In part one of this book we discussed the wonderful miracle ministry of signs and wonders. In this part two we will discuss the power of Massive Miracle Campaigns. We were reminded that signs and wonders are not an end in itself, but that God uses them as powerful tools to accomplish certain higher tasks. One of those tasks is that it attracts public attention, that it brings a community wide awareness of Christ and the Gospel.
The ministry of signs and wonders is a mighty tool God uses to reach the multitudes and break through centuries old traditions, man made religion and idol worship. Of course signs and wonders occur in smaller settings also. I have preached in small settings many times and God did some incredible signs and wonders in our midst. However, signs and wonders also attract the multitudes, and that is what I want to focus on: the power of Massive Miracle Campaigns.
Generally, such Massive Miracle Campaigns are held in open-air venues, such as in stadiums or open fields. They are also held in huge gospel tents or indoor arenas. Most of my Massive Miracle Campaigns are held in the open air.
Allow me to share a brief account on how I came to prioritize this method of evangelism. At the age of eight, I had already decided to become a preacher like my uncle John.
At the age of twelve, my father let me preach on the holiday resort where he was the manager. He even helped me work out my sermon. It was around this time that I fasted for a day and asked the Lord if I really should become a preacher. For the first time that I can remember, I heard His clear voice speaking in my spirit. He said “Yes my son, I want you to become an evangelist.” There was no turning back. I became very enthralled and influenced by the ministry of Evangelist Nicky van der Westhuizen, which challenged me in the areas of revival and The Ministry of Signs and Wonders.
Soon afterwards I also became especially influenced by the ministry of a young German evangelist in South Africa—Reinhard Bonnke. He held a Gospel Campaign not too far from where we lived in the Far Northern Transvaal. Although I wasn’t fortunate enough to attend the meetings, my mother sowed his CFAN (Christ for All Nations) badge on my sweater for me.
I watched his videos and listened to his preaching tapes. I especially noticed the little wooden seats that the multitudes sat on to hear him preach.
So at the age of 16 I held my first open air outreach. I felt that I wanted to reach out to the workers on the resort that lived two or three stone throws away from us. The meeting was scheduled to be at 3 p.m. I was filled with anticipation! I gave my translator a jacket that my dad let me give away. I used two train wheels from an old mine (with axles) as our pulpits, and covered them with a table cloth each. I used bricks with planks on them as makeshift seats for the people—they almost looked like Brother Reinhard’s!
Well, three o’clock arrived and not a soul showed up. My grandfather called me aside and prayed for me, “Oh God, don’t let this young man be disappointed today....” Sure enough—they arrived about 30 or 40 minutes later. With a Reinhard Bonnke accent, I preached to them with all my might! About twenty or thirty people came to that little service. My mother took a picture of the event, which I still have in my possession today.
I continued to hold numerous little outreaches like this one. Our youth group went to a great Christian gathering at Maranatha Park in Johannesburg and it was glorious. As I beheld the great crowd of thousands of people praising God, my tender teenage emotions were touched deeply. I told my friends, “For me, the most beautiful sight is to see thousands of people raising their hands to the Lord.”
After high school I attended Berea Theological College, during which time I held another little outreach at a poor community close by. It was then that I witnessed for the first time a deaf ear open after my prayer. My friends and I would also preach on the street corners of Pretoria. I calculated that we preached to approximately 6,000 people during each two hour period—and I know they heard the Word. For about a minute at a time the pedestrians were a captive audience as they waited for the red traffic lights to turn green.
Most of the time we would preach as loud as we could, but a couple of times we used a megaphone. That was great! But I knew we couldn’t continue using it because that’s a sure way to run into trouble with the police.
Not only did we preach on the streets, but I would also go out to pray with the sick such as blind beggars and those that were lame.
In my excitement, I talked to another more senior college student about preaching on the streets but he was not too happy. He told me that I was just trying to “focus on numbers.” I will share more on this point later, but that was my first introduction to some people’s attitude toward my heartfelt passion to bring the Gospel to the multitudes. I responded with this statement: “We led three people to the Lord today while preaching on the streets. How many did you lead to the Lord today not preaching on the streets?” Obviously, his answer was “None.”
