From the Pen of Pastor Aaron

Sixteen of us flew from Ghana, whose coast is on the Atlantic, all the way down and across the continent of Africa to the city of Durban, South Africa, which is on the eastern side of Africa, on the Indian Ocean. Durban is the third largest city in South Africa, with a population of over two million. We went with but one thought in mind…to win souls. It was not the metropolis of Durban we were focused on. We were headed to districts that everyone avoids. We were in one such district last year, Bottlebrush, and we returned there on this trip to do as Paul did, “to see how they are,” to encourage them, and to expand God’s sphere of influence through them.

Bottlebrush Home

We started the mission off with a five-day crusade in the township of Chastsworth in the settlement of Bottlebrush. Remember Bottlebrush from last year? Homes made out of anything, raw sewage running down the roads, and only one standpipe for water out by the road. When we arrived to set up our tent, we saw someone else had come and occupied the area we had been promised. However, God always has a plan, and His plan was made fully known only after the crusade was over. About 300 feet from where we intended to hold the crusade, on the opposite side of the road, was a school whose parking lot was no longer used. We sought permission from the authorities of the school to allow us to use the parking space to pitch the tent. We were met with such favor and openness, that we were not only allowed to set up our tent, but the school also opened up their multi-purpose room for medical teams to be situated there, as well as for the other ministry activities that our host pastor, Pastor Dennis and his wife, Eunice do in this district! The school authorities did one more act of favor…but I’ll save that for later.

We happily set up our tent and prepared for the first night. We were expecting a full tent because of the work accomplished last year in Bottlebrush. However, very few people came. We soon found out the reason: crime, pride, and prejudice! The communities around us were afraid to join us in the evening because we were in such a notoriously bad area. Police helicopters frequently had shoot-outs with criminals—and there had been one such just the night before! In addition, the neighboring Zulu community thought they were better than the Zulu community we were in because, they had been able to build a few concrete homes (size 10’ x 15’). In addition, the Indian community refused to come, citing that it was too dangerous in the night to attend, even with the assurance of police security patrolling the area for us. But God…

God led me to begin that first night with an extended period of worship and then call for those individuals who were suffering from pain and sickness. Those present began to move forward. As one of our team members said, “I have never seen a church service where people were prayed for before the preaching.” God was faithful and healed all the sick! This news was telegraphed throughout the three districts. As news reached the people about what God was doing, crime, pride and prejudice melted away!. It no longer mattered what side of the “tracks” you were coming from, the people of Bottlebrush were filling up the tent. And so did the Presence of God fill the tent!

Each night, God’s word was delivered. Each night, people came forward for salvation. Each night, people were healed. Each night, people came forward to be delivered from alcohol and drugs. They came forward throwing marijuana joints, snuff and stuff on the ground. God worked His wonders.

Jesus Saved!	Jesus Healed!
Jesus Delivered!

The final night of the crusade God continued to display Himself awesomely. That night , it rained a torrential rain. The wind picked up ferociously, yet the tent was unmoved. Amazingly, the rain did not stop people from attending, as the entire tent was filled to its capacity. I preached on the scripture, “Stand Still and See the Salvation of the Lord.” (Exodus 14:13) As I was preaching, I had a huge sledge hammer, and I began to destroy the idols of the area that the people had been bringing in and throwing at the base of the platform. The people in the tent were all standing on their feet, their eyes glued to what I was doing. I put 4 cigarettes in my mouth (unlit of course), and then threw them down crushing them with the sledge hammer. Next I brought a one-liter bottle of Miller Beer that I threw down to the ground. The bottle was glass and the floor was concrete, but the bottle refused to break—imagine that! I took that big sledge hammer and with all my might thrust it down to the ground, instantly crushing that bottle. A great shouting rose up out into the tent! God was working. Idols were being torn down in the realm of the spirit. I opened the altar and the altar was flooded with people! After the people received prayer, God was not finished! God continued to move on our hearts, and travailing prayer for the community broke out as we began to do spiritual combat in the area.

Thou shalt have no other gods	One of many idols thrown down at the altar by attendees
Tearing down the idols!	Our God, He is Lord!

The people were actually demanding a weekly service! The tent was left up so that on Sunday afternoon, the people could meet with two Zulu leaders from Pastor Dennis’ ministry who would lead them that Sunday afternoon service. Twenty people came, and fifteen were new converts! Remember the favor of the school? It continued! They are now allowing one of their rooms to be used for a church! The following Sunday, inside the classroom, over forty showed up, including these fifteen new converts. They are being pastored by a man Pastor Dennis has been mentoring for four years. Not only had God done a mighty work in that area during the crusade nights, but a church was born in the process to nurture and care for the people spiritually.

The final week of our missions trip was spent ministering in another outlaying district of Durban, called Phoenix. This district is comprised mostly of Asian Indians. We held a meeting within a church building that became six nights of glory. With each passing night, the Glory of God increased and God did mighty works each night. Even after the message was completed and the service given back to the pastor of the church, God’s presence continued to move over the congregation, as we continued to worship the Lord. Each succeeding night, the church was packed to overflowing. The evenings grew longer and longer, as the people did not want to leave the Presence of God. We feel we made a great deposit here in a center of Hindu people, and we look forward to watching how God’s sphere of influence will increase among them.

