Wednesday, February 22, 2006
SPIRITUAL PEACE COMES TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AFTER YEARS OF ETHNIC STRIFE AND CIVIL WAR
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

Some of the crowd during the outreach.

KINSHASA, REPUBLIC OF CONGO (ANS) -- Thousands of people in the war-ravaged land of the Democratic Republic of Congo have found spiritual healing in the form of love and miracles from a group of Korean Christians.

Some 700,000 Congolese crowded into a venue in the capital city of Kinshasa for the "2006 DRC Miracle Healing Festival" led by Dr. Lee Jae-Rock, senior pastor of the 100,000-member Manmin Joong-Ang Church based in Seoul that took place from February 16 to 18.

Dr. Lee prays for the sick.

"It was an amazing sight each night when Dr. Lee prayed for the sick and we saw many miracles including the blind receiving their sight, including a little boy who was able to see for the first in his life," said Johnny Kim, Director of Manmin TV. "We saw deaf mutes hear and speak for the first time and also paralytics who were brought in wheelchairs stood and were able to walk by themselves."
The huge crowds were entranced with the various Korean worship groups who danced in African style and sang in French and Lingala, as the large audience joined in and clapped, swayed and sang along with them.

Werason, the ambassador of peace for Africa, shown with Johnny Kim.

Congo's famous pop singer, Werason, who is also known as the "Ambassador of Peace for Africa" caused a sensation when he appeared on stage and began singing a praise song acappela.
"Before the meeting began, Werason came to see Dr. Lee at his hotel and asked him to pray for his wife that she might have twin sons," said Johnny Kim. "He said that if this occurs, he promised to testify wherever he goes to what happened."


President Joseph Kabila with Dr. Lee Jaerock

Before the first night of the festival, DR Congolese president Joseph Kabila invited Dr. Lee to the presidential palace for a friendly dialogue.
With him was Johnny Kim, who said, "President Kabila expressed his appreciation to the Dr. Lee for visiting DR Congo to conduct the crusade, and asked him to pray for stability in his country so that they might have a successful general and presidential election in the near future.
"So when Dr. Lee began speaking each night, he said that DR Congo is the third largest land mass with so many natural resources but to experience the blessing of God those there had to be united in the name of Jesus Christ."

A boy who has received the sight.

Kim went on to say, "This crusade was held with support from political, economical leaders as well as from the church leaders and the local press. Many of the prominent members of DR Congolese society said they anticipated great blessing from God through the crusade in the days to come. Rev. Lee Jae-Rock and the mission team were welcomed by the church leaders including Bishop Albert Kankienza, the president of Revival Churches in DRC as well as hundreds of local evangelical Christians with a special traditional Congolese performance at the KINSHASHA International Airport. They also had a press conference at the VIP room with many local media including the national TV and radio network, RTNC."
"On the first night, there was a sudden rainfall in Kinshasa which cooled down the heat and drove away the insects for the congregation gathered in the stadium. Pastor Peter, the interpreter from English to Lingala (the local language) said, 'We consider rain here in Kinshasa the blessing of God. Tonight we have rainfall which symbolizes the blessing of God to us.' Dr. Lee spoke on the first night on 'Why is Jesus Our Only Savior?' He also testified to countless instances of the work of God's power manifested through Manmin and around the world in the name of Jesus Christ. The crowd responded with a big applause as the urgent and powerful experiences of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by the manifestation of the powerful works of the living God, took place.
"On the second day, the rain just poured down and when the team got to the stadium where the outreach was to take place, there was just a small crowd of about 3,000. But amazingly, the rain stopped when the sermon was to begin and people then began pouring into the stadium to hear the message called 'God, the Creator.'"

A healed lame with his crutches.

Again, many received Christ as their savior and also many others said they were healed.
"VIPs who sat on stage, included Dr. Jaynet Kabila; the chairperson of the Kabila Foundation and the acting first lady), H.E. Azarias Ruberwa, the vice president of DRC. Madam Lylian Bemba, the wife of vice president BEMBA of DRC, the daughter of the president of REPUBLIC OF CONGO(Brazaville) and cabinet ministers, senators, governors with pastors from Nazareth of Israel and a former higher official from Dubai.
On the final night, when there was no rain an estimated 500,000 poured into the area where the stage was set up and enjoyed the singing and dancing and then listened intently to Dr. Lee speaking on "The Power of the Holy Spirit."
He introduced many stories of miracles that had previously taken place around the world on large video screens and then when he prayed for the sick, a large number filled up the stage and many spoke publicly about what had happened to them.
"Dr. Lee prayed specially for the blessing of the people and the country of DRC in the name of Jesus Christ."
Dr. Jaynet Kabila expressed her impression saying, "The message on 'Why is Jesus our only Savior.' was so good. Dr. Lee is truly a man of God I appreciate him for his visiting and conducting the crusade in this country, Democratic Republic of Congo for the peace and blessing from God."
The crusade was broadcast live through national run RNTC TV (Radio Nationale et Television Congolaises), as well as around the world via satellite channels including TBN Russia, JBN, FCN, CDM, Holy God TV, CNL, CTNI LATINOAMERICA, BETHESDA, Asomavision GUAYAQUIL, Asomavision QUITO, CANAAN TV, Almavision, Cristovision, Manmin TV, and the Internet.
Throughout the week, DRC daily newspapers, including Le Potentiel one of top newspaper, have been running stories on the crusade.
The outreach ended on February 18 and in the morning of that day, the country experienced an historic moment when they signed a new constitution that will pave the way for upcoming general and presidential elections. The signing of the new constitution took place in front of the Presidents of South Africa and the Republic of Congo.
In what some experts call the deadliest humanitarian crisis of the last 60 years, an estimated four million people have died in Congo, mostly from hunger and disease, since a civil war began in 1998. It ended officially in 2003, but deaths continue.
Dr. Lee's next outreach is scheduled for June 30 – July 2nd in Meadow Corona Park in New York City.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.assistnews.net/