July 2007 – continued….She nodded and a large smile came onto her face. The next thing I know……she’s doing jumping-jacks, bending over touching her toes and jogging around Audrey like he’s a track. This woman had to be in her 70’s or 80’s! She looked like Richard Simmons sweating to the oldies.
Now….I’m watching this, trying to process what I’d just witnessed. The mental conversation I was having with myself went something like this:
Was that old lady just healed? Did I just witness an actual healing? Audrey has the Gift of Healing? Really? Nahhhh? I think I’m just confused about what just happened. Wait…does he know her? Do you think that he arranged this “healing” with the lady before the service? Is Benny Hinn in Ubauna? That couldn’t have been a real healing could it? Really? Seriously? I mean, I believe Jesus still heals today but…..
While I’m having this conversation, my mind is replaying one of those ridiculously sensationalized Benny Hinn “healing services”, where he runs around smacking people on the head, and they fall out, suddenly healed from whatever had ailed them moments before. Watching this on TV, you just sense something isn’t right with the whole thing. Granted, Hinn may have the Gift of Healing, and some may actually receive healings but the combination of it being so sensationalized and the persistent rumors that he plans these before-hand, often paying the perfectly healthy individuals to imitate life-long cripples creates doubt and unbelief.
Still not knowing what to think, I refocused my attention back to the front where Audrey was still standing. The old lady was still with him. She danced around a little more, showing off her newly rediscovered agility before strolling back to her seat to witness the happenings with the old man waiting patiently waiting in line. He steps up to Audrey and the same drill began. Audrey would talk to him, questioning him. The man would nod, say something and then point to various parts of his body. Then, up went his arms straight above his head. Audrey grabbed his wrists, began telling somebody something in a determined tone, and then asked the old man a question. He too began to smile broadly. Same thing….next thing I know, he’s doing calisthenics, running around and dancing a jig.
Did he also know Audrey? The old man’s not in on it too is he? Wait….wait! Wait! Do I really believe Jesus is who He says He is? Do I geniunely believe what the Bible tells me about the power and authority of Christ. Do I believe in the supernatural, absolute Truth of God. Do I believe that those two individuals who stepped out in faith were truly healed?
Suddenly, I realized that I was at a spiritual crossroads. The road I chose to travel down would dictate where my faith went from this moment forward. Do I choose the road named, “Unbelief”? Do I choose the road named, “Cessation”, believing that those Gifts of the Spirit that Christ and the Bible talked about had died along with the last apostles. Do I choose the road named, “Spiritual Ignorance”? Or do I choose the road named, “Truth”?
Honestly, it wasn’t a difficult choice. I chose the road named “Truth”! My spirit knew what my mind was fighting – that what I had witnessed was the real deal! The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ had reached down from heaven and healed them through the supernatural Gift of Healing that God had anointed Audrey with. It may have been hard for my worldly mind to comprehend what I had taken place but I knew that Jesus himself had told his followers that we would do “even greater things than I have done.” I also knew that God makes clear in His Word that his followers would be blessed with supernatural gifts of healing, tongues, prophecy, faith, wisdom and others if you had faith.
I thanked God for allowing me to witness His awesome mercy, grace, love and power in action. Not only were the old woman and old man healed, I was also healed of my allergies along with many, many more during that trip. From that moment forth, Gospel for Brazil, Ubauna and we haven’t been the same. GFB went from a worldly mission organization full of love but no power, to a mission ministry that was driven by the supernatural Glory, Authority and Power of Jesus Christ. Since that night, many souls have been brought to Salvation through Jesus Christ, many have been healed of long-standing illnesses and sicknesses, families have been brought back from death’s doorstep, the children have been given a real hope to grow up on, and satan has been reminded on a daily basis that he is a defeated foe.
What began in 2004 with nothing, now supports three churches, several full-time missionaries, a full-time children’s ministry and Seed of Hope Child Sponsorship Initiative that feeds extremely impoverished children, as well as helping them meet their basic educational and medical needs. Not only has the love of Christ been poured out onto the village of Ubauna and this desert region but the POWER of Christ as well. A village that had 13 Spiritist temples in 2004 now has only one. The annual Spiritist festival now attracts less than 20 people. People are still being healed and delivered from the spiritual strongholds that had oppressed this village and this area for generations.
With the Love of Christ, you can impact a lost and hurting world but with the Power and Love of Christ, you can free a world from spiritual bondage and make a real difference. That’s what Gospel for Brazil brings to the northeast desert region of Brazil, and that’s why this area is being brought into the glorious freedom and heavenly realm where Christ dwells.