The ministry trip to South Africa was the first time Passion To Reach has ministered in the African Continent. It was an awesome opportunity that was simply the Lord's doing!
The trip was made possible when the Lord impressed in the heart of a local Toronto Pastor - Pastor Jame John, to offer me the opportunity to travel to Durban, South Africa, to be a part of the 'Global Network of Christian Indian Leaders' Conference (www.goncil.org). Pastor Jame is friends with the Founder/president of the conference Pastor Sunnny Phillip from New York who when he heard of what the Lord had done and was doing in my life, was moved by the Lord to extend me the invitation to join him at the conference. As you can imagine, I was extremely excited about the oppurtunity.
I believe that the Lord was with me from the moment I decided to travel to Durban. But the devil did try to stop me. The first hindrance was when I travelled to the Kingdom of Bahrain ( for the ministry trip there) and found out a week into the trip that the embassy of South Africa in Bahrain where I had planned to give in my application for visa had shut down. And the embassies in the other G.C.C nations would not accept my application. I was unsure of what would happen. I had no choice but to send my application to the South African embassy in Ottawa, Canada. The only problem that this posed was that I did not have sufficient time that processing requires (ten business days) plus atleast six days for the visa to travel from and back to Bahrain. When I sent in my applications I had approximately 10 days in all before I was to travel to Durban. The Passion to Reach team along with saints in Bahrain prayed that the Lord would speak to the hearts of the officers at the embassy. Well guess what, our God still answers prayer. When I called the Embassy the day they were supposed to receive my application via FEDEX, the visa officer told me that my visa had been approved and that FEDEX was on their way to pick it up (all in a amatter of hours!). Our lord still reigns! Amen!?
When I arrived in Durban I was in high spirits. But by the second day I was feeling unwell. I was having serious problems with my breathing. So much so that climbing a flight of stairs and even preaching caught me short of breath! I was quite distressed and cried out to the Lord. Again the Passion to Reach team and saints who knew about my situation began to pray and once again the Lord proved faithful and healed me completely!. Praise God He is still the Healer!
The ministry in Durban was extremely powerful. At the conference I was give the opportunity both at a youth service and also at a crusade service where I shared my testimony. Both were extremely powerful. Many people came up after (even weeks later) to tell me how much it had encouraged and uplifted them!
After the conference I stayed back in the country for another 2 weeks of fruitful ministry.I spoke at many churches with memebership ranging from 600 to 30, but no matter what size the crowds the Spirit of God was present to revive, revitalise and edify the saints! In some services the Spirit of God moved so mightily that we went upto two hours over time. I tell you dear saints when the Holy Spirit is moving we dare not restrict him. I can testify first hand that lives were changed and transformed forever in the services!
Over all the ministry trip to South Africa was amazingly powerful. And I believe the Lord will take us back to the African continent many times in the years to come! Please continue to pray that doors would open for the preaching of the gospel in Africa!