Mid-October Partner Letter

Dear Partner,

What is on your mind right now?

If your answer is the economy…a debt…a job situation…challenges in your family…health issues… Believe me, you’re not alone… So many people are desperately in need of God’s help right now. And as the holidays approach, you may be feeling even extra pressure.

It may be tempting to put all your attention and energy into the circumstances you’re facing, especially when your situation appears overwhelming. But the answers you need aren’t found in your circumstances… Your answers are found in God.

The God you serve is a miracle-working God, and He can turn around anything that has been keeping you down. It’s crucial to look to HIM and see where HE is leading you. As Hebrews 12:1–2 says, Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…

Jesus knows where your miracle is located! He responds to your faith! That’s why I want to encourage you today to choose carefully what you focus on. No matter what you’re facing, don’t let your circumstances dominate your thinking. Don’t let your situation determine what you believe is possible for you.

Instead, keep your attention on JESUS! Put your faith in Him… He’s the One who can meet all your needs… He is your Source for abundant living (John 10:10). He can lead you right where you need to be for your miracle to happen. But you must stay focused on Him and pay attention to what He is saying to you.

I know that is not always easy. It takes determination and faith to stay focused on Him in challenging situations. You have to actively seek out God’s Word and His plan for you… The Bible says, Seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1–2).

Even when your bills are saying to you that you won’t be able to pay them off… even when the doctor’s report is telling you there’s no hope and your body is reminding you of how much pain you’re in… Even in the worst of times, you must REFUSE to let the bad news get louder than the GOOD NEWS of the Bible.

What is the GOOD NEWS?

It’s the news that you are not alone… God has not abandoned you. He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to pay the price for sin. Jesus shed His blood for your healing…suffered so you could have peace with God…and rose from the grave so you might have eternal life through your faith in Him as Lord and Savior.

He cares about everything that concerns you, even the little things that you may have considered too small to bring to the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). He can heal, deliver, and provide for you…The Bible says He’s willing to do it. He wants to bring His healing, delivering, providing power into your life. When Jesus was asked by a leper if He was willing to heal, Jesus said, “YES! I’m willing. Be healed!” (See Matthew 8:1–3.)

When the Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal his very ill servant, Jesus said, “I will COME and heal him.” Jesus was willing not only to heal the man, but to actually go to him, wherever he was. The Lord was willing to interrupt His day to meet a need because the Roman centurion had come to Him in faith, believing.

(Now, if you read the story in Matthew 8:5–13, you’ll see Jesus ended up simply sending the Word, because that’s what the centurion asked for. But the point I want you to catch is that Jesus was willing to go the extra mile to meet the need that had been brought to Him.)

And Jesus was so moved with compassion by the sight of the widow of Nain, who was getting ready to bury her only son, that He raised the boy from the dead without even being asked for a miracle (Luke 7:11–15). Have you caught what I’m saying to you?

Jesus is WILLING to help you… right now… in the midst of whatever you’re facing.

Sometimes, we can lose sight of that. We get so distracted and worried that we may stop looking to Him. But that’s the wrong thing to do…

Do you remember how the apostle Peter walked on water? What a miracle! And it happened in the midst of a storm (Matthew 14:22–33). Peter and the other disciples were in a ship on the Sea of Galilee on a windy, stormy night.

I’m sure you’ve had your share of storms too… Maybe you’re facing a storm in your life right now. I believe this word is going to speak to you and your needs today…

In the middle of the night…in the middle of that storm…Jesus came walking on the water to meet the disciples. They might have thought they were alone. But the Lord hadn’t abandoned them. He knew right where they were, and He knew that their miracle was right there in the middle of the Sea of Galilee!

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they immediately thought they were seeing a ghost. (Men don’t normally walk on water, do they?) Naturally, they grew afraid, but Jesus told them not to fear. Peter said, “If it’s really you, Lord, and not a ghost, then ask me to walk on the water with you.” And sure enough, that’s exactly what Jesus did.

