MBARARA, UGANDA
The town of Mbarara is a regional centre in southwest Uganda, located at the Tanzanian border. It is the capital city of the ancient Ankole kingdom, and is the administrative centre of the corresponding district of Mbarara. Approximately 400,000 people live there.
The region has a dry, tropical climate. People call it a “district of extremes.” Frequently it sustains long periods of drought with no distinct “rainy” or “dry” season. For example, in the decade between 2000 and 2009, the area received only 33.5 cm of rain per year. Yet occasionally there are destructive cloudbursts. Almost 30 cm of rain fell within a few hours some years ago, even though humidity was very low. On the other hand, sometimes humidity rises to 100 percent with no precipitation.
Under the regimes of Milton Obote and Idi Amin, Uganda became the synonym of oppression, human rights abuse and economic decline. But also during that time, the fervent prayer, devotion and determination of persecuted Ugandan believers inspired Christians around the world.
Today, the Body of Christ in Uganda is growing powerfully. We know that the Lord is calling us to bring the clear Gospel message of salvation, healing and deliverance to the precious people living in that region. The Fire Conference will also make a lasting impact on the church there, helping its continued growth and momentum.
Pray with us!
Please pray for:
- a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit in all conferences, sermons, Gospel meetings and events.
- favour and good publicity through all media outlets (TV, press, radio, internet....).
- protection and health for the team, local volunteers and all attendees.
- all technical aspects (stage, sound system, generators, lights, etc.) – protection from attacks and any kind of malfunction.
- good advertisement and word of mouth recommendation.
- many thousands of real, lasting and life-changing salvations.
- healing, deliverance, signs and wonders following the preaching of the Gospel. We have been privileged to witness countless miracles, but we are certain the Lord has even greater things in store.
- marriages and relationships to be healed.
- bondages to be broken and people set free from the powers of darkness.
- people to receive healing in all areas of their lives.
- the follow-up, which plays a crucial role at every CfaN event.
- new Christians to find strong, Bible-believing churches within walking distance of their homes.
GREAT JOY IN THE CITY!
June 17, 2015
Dear Mission Partners,
After nearly 55 hours of travel, we’ve finally arrived in Mbarara, Uganda for our Gospel Campaign that starts tomorrow night. As we drove for several hours through country, we stopped for a photo-op at a monument indicating that we were just passing over the equator.
There are only 13 countries in the world that the equator runs through and 6 are in Africa. We have taken Jesus’ command to “go into all the world…” quite seriously. And when we arrived in Mbarara, we could see that our efforts have been very appreciated.
Throngs of people flooded the streets shouting and waving. I popped out of the sunroof of the SUV to greet them. For more than an hour, we moved with the parade through town. Some were playing trumpets and beating drums. The horns on the cars and motorcycles were honking in a joyful rhythm. It reminds me of Philips visit to Samaria in Acts 8 where it says, “…There was great joy in that city.” Indeed, there is GREAT joy in Mbarara today, and tomorrow the campaign begins!
Please keep us in your prayers over the next several days. We are believing for a massive and historic harvest that will shake Uganda for the Gospel.
I’ll keep you posted.
Yours in the Gospel,
Evangelist Daniel Kolenda
Together with Reinhard Bonnke, Peter Vandenberg and the whole CfaN team
SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS!
June 18, 2015
Dear Mission Partners,
Today has been an interesting day. It began this morning as the first meeting of our Fire Conference was rained out by a cold, unrelenting, torrential downpour. It was the first time I can remember this ever happening. I sent a message to you and asked for prayer. Tonight, the skies were clear and the weather was perfect.
Of course, as you can imagine, we were quite disappointed that this morning’s meeting was cancelled, but the locals have a completely different view. Apparently, the region has been in a period of drought – so much so that the farmers were really suffering as they waited anxiously for the rainy season to return. When we arrived in town yesterday, it started raining (out of season and in a drought). Many see it as a sign that the blessings of God are falling in Mbarara!
Tonight, thousands responded to the Gospel and wonderful miracles happened – including the healing of a man who had been totally blind for three years! Also, a woman’s huge tumour vanished, the lame walked and a deaf woman began to hear.
This is just the beginning. Please continue to pray for us – for favourable weather and most of all that the Gospel would go forth with power.
Yours in the Gospel,
Evangelist Daniel Kolenda
Together with Reinhard Bonnke, Peter Vandenberg and the whole CfaN team
RAIN!
June 19, 2015
Dear Mission Partners,
As I sit in my room after tonight’s service here in Mbarara, Uganda, completely soaked to the bone, what is most pronounced in my heart is what an amazing honour it is to minister to these precious people. I experienced a couple “firsts” here tonight. For one thing, it’s the first time I’ve preached in a hat! Also, although I’ve preached in the rain many times, it’s the first time that it poured the entire length of a service.
