Dear Friends

It is with great joy that I can report back to you on what took place at the Coca Cola stadium (Ellis Park) last Saturday.

Rivers of living water !

In the gospel of John 7:38 the Lord says: ‘If you believe on me, as the scriptures say, out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water’. Well, my dear friends, that is what literally happened! I experienced something I have never seen before, in all the 30 years or so that I have been preaching, at Ellis Park on Saturday. Normally the Lord sends rain at the end of each campaign, but this being the last campaign of 2008, He brought the rain right in the middle of the meeting!

The proceedings started off early in the morning with praise and worship and testimonies. We thank God for Penny Heyns and Balie Swart who did a splendid job in sharing their testimonies in a brief time, and for all the singers and dancers and other bands that I never even saw because I was in the closet praying. Andy, my son, and the Shalom music team led us into the Holy of Holies, followed by Joe Niemand singing that beautiful song, ‘A New Day’, the theme song from the movie ‘Faith like Potatoes’.

As I started to preach, the rain came down, not mist or drizzle but heavy rain. Apparently I said (I don’t recall this!) ‘bring it on, Lord Jesus!’ and, as He always does, the Lord answered my prayer and opened all the taps! The heavens opened up and washed Ellis Park, washed away all our sins and literally, physically washed us clean. I want to say to you that what touched my heart more deeply than anything else, was that those blessed people sat in the rain in the stands and on the field, for well over an hour, while sheets of water poured into the stadium. This again is evidence for me that we are in revival. I honestly want to say to you that 10 years ago, even 5 years ago, if that had taken place the people would have scattered for shelter, but no-one moved. There were people in wheelchairs, old people and young childr en with no umbrellas, no shelter whatsoever. It was warm, refreshing rain, straight from heaven. Those of us that are farming will understand just how critical that rain is in the Highveld at this time of the year. I thank God for every sincere person that was not put off by some rain but stayed to hear the Word. When I made the altar call we again had a 100% response and there were thousands of first time commitments. We thank God for the organisers, Jurie Cilliers and his team who once again were right up to the task. They asked if small cards could be given to each person as they walked in, for them to sign if they gave their lives to Christ. With that rain I didn’t think anybody would sign anything, but apparently there were cardboard boxes full to overflowing with first time commitments! We thank God that His spoken Word never returns void, irrespective of the weather or the conditions.

We thank God for what he is doing all over our nation. We are truly in revival! I want to encourage you to quench the thirst of many in our nation at this time who are dry, who are seeking for hope, for comfort, for a reason for living. Let those rivers of living water just flow from within you. People are not interested in deep theological discourses at this time. They want to know what it means to have eternal life, to be born again and to be healed. We prayed for the sick and again thousands stood.

May God bless you as you continue to water the dry land with the living Word of Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ’s service

Angus & Jill and the Shalom team