It was an expression of God’s power and might as healing, deliverance, miracles and salvation were evident in the August Healing Service. Jubilee Voices reminded us that the source of our strength is God, as He gave us peace from all our storms and all we could do was lift our hands in Total Praise to Him. Indeed God’s presence was manifested mightily. 

To recount a few of the testimonies, Sis Juliet from Nkpolu church testified how God troubled the heart of a person who stole money from her apartment, as she forgot to lock her apartment when she left for the last healing service. This fellow was left without peace until he confessed his fault and returned the money. Also, Pst. Ikedichi and family reverenced God for delivering them from death.  First from a road accident which would have claimed the lives of the entire family. In his words, “…the accident was so fatal that it affected several other cars on the road, and I could barely make it out the driver’s seat but none of us was hurt”.  Secondly was the deliverance of one of his sons, who at the last minute, decided not to join a friend’s car. That car was involved in a ghastly accident which claimed the life of one of its passengers.

God’s servant, Pastor Isaac Olori, gave the message “Our New Covenant right” (Mark 7:24-30). He was keen to point out the difference between the Old and the New Covenant, stating that the Old Covenant was made with the Jews and as a result, God had a special relationship with the Jews till date. However, the New Covenant had no disparity between Jews and Gentiles, as it was an open covenant that gave all men access to God, if they confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This covenant was more special than the old covenant.

To buttress his point, he used the Greek woman from our main text as case study and in his highlights, stated the following points;

1.       The woman knew the exact problem of her child and thus showed utmost concern about this situation.

2.       Though she knew what the problem was, she had no access to the power that could proffer solution to her daughter’s condition because she operated in the Old Covenant.

3.       She was met with several hindrances to her breakthrough, ranging from her status (being a Greek), to Jesus not saying a word to her despite her plea, and having no advocate to intercede on her behalf. However, she did not let these stop her.

4.       She exhibited sincere brokenness, which is a sacrifice God cannot overlook – this was the foundation she laid that brought Jesus’s attention to her. She as well exhibited humility, perseverance and intercession that made her receive her miracle.

Hence it is worthy to note the following lessons from this sermon;

1.       As the words of the woman took Jesus’s attention to her, we must be careful of the words we speak, as they can hinder or hasten our blessings.

2.       As the woman exhibited humility, despite Jesus’s words to her, we must do same, else as a result of pride we might lose out on our miracle.

3.       We must not be deterred by difficult situations as God uses those difficult situations to stir us up in study of His word and prayer, so we may grow in Him.

4.       God’s Spirit cannot dwell in a person alongside an unclean spirit, hence every unclean and evil spirit must be cast out.

5.       Unlike the Old Covenant which gave the Jews access to limited answers, the New Covenant gives us unlimited access to answers.

6.       Unlike the old covenant, the New Covenant gives us access to, not only receive healing and deliverance but also to declare healing, deliverance to others.

7.       Jesus declaring the word of faith for the woman’s daughter to be healed, shows that God does not have a fixed pattern of doing any miracle neither is distance a barrier to Him.

It was time for another Conference but this time it was just for children. Not wanting to be left out, the Children’s Conference held at all Zones in Rivers and Bayelsa States.

It could be termed as a summer camp for children from 5 years to 12 years. What an adventure, learning about Jesus and having fun all at once.

The excitement on their faces was palpable as they trooped in on Friday, 5th August at all GEWC Zonal headquarters. They were taught:Making children Disciples, Reaching out to others for Christ, Quiet Time Technique, Personal Hygiene, Polishing of shoes and washing plates, Parts of speech and developing a Reading Culture as well as several Bible Studies and Games.

The grand finale saw the children in their local attire, beautifully dressed representing various cultures. Parents were thrilled as the children had some time for presentations, Bible recitations and dancing amongst others.

Indeed, train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). We believe God that these children will grow up, mighty arrows in God’s hand.

In line with the vision of the ministry, Greater Evangelism World Crusade Rainbow Town Church took the gospel to Afaha Ikot Ebak in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The crusade/church planting which ran from 11th of August through the 14th of August 2016 was a huge success by God’s Grace. There was a manifestation of the power of God.  With great enthusiasm, the advance team of about 18 members left on the 8th of August while the Crusade team of about 50 members joined on the 11th of August 2016.

Day 1 of the crusade kick-started at 5pm. The speaker for the night was Evang. Victor N. Ejimadu and he spoke on the Topic: The Invitation. A total of 116 persons attended and 6 persons gave their lives to Christ including the Chief of that community.

Day 2 started at 5pm with Evang. Victor Ejimadu as the speaker again. He spoke on the topic “The God of Mercy” and there was a greater manifestation of the power of God with healing and deliverances this night. An altar call was made and out of the total number of 241 persons that attended the crusade, 104 persons were converted.

The speaker for Day 3 was Evang. Princewill Nkiri (State Minister GEWC Akwa Ibom State). He spoke on the topic “God can fix it”. There were special deliverance sessions for individuals and the community, using the Chief who was present as a point of contact. A total of 48 persons were converted that night.

The crusade also featured medical outreach and welfare services. During these outreaches 51 persons got converted as counsellors were on standby to minister to them before seeing the Medical Doctor.