Now, here’s what I want you to catch… As long as Peter KEPT HIS EYES ON JESUS, he was just fine on top of that water. It didn’t matter that water doesn’t normally hold people up. A miracle began to take place, right where Jesus and Peter were standing. The circumstances began to line up with what Jesus SPOKE and SAID. Peter was getting a miracle…

Then, Peter did what we’re all tempted to do when things get rough. He got distracted by his situation. He began to pay attention to the wind and the waves. He started to think about the water. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and put them on his situation, he began to sink! Thankfully, he had the sense to turn right around to Jesus again and cry for help. And the Lord reached out to him, lifted him up again, and walked him back to the boat.

Partner, storms are going to arise in your life. That’s just how life is. But where you place your faith and your focus is going to determine what happens to you in the midst of the storm. I’ve reminded you that Jesus cares about you… He’s willing to help you…He can fix things even when you mess up like Peter did…And He knows exactly where your miracle is located…

So, don’t allow anything to take your eyes off Jesus. No matter what you’re going through right now…no matter what your loved ones are facing…no matter how bad things may appear to you… The answer you need is found in Jesus. He has the miracle-working power to turn your situation around for your good. He can do it NOW. He can do it in the future. You don’t need to fear when He is with you.

I want to pray with you in faith and believe God with you that you’ll
be in the right place at the right time to receive the miracle you’re believing for. Write your needs on the prayer form, place your hand over your writing, andpray out loud: “Lord, I’m looking to YOU for Your perfect answers to all my needs. I’m expecting miracles. And please provide for the needs of Richard and the Oral Roberts Ministries too. Thank You for blessing them and blessing me, in Jesus’ name!”

Now, send me your prayer requests as soon as you can… And when you do, please ask the Lord what seed-faith gift He’d like you to sow. Remember, your seeds sown in faith are so important to the work of this healing ministry…

And they are so important to your future harvests! I don’t want you to miss an opportunity to get your seed in the ground. First you sow, and then you reap… And I want to see you reaping harvests every time you need them, in every area of your life. That’s why I’m encouraging you to sow a seed today.

When you sow your seed, remember to look to Jesus… Because of Him, all the riches of heaven are made available to you (Philippians 4:19). It’s Jesus who makes it possible for your needs to be met according to God’s resources. As you keep your eyes on Him and as you continually speak His words of life over your seed-sowing, I believe you will see the abundance of God coming into your situation and overflowing into every area where you have a need.

I thank you for every seed you sow into this ministry… And I can’t wait to hear from you so I can hold your prayer requests in my hands and pray for you. Please let me hear from you as soon as you can respond to me. I pray blessings on you today and always, in Jesus’ name!

Your partner for miracles,

PS. I want you to have our beautiful 2013 Calendar, Miracles. It’s a FREE gift for you! If you haven’t already requested your copy, visit www.oralroberts.com/bookstore to tell me that you’d like me to send you the calendar. I believe you’ll be encouraged by the Scriptures, testimonies of people who have received answers to prayer, and reminders of how you are helping us share God’s healing power through your partnership. You are a blessing to me, and I thank you for your seed-faith gifts and your prayers!

Click here to request your Miracles: 2013 Inspirational Calendar

Honduras: February 3

Back Healed

We just finished Day 2 of our medical clinics in Tegucigalpa. Our team shared medicine, food, and the Gospel with 610 people today! Many received Jesus as Lord, including a local woman who lived in the area. When she walked by and saw what we were doing, she came in to receive care and left with Jesus in her heart. (more…)

Nigeria

A Wave of God’s Healing Power

I’m expecting blind eyes to open, deaf ears to open, the lame to walk.  I’m expecting the miracle power of God to show itself forth during this Healing Rally.”
Those were the first words out of Richard Roberts’ mouth as he spoke at a news conference upon his arrival in Ibadan, Nigeria.  His great expectations were broadcast, via television, to millions of people throughout Africa and Europe.
“I’m ready to preach tomorrow night at Liberty Stadium,” Richard continued enthusiastically.  “Just turn me loose!  And you watch—God will confirm His Word with miracles, signs, and wonders.”
But before the crowds could even assemble the next evening, God’s healing power was already on the move in Ibadan.