After graduating from Bible School, I completed my required military service in the South African army. Because I was now a licensed minister, I could serve in the Chaplain’s Corps. I loved sharing the Word with the troops.
After the army I set out on a 16-month missionary tour of the world, which included ministry in Europe, the United States and Central Africa. Shortly before I left, I had a powerful evangelistic encounter that confirmed the tremendous power of the Gospel. Let me tell you what happened: I had this passion to take the Gospel to the multitudes that were in need of Christ. So I made huge cross that I carried in public to spread the Gospel message.
Once I went deep into a township to find a good place to carry my cross and testify about the love of God as demonstrated in the atoning death of our Lord on the cross. It was May 1st, and in South Africa it was usually marked by communist rallies. I finally found an area that seemed to be bustling with activity. When I stopped there, I realized it was a communist rally.
I must admit I became very nervous. I had seen video footage of where those who sympathized with the communist cause committed the most hideous crimes. For example, one girl had been accused of collaborating with the police. They put a tire around her neck, which they called a necklace. They poured gasoline over her and set her alight. She burned to death as stones and rocks rained on her from the maddened, demonized mob.
Yet something made me stay. I went up to the gate and asked what was going on in there. I was the only white person among thousands of blacks.
I have always felt comfortable preaching to my black brothers and sisters by candlelight in the outback of the rural country where I was raised, but now I was among thousands of communists. Their flags were proudly displayed. Their music was beautiful as they sang about the revolution. A man kindly escorted me to the VIP area. That was much safer, because the youth could “tear you to pieces,” he explained.
One by one, well known speakers spoke. Much of what they said was very racist. “The black soldiers are going to drive the white soldiers away, and their children will bathe in their father’s blood!” the youth league leader shouted. Sitting there, I felt very intimidated.
Finally, the main speaker addressed the crowd. I recognized him, because I had seen him on national television so many times. He was elected as the president of South Africa a few years later. His speech was calm and conciliatory. After he spoke and I felt that I should go up to him. Perhaps this is what the Lord wanted me to do, I thought. His security guards let me through and I commended him for some of the good things he said. I also told him, “Remember to tell the people that Jesus is the only way to God, and only He is the One Who can give South Africa social justice.” He nodded his head, and I felt I had planted a seed.
After he left the premises, I thought it wise to leave before the crowd dispersed. But when I came to my car, I took out my cross and carried it around the stadium anyhow.
To make a long story short, I was asked by some of the organizers what I was doing, after which they escorted to another entrance into the soccer field itself. Soon I heard the announcement “Today our white comrade is going to speak for us.” They gave me the microphone and asked me to address the people. I did not ask for it, but I was thankful for the courtesy. I didn’t know what I was going to say and relied on the Holy Spirit to lead me. When an evangelist has a microphone in his hand, he makes full use of the opportunity! I preached the gospel to them!
I told them that a great man of God—John Wesley was not allowed to preach in the churches of England. But it was legal to preach in a cemetery. As I remembered the story at the time I told them that he used his father’s tombstone as a pulpit (he actually stood on it) and said, “In England it is either going to be revival or revolution!” I told the crowd that in South Africa it was either going to be a revival or a revolution. This was not a church service—this was a huge, communist political rally! Yet I sensed the anointing of the Holy Spirit all over me.
I said, “And I am choosing for revival. I am choosing Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the One Who was and Who is and Who is to come, the Everlasting God of glory!”
I still remember the mighty power of God surging through me while I was speaking. That day I realized what a difference the Gospel can make–not only in an organized Christian gathering, but even in a high powered political rally or any event for that matter. The whole atmosphere in that meeting changed that day. I felt the love of God all over the place, and I think everyone present became aware of the power of the Lord.