To the glory of God, the first service of the new Church took place on Day 4. This was made possible through Elder Michael Akpan, a native of the community and a member of GEWC Rainbow Town church, who donated a land for the Church and also gave his newly built house to use as temporal church/parsonage while the church land is developed.  Also the Akwa Ibom State brethren donated some chairs and other items to start up the church.

Delivering the sermon, the senior Pastor of Rainbow Town Church, Pastor C. S. Ejimadu spoke on the Topic “Upon the Rock Will I Build My Church”. After the sermon 6 persons responded to the altar call.

It was indeed a huge success as the Church in Afaha Ikot Ebak has been established with 202 persons (children inclusive).

The 44th anniversary of Greater Evangelism World Crusade took place from 5th September to 11th at every branch of the ministry. It was a time of celebration and thanksgiving to God for 44 years He has kept the Ministry. The focus for this year was soul winning, targeted at raising the faces of people who are bowed down. These outreaches started from the beginning of September.

Rainbow Town Church crusaded Abak in Akwa Ibom, Woji Church opened a Church at Woji, Olanada at Rumourosi Psychiatric road Rumougbo PHC, to mention but a few. Worthy of note, is the Church at Eliogbo/Eliozu which was opened by Rivers State West Women Fellowship.

For Ogbum-nu-abali branch, it was time to ‘shop’ with the opening of what they called, "JESUS Supermarket" where everyone was invited to shop for free, offering much needed items to those who were in need.

The grand finale on Sunday, was thanksgiving across all branches. Rainbow branch had two special guests, First, was the Wife of the founding father, Pastor Dr. Nonyem Numbere where she encouraged the Church to continue in the stead of our founding father, Apostle G. D. Numbere. She also gave God's word for the Church from Haggi 2 that, the glory of this latter church will be greater than that of the former church. Also in attendance was wife of the International director, Pastor Mrs. Blessing Olori, who gave a testimony of how God delivered her from infirmity.

For Base Church it was a time of celebration with the children, women and even men’s choir singing to God’s glory. The singers led the Church into soul lifting songs from the 1970s, relieving old times.

This celebration in a nutshell is one that exhibits thanksgiving to God for how far He has brought the ministry of Greater Evangelism World Crusade as well as remembering the vision and the task yet to be completed.

The vision lives on!!!

Join us this Sunday, 18th September 2016 at GEWC World Headquarters for a Thanksgiving Service. You could join us online via livestream or audio links.

The Philip Daughters Fellowship of Greater Evangelism World Crusade held her 1st State Conference on Thursday 11th August to Sunday 14th August 2016.

The Philip's Daughters fellowship of Greater Evangelism World Crusade is a forum for Single Sisters in the Ministry from the age of 20 years and above. This conference held at State levels, that is Rivers State East and Rivers State West.

The Philip's Daughters Fellowship, otherwise known as P.D.F was founded by the President, Greater Evangelism World Fellowship International, Pastor Dr. N. E. Numbere but named by the founding father Apostle G. D. Numbere in accordance with Acts 21:8 – 9 “And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.”

The fellowship is therefore aimed at grooming and nurturing single sisters through the leadership of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to be spiritually gifted, morally upright, good home makers, fulfilling the vision of Greater Evangelism World Crusade.

With the Theme “God’s Princess: A Disciple Maker”, this conference was therefore another opportunity to fulfil this vision. Topics covered include: Cleanliness is next to Godliness (Health Talk), The place of ICT in Making Disciples, Workshop on making pancake, chin-chin and hat as well as bible studies and exhortations on making disciples.

It was indeed an awesome time.

The long awaited annual teenagers’ holiday camp of Greater Evangelism World Crusade has come and gone but for those who had a firsthand experience of the event, it still remains as fresh in their memories. The Conference which began on Monday 22nd August, 2016 and ran through the week until the 28th of August, 2016 saw its teens become Teachers as it holds this year for the 19th time since its inception.

The Conference renowned for its dynamic display of the anointing of the Spirit and its unbiased treatment of very sensitive subjects troubling the minds of teens in our contemporary society, stands as the most anticipated event in the entire year for teens in the Ministry. It featured a number of inspiring talks, seminars and workshops, a concert, sports & games activities, and a variety of other stunning performances amongst many others. These talks and seminars were handled by inspiring and dedicated Ministers and workers in the Ministry, some of whom are: Evang. Victor Ejimadu and his wife, Evang. Prince Nkiri, Pst. (Dr) Hart and his wife, Pst. James and Wari Numbere.

The Conference commenced with the opening ceremony which met the attendance of highly placed ministers and personalities in the ministries, among whom was the Overseer of the children/teenagers’ department Pst. (Dr.) Mrs. N. E. Numbere, and the Mother of the ministry Pst. (Eld.) Mrs. Euphemia Porbeni. The presence of these dignitaries was a real thrill for many a teens as many had never seen them in person before and this was a first. The thrill that resulted was not just as a result of their presence but also their support in helping to cover some of the outstanding costs of organizing the conference.

The hassle of settling down on arrival at camp on the first day was a lot of work, none the less some teens counted it as one of the whims of being in camp with over two thousand teenagers for a whole week. Adapting to hostel life was a bit of a bother for some teenagers; late sleeping time, early wake up time, long queues, brunch & long sessions etc; but that was all part of the excitement of being in a camp.