A miracle that couldn’t wait

Later that day, Richard visited Ibadan’s police headquarters, where he had a special time of prayer with the police officers.
Just as he was about to walk out the door, he turned back to the police commissioner with a word of knowledge from the Lord.
“Have you been having difficulty with your back?” Richard asked him.
The police commissioner nodded yes.
“The Lord is healing your back right now,” Richard told him.  “You’re the first healing in Ibadan!”
The commissioner was stunned.  His back was instantly healed.  And the miracles had only begun…

A warm Nigerian welcome

At the invitation a year ago of Dr. Samuel Abiara, pastor of Christ Apostolic Church, and 1,300 other local pastors, Richard led an Oral Roberts Ministries healing team to Nigeria.  The 40-member team—five doctors, including an eye surgeon, a dentist, several nurses, young evangelists, and others—came to bring God’s love, hope, and healing power to the precious people of Ibadan.
And after a year’s anticipation, when at long last Richard stepped off the plane onto Nigerian soil, he was warmly embraced by his host, and welcomed by many local pastors who had helped to sponsor the meetings.
As healing team members began preparing for the free medical and dental clinic, Richard toured the nearby University College Hospital, where some of the team’s doctors would perform surgeries and hold teaching seminars.  He also made a special visit to the ICU, where he prayed over each patient.
He then met with the governor of the state of Oyo at the state capitol.

“We’re here because of love.”

During the next four days, the ORM medical team treated over 1,000 people at the free medical and dental clinic, and gave out hundreds of thousands of dollars in medications.
“We’re here because we love these people,” said Dr. Mike McGee, a Tulsa physician, “and we want them to know God’s love for them and His healing power.”
The medical team was joined by local doctors in an effort to see as many patients as possible.  They also prayed for each patient individually and encouraged them to attend Richard’s healing services in the evenings.

‘I once was blind, but now…’

Tulsa ophthalmologist Dr. Lin Brister brought a unique and precious gift—the gift of sight—to many people in Ibadan as he and his team performed 61cataract surgeries.
“It’s a miracle-working surgery,” said his wife, nurse Clair Brister.
The morning after her surgery, when one patient’s bandages were removed, her smile told the happy story.
“It’s very fine,” she said, “I can see clearly now.  Now I can see everybody!”

‘It’s like a celebration!’

During the four nights of the Healing Rally held at Liberty Stadium, over 25,000 people gave their lives to Jesus Christ, and countless others received healing.
Each night the ORM medical team sang a special song they had learned in the Yoruba language, much to the enjoyment of the crowd.
Brenda Isaacs commented on the spirit of the people at the services.  “They’re so exuberant in their praise,” she said.  “There’s no holding back their zeal and their enthusiasm.  It’s like a celebration.”

A wave of God’s healing power

At a chapel service held the day before Richard left for Africa, Dr. Frank Hultgren– one of several intercessors who paved the way in prayer for the journey—had a special word of prophecy for Richard and his trip to Ibadan:
“In the second or third meeting, I saw, in a vision, the power of God hit the crowd.  People were healed.  Eyes were opened.  Ears were opened.  Crippled legs walked.”
On the second night of the healing rally, the prophecy came to pass.
“The minute I touched the microphone,” Richard recalled, “miracles started happening almost instantly.  Just as Dr. Hultgren prophesied, I saw healing coming from the left side of the stadium—a wave of it—and people instantly started to get healed!”
Dr. Leanne Benton, worship leader, was on the platform with Richard.
“There was a wave of healing in the stadium,” she said. “Dr. Hultgren had prophesied it, and Richard recognized it.  I saw it—there was an actual physical breeze that came across the stadium.  The tangible presence of God came in as a wind.  God’s healings were instantaneous.  I’ve never seen or experienced it before.”
Healing team member Dominic Russo described it this way:  “The second night, Dr. Roberts didn’t even preach.  All of a sudden, a wave of healing came—people starting yelling all across the stadium.  People were being healed everywhere!”

‘Can you hear me now?’

One of the miracle healings that night was a young girl who had been almost completely deaf much of her life.
When she came to the platform to testify, Richard asked her, “Can you hear me now?”
“I hear you, sir,” the little girl replied.
Richard handed her the microphone and moved further away.  “Can you hear me now?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” the girl replied.
Each time, Richard’s voice became quieter and quieter as he asked, “Can you hear me now?” And each time she replied clearly and without hesitation, “Yes, sir.”
“Shout hallelujah!” Richard cried.  “God is a good God!”    Laughing, he swung the little girl up in his arms as the whole crowd rejoiced together.

