the right moment! The safest place to be is in the center of His will!
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Storms can’t stop the Lord!
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We had lots of rain in Tanzania, but each evening at the time for the Festival meeting, we were dry! The last afternoon was interesting, since we were marooned for a while in the small church where we had the installation ceremony for Mama Amefufuka (Jessica Maldonado) as an elder. Right at the end of the prayer time, the buckets began pouring and we were all dodging the leaks in the thatched church roof! After an hour and a half of waiting out the storm, and praying for clear skies for the outdoor Festival, we decided to make a run for it through the ankle deep “rivers” on the way to the meeting hall and Festival ground. We were all treated to Tanzanian showers!
By the time we dried out a bit in the hall, it was time for the Festival to begin and we had clearing skies – no more rain!!
The enemy tried to stop the local choir from coming by overturning their vehicle along the storm-drenched dirt road to the village. One choir member had to go to the hospital for broken ribs, but the rest escaped with some bruises. One choir lady asked a friend to rub the big bump on her cheek, but I managed to stop them and just prayed. All the pain and swelling went away and the whole choir soon sang with fervor and laughed at the devil’s scheme. The “outpouring” of God was awesome that night as many more were healed and saved!
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When in Rome...
While we were in Amefufuka, we found out that Samuel’s son Obed, our interpreter, turned 25 years old! We also learned that it is the birthday custom of the mother to carry her son on her back (briefly) as a reminder of when he was a little baby, carried on her back everywhere! Since Obed’s mom (Ruth) wasn’t with us on this trip, we found a surrogate mom: team member Dee Clark from Los Alamos, NM. Here she is on the platform, as Obed’s birthday surprise was made complete with a mama carrying him for a few seconds!
Dee also had the honor of “cutting the string” at our welcoming ceremony as we entered Igoma Village upon arrival from the airport the first day in Tanzania! This honor is usually given to a first-time visitor, and we all had flower leis hung around our necks as part of our welcome. After the string-cutting (signifying the opening of the village to the honored guests), our team was greatly humbled as the intercessors washed our feet!
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Twin girls dedicated!
Rarely does a visit to Tanzania go by without having us participate in a wedding, baptism, or baby dedication! I’ve had the honor of dedicating three of Samuel and Ruth’s grandchildren (Goodluck, Ruthie, and Samuel) on separate visits, and my joke with the parents (Anna and Sylvester) is that I need to keep coming back for dedications of their kids!
On this trip we were privileged to dedicate twin baby girls in the church in Igoma Village. The parents gave us the additional honor of naming the girls, but I knew that someone in the congregation had the names from the Lord already! Sure enough, Anna spoke up and we named the girls Leah and Rachel. I got their middle names from the Lord and chimed in with these additions: Eternal Blessing and Joy Forever!
Part of the tradition at baby dedications is to illustrate that the new baby (two this time) belongs to the entire congregation, not just the parents, and that each member is responsible for helping to raise them! This is done by passing the baby around the room so that each person can hold him/her for a few seconds. As the twins were passed around, we almost got confused about which one we had held already - Was that Leah, or Rachel? Here is team member Greg Williams from Lake Stevens, WA, holding his first Tanzanian baby girl, and Dee holding the first of many African babies that she fell in love with! (Every baby on the trip was a “target” for Dee’s love!)
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On to Uganda – First task: some fun!
We left Lynne behind in Tanzania since she had scheduled a second Youth Revival in Nyamatala Village, not far from Igoma where our Children’s Home is located. She later rejoined us in Nairobi for our traditional scrumptious team dinner at the famous Thorntree Restaurant at the swank Stanley Hotel before the long flight(s) home. She was radiant with joy because of all the Lord did in the children (and adults) of Nyamatala (near the 50-acre site of our future Children’s Village being planned to care for over 1000 of the King’s Kids!) as the fire of God fell on all those hungry for more of heaven here on earth! Lynne is now even more “wrecked” than after her first trip last summer!
Meanwhile, the rest of the team took a day and a half break to enjoy a safari from Kampala to beautiful Murchison Falls in northern Uganda. Here is Greg and fellow Washingtonian Darek Olson enjoying the traditional mzungu (white person) view perched on top of our safari van!
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Who’s tracking whom?
It’s a rare sight to see a lion up close in Africa! Normally the females are hidden in the grass (very tall this time of year) as they hunt for the family (pride), but we were treated to a sighting of the “Queen of the Road” as she made use of man’s path through the brush!
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Lots of long-necks!
We saw hundreds of giraffe on our safari, many of them quite close to the road. Here is one of our curious friends:
We also took an incredible boat ride toward Murchison Falls along a branch of the Nile River, and saw more hippos than we could count! Here is a couple that didn’t look too happy to see us: “OK, Henry, I think we can scare them off if you put on your mean face!”