One very important aspect of the camp experience were the Bible Studies and Growth Series sessions which customarily begin from the second day of the camp. Many testified of giving their lives to Christ during these sessions. The Bible Study sessions were treated as classes with relevant topics focused on the message of the theme “Making Disciples as Teens”. The teenagers also had a chance to give their inputs through discussions and interactive sessions.

The talks, workshops and seminars spanned across various subjects, all sensitive and vital to the young ones; some of them include: Apprentice of Jesus by Evang. Victor Ejimadu, Sexual Perversions, The Importance of Mentorship by Evang. (Dr.) Lawrence Hart, The Place of Prayer in Making Disciples by Evang. Princewill Nkiri, Developing Entrepreneurial Skills by Bro. George Nwameze and Utilizing ICT for the Spread of the Gospel by Tchr. (Mrs.) Tammy Ejimadu. Participants of these sessions were keen on scrounging every bit of these invaluable and enlightening piece of information as questions poured in showing the interest and appreciation the teenagers of the various sessions. Many testified of the impartation of the Spirit and deliverance from demonic influences.

On Sunday, a concert was held which really made the long week worthwhile for all with the performances of James Numbere and Minister Joe, it was truly an unforgettable encounter.

The Conference was crowned on Sunday 28th August being the grand finale of the week-long conference. The International Director of the Ministry and his wife, Pastor & Pastor Mrs. Isaac Olori; the overseer of the teenagers’/children department – Pastor Dr. Nonyem Numbere and the Mother of the ministry, Pastor E. Porbeni, all graced this final event.  

The teenagers’ Conference was a huge success. It has brought thousands of youngsters to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and the baptism of the Holy Spirit and has given them a head start in their faith with the basic knowledge they require to help them live victorious Christian lives.

THE VISION LIVES ON:

Key Note Address Delivered by Pastor Isaac Olori, International Director, Greater Evangelism World Crusade (GEWC) On The Occasion Of The 44th Anniversary Celebration of GEWC (Sept. 9, 1972 - Sept. 9, 2016)

“... There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.” Joshua 13:1

Praise God!  GEWC is 44! This Vision to  go  and raise the heads of  multitudes whose heads were bowed down, to look up to God and live was given to our founding father,  Apostle G. D. Numbere of blessed memory while then a student of University of Ife, Ibadan Campus (3rd March, 1970). After some years of incubation was born on the 9th of September 1972, exactly 44 years ago.

Through the zeal, commitment and doggedness of our founding father and a few young men and women, the vision was launched amidst much persecution, opposition and difficulties.  These brave young men and women moved to every nook and cranny, to the downtrodden underprivileged and forgotten people of the numerous islands and villages of Rivers and Bayelsa states of Nigeria.

We, the present generation of Greater Evangelism World Crusade  who are the fruits of the Vision and labours of our founding father and other heroes of the Vision past and alive, are indebted to God to ensure the realization of this God-given vision.

Our founding father, like Apostle Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision and spared no effort to see to the accomplishment; he laboured till his last moments here on earth, handing over the baton to our generation with this prophetic statement “The Vision Lives On” as one of his last charges.

THE VISION LIVES ON: OUR RESPONSIBILITY

While we appreciate God for yet another year added to our onerous task of fulfilling this God-given mandate, it is also a time to reflect on how far we have fared in accomplishing this divine task. It is also necessary to review our individual and collective efforts towards the realization of the Vision.  44 years have passed but the words God spoke to Joshua in Joshua 13:1 “... there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed”, still applies to us.

The Vision is a worldwide vision and we are far from realizing the multitudes our founding father saw in the vision. There is no doubt that the Vision is born of God  and lives on as declared, but  men and women are needed who truly have bought into the Vision;  men and women who will embrace the spirit of the Vision which saw it from the start to where it is today. It was the spirit of commitment, sacrifice, love and passion for perishing souls.

Our age may have become more religious but ungodliness and iniquity abounds. There is a great onslaught on the truth and deception which is pervading our society today. There are churches everywhere with many flocking in and out and yet very few with genuine encounter of salvation, very few disciples - men and women with a genuine commitment to the Lord and living a Christ-like life.

The advancement in Science and technology has not only served the gospel but also opened an effective door for the enemy to advance the course and agenda of populating hell. Our youths are more vulnerable today than ever.

Indeed there are much grounds to be possessed and it requires committed players and not watchers (those sitting on the fence) to keep the vision on course and fulfilled.

As we appreciate God for these 44 years as a Ministry, it should also be a time of reflection on the responsibility of ensuring that the vision lives on.

“The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build” Nehemiah 2:20.

Long live the Ministry of Greater Evangelism World Crusade!

Happy 44th Anniversary Celebration!

Pastor Isaac Olori

International Director

AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING:

Key Note Address Delivered By Apostle G. D. Numbere, The International Director, Greater Evangelism World Crusade (GEWC) On The Occasion Of The 40th Anniversary (Sept. 9, 1972 - Sept. 9, 2012) Celebration Of The Ministry September 1st - 9th , 2012

The theme of this anniversary is, "As it was in the beginning." This is also going to be the theme for Greater Evangelism World Crusade in the year 2013. On this occasion of our Ministry's fortieth (40th) Anniversary, I deem it necessary to send you greetings and to CONGRATULATE you on the twin attainment of Age forty (40) and the production of at the least forty generations of Christians. Like any family, there are those who began the family line (progenitors) and there are those who were born into the family, generation after generation. That has been the story of GEWC forty years down the road (Sept. 9, 1972 - Sept. 9, 2012). 

