Central Java Festival / Missionary Gola Tiruneh
Greetings in the name of Jesus from Java, Indonesia!
Daniel, Olivia and I just concluded our Gospel Festival in Central Java, Indonesia. We saw a mighty outpouring of God’s love and grace demonstrated in signs, wonders and miracles. Many received healing in their bodies and during our last night, thousands lifted up their hands and prayed to invite Jesus into their hearts. We saw Muslims and Christians alike being touched by the power of Christ. Hallelujah!
We also handed out 150 food packages to poor families, provided free medical treatment and medicine to 160 people also conducted two days seminar for Church leaders.
We also encountered a lot of hardship during the 10 days we were in Central Java. After a successful publicity campaign, a few Muslim leaders came to the house to talk to our committee chairman. You see we have written on our flyers to bring the blind, the lame, the deaf and all who are sick. Muslim leaders reasoned that if all these ‘hard sicknesses’ can be cured then all else can be cured too. So we were told we can have the concert and preaching on the soccer field but move healings to a church next to the field and no altar call. If we disobey, they threatened to put our committee chairman into jail. They figured Muslims will not enter a church to get converted or healed.
The night before the festival we held a press conference to spread the word about the festival and also to assure the people that we are not here to convert them to the Christian religion. We understand that changing ones religion does not profit anything but being born again is what really matters.
After the press conference we had dinner with local leaders. We had a representative from the regent, the head of the local parliament, the district leader, chief of intelligence and local Muslim leaders. Daniel and I stood up and shared our vision for the festival with our guests. All our guests were Muslim. We had no pastor come for the dinner. At the end of our dinner, the district leader started to talk about the Muslim reaction towards the festival. He felt the situation was too volatile. Therefore he asked if we can move the festival to a Church. My heart dropped and I began to pray quietly. Then the intelligence chief interrupted the district leader and said the Muslims are not worried about the singing and preaching but just the healings. So now the district leader says only the healings should be moved to the Church. He said they have had previous experience with other preachers using ‘magic’ to heal the people which resulted in demonstrations. The Muslims were also afraid of the free medical treatments that will be held outside a church. They were confused because they thought free medical treatment meant ‘magic’ or divine healings. We agreed to move the free medical treatment and the food hand out into the church. Once we have cleared up the confusion that night, we were miraculously given permission to do all parts of the festival including praying for the sick on the field. But still no altar call for salvation.
The next day we saw two banners put up by the Muslims saying “Save the Muslim Faith. Don’t trade it for free food and medicine.” I have also learnt a few days before that we have gotten the wrong permit for our festival. We only got a local permit from local police but we needed a permit from the police headquarters in the capital. Without this permit, I cannot speak. The police knew about it but the Muslims did not. Intelligence office told me, if I get caught by immigration, I will be put into quarantine and possibly deported.
Our first night started with only a few people on the field. There was a lot of tension because of the threats coming our way. The police were there to keep the peace. I decided to go ahead and preach even though I had no permit to speak. Then I prayed for the sick and called all who were healed to the stage. We interviews four healed people from the stage before Daniel ran up on stage and told me that the police want me to stop. Later they apologized for stopping me. They were concerned that the Muslims will get more agitated. They also asked Daniel if I have the permit from the capital yet. We still did not have it. The chief of police then told Daniel that even though we don’t have the permit I can still preach but no one can know we have his permission. Yet another miracle that saved this festival from being shut down. And he did not stop there, he said baring no major reaction from Muslims (remember he himself is Muslim) we can do it again the next night but no more testimonies on stage.
When we came to the field the second night, I was called over by the chief of police again. He seamed a little different than the day before. I started to pray again. He said the intelligence office is a bit concerned about what I am doing but since there has been no reaction from Muslims, he has decided to give me 1 hour to preach and pray for people. We had another night of miracles. But instead of having people come up on stage, I asked all the healed people to stand up and wave their hands as everyone else sat down.
After our second night, the soundman called Daniel over and said if we don’t pay for sound in full by noon the next day, he will tare up the sound and leave and report us to the police. By this time Daniel and I have both emptied our bank accounts and had no money. We had to produce $4,167CAN in 12 hours. We sent out a quick letter to sponsors asking for help. Most of you probably got that letter.
The next day we went to check our bank accounts and it still showed zero. It was only 15mins before the dead line, when we got someone to lend us $1,000US. We quickly called sound, and they decided to leave everything on the field. We promised that we will have all the money in before we leave town. Daniel handed in his national ID card as a guarantee. We are still in the city waiting for money to come in so we can pay all our bills. We trust God will provide for us. He never leaves us or forsakes us.
Our last night was by far the best night. The field was almost all covered by people. I preached the Gospel story starting with creation, the fall, Jesus’ redemption and building a relationship with God. I asked everyone on the field to stand up, raise their hands and gave them 1 minute of silence so they can pray to start building a relationship with God. That was wisdom from God.
We had many more healing in the last night. Many blind eyes were opened. I really desired to share the testimonies with the crowd. So instead of calling the healed people on stage, I went off the stage into the crowd and had a camera follow me. Everyone saw on the big screen and heard the testimonies. Praise Jesus! Afterwards, I even got to lay my hands and pray for the chief of intelligence and another police officer so that they can receive healings. They asked for it. They were the only 2 people I laid my hands on in prayer during the festival. I was told not to lay my hands on anyone by the same intelligence chief! We also handed thousands of salvation books the last night of the festival.
Here is another interesting thing that happened and people are talking about after the festival. We had great weather the first 2 nights. The last night, it started to rain just before I got into the car to go to the field. But there was no rain on the field. In fact we were told, it was raining everywhere except inside a 100 meter radius around the soccer field! Then all rain stopped before we started. Today is the first day after the festival, and we just got heavy rains. So much so water was starting to come into the house. I believe this is a sign and wonder God is granting to the people. All glory to Jesus and none for us!
- Gola Tiruneh
Twitter
Facebook
Google+