As I’ve shared a couple times before, the weather has been a challenge in this campaign. Tonight, we saw the worst yet. It started to pour just as our meeting was scheduled to begin and it was no light rain - it was a torrential downpour. We waited almost three hours for the rain to relent. The people stood in the rain, prayed, sang and worshipped. It was a cold rain. Thunder crashed and lightning flashed, and yet amazingly, the people stayed!
Once it became apparent that the rain would not stop, I took to the platform. I was able to minister a bit, pray for the sick and pray a blessing over the people. They were so receptive and so hungry. I was reminded of Jesus’ words, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.”
The perseverance and faith that we saw tonight was absolutely remarkable and touching. It’s something that most people in the West have never witnessed, however, we saw again one of the many reasons Jesus loves Africa and pours out His power here in such extraordinary ways.
Tomorrow is another day. We will be back, morning and evening to minister to the people, rain or shine. Please continue to pray for us, we really need a breakthrough with the weather here. More tomorrow.
Yours in the Gospel,
Evangelist Daniel Kolenda
Together with Reinhard Bonnke, Peter Vandenberg and the whole CfaN team
BREAKTHROUGH!
June 20, 2015
Dear Mission Partners,
As you know, we have struggled this week with the weather here in Mbarara, Uganda in almost every meeting. Tonight was no exception. As we gathered on the field, the rain began to pour. I could see that people were starting to scatter looking for shelter, anticipating another deluge. I decided that we could not let another opportunity pass. I quickly ran to the platform, took the mic, and prayed against the rain. I then began to preach, knowing that I may only have a few minutes before we were rained out once again. But amazingly, as I started preaching the rain turned to a sprinkle, and then stopped completely! A few minutes later, the skies were clear and the sun was shining through. We finished the whole service without an interruption. The crowd kept growing the entire night, and after praying for the sick, we heard amazing testimonies.
- A woman, deaf for 46 years was totally healed tonight! Her pastor came with her and attested to the amazing miracle!
- An elderly man whose hand had been paralysed for 5 years was healed. He was eager to demonstrate how could open and close it, make a fist and do everything he was unable to do before!
- A woman whose leg had been broken in a motorcycle accident had not been able to walk properly for a year-and-a-half. Tonight she was healed – she even did squats and danced on the platform!
- A lady who had suffered with terrible pain from stomach ulcers for 10-years said that during the prayer she vomited and suddenly all pain vanished.
Many other notable miracles took place, but there is one I must give special mention to. Forgive the graphic nature of this, but I’m telling you just as it happened. A lady brought her young son whose ear had been continually draining puss for many years. During the prayer she said, “something came out” of his ear. The puss stopped draining, and the boy was healed. Then the woman proceeded to identify herself. When the people realised who was talking they began to shout and jump for joy! This woman is a very well-known witch-doctor in Mbarara (pictured)! She testified that tonight she surrendered her life to Jesus Christ, and received Him as her personal saviour! She told the people that she will never practise “Ju-ju” again! There was dancing, rejoicing and singing – just a taste of what is happening tonight in Heaven. It’s joy unspeakable, and full of glory!
What an amazing night – and the best is coming tomorrow! Please keep praying for us, for the people of Mbarara and for good weather. We can feel your prayers and heaven is responding.
Yours in the Gospel,
Evangelist Daniel Kolenda
Together with Reinhard Bonnke, Peter Vandenberg and the whole CfaN team
OVERFLOWING CHURCHES
July 21, 2015
Dear Mission Partners,
Tonight, the First Lady of Uganda opened the final meeting of this Gospel Campaign by professing her faith in Jesus Christ and encouraging the thousands in attendance to surrender their lives to Him. Then a very full program began.
We honoured the various committee organisers, I preached the Gospel, prayed for the people to receive the Baptism into the Holy Spirit, prayed for the sick, took testimonies, prayed for the boxes of prayer requests (sent in from around the world) and then prayed an extended blessing over the nation, the region and the people. Oh... and I also hosted the Christ for all Nations television program! I’m exhausted but so thankful for what we experienced.
- A mother brought her son who had been born with a hole in his neck. After prayer, she said the hole vanished!
- A woman said that her stomach tumour was healed.
- A man brought his wife, who was mentally disturbed. She was delivered tonight, and she left in her right mind.
- A girl who was lame, and who could only move by shuffling along the ground, was healed tonight. She stood up straight and walked perfectly!
Many other wonderful miracles took place. I’m sure the churches will be filled with testimonies of what Jesus has done here this week for months to come. Speaking of the churches, Peter van den Berg told me that 5 or 6 pastors approached him tonight and told him that their churches were overflowing this morning with new converts that received Christ during the campaign! This is what we are after. We want to see the new believers become disciples of Jesus.
Next week, we will hold a Gospel Crusade in Chicago at the Allstate Arena, and then we set our sights on Zambia where we will hold our next African campaign. Thank you for standing with us in prayer this week, and please continue to stand with us as we go into all the world.
Yours in the Gospel,
Evangelist Daniel Kolenda
Together with Reinhard Bonnke, Peter Vandenberg and the whole CfaN team