Though every year of these forty years has not been equally productive, no year has been barren of spiritual children. For this we are most grateful to God. Permit me in this address to eulogize (praise very highly) the original generations and therefrom to challenge the present generation. Over time, some of our brethren who were part of the original generation have gone home to be with the Lord, such as: Matilda Emmanuel, Sarah Darwin, Esther Alatoru, Victoria Lawson, Lolo George, Drucilla Kpabari, Matilda Edoo, Emmanuel Amabibi, Garrick Inomo, Rosamond Papanye, Settle Amachree, Millicent Loloo, Mama Hannah Emmanuel, Chief Paul Reuben Awo, Victoria Okonny, Alfred Cookey, the eleven brethren that drowned at the Degema hulk, Mammy Numbere (who produced me) to mention but a few. They have left indelible memorials in the annals of the history of this Ministry. They, like David, "- - - after they had served their generation by the will of God, fell asleep …” (Acts 13:36)

It is pertinent to state that what follows hereunder is by no means exhaustive of all the events and incidents that occurred. Time indeed will fail me to mention all the prices that generation paid - the persecutions they endured, the sacrifices they made, the humiliations and deprivations that were meted out to them and the privileges they forewent to sustain the Vision and Spirit of the Ministry. Some students were forcefully removed from their school, their parents denying them school fees. Some were thrown out of homes and jobs. Some young believers were chained and locked up in toilets and starved with the aim of breaking their spirit and thereby forcing them to decamp from the Ministry. Such parents were utterly disappointed. No sooner did they regain their freedom than they returned to Fellowship!

Wives suffered the indignity of being locked out of their homes together with their children. Others were divorced outright and their cars and businesses confiscated. Pregnant women were beaten, tortured and thrown out of their matrimonial homes naked together with their children, leading to their migration to other States where the brethren received them, clothed them, cared for them until they gave birth.

Parents came into Fellowships and forcefully pulled out their children, shouting, beating, kicking and stripping them naked at the same time. Some of them when they died, their corpses were forcefully seized by relations and given heathen burials which of course mattered nothing because "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints" (Psalms 116:15); and, 'The wicked is driven away in his wickedness but the righteous hath hope in his death" (Proverbs. 14:32). In the New Testament we read in Luke 16:22 "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom; the rich man also died, and was buried." The souls of these saints are resting in the bosom of the Lord despite.

We were stoned, we were maligned, we were attacked with machetes, we were shot at with guns but God protected us. All sorts of juju and charms, and curses were thrown at us by medicine men, witches and wizards but such had no effect on us. These evil men and women were disappointed and frustrated together with their accomplices. Church and State accused us falsely as setters of confusion in society and slandered us greatly. We were rejected and abandoned by our fellow Christians. Some members of the Scripture Union (SU) of Nigeria in particular publicly denounced us and would have nothing to do with us. Other brethren had trials of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment in Police cells. Yet others paid the supreme prize with their lives!

Once again I say, time will fail me to mention many more of the persecutions and indignities we suffered but endured. Suffice it to say that in all these things, the Lord saw us through without our faith shaking for one moment. We pressed on with the Truth in the midst of a perverse and crooked generation and we have continued to this day what we started forty years ago. The challenge to the present generation of Greater Evangelism World Crusade.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) in his immortal lines in his "Psalm of Life" wrote:

"A PSALM OF LIFE"

1.   Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal;

      "Dust thou art, to dust returnest," Was not spoken of the soul.

2.    Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way;

       But to act, that each to-morrow, Find us further than to-day

3.   In the world's broad field of battle. In the bivouac of Life,

       Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife!

4.   Lives of great men all remind us. We can make our lives sublime,

      And, departing, leave behind us. Footprints on the sands of time;

5.  Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate;

      Still achieving, still pursuing. Learn to labour and to wait,

 "Lives of great men (and permit me to add, and of women) all remind us. We can make our lives sublime, and departing, leave behind us footprints in the sands of time."!!! Those early generations did just that. They indeed left behind their footprints in the sands of time, footprints indeed that need to be followed and emulated.

In Psalm 22:30 God said, "A seed shall serve Him, it shall be accounted unto the Lord for a generation." A seed shall serve Him and it shall be accounted unto the Lord for a generation. That "seed" that shall serve Him is that line of Longfellow of "lives of great men all remind us - and departing, leave behind their footprints in the sands of time;" that "seed" was that generation in Greater Evangelism World Crusade that has gone by and has left behind its footprints in the sands of time!

"One generation passeth away and another generation cometh- "says the Scripture. (Ecclesiastes 1:4). Verse thirty one of (Psalm 22:31) says, "They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be borne that He hath done this." Longfellow urges and I urge you too, let this generation, your generation, "be up and doing, with a heart for any fate; still achieving, still pursuing learn to labour and to wait."

God promises us help: "And even to your old age I am He, and even to your hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear, even I will carry, and will deliver you" (Isaiah 46:4) and in Malachi, "I am the Lord, I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6)

I like the explanation given to Psalm 22:30-31 by Matthew Henry, [commentary on the whole Bible.] "That the Church of Christ, and with it the Kingdom of God among men should continue through all the ages of time is God's will. A seed shall serve Him; there shall be remnant, enough to preserve the Eternal Truth. They shall be accounted to Him for a generation. He will be the same to them that He was to those who went before them…” He has been so indeed to me from the beginning and up to this present day, for He promised me, "you are safe in all your journeys." God is a promise keeper!

