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Lee Stoneking, the guest speaker for our conference, is well
known in Fiji because of his audio preaching tapes and video preaching tapes. Not
only is he known in the United Pentecostal Church in Fiji, he is claimed by many
Charismatic groups as their preacher. We knew it would have an impact on the
community to have him come. To accommodate for his available dates, we moved our
conference venue from the capital city to the other side of the island to Nadi, the point
of entry to the country. Nadi is a small town and not well equipped for large
meetings. The only venue was the football stadium which had seating for
approximately 6000. Because this side of the island is generally dry and has good
weather, we felt safe having the conference outdoors. In fact, the area was in
severe drought, and they had not had rain for about eight
months. Water restrictions were in effect.
The day before the conference we held a youth service to
allow the young people to sing and test the sound system. Early that morning there
was a tremendous thunder
storm and a
heavy tropical downpour. We knew that if it kept raining our open-air conference
would be ruined. It rained all day making it too hard to work with the electricity
and to set up the display tents. But by evening the rain had subsided and the youth
service went ahead as planned. unfortunately though, the football field was muddy
and there was no place for the altar call.
As we drove into the service that night, we were met by the
police who told us that the meeting did not have the approval of the authorities and that
they would close us down if we didn't get the correct approval. A few days earlier
all our banners in Nadi had been removed because of some "new rules." We
had followed the prescribed city council procedures for the conference, but apparently
city council had not notified the appropriate district officer. We knew that with
this sort of attack from the devil, we could expect a great move
from God!
On the next morning it was still raining, so the ministers
gathered at the stadium to pray about the weather and about us finding favor with the
district officer. The conference was due to start on Friday evening and the rain was
still falling lightly. Although the rain was a concern to us, the general community
thought differently. The shopkeepers, hotel staff, and others
told us that the rain was the blessing of the Lord on their town, and that Brother
Stoneking had brought God's blessings with him. All complaints against us
stopped. Praise God!!!
Of course! It had not rained in eight months and
these people had suffered from water restrictions, as well as loss of crops and
livestock. While driving to the conference we had seen the brown and stunted
sugarcane fields. Cattle had died in the fields. The rain coincided with the
conference, and the local people attributed it to God's blessings on
us who had gathered for the conference.
By the time service was to start Friday evening, the rain
had ceased, but the grounds were muddy. As Brother Stoneking preached, several men
carried in many bags of sand to cover the area in front of the stage in preparation for
the altar service. By Saturday morning the sun was back in full strength, and in no
time the grounds were dry and perfect for our needs.
During the entire conference there
was a mighty moving of God's Spirit. The people were in great expectation for
each meeting. The singing and worship was wonderful, and the mass choir was the best
we ever had. Brother Stoneking's preaching was inspiring!
By Sunday people began to flock to the altar, running forward as the closing words were
being spoken. On Sunday, 375 people received the Holy
Ghost. Healings took place, including the healing of a deaf boy who received his
hearing, and a crippled woman who came on crutches but walked away without them. Our
largest crowd was on Sunday with 6,000 people filling the stadium.
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Sunday
AM Service where at least 190 received the Holy Ghost
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A
closer view of the same crowd and slightly to the right.....
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On Sunday night, as Bro Stoneking preached the concluding
message for the conference, the clouds behind him were lit with lightning and we knew the
rain was coming. That evening hundreds crowded the altar area and several more
people received the Holy Ghost. They were led like drunk people to one side to have
their names and addresses taken. Rejoicing broke out as people sang and
danced. Hundreds ran around the stage in the middle of the football field, shouting
and dancing. During the closing song and prayer, down came the rain! It
continued to rain over the next week, breaking the drought.
Praise God, a spiritual drought was also
broken in people's lives! By the time the conference ended, 387 had been filled with
the Holy Ghost, 84 had been baptized in Jesus' Name, and eight known physical healings had
taken place. We thank God for revival in these islands.
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Fiji - A Land of Beauty |
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Added Note:
The Carvers are some of the very finest and most dedicated missionaries that I
have ever met. Their advertising of the conference was
so thorough, that no matter where I went, people recognized me. When I stepped on my
departing flight to Australia, the flight attendants knew who I was and this afforded a
marvelous opportunity to witness the manifested power of God to them which had occurred in
their country. It was wonderful!
I think at this point we have the reputation within the
islands as being the 'rainmakers'.
On the last night as the clouds gathered bringing with them lightning and thunder, we
were greatly inspired. This manifestation in itself, was so dramatic because it was
as if the Lord was giving us His own personal light and sound effects which enhanced the
whole of the 'under the sky' setting. Awesome, as they say in everyday common
vernacular -- Just AWESOME!!!
-- To God be the
Glory!!!
Lee Stoneking
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