Like I would have done had I been holding a regular evangelistic outreach, I led them into a shout of “Hallelujah!” It was beautiful to hear the “Hallelujahs” replace the “Amandlas.” I even led them in a song of praise in their language that I had learned when I used to preach among the Africans in the outback.
About two years later my uncle told me under the operation of the gift of prophecy that God had ordained that event, and that it was not by chance that it happened. He said that it was a little taste of great evangelistic outreaches to come.
Years before, when I was about sixteen, he had also prophesied to me that I would preach in dim lights in numerous meetings before the Lord would give me the bright shining meetings that He had in mind for me. This has proved to be true. I have preached by candlelight in the mud huts of Africa. I have preached in the dust of open-air meetings under trees to twenty, thirty or up to three hundred people.
I once undertook a missions trip, traveling per motorbike from Johannesburg in South Africa to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and back. The trip took me through four countries over a period of three months and I preached all over. It was dangerous and I won’t suggest that anybody follow my example unless the Lord really speaks to them about it.
My last outreach on this tour was in Zambia. I arrived a day late because I had run into some mechanical trouble along the way, and was sick (or perhaps just worn out) for three days in the middle of nowhere. I stayed at a Catholic mission, who showed me much kindness.
I arrived at my outreach in Zambia a day late, but another pastor filled in for me on the first day. Without my knowledge, my wonderful hosts had done some advertising; and even the police at the road block knew I was coming. God blessed the services. Many accepted Christ and were also healed of their infirmities.
There was a little boy who had been totally deaf in both ears and mute as a result. His brother brought him up to the platform. I prayed for him right there before all the people. After prayer I asked him if he could hear. And he could! He indicated with his little hands that his ears were open. I will never forget those little, brown, thankful eyes.
Just writing about that now reminds me how the healing ministry has helped that little boy and many others, and that it is all worth it. Well, then I prayed for his tongue. God instantly touched him, and he started to say words after me (with a little practice.) His bigger brother said that he had never heard him talk like that before. The crowd swelled to about 3,500 people.
As a young married couple, Heidi and I made a goal that we would hold a meeting with more than 20,000 in attendance within five years, and that we would draw 5,000 to a meeting within a year. With a generator, a PA system and some lights the two of us first went to South Africa, then to Central Africa. God made it happen and much more.
The goal of 5,000 in a single service was fulfilled in the country of Malawi. We were supposed to hold our services on a little dusty soccer field that belonged to a church. But unfortunately the church had some anti-Pentecostal sentiments—and retracted their permission to us to hold an outreach on their grounds. I am always saddened by such kinds of degenerative denominationalism, because I am willing to work with all of God’s children. Of course, I do not work with any Christian cults. But I gladly work with whoever believes and preaches Bible salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.
We should all be united in the Lord Jesus and so further the Kingdom of God—not just our own little club! Not just “us four and no more,” but as Reinhard Bonnke puts it—“Hell empty, heaven full! Plunder hell and populate heaven!” The Body of Christ should work together in unity, regardless of denominational background.
Once we heard we could not hold our outreach on that church’s soccer field, we decided that the best other place to have the outreach was at a bus stop where there also was a makeshift market. Since we had a generator, electricity was not a problem. We set up our big PA system and within a couple of hours or so we were in full swing! That bus stop wound up to be the greatest place to have this outreach!
We held our first service exactly when all the busses dropped off their passengers in that area. It seemed like they were all volunteering to get me a crowd of 5,000. As the passengers were dropped off, they just joined the crowd. Again, God did many healing miracles, and many people gave their lives to Jesus.
In those first ten years of ministry, I estimate conservatively that about 10,000 people came to make a decision for Christ. By God’s grace we would reach many more than that later on.
A few years later I would go to the great country of India. I had met an Indian who was eager to help me hold a massive evangelistic outreach. I became convinced that we could indeed draw a massive crowd.
Many of our friends and partners in America helped contribute to the outreach financially, and we poured several thousands of dollars into the outreach. I didn’t know where the funds would come from, but I kept on praying hard and sharing the vision with some people we had met. God provided in every need.