Matthew Henry continues, "They shall come (that seed, that generation), rise up in their day, not only to keep up the virtue of the generation that is passed, but to serve the welfare of the souls in the generation to come. They shall transmit to them the gospel of Christ". Matthew Henry is talking about your generation!

Press on then, beloved, press the Full Gospel through to your generation as David did to his generation and as I your father, Apostle Geoffrey Dabibi Numbere did and it shall be with you “As it was in the beginning”.

In conclusion, I would like to refer you to - (Hebrew 13:5)

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content, with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" - (King James version).

"Let your conduct be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have for He has said, I will not give you up nor desert you" - (Modern Language version).

"Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God, has said, "1 will never, never, fail you or forsake you" (The Living Bible version).

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have for He has said, I will never fail you nor forsake you". (RSV)

How shall I express my gratitude to God for all His faithfulness to me? How best shall I conclude this address? I shall do so in the words of Isaiah the Prophet, "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." (Isaiah 25:4)

I went to no man to launch or sponsor Greater Evangelism World Crusade Ministry. God alone who gave the Vision in first place did and He has been sufficient for all her needs ever since and He shall continue to be. (Philippians 4:19) "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus." Yes so shall it be, in Jesus Name. Amen and Amen.

Apostle G. D. Numbere (International Director)

Culled from "Selected Sermons and Speeches of Apostle Numbere, Vol 1" compiled by Pastor Nonyem Numbere. For inquiries, visit our bookshop.

Editor's Note

Apostle Geoffrey Numbere passed on to glory, October 14th, 2014. Before his passing, he named Pastor Isaac Olori as his successor. This appointment was done on 14th December 2014, during the thanksgiving service for the burial of Apostle Numbere.

FOREIGN MISSIONS

In the vision that the Lord gave Apostle Numbere the work was to be in three phases – Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world. Deep in his heart, therefore, there had always been this burden for Africa. Although he had been a guest speaker in churches and conferences in Kenya, Ghana and Liberia, he knew that that was not just what his call was all about. He needed to get down to the grassroots, meeting the people at their level in order to give them the gospel. He needed God’s leading and instructions on where and how to start. He visited countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, prayerfully scouting for openings but it was not until February 1994 that the Lord opened the door to Africa.

UGANDA
The first door to be opened was that of Uganda, “the Pearl of Africa”, through one of our elders, Christine Wifa, a Ugandan by birth. Uganda, he found, is a very expensive country to live in. It was also not an easy place to penetrate with the gospel because of her very stringent laws for the operation of Churches. Moreover, the Nigerian ministers there had fallen into disrepute because of their materialistic tendencies and gospel.

He stayed a few weeks in Kampala and was able to establish a baby Church there. Thereafter he went back to Nigeria to return to Uganda in the December of that same year with Ministers Evangelist Yohanna Biliyock and Pastor Pakribo Warmate. These two Ministers worked selflessly and tirelessly to re-establish the Church and to get the Ministry registered. God rewarded their efforts and the Ministry got through the various stages of registration. Unfortunately Pastor Warmate’s wife died at home and he had to be recalled, leaving only Biliyock to carry on with the work. The work pattern in Uganda was to be the same as in Nigeria – going to the downtrodden with the gospel. Apart from Kampala, we now have Churches in Kyegegwa, Iringa, Karama, Bwerayangi, Kyarijumba, Kyemengo (“the Church in the forest”), and many other villages in the interior of Uganda. 

Uganda is a mountainous country and its villages lie hidden, tucked away up the rocks and mountains. There are no roads, only footpaths and the villages are far away from one another. Evangelist Biliyock was able to break through to the jungles of Uganda. Apostle Numbere went with them down to the villages to visit with the people; interacting with them, eating with them, sleeping with them, as well as teaching them the Word of God.

To get to the heartland of these villages they had to use motorcycles. They had to ride up the mountainside, down through the valleys, brushing through bushes with hanging branches and stems flogging them as they passed, leaving whip-marks all over their arms despite the long-sleeved shirts they were wearing. Some places were too high for the motorcycles to climb so they had to get off their bikes and trek up the mountainside, pushing the bikes along as they climbed. You can imagine how tedious and energy-sapping that was. The footpaths were muddy and slippery because of the rains and many times they fell off their motorcycles. Thus they travelled for miles and miles through no man’s land, but no matter how arduous the journey was, they did not turn back; they always reached their destination.

Moving from one village to the other took hours. By the time they got to a village they would arrive there very tired, very dirty and completely broken down, but the scene they would meet there would so challenge their hearts that they would forget about themselves and their condition. At every village they went to, they would find the people gathered in great numbers from their numerous hamlets, waiting patiently for them. Whole families– fathers, mothers and children, would be there. The Word of God was scarce in those villages and they were hungry for it. They would therefore stay there as many days as you wanted, ready to hear the Word of God, day and night. Therefore in each village they visited, they had fellowship throughout the day and all through the night every day of their stay there. They had no kerosene (paraffin) or gas lamps so the night fellowships were held in almost total darkness. All they had were small oil lamps similar to what Nigerians call “Biafra lamp”.