‘Nigeria’s finest hour’

By the third night, more than 50,000 people were packed into Liberty Stadium.
When Richard, dressed in native Nigerian clothing, declared, “Tonight I am becoming an honorary Nigerian,” the audience roared its approval.
At his invitation, they stood to their feet to give God praise for His goodness.
Looking out at the vast sea of people waving their white handkerchiefs like freedom flags toward heaven, Richard exclaimed, “I wish my wife and daughters were here to see this!
“Tonight is a night to pray for Nigeria,” he told the crowd.  “But before we pray for Nigeria, I am beginning with you.  Tonight is the night to give your heart to God.  The miracle starts with you.”
In response, thousands gave their hearts to the Lord, and their eternal destination became heaven.
At midnight, the service was still going strong.  One team member sent this text message home to the States: “It’s midnight, and nobody has left yet.  What a service!”
At 5 o’clock the next morning, many people had still not left.  They had stayed for an all-night prayer vigil for Nigeria, organized and led by local pastors.
On the last night of the rally, all the team members joined Richard on the platform as he thanked the people for their warm reception in Ibadan.
“God has a due season,” Richard told the crowd. “The Bible says, ‘If you don’t give up, you shall receive in due season.
“Expect a new miracle every day!”

Freed from years of suffering

Over the four days of the rally, multitudes of people came forward to share their healing testimonies.
One man had had tormenting pain in his head for 23 years, but when Richard prayed, the pain was gone.
A woman who had had asthma all of her life was able to breathe freely.
Another woman who was struck with blindness three years ago had her sight restored to her.
One after another, people came forward to tell how God had set them free.  Many had suffered for years with their conditions, but now there were tears of joy and relief as they celebrated their healing.

Stepping up and reaching out

Upon his return to the United States, Richard reflected on his experience in Nigeria.
“I thank God for the anointing.  I thank God because I know that He is still in the saving, healing business.  I know He’s still performing miracles, and I expect that anointing to get stronger and stronger—not for me, but to be a blessing in the lives of people everywhere.”

Thank you, Partners!

My heart is still soaring when I think about what God did in Nigeria—the thousands who gave their hearts to Jesus Christ, and the miracles of healing.  This Healing Rally was what God’s called us to do through the merging of God’s healing streams of prayer and medical science, and I want to thank you for your partnership with us.
We still need your help.  Next year, we plan to go to the country of Niger and hold the first-ever national healing rally.
Dr. Mike McGee, a Tulsa physician who lived in Niger for a year doing medical missions, plans to be part of our team again next year.
Our free medical clinics are a real door-opener to areas in need.  Dr. McGee hopes our team can bring in some much-needed medical equipment, and by working with the local doctors and medical students, have an opportunity for some real “relationship evangelism.”
You don’t change a country—you change people, and then people change countries.  And when you sow seeds to this ministry, you help us to reach out to people across the world.
Thank you, Partners, for sending me—because preaching and praying for the sick is what I was born to do.  And when you send me through your financial gifts and your prayers, I believe you get a harvest on every soul won to Jesus.  Thank you.  Thank you so much.                                                   —Richard Roberts

Niger

A Divine Appointment with Niger

In January 2007, I traveled to the West African nation of Niger for the first Miracle Healing Rally ever allowed in that country.  Through that trip, I believe the Oral Roberts Ministries and our Partner family took a giant step in fulfilling God’s command to us to take the power of the Gospel to the “uttermost bounds of the earth.”  If ever there was a nation where God’s light is seen dim and His power is not known, it’s Niger.  Thank you, Partners, for 60 years of being a vital part of this ministry that has taken God’s miracles of hope and healing to countries like Niger and so many others.   -Richard

Some 25 years ago, God gave me the names of 40 nations of the world where He was going to send me to preach the Gospel and pray for the sick.  One of those was the nation of Niger, in West Africa.
One of the things God told me was that He would open the doors to those nations.  I was to wait on Him, and He would open the doors in a way no one could deny…and no man could close.
Little did I know then the unique way God would open the door—more than 20 years later—to the nation of Niger.  And when He did, He got my full attention…immediately!