The local pastors and bishops from several different denominational groups supported the outreach and many believers volunteered to help with the advertising and logistics. We rented generators, lights, platform, sound system and other necessities, and advertised extensively.
A few thousand souls attended the first meeting and God did miracles. One boy had been blinded in one eye because of chemical that had spilled into it. After prayer he said he could see clearly and even counted my fingers.
The greatest miracle of course was when most of the crowd made a decision for Christ. The crowds continued to grow and by the end of the outreach multiple thousands of souls attended and accepted Christ.
Reinhard Bonnke encouraged me shortly afterwards by telling me that when he held his first meeting with more than 30,000 in attendance he knew that the sky was the limit. I felt the same way. I knew that greater things were possible, and I am still challenging the limits as I continue to pursue holding even greater evangelistic outreaches.
A few years later Brother Reinhard gave me an opportunity to preach a short message at his Gospel Campaign in Nigeria.
When I looked over that crowd for the first time, I became overwhelmed with emotion as tears streamed down my cheeks. When thousands of souls raise their hands to God and commit themselves to Him, it must probably be one of the most beautiful sights an evangelist could ever behold—it must be gazed upon by angels. I felt the power of the Lord. 500,000 people were in that meeting, and it made an indelible impression on my spirit.
Why do I so strongly believe and advocate the medium of Massive Miracle Campaigns? Because I believe they work, and that it is the will of God to conduct such outreaches.
These Massive Miracle Campaigns are called Miracle Campaigns, Miracle Celebrations, Healing Festivals, Gospel Campaigns, Miracle Crusades or something similar. We try to avoid the word Crusade in religiously sensitive countries, and use the word Miracle to include both spiritual and physical miracles that are found in Jesus.
No doubt it stirs up the devil and many battles are fought in the spirit. A lot of tact and diplomacy must be utilized when dealing with local government or religious authorities.
It is one of the greatest, yet one of the most cost effective ways to spread the Gospel by doing so en masse. The local churches are strengthened, believers are encouraged, and lost souls are brought into the Kingdom of God.
Massive Miracle Campaigns:
Jesus and the Multitudes
Jesus Himself engaged in a ministry to the multitudes. The Bible tells us that when Jesus ascended to heaven, the apostles "...went everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following..." (Mark 16:20.) If the Lord was going to work with them, He would surely do it the way He did it before. Hebrews 13:8 says that He is the same "yesterday, today and forever."
During His earthly ministry, He utilized various methods to reach out to man. For example, He utilized prophetic evangelism when He talked to the woman at the well (John 4.) He used friendship evangelism when he had a meal at a tax collector's house to reach that community (Luke 19.) And when a major event was hosted in Jerusalem, Jesus did street evangelism by preaching on the street during the feast, as He loudly proclaimed "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink” (John 7:37-38.)
When we read the four biographical books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we discover all kinds of methods He used to reach the lost. One of those methods was also His ministry to the multitudes. For example, He once preached to such a large multitude that He had to do so from a boat, because of the thronging crowd. This was probably done for two reasons. Firstly for crowd control, and secondly so that His voice would throw further so that everyone could hear.
"And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore" (Matthew 13:2.)
On another occasion He ministered to a “great multitude” and was “moved with compassion” and engaged in the healing ministry there:
“When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick” (Matthew 14:13 14.)
Verse 21 says that there were about "five thousand men, besides women and children." We don’t know how many were in actual attendance if we include the women and the children. Some may argue that it would have been impossible to hear Him because He did not use a public address sound system. But even in fairly modern times the Gospel has been preached to similar sized crowds without the help of a PA sound system.
For example, Benjamin Franklin calculated that 30,000 people could hear the preaching of George Whitefield. That was years before any electronic PA system was invented.
I am deeply touched by how that the Gospel of Mark records the demeanor of the Lord on this occasion. His cousin and forerunner, John the Baptist, had just been brutally murdered. When Jesus heard this news, He went to a deserted place. But when He saw the vast crowd that came out to Him, His heart was moved with compassion and He healed their sick.