He found the people in abject poverty, living in mud and thatch huts, neglected by both the Church and the civilized world. They did not even have common white salt: what they had as salt was very brown. There were no hospitals, pharmacies, dispensaries or medical stores and so when they were sick they depended only on God; for even the smallest of injuries could easily turn into festering wounds. In one of the villages, Apostle Numbere was given a “Vono” spring bed. The people could not afford mattresses or pillows so he had to spread his wrapper (cloth) on it so he would not be injured by the bare springs. Even the bed was a borrowed one. For a carpet, they cut elephant grass and placed on the floor and then they placed an animal skin on it as a bedside rug. All this was because they regarded him as a very important person so he was given this special treatment. It was the same story in all the villages they went to. In some places, there was no vono bed for borrowing or rental and in some places there was no sleeping space in which case they had to sit on their chairs all through the night. 

“Bathroom” was merely an enclosed space over bare ground but because he was an important guest they cut plantain leaves and placed on the “bathroom” floor for him. In one of the places when he saw the water they gave him to bath with, he shrunk back, “Jesus!” he exclaimed. As dirty as he was from the mud and the dust that got on him as he travelled, his body was cleaner than the water! For a moment he was like Peter in the vision of the animals when he said, “Lord, I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” Then the Holy Spirit spoke to him, “But this is what these people have been living on”. That was enough chiding for him. He said, “Lord, thank You”. He then had a full bath, pouring the water all over him, from his head down to his very toes. The soap could not foam but he did not mind any longer. As he toured the churches in those remote villages his spirit was lifted up with gratitude to God. “Thank you, Lord” he prayed. “This is the vision of the Ministry, a forgotten people, a neglected people are now having the gospel. Blessed be your Name.”

The Ugandan mission has taken giant strides. God has brought in trusted nationals such as Pastor Nansikombi to join us and carry on with the mission. Together with Evang. Biliyock they have laboured tirelessly and we now have thirty eight Churches in Uganda, most of them located in the villages.

RWANDA
In 1998 Evangelist Biliyock moved to formally establish a Greater Evangelism Church there. The year 2000 came and Apostle Numbere visited Rwanda from Kampala. What he saw there broke his heart, particularly after he visited Nyamata, one of the largest pogrom centres. The pogrom in Rwanda was such a terrible one; what they have as war relics are museums all over the country, containing nothing but the skulls and bones of those who were murdered, each centre containing skulls and bones of about thirty to one hundred thousand victims. 

Apart from being sad that so many lives were wasted, Apostle Numbere could not help wondering as he saw those bones, “How many of these people knew the Lord Jesus before they were murdered?” The thought of the hundreds of thousands that the devil had hurtled into a Christless eternity added to his grief. He also found so much bitterness and hatred in the hearts of the Rwandans–the Hutus against the Tutsis and vice versa. So much was the bitterness that nobody ever preached about forgiveness. God so brought Apostle Numbere’s preaching on forgiveness to bear on the hearts of the people that at a point they started weeping. They wept as they struggled within their hearts to forgive those who had wronged them so much.

One night after he had ministered, a lady came to see him. She told him of the great struggle she had had in heart after hearing his sermon on forgiveness. She said, “Please, I need you to tell me what to do, I want to forgive but I can’t. For you to understand my situation, please let me tell you my story first”. She said that during that ethnic war, her husband and all her children were killed in her presence after which the men went on to rape her violently. She had no idea how many raped her for they were so many. They raped her until her waist broke and she died, and even after she had died they continued raping her corpse. She did not know how she came back to life but she had contacted AIDS as a result of this. She went on with her story, “Inside of me I appreciate what you preached, but how do I go about it? I do not know what forgiveness is because every day that I wake up and find myself alive, I have things in my body telling me, “Somebody did this to you!” I do not even know those men; but I hate everybody!”,  he sobbed. “I hate everybody; I do not want to hear the names of tribes. I just hate everybody!”

Apostle Numbere could not hold back his own tears. He wept along with her as she poured out her heart. She had been broken in her body and broken in her soul and spirit by her fellow human beings. God gave Apostle Numbere the wisdom to minister to this broken woman. He said to her, “Sister I understand your state of mind. I understand, but look, the Lord said, „Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” Even if all those men that did this to you were around, you are but a weak young lady, can you fight any of them? They have destroyed everything that mattered in your life. They have given you a sickness that is incurable. Yes, on this side of life, they have damaged you irreparably. Human beings have made you lose out on this side of life. 

Would you also allow human beings to make you lose out on heaven? The Lord said if you do not forgive them that you would not be forgiven. It means you will also lose heaven. Would you like to lose on both sides? Why should you lose here and also lose heaven? Do not allow man to make you lose heaven. I know you are a human being. I feel for you, I feel like you do. Who would not feel the way you feel? But this is the very thing you must not allow to make you lose heaven. Since the Lord said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay”, leave the vengeance to Him. If only you can say, “Lord, I leave everything in your Hands; I forgive all those people,” God’s grace will heal these festering wounds in your heart. And after the days you have to live here on earth you will go into the presence of Jesus Christ where you will know no more pain. All these things will not be there in heaven. You will not have AIDS in heaven; you will not be without your uterus in heaven; you will not have a broken waist in heaven. There will be no damage to your life and to your body. Jesus will take care of all that. You will be free!”

