June 2005
KLM International Crusade Report
DOWNFALL OF THE DEVIL IN LIBERIA!
Over 60,000 Souls Saved & over 3,000 People Healed!
By: Rev. Fr. Charles Johnson
Amazement! Awe struck! These are few of the reactions of over 100,000 Liberians who witnessed wonderful signs and experienced earthquakes of miracle power of God at the KLM International Crusade held at the Fish Market, Monrovia, Liberia.
At past six o'clock on the first day of the much-publicized Crusade, the sky around the Fish Market was clouded over, laden with rain! Despite the speculation that it was going to rain, thousands of Monrovia residents thronged into the Crusade ground - The Fish Market's football pitch.
On the platform were the Bethel Cathedral Praise team. They were at their best on each night of the four-day Crusade; rendering thrilling gospel songs that carried away the crowd from their problems. The crowd, too, joined them in the singing and clapping of their hands. Around the pitch, others continued to look at the dark cloud apprehensively thinking that the rain would mar the Crusade's events. After all, the season of heavy rain had just started.
Lights from the generator flickered feebly around the platform where some guests were dancing, praising and glorifying God. Technicians came on the platform to focus the lights on the crowd. Sitting or lying down, looking toward the little raised platform, were crippled and sick people. Some wore ill-fitting clothes and shabby shoes, all looking toward heaven and patiently waiting for their own miracle!
In all, everybody was praying in his or her heart and awaiting the arrival of World Evangelist Kenney Linhart, president of KLM International (KLM) in Iowa, USA, to the Crusade ground.
Here comes Rev. Kenny Linhart being escorted in a circle of pastors to the platform; his eyes gleaming with joy, his heart brimming over with thankfulness to our good God who had made it possible for him to come to Liberia. (He later said that for the past two years, it has been his burning desire to bring the healing gospel message to the hurting and suffering people of Liberia).
As he agilely climbed the staircases leading to the platform, his expressive face betrayed his feeling of love for Liberia! When he opened his mouth to greet the guests at the platform, his striking spiritual personality shone through. He has a deep voice. Through preaching at many Crusades and speaking at numerous conferences world wide, he has acquired a modulation of tone that is musical. For this reason also, he has managed to discard the "twangy" accent and swallowing of words that often makes it difficult for Liberians to catch what Americans are saying. Rev. Linhart's diction was quite clear all through the Crusade days, and this magnetic quality, blended to the obvious and sincere love he has for suffering Liberians when he spoke the first words to the audience, "Come over! Come closer toward the platform! I want to see your beautiful faces... You know what, God loves you just the way you are!"
What an unusual encouragement for a dejected people who knew no polite way of being talked to, than that which the war and all of its rudeness had subjected them to for the past 15 years. The cripple, lame, blind, deaf, sick and those with problems scrambled toward the platform's edge. They were all anxious to hear Rev. Linhart's divine message:
"God has a plan for Liberia! A plan for it to rise from the ashes of war to peace, progress and prosperity. God has given you (Liberians) the ability, the resources and the will to rise and you will rise indeed... in the name of Jesus!" After this opening message by Rev. Linhart, the dark cloud began to dissolve like a morning mist before the sun. The wearied moon and stars that were nowhere around before, began to appear until they lit up the blue ethereal sky around the crusade ground. What an interesting phenomenon to behold! Tangible evidence of God's presence, and this was only the beginning of signs, wonders, and miracles that characterized the Crusade events till it ended three days later!
Directing his message to the invalids, Rev. Linhart said, "God is not the author of diseases, nor your sicknesses. He did not make your ears to be deaf nor your tongue to be tied to the extent that you cannot hear nor speak... The devil did that to you! But if you will believe in Jesus tonight, you will be healed of all your diseases and sicknesses...
Speaking to the entire audience, most of whom had lived constantly within the sound of gunfire and fighting, appalling misery and suffering for over a decade, Rev. Linhart said, "God did not bring war to Liberia; the devil did that. The war has left people full of bad memories. Many things have been done in this nation because of the war. Many of us have been in need; needs made us to do so many bad things. You have done things that you are ashamed of today. Some of you have made covenant with the devil. That covenant will be broken tonight if you allow God to be your source and healer."
For survival sake, many of us have bowed our knees to prostitution and to the devil. Tonight, bow your knees to Jesus. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, He will set you free. Jesus came to heal your broken lives; to change you and put the broken pieces of your life together so that you can become one with God. He came so that He can become one with you tonight. He will take away the memories of those bad things you have done. He will eradicate them from your lives. God will forgive your sins, and heal your souls of wounds. In the name of Jesus you will receive your healing tonight; tumors will disappear; the deaf will hear; the blind will see; the cripple and the lame will walk...."