Apart from these two major outreaches, our ladies ministered to the women of Pastor Dennis’ church while I led a Pastors/Leaders’ workshop. The people are so hungry, one pastor and his wife even drove three hours to attend this meeting. I taught on evangelism and by the time I had finished, not only had the pastors present been touched, but the leaders were also challenged to go out to the highways and byways to bring people into the kingdom! Reports are already coming back to us!

Equipping our students: All ministered in each crusade night, leading worship, giving exhortations, and being part of the prayer teams. By day, they helped our host pastor, Dennis, with his feeding 800 children in the Bottlebush area, as well as helping his medical teams. On the three Sundays we were there, each student had opportunity to preach in a local congregation. Some of their testimonies are on the next page.

Students leading worship	Exhorting at crusade
Helping feed the 800 children	Helping Pastor Dennis' Medical Team
Preaching at a local church

It was a great trip, we saw many saved, healed, delivered from demonic power, and people’s hearts and lives were revived. These were our goals before we set out, and God did it. Give Him all the glory!

Thank you for your prayers and financial support!

Student Testimonies From Bottlebrush

Concerning the district of Bottlebrush: There are a lot of people who were living in fear, especially in the Indian community. Most of those living in the shacks are bound with terrible vices, being involved with alcohol, drugs, and smoking. I also learned that rape cases are increasing. However, during the five days of interacting with them with the Word of God, I could see hunger for change, and they became thirsty for the Word. These people now know that God cares for them, and that He has a purpose for their lives. The atmosphere in the community was changed right from the beginning! Florence Asare Appiah,1st Year Diploma

The First Day of the Crusade: The 9th of February was the commencement of our crusade in the township of Chatsworth, in particular at Bottlebrush. We visited the homes of the Zulus and Indians and invited them to the crusade grounds. The Indians expressed many fears that our crusade ground was dangerous and tried to discourage us from going forward. They even said our tent would be destroyed or stolen, but we believed God and went ahead. For all these five days we were under God’s protection, which defies every human report (evil) about the area, and God did mighty things for which we are grateful. At the end of the crusade, the people were sad to see the end and were longing for us to stay on. You could see the hunger for God in them and they now had a deep cry for God. Many gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Mary Dominic, 2nd Year Diploma

During the Crusade: All the evenings were all charged with the power of God as our pastor/lecturers delivered the message. God’s miracles stretched from people giving their lives to Christ, to healings and unbelievable convictions. People came forward on their own accord to throw down their cigarettes, heroin, and snuffs, and men and women broke down into weeping and confession of their sin. For myself, I realized that God is ready to use anybody only if he or she avails himself. This alone has encouraged me to press on and never be discouraged. The kind of love that has been demonstrated is beyond my scope and which I believe will continue. Vincent Arhin, 2nd Year Saturday Diploma

The Power of the Holy Spirit: One of the experiences that touched my heart so much was during the crusade, when the sermon was being preached by Rev. Nelson, the Word convicted a woman so much that she stood up during the preaching and walked to the altar and surrendered herself and all the drugs she had on her without anyone telling her to do so. That is the power of the Holy Spirit! Dean MacBaiden, Alumnus from Saturday Diploma Curriculum

For those who had lost hope: The crusade was full of drug addicts who were desperate and most of them had lost hope in life. From the first night of the crusade, the people saw that all the snares in their life can be broken and taken away only by Jesus. So they surrendered to Jesus and received their peace. The last night of the crusade it rained heavily but people still came trooping into the tent. That night Pastor Aaron preached based on the scripture, Stand still and see what the Lord will do for you. In the process of the preaching, God used Pastor Aaron to demonstrate how idols, alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs are not the solution and he began to destroy all of these with a huge sledge hammer! Many souls were won and everybody went home fully blessed and their spirit filled. The people felt sorry that the crusade had come to an end because they needed more of Jesus. This shows that our mission work has not been in vain. Instead, we have added to the Kingdom of God more souls. Alexandra Afful, Alumna from Bachelors Curriculum

Thanksgiving: I thank God for the souls that were won during this crusade. I also thank God for the number of people who continued to come to the crusade each day because the Spirit of God took over this community. I saw the awesomeness of God night after night. I was overwhelmed when Rev. Nelson was preaching and within five minutes a woman came with her drugs in hand to lay it down as a surrender to God. Praise be to God for those who came drunk and they also surrendered and returned sober. The last night, I feel that the huge rain that came was really God blessing us, making us to see His greatness. In spite the lighting, thunder, fierce wind and torrential rain, the people were willing to come and be blessed. At the end of that night, God took us into a deep prayer. I could sense the Spirit of God moving and walls were breaking down. Behold, the next day a church was started! Esi Yawson, – 3rd Year Saturday Diploma

The Children’s Feeding Program: The other aspect of this missionary trip was the feeding program which surpassed my imagination. I did a rough calculation and realized that Pastor Dennis and his wife spend not less than $2000 weekly feeding 800 children for five days! This has really challenged me and has unearthed something the Lord has placed on my heart so many years ago. I have practiced taking care of the orphan and the needy, but I believe I am leaving the shores of South Africa with a determined mindset of helping the needy in a bigger way. Vincent Arhin, 2nd Year Saturday Diploma