She started crying again and he started crying with her. As he ministered, the Holy Spirit came in and removed her burden. She heaved a sigh of relief, brightened up as a small smile broke out on her lips and crept across her face. “Thank you”, she told him. “This is what I needed to hear. I will obey. Now I forgive them – whoever they are”.

To the glory of God, Greater Evangelism World Crusade has spread to other countries like Benin Republic, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Cameroon, lifting the faces of people to Jesus.

Culled from "A Man and A Vision" by Nonyem E. Numbere and "I Forgive, For My Sake" by Ap. G. D. Numbere. For inquiries, visit our bookshop.

KULA - A SATANIC KING BOWS TO JESUS

The island of Kula was much farther down the Atlantic Coast than the other places they had been to. Though Kula was distant and remote, Apostle Numbere was determined to get the gospel across to them. Numbere had to make contingency plans for the pythons too, for this was python land, so he co-opted into his field team a brother nick-named “Apatti” (pronounced ah-pa-tee) who used to claim he was adept at eating snakes, especially pythons!

Narrating this incident, Apostle Numbere said,

“The interesting thing about the incident at Kula was that God decided to match the enemy, action for action. I often dramatized my sermons to impact on the people that idols were powerless. In Kula, it was like I knew what the king was doing, for I was led to dramatise my sermons more than ever before. Using the juju items the people had given up as they got saved, I dressed myself up in the full regalia of a juju-priest and exposed the powers of darkness. It was like a mockery, a daring on Satan and his agents, especially the king, to do their worst. God swept aside all the powers and made them into nothingness.

The campaign to Kula proved to be one of the most hazardous, yet most exciting trips we had in all of our Sea Campaigns. It was a battle royal in which the Lord Jesus showed His Supremacy and Satan was subdued. On 4th December 1976, we left Ke by 5:00 p.m. for Kula. Our only means of transportation was a dugout canoe to which we had attached a small engine. The engine was not in a good condition so our movement was quite slow. It turned out to be a windy day. The first channel was quite rough and we wondered what the open sea would look like. We knew it was definitely going to be much rougher out there in the San Bartholomew River.

As we were about to burst out from this channel we could see the sea stretched out there before us. It was so terribly rough and windy. The waves were high and frightening as they rolled and billowed. The scene therefore was a terrible one. I was at the tail end of the boat and I could read fear, anxiety and concern on the faces of my Ministers who were mostly young boys and girls.

I could understand their fears. Nobody ever dared to attempt to cross those seas whenever they were that rough. Faced with imminent danger, the best thing would have been for us to turn back, but how could I? The boat we were using was a rented one and if we did not travel to Kula that day we would lose the money we had paid and we did not have money for a second charter. Besides, I was prepared to die for the gospel, even if it was for just one soul out there in that far away island. So we had to go on. We moved into the first sea into the full brunt of the storm and the raging sea. As we were being tossed up and down, to and fro, the seawater was fast entering into the boat and sooner or later we were going to sink and perish in the sea. However, I was not afraid: I was calm in my spirit. Led by the Spirit, I picked up my Bible and carefully found my way to the front of the boat by walking along the edge of the boat. I stood in front of the boat, raised my Bible to the sky and over the sea, and I began to pray, “Lord Jesus, I know that you died for the whole world, and there are souls out there in Kula and I know that you died for them too. I have never been to Kula, but I heard that they are idol worshippers; they worship snakes and they do not know you. And here am I, Lord, I’m taking the gospel of salvation to them but here I have this obstacle of the wind and the sea. Lord I know that you did rebuke the wind and the sea and they obeyed you. I have read in your Word and I know You have not changed so please, Lord, quench this raging tempest for me”.

At this point I began to rebuke the wind and the sea, “Lord, in the Name of Thy Dear Son Jesus Christ, I rebuke this wind and I rebuke this sea!” I had hardly finished speaking when the wind and the waves “died”. The entire sea became calm, cool, and as placid as glass! Indeed God does not change, has not changed and will never ever change. I turned to look at the faces of my Ministers. I could see smiles and confidence on their faces. Peace and calm had returned to their spirits and to their hearts. I put my Bible under my right arm and found my way back to my seat. Thus we were able to cross that first sea without any further incidence. It was a wonderful experience.

We thought that was the end of hitches in our journey. We did not know that that was only the first obstacle. By this time it was dusk and darkness had started creeping in. We entered into the second channel but because we did not know the sea-lane, mid-sea our boat ran aground on a rock. We had to roll up our trousers and the sleeves of our shirts, jump into the water to heave and push our boat off the reef. Now the danger in that was that the sharp surface of the reef could have cut our legs giving us serious injuries and we did not even have a first-aid box with us, or there could be some sharks lurking around in the water. Blood from any injury on any of our legs would have been a perfect trail for them to have had us for their meal. Worse still, our boat could have been badly damaged and we would have been stranded in that sea that night. Who knows what would have been our fate if that had happened? But that same God Whom we serve protected us and delivered us. We succeeded in pulling our boat back into the water and moved on again.