As Rev. Linhart was preaching and making his healing commands, many sick people in the audience were falling under the power of God. There is nothing more dramatic than to see somebody crippled from birth who was brought to the Crusade ground in a wheel chair by a relative, suddenly rising up and walking briskly to the platform because the power of God has healed him. But that's exactly what happened.
As though summing up his message, Rev. Linhart said, "A new day has dawned in this nation; a day of salvation. Are you one of those saying can I really be made clean? Saul asked himself this question on the road to Damascus thousands of years ago. Saul had stood by to watch the death of innocent believers, after he had persecuted them. But Jesus came to Saul; He took a murderer and made him an Apostle of the Church who later wrote one third of the New Testament. If you are willing to bow your knee to Jesus Christ tonight, you will be saved and healed....."
After his message, Rev. Linhart told the audience, "You beautiful people need Jesus." As they were all praying, there was a flow of God's divine healing power all over the Crusade ground, the Holy Spirit began healing people...
Captain Dennis of BTC Barracks received instant healing from Tuberculosis. Bed-ridden, abandoned and debilitated, he demonstrated his healing to the audience by running a four-forty race around the platform.
Amos Gear, who fell under the power got up off of the ground, held his arms up in the air and said, "I am healed of the tumor in my stomach; it has been bothering me seriously for the past one year, but now it has disappeared, never to return again!"
Patrick from New Kru Town, Monrovia, who was deaf and was instantly healed, began making sounds for the first time in 15 years, to try to express the joy he felt that he can now hear! He later demonstrated to the audience his ability to repeat the same number of hand claps as Rev Linhart.
Scores of other people flocked towards the platform as they were set free from pain, stiffness of the body, arthritis, blindness, hearing problems, AIDS and other diseases. But Ms. Musu reached the platform before anyone could. As the healing power of God touched her ENLARGED HEART, she came running up to the platform exclaiming, "I can walk freely now! No more heart, chest and body pains!"
Many more healings brought the whole audience to their feet in a standing ovation. It was like watching a re-play of the same miracles Jesus did while on earth. Indeed, it was a special time with many heavenly angels ministering around the Crusade ground. How the whole audience wished it could all be like this throughout that entire night.
Friday
As Rev. Linhart was being escorted up the platform, the crowd began to cheer in a wonderful reception! Preaching a brief message on the Miracle Love of God that Friday night service, he told them the following:
"God had a picture in his heart; that picture was you. He knows how many number of hairs on your head. In his vision, he saw you! Before you were born, He loves you. Two years ago, God spoke to me to come to Liberia and to tell you that He will forgive your sins and heal your sicknesses and diseases. If you have a broken body, God will heal and restore you."
His message was simple, but very powerful; it held the audience spellbound all through its delivery. As he was speaking, God was already moving. Great miracles and healings were happening here and there. Pastors were sampling them: Twelve here, six in the center, five over here, twenty there!
A paralyzed, mute and deaf middle-aged man felt something had snapped around his hip and that life was flowing once again around his side and entire body. As the power of God went up to his two ears, opened them and loosened his tongue, he stepped out of the crowd as a free man! Leaving his crutch behind, he walked toward the platform shouting, "Praise God, I am healed!"
A woman was delivered from a chronic stomachache she was suffering from for the past 15 years, after she vomited on the Crusade ground.
A 60 years old lady from Ganta, Nimba County, who came to Monrovia early this year in search of a cure to her blindness walked un-aided to the platform. A male relative who brought her to the service happily said, "My elder sister was blind for six years, but now she sees! I can now look into her eyes; they are no longer lifeless; they are now beaming with the life of God; Praise God for His goodness and Praise God for Rev Kenney!"
A man's troubled heart was re-created; Cancer, Diabetes, neck and backaches were instantly healed. Tumors and stomach growths disappeared before the healing light of God carpeting the Crusade ground. According to the report from Pastors and Ushers who distributed thousands of salvation tracts, over 10,000 souls got saved during that night service.
Saturday
Magnificent healings! An electrifying manifestation of God's presence among the war-weary attendance! These are just a few of the good news that flooded Monrovia and its environs concerning the on-going Crusade. So the field was packed to capacity with a foot-stomping, shouting, cheering crowd for Jesus Christ. They came to receive their miracles from the King of Kings. Receive they did, too!