A ‘Coincidental’ Landing?

In 2004, I was on a flight back to Tulsa from a Miracle Rally in Ghana.  I had just dozed off to sleep when I heard the pilot announce, “We’ve lost our second generator.  We’re going to have to land in Niger.”
And I thought, Now isn’t this amazing?  Because Niger was one of the 40 countries where I knew God would send me one day.  I learned later that the pilot could have chosen to go a different direction to land the plane.  The decision had to be made quickly, and he chose Niger.  And because he did, I soon found myself landing—completely unexpectedly—in Niger, West Africa.
Some people would call what happened to us a coincidence, or a diversion.  Looking at it only from a natural point of view, it wasn’t really supposed to be where I was headed.  But I believe that God has divine appointments for our lives, even when we don’t understand them.  When we are seeking God’s will for our lives and walking in obedience to Him, what may look like a distraction or a diversion to us may very well be one of His divine appointments.  That’s why I know in my heart our “unscheduled stopover” in Niger was one of those moments.
I was only there for about 24 hours.  But during that time, I fell in love with the people and the country of Niger.  And the Lord began laying on my heart that His time was soon coming for a Miracle Healing Rally in Niger.
Now, I didn’t know at the time that ORU graduates Neal and Danette Childs were there in Niger as missionaries.  I didn’t know Neal’s parents, Ron and Jerry Childs—who I had met years ago in Nigeria when they were administrators for the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa’s church—were now missionaries to Niger.  I didn’t know the Childs would eventually become our sponsors in Niger.
I didn’t know all of the other “divine appointments” God was beginning to make for me to return to Niger to minister.  But I knew if I began taking steps in that direction and doing everything I knew to do, He would provide the way.

Doors Begin Opening

The following year, on our way to conduct a Miracle Healing Rally in the country of Nigeria, we again stopped over in Niger.  But this time it was a planned stop to accept the invitation I had been given to conduct a Pastor’s Conference with a group of about 100 pastors.  Now even though that’s a small number, it represented half the total number of pastors in Niger—a country where less than 1% of the total population is Christian.
I had a wonderful day of meeting with the Nigerien pastors—teaching them, praying for them, and ministering to their needs—and God used that time to begin to develop a strong relationship between us.  At the time, I had no idea of how pastors from more than 80 churches in Niger would later work together in a miraculous and unprecedented way to help us make the message of Jesus and His healing power real to the people of their country.

‘I’ve Never Seen a Government as Open to Us.’

The United Nations consistently lists Niger as one of the poorest countries in the world.  Many people are dying of malnutrition and other diseases.  Food is not widely available, and too expensive for most families to buy.  For many, even the most basic medical care is almost unattainable.
It was in that world, and in a way that had never before been allowed in that nation, that government doors miraculously opened wide for the Richard Roberts Miracle Healing Rally.
One of our ORM vice presidents, Mike Bernard, who has been with me in virtually every healing rally I’ve ever conducted, said, “I’ve never seen a government as open to us as Niger.  And not only was it open, many leaders were eager to have Richard pray for them and for their staffs…and several state leaders were healed.  Even at press conferences, after everything was over, the press would put their cameras and notebooks down and get in line to be prayed for as well.”
In our nightly services, tens of thousands of people heard the name of Jesus proclaimed for the first time.  In the opening service alone, when I gave the invitation to accept Jesus, it looked like the entire crowd of at least 20,000 people raised their hands to accept Him as their Lord and Savior.  Every night, the salvations continued as the crowds grew larger.  Many reached out in childlike faith, and not only found Jesus as their Savior, but also as their Healer, as they saw miracles of God’s healing power right before their eyes.
A woman deaf for 30 years began to hear!  A 3-year-old little boy who had never walked before—only pulling himself along with his hands—stood and walked for the first time!  A woman blind for two years cried, “Today, thank God, I can see!”  A beautiful young woman diagnosed with sickle cell anemia walked without crutches for the first time in over a year.
And prayer was not the only avenue to healing we brought to the people of Niamey, Niger.  In free medical and dental clinics, approximately 2,000 people received desperately needed medical and dental care from our 40-plus member  Healing Team consisting of doctors, dentists, nurses, student nurses, and a team to hand out food.