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“Let’s not go ashore just yet!”
We saw quite a few crocodiles sunning themselves along the shore of the river as we passed by. Not a good place to have to go ashore!
The “Veteran” took a nap for part of the boat ride:
At the top of the Falls, we had some great vantage points for taking pictures. Greg likes to live “on the edge!”
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Re-united with my “son!”
On my trip four years ago to Murchison Falls, our team was very blessed to be able to lead George, our safari guide, to Jesus as we finished our game-viewing tour! That was a precious moment and I was longing to know what happened to my spiritual son George. Would Holy Spirit tell me how George was doing? Was he still walking with Jesus?
I had prayed for George’s welfare to be made known to me on this, my second trip to Murchison Falls. On the second day of our safari, we crossed the river by ferry and were greeted by our new van driver and his companion who would serve as our guide for the day. Guess who our guide was? Yep, my spiritual son George just “happened” to be looking for work that day as a guide for mzungus, and asked our driver if he needed someone. What a “coincidence!” George is strong in the Lord, attending church and a Bible study, and he knows the Word! God answered my prayer, in the best way possible! This was a high point for me personally on this trip, to be re-united with my “son” George! I was shedding tears of joy for quite a while in the front of the van, as my son gave awesome commentary in the back of the van with the team!
He will be joining us next summer for our Freedom Festival in Gulu, Uganda, which isn’t too far from his home! I plan to enlist him on our team as we see the Father touch thousands in the refugee camp where we will be ministering! George is on his way to becoming an evangelist!!
He will also double as a “bouncer” if any of our team members get too rowdy, as Dee can jokingly attest!
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A Visit to the Jesus Village!
Once back in Kampala, we were able to spend a brief time at the Jesus Village, a children’s home started by Fresh Fire Ministries earlier this year and now housing over 50 kids from a refugee camp in the strife-torn area near Gulu, in Northern Uganda. These former “Invisible Children” used to migrate each night to the nearest city to escape abduction by the horrific “Lord’s Resistance Army”, a band of vicious, demonically-inspired rebel “soldiers” whose main method of conscripting “volunteers” was to maim or slaughter siblings in front of the boys they were forcing to join their criminal band and the young girls they forced to become “sex slaves.”
Our friends, Luke and Suzanne Jones from Abbotsford, B.C., moved their entire family (with four young sons) to Kampala to direct the Jesus Village project and help these traumatized children heal and get to know their Savior Jesus! Some of the children performed wonderful song and dance for us as honored guests at this haven of hope! [Next summer, we plan to visit a refugee camp in the north and minister the Father’s loving touch to over 35,000 people who are desperate for healing and hope!]. We were able to give enough money from our team fund to provide shoes for every child for Christmas! Praise God for the opportunity to help in some way!
Before departing for the village of Lugazi, about an hour east of Kampala, we stopped by the International House of Worship (IHOW) founded by FTM Associate Minister Jessica Nakibuule. This facility, formerly used by FFM for its African offices, and then as temporary shelter for the Gulu children, is now available 24-7 for worship and prayer, with many visitors being healed and encouraged in the Lord’s presence along with other worshipers.
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“God wants to heal all the blind!”
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On the morning of our first day of outreach in the village of Lugazi, I asked the Lord what he planned for that evening at the Festival grounds. All I got was one word: “Breakthrough!” So I asked what he meant by that. Did “breakthrough” mean that he was going to do something dramatic that night? He answered that he wanted me to break through, using the authority and anointing I’d been given.
When God says, “Jump!” it’s good to ask, “How high?” So that night, as soon as I got the microphone in my hand on the platform, I shouted, “God wants to heal all the blind! So come up on the platform, now!” About half a dozen visually impaired people were helped up onto the platform and, as we prayed and commanded blindness to leave and sight to be restored, they all were healed one by one! Several were able to read bibles! Praise God! I only had time to pray for the first five or six, so our team prayed for the other half-dozen on the field who had come forward to receive their sight. All of them were healed, just as the Father advertised!
Hundreds of people were healed that night on the field by the power of God sweeping through their bodies! And many gave their lives to Christ! The transformation of Lugazi had begun! In fact, the transformation began 2 1/2 years ago when FTM friend Donya Duggleby led a team as they conducted a Festival in Lugazi in the summer of 2004 and broke the back of witchcraft in the area! We were able to reap blessing from the ministry of her team ahead of us, and saw incredible fruit during our short three days there.
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Bringing happiness to the hospital!
