Rev. Gilbert Adagala, Bishop and WCCM Field Director – Kenya reports:

The Kakamega Conference was a great achievement in the sense that it was an eye opener to my church members who were awakened in an extra ordinary manner.

Our mid week services have totally changed with attendance having increased threefold ever since the Kakamega meeting.  The numbers have shot up on Sunday till now we have problems of seats.

I have had people visiting me, bishops for that matter, from Kakamega, Eldoret, and the far parts of Western Kenya.  There is a great need for a meeting for Eldoret as three bishops have approached me with a request for an interdenominational leaders conference for Eldoret.

Bayugan City, Mindanao, Philippines

What would you do if you had a chance to go back to Treasure Island – or better still imagine getting to sit with Robert Louis Stevenson, pour out a cup of tea perhaps and have the man sagely nod his head in faint approval of all that you would share in what would be your latest jaunt form treasure… Wait a minute, did I say go back to Treasure Island?

To have to snap of out my reverie is brutal but to share the experience with you is refreshingly uplifting.

Treasure Island it was, at least to me, to see the mountains in the distance covered with trees and foliage, teeming with wild life. To see the Agusan river lazily curl its way in no seeming hurry to finally empty itself into the ever welcome bay, to see streaks of fresh water run well into the sea. To look as far inland and notice a single plume of smoke rise warily into the bright morning sky tastefully decorated with cumulous clouds standing silent sentinel to the promise of a new day in the tropics.

Treasure Island it was when we landed in Butuan City and yes it was the ‘again’ experience. It was WCCM’s second Mission to the Island of Mindanao, Philippines.

We piled into the transport vehicles and silently took in the feel of life as people knew here with great alacrity.

We finally pulled into the resort and hurried off to our cottages in the tropics – each of us, I must add had the aura and conviction of explorers who had just discovered something spectacular – never mind the fact that the Chinese and the Spaniards had done business on the same Island for centuries.

As the wheels of the van we rode in gently bobbed over the pebbles that covered the stretch between the road and the entrance to the venue of the conference, there was that silent prayer that escaped my lips, Lord accomplish whatever you need to accomplish through the team and the ministry over the next few days.

The all youth Worship team led the people to the best loved songs with the intensity and consistency of the tropical sunshine that beat down upon us.

The people of Bayugan City had arrived and the steady stream kept growing and peaked at 259. God indeed had something mighty planned.

The curtains were about to go up!

WCCM / Harvest Hands Ministries. Bayugan City Life-giving Leaders Conference / Crusade and Church Plant from October 22, 2009.

God moved mightily this day and when it was time to break for lunch the team members helped serve the attendees with a meal of chicken, rice and soda. With their spiritual and physical needs met. It was time to rest as they waited expectantly for the evening evangelistic
service.

Renowned International Evangelist Rev Dr. W. C. Ratchford presented the Gospel message with a fresh outpouring of the anointing pierced the souls of mankind. Before it was over, 250 new members of the family of God came forward to receive ‘His touch’.

Team WCCM moved through the crowded altar area praying for the needs of the people.

It was sweet confirmation that the latest chapter in the ministry had just been opened.

When night finally arrived the vans wound back the snaking highways. Tired and spent as we were, one thing was for sure, each heart went to bed that night warm and rejoicing because 250 lives had been added to the Kingdom of God.

It was a clear day. The sun was bright. The light filtered in through the windows across which the curtains were drawn. The mood was upbeat. The room on the first floor was packed with students seated in a way to make maximum usage of space with little room for comfort. The air was thick and the fans overhead were spinning at a dizzying pace.

It was my class and I had started the new batch in “Homiletics”. It was interesting to me because I had to create and use a fresh combination of all the skills from Homiletics for myself so as to keep up with and dodge the constant blaring and honking of vehicles as they sped furiously below.

I remember adjusting my tie and starting the class – I was a few minutes into class when he walked in…

A bag was slung across bulging slightly with what seemed like hurriedly stuffed books. His appearance was that of a typical college student in a pair of jeans a shirt to match and sport shoes. His hair was straight and defiantly hanging forward after what seemed like many efforts to toss it back… but his eyes were what caught my attention. His eyes – it appeared to me – had already picked a spot in the center of my forehead and refused to budge or blink. There was mischief and also what I initially thought to say, “Let me see what you have to say.”

That was where it started with Yan Lotha. Yan, as I called him, turned out to be a young man with great maturity. A very deep person for his age with a vision that put him ahead of the others in his batch. He wanted to make something out of his life without any help and was prepared to go the distance. Last year Yan came back and joined an intense, fast track, high power course in Servant Leadership, a 12 subject course that prepares in Theology as well as in Finance, Administration, Planning and People Skills.

Yan continued very hard at a pace I had come to know was all his own which never ceased to surprise me. His commitment to being the best person he could be so that God could use him was rewarding to watch and invest into. This year in Jan 2009 I believe God opened a door for Yan to join the armed forces to be a Chaplain.

He responded immediately and is now preparing to be a Chaplain.

It is my prayer that his commitment to excellence will continue to be a challenge and a blessing to many more in the days and years to come.

I miss Yan and I know that his life will always touch lives just as sure as it has touched mine.

Today we received this praise report from a pastor in Mbale, Uganda:

We thank the Lord for the Life-giving Leaders Conference/Crusade in Mbale, Uganda by the World Class Cities Ministries Team.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

While I was ministering this morning, one man interjected and told the church that he is a member of the Uganda Armed Forces and was healed in the ear because of this mission. He said he wanted to testify last Sunday while Dr. G. W. “Bill” Wilson was ministering, but didn’t have the opportunity.

May the Lord receive all the glory . The man says he has been prayed for severally (several times) and hadn’t received his healing. He has decided to make New Generation Church his church.

Blessings!

Reporting -
Pastor Phillip Charo, Senior Pastor
New Generation Church
Mbale, Uganda, East Africa

The delegates had come from miles around and World Class Cities Ministries and the local ministries provided transportation and food to meet their physical need.

One could see the spiritual hunger and sense the heartbeat of the Filipino attendees as they gathered in the Cabadbaran City Gym for the Life-giving Leaders Conference and evening Crusade Services.  Hundreds were transported to the center of the city to hear a Word from the Lord that would be delivered to them by the WCCM Team.

The Mindanao Island people had a desire to draw closer to God and it was evident they had a longing to know more of power of the Holy Spirit.

Each gathering resulted in a higher expectancy and resulted in 350 souls coming to Christ. As they lifted their hands in praise and shouts of joy the Holy Spirit baptized 175 of the vessels that sought the Throne Room of God.

As the Balm of Gilead, His healing hand touched a multitude of lives and they went away whole. It was common place to see those at the altar dancing before the Lord as they surrendered in complete adoration to His presence.