A Team God Has Put Together

My dad has often said that if he had had to carry the vision God gave him for this ministry in his heart alone, with no one to help him bring it to pass, very little of what we have accomplished through the Oral Roberts Ministries would have been possible.  He had to have Partners to share it with, and to help him do what God was calling him—and them—to do.
I couldn’t agree with him more.  Lindsay and I know the value of partnership.  As we were making the final plans to go to Niger,  Lindsay became aware of a door God was miraculously opening for us to be able to send hundreds of thousands of nutritious, pre-packaged meals to starving families in Niger…if we could raise the funds.
We began to let people know about this very special Seed-Faith project…and because of the generous financial seeds that our Partners and friends planted in this ministry, we were able to provide 285,000 meals to Nigerien parents whose children were malnourished and starving.
As our Miracle Healing Rally was over and we headed home, I wrote in my journal, “I head home to America, knowing that I’ve done what God told me to do.  And I pray the nation of Niger will never be the same.”
Partners, we still have much to do together to take the message of the Gospel to a world of hurting people.  Deuteronomy 32:30 tells us that while one person can chase a thousand, two can put 10,000 to flight.  There’s power in partnering together.  As the time grows shorter until Jesus returns, let’s continue to work together to let the world know that God is a good God, and He wants us to be whole in every area of our lives.

For more information or to plant a Seed-Faith gift in the Oral Roberts Ministries, click here or call the Abundant Life Prayer Group at 918-495-7777.

Ivory Coast

When God spoke to Richard Roberts and said, “Go to the Ivory Coast in West Africa and I will pour out My blessings,” Richard obeyed. And God kept His promise!
Richard received a special invitation from 1,000 pastors and the Ivory Coast’s President Gbagbo to bring the message of healing and prosperity to the recently war-torn nation.
He brought along a very special crusade team made up of 40 people—doctors, dentists, nursing students and staff, faculty, singers, television technicians, and more. For four days and nights the people of the Ivory Coast experienced medicine, ministry, and miracles.

Meeting Medical Needs

During the day, thousands of Ivorian citizens were drawn to the Oral Roberts Ministries-sponsored medical clinic in the capital city of Abidjan. Because of financial donations from ORM Partners and friends, in addition to medical attention, the team was able to dispense much-needed medicine, vitamins, and supplies to children and adults.
Dr. Scott Cordray, an ORU graduate and medical doctor, said the reason he joined the crusade team was to serve the people of the Ivory Coast.
“In the Bible, Jesus said that when you’ve done something for any of His people, you’ve done it unto Him,” said Dr. Cordray. “So we treated these people as if we were treating Jesus. Our goal was not to lift up ourselves, but to lift up Jesus so that people could be drawn to Him.”
ORU graduates Dr. Mark Babo and his wife, Doreen, were also part of the medical team. The Babos currently run Faith Medical Hospital in Benin City, Nigeria, with Bishop Benson Idahosa’s widow, Margaret. “We came to this crusade without a second thought,” said Dr. Babo. “We knew we wanted to be a part of what God was going to do in the Ivory Coast.”
One of the greatest needs in the Ivory Coast is quality dental care, and hundreds of patients were helped each day by the team of dentists led by ORU graduate Dr. Glenda Payas.

Teaching Business Skills

Another way that the crusade team reached out in the Ivory Coast was to teach business skills to local businessmen. Dr. David Dyson, Dean of the ORU School of Business, held business seminars during the day, helping teach businessmen how to prosper God’s way.
“Scripture says, ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you,’” Dr. Dyson told the businessmen. “When we get into that rhythm of giving and receiving, running our businesses becomes one form of worship for us.”

Pastor’s Conference

While the medical clinic was going on in the mornings and afternoons, Richard was involved in a special pastors’ seminar in Abidjan with more than 1,000 ministers in attendance each day.
On the last day of the seminar, Richard laid hands on almost 1,200 pastors, anointing them with oil and speaking God’s Word into their lives. One minister said, “It has been such a great honor having Richard Roberts come to the Ivory Coast. His visit will have a great impact on this city and this nation.”