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The next day we were able to visit a local hospital in Lugazi and minister to the sick. Our team split up and fanned out into the wards to pray! Darek Olson and Jessica Maldonado teamed up to pray in the men’s ward and saw amazing moves of God! Here is Darek’s account of their time with the men:
“The hospital was a very exciting time. To be honest with you I was not looking forward to going to the hospital at all. In fact even as we crawled out of the van everything inside of me wanted to run. I was way out of my safety zone. This sounds like a great time for the Lord to move. Jessica M. and I went into the Men's Ward. There were eight men in the ward. The first man that we prayed for was a Christian and had severe burns on his legs from the knees down. We prayed that the Lord would bring healing to his legs and also prayed against infection. Jessica and I both felt led to pray blessing over his family while he was not able to provide for them. He indicated that the pain decreased in his legs as we prayed for him.
The second man that we prayed for had just had hernia restoration surgery. He also had Malaria. He was really sick and could barely talk. As we prayed for him we learned that he did not know Jesus as his Savior. I had the honor of praying with him to accept the Lord as his personal Savior. What an awesome miracle, the gift of eternal life. We then continued to pray for his malaria. He could barely breathe as we prayed for him and the Lord touched him color returned to his face and his breath deepened and grew stronger. As we moved through the rest of the ward I watched him get out of bed and walk down the hall. This would have been impossible when we first met him.
The next man was not a man at all but a ten-year old boy. He was unwilling to receive prayer, as he was a Muslim; however his mother accepted Christ as her Savior. The radiance that came over her was awesome. The next man was Catholic and was not interested in 'changing his religion' but he did invite us to pray for him. He indicated that he felt better as the Lord came and touched him. The next man was really sick with Malaria. He could hardly breathe, it was painful to listen to him breathe. He did not know the Lord so we prayed with him to accept Christ. We then prayed for healing and his breath grew stronger and stronger as we prayed. If he had had the energy he would have jumped around the ward with excitement. Jesus truly is the best medicine a man can receive.
The next man was recovering from a severe cough. We prayed that he would be healed in the name of Jesus Christ and the power of God touched him. We also led him to the Lord. The last man we prayed for also had burns on his body. He would not look us in the face and would only look at us from the corner of his eye. We asked him why he was in the hospital and he said that he had a seizure and fell into the fire. I was instantly reminded of the story of the girl in the bible that was demon possessed. She also had seizures and was thrown into the fire. We asked him if he knew Jesus and he said no, so we led him to the Savior and he made his declaration to the Lord. Once we were done praying for him we began to come against the devil inside of him. The demon left by the power of Jesus and the young man was set free in the name of Jesus. His whole being changed radically. He would look us in the eye, he was smiling and the joy of the Lord was with him.”
Similar stories came from the other wards where our team ministered. In the children’s ward, every sick child was healed, with many wanting to go home right away! Fevers and pains went away under the loving hand of Jesus!
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More breakthrough the second night in Lugazi!
On our second day, after the hospital miracles, I felt sure that the Lord was anointing Jessica Maldonado for preaching that night, and that she would have powerful authority over deafness in particular! Sure enough, she got the same impression from the Lord, so it was a “done deal!” Several deaf were healed on the platform and on the field that night, and dozens saved! Breakthrough happened again!
One girl was brought up to the platform that was not deaf at all, but crippled! Taking that surprise in stride, Jessica prayed for her and after a few moments she was able to stand for the first time in her life, steadying herself on her mama’s leg! Praise God that he has compassion on all that he has made!!
The crowd had swelled this night to about 2000 and they were excited to see all the miracles! Many had brought their sick relatives and friends for healing and they were not disappointed. Wave after wave of healings went through the crowd and we didn’t have time for even a fraction of the testimonies!
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Children capture the hearts of the team!
As always happens, our team gets “wrecked” by the kids! Team member Rainey Braughton from Los Alamos, NM, fell in love with the children and vice versa. Here she is giving gifts to one of the young boys in Igoma Village.
Darek Olson couldn’t resist the children either. He told us that he had a lump in his throat as he left Igoma, having to turn down a boy’s request to go with him back to the U.S.!
And Greg Williams found a precious treasure (actually she found him!) at the Festival grounds in Lugazi. Her mama sang in the choir while little Precious (that’s her real name!) charmed the team!
We have hundreds of photos like these from our trip! Just looking at them makes us weep for the children of Africa! Here’s another that reflects the wonder in a lonely boy’s face as he looks on the Festival from a distance.
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Team members preach in local churches!
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The last morning of our Festival in Lugazi was Sunday, so we were all invited to preach in local churches by the area pastors. As our team ministered in the various locations, the power of God healed many during the ministry times, often with the entire congregation delivered from sickness! Here are FTM TouchTeam veterans Annie Lozano (from Brownsville, TX), Jessica Maldonado and “rookie” Rainey Braughton as they minister the Word of God and healing to hungry, humble people:
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An amazing singing sign and anointed handkerchiefs!