Finally, we arrived at the waterfront of Kula in the night. Here again was a third obstacle. This time it was not inclement weather or hostile natives, it was an attack by mosquitoes! Generally the villages were infested by them, so we were used to being bitten by mosquitoes.  The mosquitoes at Kula waterfront were something different. They came upon us like an invasion army, very much like the plague of flies in Egypt. They were so many that they flew into our eyes, into our nostrils, when we opened our mouths they flew right in; and they bit us right through our clothes. We had to slap our faces, ears, and the rest of our bodies as we tried to kill them but the more we slapped our bodies, the more the mosquitoes that swarmed on us and the more terrible their bites. The attack on us was so vicious that though it was night already, we almost turned back. Again the desire to preach the gospel pushed us on. The Lord gave us the grace to endure and we finally got all our things out of the boat and moved down to our lodge (a school hall with half walls) which was nearby. Eventually, we settled down and after our evening devotion we all went to sleep totally exhausted from the long journey and from the day’s experiences.

We found Kula to be such a citadel of idolatry that it was a place of “pilgrimage” for most juju worshippers in Rivers State. They went often to revive or appease their gods especially the python-god which was called, Adum. The entire island was full of idols and juju shrines so much so that the people built bigger and better houses for their idols than their personal homes. They built cement-block houses for their idols while they lived in mud-and-thatch huts.

The Amanyanabo (King) of Kula, King Sara II, gave us his courtyard for our Crusades. For the next three days, December 5th to 7th, we stormed Kula with the gospel. Each night the Lord moved mightily in our midst. Many were saved, many healed, many were delivered of evil spirits, and many gave up their idols. The whole island was turned upside down for the Lord Jesus Christ. King Sara himself was not on the Crusade ground with the others, rather every night he sat on the balcony of his palace, which was directly over me, and watched keenly while I ministered to his people. I did not consider this strange, for being the king no one would expect him to sit among his subjects.

On the morning of 8th December, being our fourth day on the island, I was in the lodge when my men ran in to tell me that the king had come to the lodge and wanted to see me. When he came he introduced himself, “I am the king of this place”. I rose up and respectfully greeted him, “Your Royal Highness, Sir!” After he sat down on a school desk, he began to talk, “Like I said, I am the king of Kula. I am a very powerful man and no man or woman dares to cross my path. If a pregnant woman offends me, I can destroy the child in her womb. If any man offends me I easily destroy him. My subjects know my powers and they all fear me”.

That was definitely strange boastful talk and from a king! The scepticism on my face must have been too obvious, for at this point he paused, “You seem not to believe me,” he said, “I want to ask you a few questions so you can have a little idea of who I am”. “When you were coming here did you run into a storm?” he asked. That definitely was not a guess for we did not tell our experiences to anyone there. I was puzzled but all the same I replied, “Yes,” but somewhat whimsically. “I raised that storm”, he told me. Then came his second question, “When you got into the second channel, did your boat run aground?” At this point, I sat up for I realized that there was truly something uncanny about him. Again, my reply, “Yes!” and his comment, “I caused it”. Yet a third question, “When you arrived at the waterfront, did mosquitoes attack you?” By this time I did not need any further evidence of his mystical powers. It was the same “Yes” and “I caused it”.

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, for how could he possibly have known all these things without being told? Was he as powerful as he claimed to be? I was soon to find out. He continued to speak while I listened attentively: - “Through my magic mirror I saw you and your team as you were coming. I did not want you to come here and preach the gospel. I used my magical powers and raised the storm, caused your boat to run aground and had to cause mosquitoes to invade you at the waterfront so you would turn back, but you endured the mosquito bites and came ashore.

Do you know why I gave you my courtyard for your Crusades? It was because I wanted to use my magical powers to paralyze and kill you. On the first and second nights of the crusade I stood over you and while you were preaching I was making incantations and invoking my juju and occultic powers on you, for you to collapse and die, but nothing happened to you. Instead of getting weaker you were getting stronger as you preached. The third night I went further into my innermost occultic chambers and brought into play all the juju powers I had ever known. But this third night I found you to be strongest. Instead of you getting weak, you got stronger with each passing hour and night after night, I saw my people getting saved, healed and delivered. I saw the lame walking, the blind seeing, and the deaf hearing. I saw the joy on their faces as they received Jesus. Each night I looked around you to see the source of your strength and power but I saw no charms or talisman around you. All I saw was an open Bible. I have come, I too I’m sick. I want to know that Jesus whom you preach and I want to be healed”.

Wow! How do you think I felt? I saw God’s power in action! He told me what his sickness was. He was suffering from cancer of the prostrate, which was at an advanced stage. He was bleeding from that cancer. I led him to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour and I laid hands on him and cursed the cancer. He was healed instantly. He checked himself out; there was no trace of any blood anymore! He was so overwhelmed that he started crying, he cried and cried and could not stop. They were tears of joy. With excitement he invited me to come to his palace to remove all his idols, occultic and magical items. He had been a member of several cults including the Egyptology cult, which he had been in for almost three decades. I took along my team members who took with them knives, shovels and diggers. We spent almost the entire day – from his doorstep, to the ceiling into every room, to every corner of his palace, including his courtyard, we were digging or pulling down one juju or the other, one talisman or the other, one occultic item or the other. He gave everything up for the Lord Jesus Christ. Afterwards the king gave us the town hall for Fellowship. News of his conversion spread far and wide. The island was agog with joy.

And the pythons? My python eater was disappointed. They seemed to have had a premonition because all through our stay in Kula they kept to their holes.”

 Culled from "A Man and A Vision" by Nonyem E. Numbere. For inquiries, visit our bookshop.