Signs, Wonders & Miracles

There was a tremendous spirit of expectation each night of the Healing Crusade. Each night the crowds nearly doubled, and as word of the miracles spread, an estimated 30,000 people flooded the crusade grounds on the last night.
Sponsoring pastors had specifically asked Richard to preach on Seed-Faith, and God gave Richard a special message on prospering a nation through sowing and reaping.
“Do you want to see the economy of this nation grow and change?” Richard asked the huge crowd through his interpreter. “Do you want to be an example to other nations? Then begin to sow unto the Lord. And believe that when you give, the Lord will open you the windows of heaven.”
He also spoke to them of healing. “I am expecting people to be healed in this place! Not because of me, but because of God, because He is a good God. I have never healed anyone, but I have seen God heal thousands.”
Each night as the crowd soaked up God’s Word, a wonderful thing began to happen. Miracles came forth by the hundreds.
One woman who had never walked before got up out of a wheelchair and walked, completely healed. Another woman had been deaf in one ear since birth, but she came up to testify that she now could hear perfectly out of that ear!
One man had medical papers declaring that he could never bend over again, but as Richard held the papers, he bent over double and moved his back every possible way before the delighted crowd.
Another woman came to the crusade wearing glasses in order to see, but after Richard prayed, she could see perfectly without them!
One of the most moving healing testimonies was that of a four-year-old boy who had never spoken a word in his life. On the platform, held by his mother, he clearly spoke his first words into the microphone: “Mama” and “Papa,” which caused the crusade grounds to erupt with shouting, weeping, and rejoicing.

Thousands Come to Jesus

Each night as the healing services came to a close, Richard gave an invitation for people to come forward and receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
And each night the area in front of the platform was filled to overflowing. It was estimated that more than 20,000 people came forward over the four nights to give their hearts to Jesus!
Richard called local pastors down to surround the new converts, get their names, and invite them to their churches to receive the free French Bibles provided by Partners of Oral Roberts Ministries.

The Largest Church Building in the World

After the final night of the Healing Crusade, Richard and some members of the team left the Ivory Coast for Lagos, Nigeria, to minister at the invitation of Bishop David Oyedepo. He is the founder of Faith Tabernacle and Covenant University, located on the grounds of a large campus and ministry complex called Canaan Land.
It has grown to 3,000 students in just three years. The 50,000-seat Faith Tabernacle auditorium is the largest church building in the world.
Miracles abounded during the Sunday morning service in the huge auditorium. Richard said, “It was as powerful as any healing crusade I’ve ever seen. There was a tremendous atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to move in—I’ve never experienced anything quite like it in my life.”
That evening Richard also preached to the university students in their chapel service.

Never the Same

The trip to West Africa was wrapped up with visits to the countries of Benin and Ghana, where Richard met with government leaders, national media, and local pastors in preparation to conduct future crusades in those nations.
“It was a tremendous team effort,” Richard said of the trip. “Not only were thousands healed by the miracle-working power of God, but we were able to touch the nation as well through medical science, business and education, and ministry to the pastors. I believe the Ivory Coast will never be the same!”

Ghana

Five Miraculous Days in Ghana

by ORM staff member

We’ve come to Kumasi, Ghana, for five days and a single purpose: to bless the people!
Kumasi is the second largest city in the West African nation of Ghana and home to its largest tribe, the Ashanti. I’m here as part of a 27-member team accompanying Richard Roberts on invitation from the King of the Ashanti tribe and the President of Ghana.

Day One: Spreading the Word

As soon as we land at the airport, local television reporters meet with Richard to spread word throughout Kumasi about the miracle healing crusade and the 21,000 Bibles we have brought for those who get saved at the crusade.
“It is an honor to be here in Kumasi,” Richard tells reporters. “God is a good God, and I believe He has something good for Kumasi this week”
Richard then goes to four local radio stations in Kumasi for live interviews to talk about the crusade, the free medical clinic, and the money and school supplies the Oral Roberts Ministries plans to give for the children of Kumasi.
Then the government has sponsored a parade to show the people of Kumasi that Richard Roberts is, indeed, here in Ghana, just as he said he would be. So now the word is out: Healing, salvation, and miracles are at hand!