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The last night of the Festival in Lugazi was outrageous! That morning, I again was asking the Lord what he wanted to do that night, and all I got was a faint impression about handkerchiefs! The only thing I could think of was something similar to what happened 5 months before during the second night in Bukura market in Kenya (see our report on the Summer 2006 trip). That night the Lord anointed hundreds of handkerchiefs and cloths for healing and the entire crowd was healed as they laid the cloths on each other and prayed with authority!
Did the Lord want to do the same thing again? I wasn’t sure. I was concerned that my flesh just wanted to see the amazing anointing again. How could I be sure this prompting was from the Lord and not just my own desire for the spectacular? I asked him to give me a sign – it worked for Gideon!
That evening as I sat with the team on the Festival field near the platform, watching the choirs perform, I again asked the Lord for a sign. I needed some leading! Then a soloist named Martin was called up to the platform to sing one song before the Lord. I found out that it is possible for someone to sing a sign!
As Martin stirred the crowd with his passionate worship, he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, began waving it in time with the music, and asked the crowd to do the same! So as I looked, the entire crowd was waving handkerchiefs! What more of a sign did I need? Amazing!
Just before I went up on the platform to preach, Holy Spirit told me to take my flashlight with me. Weird, but he and I have this agreement: he can be weird if I can! So, I fished around in my backpack and finally found my flashlight and stuck it in my suit pocket as I went up on the platform.
I shared from Acts 19:12 about the amazing anointing imparted to cloths and aprons that had touched Paul, so powerful that when they were placed on sick people they got well and even demons left them! Then I shared the testimony of what happened in Kenya in the summer and encouraged the people to believe for the same tonight! As I took out my handkerchief, all the platform lights went out!
Nice try, devil! But the PA system still worked and I had my flashlight! So I shined my light on the handkerchief so everyone could see it in the dark, and encouraged the crowd of 5000 to get theirs out again! I prayed for God’s anointing to fill the cloths and then I had the people lay them on their own heads if they were sick or on their neighbor’s head if they were sick, and command the disease or infirmity to leave, in Jesus’ name!
They were all healed!
My voice was shot by the end of that mass-healing miracle, so Jessica Maldonado gave an altar call and many more people gave their lives to Christ! What an awesome encouragement to the villagers! Now they know for sure that God loves them and lives with them! Another village transformed by the love of the Father and his incredible healing touch!
It’s getting to be a habit, Abba! I think you are addicted to healing people!
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FTM Associate Ministers closer to “launch!”
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Our three Father’s Touch Associate Ministers on the trip (Lynne Chapman, Jessica Maldonado, and Jessica Nakibuule) were all instrumental in the success of our mission, each preaching and ministering in so many different ways that I’m sure they felt more like Jesus after this trip! Each one of them was powerfully WBR (“wrecked beyond recognition”) by all that the Lord did to show them he is alive and active in Africa, and wants to use them in a multitude of ways to be his “touch” to thousands upon thousands in the future! If you would like to learn more about our Associates and how you can support their emerging power ministries, please visit our website at: http://www.fatherstouch.org/.
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Asante sana!
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We would like to say, “Asante sana!” [“Thank you very much!”] to our Freedom Festival organizers and hosts in Africa: Bishop Samuel Kitula (Igoma, Amefufuka, and Nyamatala, in Tanzania), and Pastor Hudson Suubi in Lugazi, Uganda. We also are thankful for the countless other volunteers who made our ministry fruitful and delightful! Their rewards are indeed great in heaven!
The Lord took our whole team to new levels of faith and wonder during our time in Africa! We saw the compassion of Jesus poured out on thousands of precious souls as he healed entire crowds and saved whoever would come to him! He is the “same yesterday and today and forever.” [Heb. 13:8] So we say together, “Asante Yesu!”
Come join us on a Father’s Touch adventure in Africa with Abba! Visit our website for information about upcoming Freedom Festival trips and our ministry to the fatherless. Or if you can’t join us, but you have been touched by the few examples you’ve read about in this report and would like to help support our expanding ministry in Africa, please visit our website http://www.fatherstouch.org/ to find out how to do so online, or you can mail a tax-deductible donation check directly to:
The Father’s Touch Ministries
21213-B Hawthorne Blvd. #5326
Torrance, CA 90503
The impact that you can have in Africa is enormous, because the Father is multiplying our efforts tremendously through the encouragement and equipping of local ministers in the regions we visit. Please consider making a contribution to support our local ministry teams – they depend almost entirely on the generosity of their caring Brothers and Sisters in the West!
May the Lord richly bless you as you rejoice with us in all the heavenly touches of our Father!
Bwana Yesu akubariki sana! (Lord Jesus bless you very much!)
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