UGANDA-SOUTH AFRICA

JANUARY 1-25, 2008

My Dearest Friends and Prayer Partners

I greet you with a heart full of joy, and I pray that you too will rejoice with me as I report to you the wonderful things the Lord has done!

I returned from Africa yesterday. My son Anthony and I went to South Africa on December 31, and were met by my dear parents Tony and Elaine Hitchcock at the airport in Johannesburg. We spent a couple of nights with them and with my brother, my two sisters and their spouses and of course all Anthony’s cousins in our hometown Naboomspruit and Pretoria, in the northern parts of South Africa. After that, we all went to the coast and enjoyed a vacation (paid for by my dad and siblings. They even bought Anthony’s air ticket!) It was wonderful to be with my beloved family, whom I have missed so much. Some of them I hadn’t seen for nearly 3 ½ years. Thanks be to the Lord for giving me this great blessing.

I ministered in three churches, including a growing mega church, pastored by my old time Bible School buddy Bert Pretorius. I was in awe at how God had blessed his church, founded just seven years ago. The combined attendance is 3,000 people each Sunday morning. I also preached in a couple of Afrikaans services, which is the language I speak with my family. I loved South Africa and my Afrikaander people, and wondered if somehow the Lord would allow me to minister to them more often, in addition to my quest for the Great American Revival and World Evangelism…

Then the big day came, when I left South Africa to go to Uganda. I partnered with the veteran missionary Murray Jackson, who is also doing a wonderful work. He has an orphanage, amongst all his other wonderful outreaches. I had asked him to organize a mass crusade for me. He and his team did a superb job.
We used several methods to get the crowd out: Wall posters, hand bills, radio and banners at conspicuous places. We also partnered with about 40 local churches, who will follow up the new converts, and also assisted in the work of the crusade.

A crude but efficient platform was constructed, and two generators powered the few lights and sound system.
The first night I preached on “With God all things are possible.” God confirmed His Word by performing some wonderful miracles in our midst. I knew we had a good night and that we could expect the crowd to grow. From then on I focused much more on messages of salvation—especially on the power of the Blood of Jesus, shed upon the Cross for us. The people responded in great numbers. Some nights about two thirds of the crowd made a decision for Christ, and some other nights the response was up to perhaps 95%! Heaven alone knows the numbers of the multitudes who accepted Christ.

One salvation stands out among so many wonderful salvations. This man was only 9 years old when he was abducted by the cruel terrorist group of Joseph Koni. He was forced to kill a family member, whom I believe was his mother. He lived with this rogue army in the bush for 15 years, and indulged in many cruel acts against his will. Somehow he escaped and upon arriving at his old village, he was chased out. He had to register with the government to be accepted into their “reintegration” program. That is when he heard me preach, saying things like “Even if you have murdered someone, or cut off their hand or nose, Jesus can still forgive you…!” That night he received Jesus and peace in his heart. We thank God for this beautiful salvation, and pray for the young man, to not only be reintegrated into Ugandan society, but also to grow in his new found faith.

Space will not allow for all the miracles the Lord did in our midst. I was told by the locals that the city of Gulu had never had crowds this size, nor had they witnessed such miracles. One lady had been blind for two years, and while I was praying she suddenly saw a bright light. When this light disappeared, she realized she could see again. Tears filled her eyes while giving her testimony, and I had no reason to think she was not truthful. He truly came to give sight to the blind! We tested her, and concluded that she indeed was perfectly healed.

The healing of the deaf was so plentiful, that we tried to focus on some other miracles. However, it is a powerful thing when a teacher at a deaf and mute school testifies of the healing of her students. These students had been certified deaf, yet now they can hear, and are learning how to speak properly!

Then there were the mentally retarded healings. I had been praying over and over again that Jehovah Rapha would heal the mentally retarded. On one night we had TWO people testify that the Lord delivered them from madness! The people stood in wonder listening to the young man testify, because they all knew him. My interpreter told me that they were amazed to hear such sane words come from his mouth. He certainly was in his right mind! Another young lady too seemed to be healed from mental retardation. Her clothes were dirty and torn, her face beat up and her hair long and dusty. Yet when she spoke, she made sense. I asked our team to give her a bath, cut her hair, and clothe her in a nice dress. I saw her the next day, and she looked so beautiful. I am sorry I never did get a chance to interview her. Thank You Jesus for what You did for that girl.

On the night before last several spirits manifested. Some in young folks and some in older. They fell in the dust, screaming. The demons were cast out, and they found peace in Jesus. Every night I encouraged the people to bring us their witchcraft. We had quite a heap of weird objects. On the final night we poured gasoline on it and burned it, while the people sung praise unto God. It was quite a sight.

On the final night I focused on the baptism in the Holy Ghost. I explained to the people that this experience is greater than the miracles they had seen, as described in Acts 8:6-19. So powerful, that it captured the imagination of Simon the sorcerer, more than the miracles. A mighty outpouring of the Spirit took place in our final meeting. I don’t have the number, but multitudes shouted praises to God in heavenly languages inspired by the Holy Spirit. It was a beautiful sound to hear thousands of voices shouting to God.

I was also assisted by some wonderful friends who took time out of their schedules and joined me in Uganda at their own expenses. They were Pastors Kim & Dave Snyder (1st Assembly of God, Asheboro NC,) Bob Schmucki (Ocean City MD Worship Center Assembly of God,) Pastor Ivan Ackerman with members Mike Shreve & George Beckman (Loch Lynn MD Church of God) and Cory Cummings (a free lance missionary evangelist from Orlando FL.) They all were a wonderful help as they ministered in the Discipleship and Pastors & Leaders Conferences, refugee camps, churches and at the crusade itself.
Well, space keeps me from saying any more, but I do have some wonderful video footage which I believe will be a blessing to you. Just contact me and I will send it to you. Shipping is free for those in the USA.

Pray for me as I get ready to go to Cameroon . In fact, by the time you receive this letter, we will probably be in the middle of that crusade already. I don't want to harp on this, but believe me—I really need your support. We have been operating in the “red” for several months now. But we have not allowed it to stop us from reaching out to lost souls. Rather, we have reached out to the lost in a big way. Please pray about it and do send us your best gift today. Your gift of any size means more to us than you might think. God bless you…