In Matthew 20:29 "a great multitude" followed Him. Again this event was tied to the healing of the sick and the doing of miracles, signs and wonders. In the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, I counted eighty-four times that the words "multitude" or "multitudes" were used. Most of the times these words are used they refer to the massive crowds that gathered to hear Him and to be healed. This same Jesus is alive today, and continues His ministry through believers.
There are many other ways to share Christ. For example, we could be granted entry into a country that is closed to the Gospel serving in a different profession. While we are there we could share the Gospel to our new friends. Or, we may open an educational facility or orphanage and share the Gospel there.
Yes there are many methods and ways to share the Gospel, and one of the most effective ways to do so is by means of Massive Miracle Campaigns. Jesus ministered to the multitudes, and God has called some of us to do the same.
Massive Miracle Campaigns:
The Early Church and the Multitudes
The Church did not start with multitudes of people, but as soon as it did, the multitudes gathered. There were only one hundred and twenty people present in the upper room in Acts chapter two. There should have been more. Present should have been the multitudes that had followed Jesus during His earthly ministry. Or at least the five hundred that He appeared to at one time after His resurrection. But there were only one hundred and twenty.
Even today it seems that it is only a portion of the Body of Christ who is willing to press on and press into the power of the manifested Presence of God. There is a price of sacrifice and discipline attached to the things of God. Someone said it’s free, but it costs all. It’s about making everything secondary in order to encounter Him in all His power and fullness. God is very selective as to whom He will endue with His power. There are those who have a form of godliness but have denied the power thereof. They rush through a service so that they can get to whatever else is more important in their eyes afterward. Such attitudes will disqualify us from all that God may have in store for us.
Some are willing to both publicly and privately pursue all that Master has for them. This may have happened on the day of Pentecost. When Jesus told His disciples to “wait in Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49,) only 120 were left after a few days of waiting. Then suddenly it happened. It was the "promise of the Father."
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1 4.)
Most scholars agree that this was the birth of the Church. Up to this point there were not any sizable crowds to make mention of, but as soon as this powerful experience of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit happened the crowds begun to show up:
"Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together..." (Acts 2:6.)
As soon as the Church was birthed, God drew the multitudes. That very same day three thousand felt convicted to accept Christ, received the Lord Jesus and were baptized (Acts 2:37 41.) But this was just the start!
In the very next chapter Peter performs a miraculous sign and wonder by healing a lame man in the Name of Jesus. It had such an effect upon that community that people "ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering" (Acts 3:11.) The result was that about five thousand men were saved that day. Again, only the number of men were mentioned (Acts 4:4.) The Bible does not tell us how many women and children there present. Either way, there were multitudes of people.
The Book of the Acts records the ongoing ministry of Christ Jesus by His Holy Spirit in the Early Church. Christ within the apostles continued to draw multitudes of both men and women:
“And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people...the people magnified them…. And the believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick unto the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one” (Acts 5:12 16.)
Once again we notice that multitudes had gathered and that the ministry to them was tied to many signs and wonders.
"Miracles for the Multitudes" is a combination of two focal points of Joel Hitchcock's Ministry, namely:
(a) Miracles, Signs and Wonders and (b) Massive Miracle Campaigns
This Blog is based on Dr. Joel Hitchcock's book "Miracles for the Multitudes".
To order Joel's eBook, go to http://www.joelhitchcock.com/p/product-store_4.html
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Permission to duplicate is hereby granted as long as the complete quote does not exceed more than 1,000 words and that due credit is given to the source.
Permission to duplicate is hereby granted as long as the complete quote does not exceed more than 1,000 words and that due credit is given to the source.
For the website of the church led by Pastor Joel and Heidi Hitchcock in
Georgetown DE, which is an exciting Pentecostal, Charismatic, Word of
Faith, Cross-of-Christ preaching church in Sussex County, Delaware, go
to www.rivercity.co.
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