Day Two: Setting Up the Medical Clinic

It’s an early start for the medical and dental team members today. As they get the free medical clinic ready in the basement of a church, there are already several hundred people waiting to see the doctors.
After prayer, we bring the first patients in to speak to our nurses. The ministry has brought free medicine—antibiotics, insulin, and pain medications—enough to fill thousands of prescriptions.
The turnout for the first day of the clinic is almost overwhelming.
“There are so many things that we can’t do for these people,” says Dr. Clay Powell. “Medicine falls short, and when that happens, you need a miracle.”
Team member Brenda Issacs, a registered nurse, adds, “When we see a patient we can’t help through medicine alone, we invite them to the crusade. We tell them that we believe God will show up, and we hope they’ll show up too.”

The First Night of the Healing Crusade

Tens of thousands of people do show up for the first night of the crusade, even with the threat of a thunderstorm.
“Tonight is a night of miracles!” Richard tells them from the platform. Within minutes a wave of healing spreads throughout the crusade grounds, and people begin to come forward and testify of God’s goodness. One highlight is a man who has had asthma for 35 years, but now can breathe freely!
The evening ends with countless people coming forward to give their lives to Christ.

Day Three: Standing Room Only

Twice as many people come to the clinic today. It’s another busy day for nurses and doctors to try to help as many patients as possible.
In the same church where we’ve set up the clinic, there’s a preschool with nearly 100 children, and each morning they are here to greet us.
The King of the Ashanti tribe has set up an education fund for the children of his nation. When we learned of the fund, Oral Roberts Ministries decided to donate 5,000 pencils and 1,000 copies of Lindsay Roberts’ children’s book The ABC’s of Faith to help the children.
Today we donate the first book to this preschool. Headmistress Alice Boahen reads it to the children, first in English, then in their native Ashanti.

Healing Miracles

Tonight at the crusade, the crowd has also doubled in size. Richard speaks about having victory over the devil, and it’s not long before God’s healing power begins to move.
One woman testifies that she has not been able to bend over for 16 years because of severe pain in her back. But tonight she is bending over all the way without pain!
After many other healing testimonies, the front is flooded with people who respond to Richard’s call to receive Jesus.

Day Four: The Busiest of All

Day four is our busiest day in Kumasi, and our most rewarding. Richard wraps up his two-day pastors’ conference with a message on what it means to be a spiritual leader. At the end of the service he lays hands on 1,600 ministers and their spouses, anointing them with oil.
After the pastors’ conference, Ashanti King Nan Osei Tutu II invites Richard for a visit. At that meeting Richard prays for the king, and he also gives an offering to the Children’s Fund—the king’s favorite charity.
In the meantime, on this last day of the clinic, the waiting room is full again. The doctors, nurses, and dental team manage to see more than 1,000 patients. Many of the patients are very grateful.
“We thank you very much for coming,” said one Ghanaian. “I think it is the will of God that we should be healed.”

At the Crusade

It doesn’t take long tonight for the healing power of God to flow through the crusade grounds, and soon thousands of people line up to testify.
One man has had chest pains for two years, but now that pain is completely gone. Another had a stroke six months ago and hasn’t been able to walk without a cane. But tonight he’s walking perfectly straight without it!
At the end of the service, Richard leads thousands in the prayer of salvation.
“The Bible says when a sinner comes to God, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels,” he said. “There’s rejoicing right now in the presence of the angels because of what’s happening here!”

The Final Day

Our time in Kumasi has gone by far too quickly. The people of Kumasi and their smiles have touched all of our hearts
Tonight at the healing crusade, Richard finishes preaching, and God’s healing power again begins to move. One woman who has suffered severe pain in her stomach for 12 years says she started shaking all over, and now the pain is gone!
Another woman was in the hospital yesterday for high blood pressure, so weak she could hardly move. She came to the crusade tonight believing God for a healing, and says she felt His power rushing through her. Now strength has returned to her body!
And when Richard again gives the invitation, masses of people come forward to receive Christ. Richard sums up this extraordinary visit by saying, “All that God laid on my heart has come to pass in this Ghanaian crusade. The power of the Lord has been present to heal, and through the preaching of the Word, thousands of people have given their hearts to Christ. This was a city-wide effort, and I am so honored to be involved in it!” MN

El Salvador 2008 Testimony Clips #2

El Salvador 2008 Testimony Clips #1