God Revives a Sleeping Church
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
A church in Balang, Cambodia, has suffered because the original pastor, angered because they wouldn't let him make a profit off the rice mill, decided to quit being a Christian and go back to Buddhism. Many members quit with him. Peter, the national coordinator went to church service, and since it was peak rice harvest there were only about 45 people there, mostly orphans, older women, and children; everyone else was working. Peter doesn't get there often so the new pastor asked him to speak. He rose and went to the front of the church when a teen aged girl walked up to him and kneed him squarely in the groin. Peter gasped, leaned forward, and stopped breathing. Everyone was so shocked and embarrassed that there was total silence. The mother of the girl came, grabbed her, and dragged her to the rear of the church. Peter took a deep breath and with a grimaced red face began his sermon. It was a good sermon.
After service, Peter, the new pastor, and several of the older women were gathered around the girl praying for her. An elder walked over to where the group was praying for the girl. They were praying nice religious prayers, "God, please heal this girl!" "Please help this girl!" etc. The man said, "This looks like a demon spirit." They were silent. He moved in front of the girl. She was staring at the ground. "Look at me!" He commanded. She lifted her head, but all you could see where the whites of her eyes. "Do you want to be free of this demon?" He asked. She growled, "No!" The man was convinced that the girl was demon possessed. She was looking at the ground again. The man commanded that the spirit come out of her. "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you! You foul spirit! Come out of her!" She belched. She stood straight and seemed normal. "Can you read?" he asked her. "Yes, I'm in the 8th grade", she responded. "Then go home and read the Bible, fill yourself with God's word and this devil can never come back." She's been fine ever since.
What they didn't know was that this girl was famous throughout the town for being possessed. So, when Christmas service was held, despite the fact that harvest was not complete, virtually the whole town showed up. The church was packed. People were crammed in the cafeteria and were standing in front of the church. You’ve heard of standing room only, but this church was packed full with a large crowd extending out the door into the front yard.
They estimate 600 were in attendance, including the former pastor who had gone back to Buddhism. Peter had come back to preach the Christmas message. He taught; "How Jesus came to set us free!" At the end of his message he asked, "Who wants to receive Jesus Christ in their hearts? More than 500 hands shot up including that of the former pastor. Peter, feeling he must have been misunderstood, asked again. Again, more than 500 hands shot up. They prayed. 500 people were saved that day.
This picture is of the church the week later. The church building is full, and the crowd extends out the door!!
A church in Balang, Cambodia, has suffered because the original pastor, angered because they wouldn't let him make a profit off the rice mill, decided to quit being a Christian and go back to Buddhism. Many members quit with him. Peter, the national coordinator went to church service, and since it was peak rice harvest there were only about 45 people there, mostly orphans, older women, and children; everyone else was working. Peter doesn't get there often so the new pastor asked him to speak. He rose and went to the front of the church when a teen aged girl walked up to him and kneed him squarely in the groin. Peter gasped, leaned forward, and stopped breathing. Everyone was so shocked and embarrassed that there was total silence. The mother of the girl came, grabbed her, and dragged her to the rear of the church. Peter took a deep breath and with a grimaced red face began his sermon. It was a good sermon.
After service, Peter, the new pastor, and several of the older women were gathered around the girl praying for her. An elder walked over to where the group was praying for the girl. They were praying nice religious prayers, "God, please heal this girl!" "Please help this girl!" etc. The man said, "This looks like a demon spirit." They were silent. He moved in front of the girl. She was staring at the ground. "Look at me!" He commanded. She lifted her head, but all you could see where the whites of her eyes. "Do you want to be free of this demon?" He asked. She growled, "No!" The man was convinced that the girl was demon possessed. She was looking at the ground again. The man commanded that the spirit come out of her. "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you! You foul spirit! Come out of her!" She belched. She stood straight and seemed normal. "Can you read?" he asked her. "Yes, I'm in the 8th grade", she responded. "Then go home and read the Bible, fill yourself with God's word and this devil can never come back." She's been fine ever since.
What they didn't know was that this girl was famous throughout the town for being possessed. So, when Christmas service was held, despite the fact that harvest was not complete, virtually the whole town showed up. The church was packed. People were crammed in the cafeteria and were standing in front of the church. You’ve heard of standing room only, but this church was packed full with a large crowd extending out the door into the front yard.
They estimate 600 were in attendance, including the former pastor who had gone back to Buddhism. Peter had come back to preach the Christmas message. He taught; "How Jesus came to set us free!" At the end of his message he asked, "Who wants to receive Jesus Christ in their hearts? More than 500 hands shot up including that of the former pastor. Peter, feeling he must have been misunderstood, asked again. Again, more than 500 hands shot up. They prayed. 500 people were saved that day.
This picture is of the church the week later. The church building is full, and the crowd extends out the door!!
posted by Dave at Friday, April 15, 2011
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