When Rev. Linhart came on the platform, he called on the National Director of the Crusade, Rev. MacMarley and Mrs. Earlyn Manley, raised their hands up in the sky and then introduced them to the attentive crowd as his hosts in Liberia.
MacMarley and Earlyn are known to be real, practical, and down-to-earth Christians. During the difficult years of war in Liberia, they continued to selflessly sacrifice their talents, time and meager resources in order for countless Liberians to be blessed. As it were, Rev Linhart's introduction had articulated the feelings of the throng of worshippers, for after an initial silence was a spontaneous applause from the audience!
Rev. Linhart then began his power-packed message, "I am sent by God at this time of reconciliation and election in Liberia. I did not come here in the name of a Religion, Church or Denomination; I am not here in the name of a nation, the United States of America; I came here in the name of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords! God has seen your sufferings in this nation, He has heard your cries and prayers. He's here to show compassion and to cleanse you tonight. God didn't place a curse upon this nation; neither did He place a curse on you! Why would you think that God has cursed somebody He loves?" Rev. Linhart asked as the entire crowd went wild cheering and cheering and cheering some more!
Rev. Linhart continued, "The period of refreshing has come to Liberia! Rise up now and register to vote; be a voice in the new Government. God loves Democracy; and He will change this nation for the better through your votes." Also he told the crowd that riding at the back of sin is disease, cancer, diabetes, anxiety and so many sicknesses. "The wounds that you are now carrying emotionally, Jesus will wipe them away from you tonight. Jesus died for you so that you can become the righteousness of God."
As he was concluding his message, God "confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it" [Mark 16:20]. The supernatural was evident everywhere, and nowhere more pronounced than in front of the platform.
The dynamic Word of God continued to pierce hearts, and thousands of souls who responded to Rev. Linhart's sinners' prayer surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ.
Combination of signs, wonders, miracles, healings and spiritual awakenings became common occurrences all over the place. It began drizzling only around the field. A woman who, for 3 years, had suffered a stroke on her left side that made it impossible for her to walk or bend over was healed instantly as the power of God touched her!
A man who suffered from asthma for 5 years and dental problems, received his healings. People of all ages were healed, including many whose growths or tumors disappeared.
One of the most dramatic healings involved a woman with a severe heart disease. Sick since 15 years ago, she also suffered from high blood pressure; she had been in an unbearable pain for several years. Nearly incapacitated by the combination of symptoms, this middle-aged woman had become hopeless but was touched by the power of God in the service and healed instantly. In her moving testimony she said, "My heart beat and pressure are now normal; years of pain and disturbed sleep are now over and wholeness has replaced my sicknesses! Hallelujah!"
Sunday
Besides the on-going Crusade, Rev. Linhart also ministered at the four-day Pastors and Leadership Conference at the Bethel Cathedral of Hope in Monrovia, from Wednesday through Saturday. Step-by-step, he took the over 1,300 Christian Leaders through the Word, teaching them the Miracles of Jesus, Divine healing and the reality of His life today in believers. His compelling ministry teachings and word of knowledge challenged most of them to make a fresh commitment to stay fixed on the Word and tenaciously hold on to the promises of God.
In all, the four richly anointed days and nights' services soaring worship and Holy Spirit-infused teaching sent shock-waves through the hearts of the throng who had come hungry tonight for the Word. Reflecting on the nightmare of the Liberian civil war during the last 15 years, Rev. Linhart said, "Some of you have killed people, raped young girls, and eaten human flesh; you're ashamed of what you have done to other people and you think you cannot be forgiven. You are afraid; don't be afraid anymore. There is forgiveness at the Cross of Jesus. God loves you. There is nothing in your heart that the Lord Jesus cannot make right. Only come to Jesus and do so now!"
Adding to the excitement of the night was the wonderful move of the Holy Spirit, changing lives and healing the sick in the audience. Multitudes of people responded and gave up their lives to Jesus. An earthquake of miracles and healings began to happen.
The life of God entered into a man's right hand that had remained unmovable for the past six years; it began to move as usual. In his touching testimony he said the hand was to be amputated the following week. But thank God, the hand is functioning again!
A lady's open mole or skull was healed and instantly sealed.
Another lady suffering from pneumonia and blood pressure problems since 1982 was healed instantly.
A middle-aged woman who had kidney problems was healed. So full of joy and excitement, she ran to the platform and began showering praises on God for His goodness!
An old lady had an unsuccessful operation on her eyes since 1997 that had left her with the constant misery of double vision. The healing power of God touched her eyes, and she received clear sight, which she demonstrated before the audience by identifying all the colors flashing before her eyes!
Another old lady, now 63 years old, said she was afflicted with arthritis, when she was a little girl that literally crippled her making it impossible for her to walk without a stick, and a crutch. With that also, she walked with severe pain. She took a lot of medicine to relieve the pain but not to cure the condition. Like scores of other people, she was healed of arthritis instantly. She demonstrated before the audience her miracle healing by running around the platform.
Suddenly the whole audience began to clap their hands excitedly. What a blessing to watch walking miracles..So thrilling a sight! Six to seven crippled people rose up from among the audience, and were walking briskly to demonstrate that they have been set free from the demonic condition of hopelessness!
God certainly answered the prayers of Rev. Linhart by fire. As God's power continued to flow, stomach problems were dissipated, back and neck ailments vanquished, and the list goes on and on. As a matter of fact, there were so many healing testimonies, and there wasn't time to hear all of them.
He then called upon Rev. Gus Smucker to the platform to minister some songs. He burst into the song, "Satan your kingdom must come down, down, down Jesus your kingdom must go up, up, up." The throng joined him in the acrobatic display of moving down and up, as they all went wild singing lustily. Suddenly, the wind of the Holy Spirit came in roaring. It blew over the audience quickening their lives, giving them strength and raining down His power on them!
It was something to behold! And it was one of the unforgettable moments of all when Rev. Smucker changed the song to, "You got to laugh at the devil.. Aha! Aha! Aha! Laughing heartily while performing, he made everybody greatly amused. Those who knew him among the throng said, "He is a friendly, kindhearted, vigorous man with a never-failing fund of good humor." Talking about his spiritual acrobatic display on the platform they said, "He made the throng to laugh so much and they were cured of half their sicknesses!"
Amazing of all the wonders were how Angelic beings moved in to hold back the powers of darkness that wanted rain to fall from the beginning to the end of the Crusade so that no soul would be saved nor delivered from sickness! But the Crusade was a resounding success. The light of God turned on in tens of thousands of faces as they have been made aware that God cares for them. Everybody saw the devil, a defeated foe, fall like lightning from heaven! Over 60,000 Souls were saved and over 3,000 sick people were healed in the four nights!
Beyond the Crusade
KLM International's crusade is over; but Rev. Kenney's anointed messages and life-changing teachings will remain ingrained in the minds of thousands of believers, and will be the talk of Monrovia the whole of this year.
The Crusade's spiritual sparks are currently stirring revival everywhere. Revival has broken out in all the 23 WEC Churches that participated in it. Taking cue from Kenney, Pastors are now calling for the preaching of simple but fundamental messages in our Churches: The preaching of the Good News; and the teaching of the Miracle Healing power of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection and the reality of His life today in believers.
There is now a burning desire among our pastors, to take the gospel to the rural parts. Rather than preaching and winning souls in buses plying Monrovia and its environs, our pastors are now contemplating of taking the gospel to such places as Bong Mines, Wealla, Salala, Totota and Gbarnga.
Incredible! Attendance in our Churches, which plummeted 15%, has now soared 23% -- and still growing with many conversions. Young people by hundreds are coming to Christ. Muslims who witnessed the earthquakes of miracles during the Crusade are giving up their religion and turning to Christ. Mohamed Kanneh, a Muslim, who was converted and is currently attending our WEC Church in Gardnersville Freeway, says, "As a Muslim, God is a fuzzy speck far off in the distance; but after witnessing many miracles at the Crusade my understanding of Him has changed." Asked about how he sees God now as a Christian, he says, "God is nearer to me now than the air I breathe, and bigger and more awesome than I had ever imagined Him to be!"
Some of those who received healing miracles from the Crusade are currently worshipping in our WEC Churches; we call them living, walking and talking testimonies.
In addition, over 130,000 people, including orphans, refugees, disabled and elderly, benefited from food outreach after the crusade. The quarter million pounds of food were provided by KLM International and LeSEA Global Feed the Hungry (FTH) in Indiana, USA. It was distributed by over 1000 Pastors and Christian Leaders through their Churches to beneficiaries.
CHARLES JOHNSON is the National Director of the WORLD EVANGELISTIC CENSU (WEC) in Liberia, founder of Watch & Pray Ministries Inc. and Watch & Pray Mission in Monrovia, Liberia. Former Associate Professor of Mass Com. University of Liberia (UL) (1988), he was Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Consultant of several Liberian Newspapers and Magazines in Ghana and Nigeria from 1971 up to 1994. He holds a master's degree in Creative Writing (1987), a bachelor's degree in Journalism (1970) and a bachelor's degree in Theology (1969). |