Here’s a few photos we took while playing with the children in Diepsloot. Often we’ll go in, our kids will play with the local children (games organized by Anya), and meanwhile I’ll be praying and sharing the Gospel with the adults (while God heals their bodies and spirits :) (Don’t forget to click on the image to enlarge).
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Enoch was introduced to me and was obviously full of pain in his body. For two years he’d been in this condition and it took it’s toll in his countenance. After commanding the sickness to leave in Jesus’ name he was completely set free.In this video clip a very happy and radiant Enoch shares his testimony!
I met Joel at a petrol station and he mentioned his legs were in pain and have been (due to a fall) for a very long time. This was obviously not a good situation for him as he needed to be on his feet constantly. After prayer, his legs were healed. In this short video, Joel shares his testimony:
The last couple weeks in Diepsloot have been amazing. I’m so happy to see people getting set free not only in their spirit, but in their bodies as well — getting set free from sickness and disease. God is alive and well — and Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Since my last update a week or so ago about 40 people have been set free from various afflictions and pains in Diepsloot.
I’ll be posting some photos and more video testimonies soon — but here’s one to get you started.
Someone brought me to this woman who had pain in her legs and thus couldn’t walk. There were two small boys nearby so I taught them how to pray and set this grandmother free from her pain –in Jesus’ name.
Another woman was also set free from back pain. Here are their testimonies.
One of the better sections of Diepsloot
Yesterday I was again privileged to walk the dirt roads in Diepsloot as God extended His loving and healing touch in to the lives of real people in tough situations.
One precious older woman who needs to care for her grandchildren was in bed with fever and flu-like symptoms — sweating profusely. It was a pleasure to hold her hand as God brought her healing and relief. The sweat dried up and she sat up obviously feeling well. She also said the pain from her leg (which had limited mobility) was gone, and she could begin moving her foot in ways she couldn’t before.
After praying for a child one woman led me to another shack to a man who was in bed with pain throughout his body. I asked what was wrong and he said they think it’s some kind of infection, but they couldn’t identify it. I laid hands on his chest and God sent waves of healing throughout his body. Some time was spent just soaking in God’s presence as He did the miraculous work in the man’s body.
I asked the man what he was feeling. He answered (still with his eyes closed as if enjoying and soaking up what was happening) that he felt movement throughout his body. I told him, “Yes, God is moving things the way they should be. You’re healed.”
He was very thankful and went on to tell me of some of the hardships he was facing — his belongings getting washed away in a flood, the struggle to provide for his family since he couldn’t move around while he was sick, amongst other things. Needless to say the deliverance from this pain afflicting infection was to be a real boost in his life. I simply shared how much Jesus loves Him and will always be with Him as he walks with Him.
We went on to another location and a man we were speaking with said to me, “Hey, did you pray for that guy over there?” (Pointing to the man I just prayed for who was now out for a walk.) “I saw him this morning — he was sick in bed and couldn’t move!” The man pointing this out was obviously experiencing a paradigm shift in to the reality and realm of God’s healing power.
The man pointing out the one just healed proceeded to ask me to pray for another person who was nearby. He couldn’t speak English extremely well, but he could manage to say he had pain all over his body. Hands on his chest, God did His thing, this man was soon stretching around and testing out his new body — the new, without pain version. He asked when I would be returning.
The one I mentioned before is a leader in the community and expressed that he’s very keen for further meetings so others too can experience the reality of God in their lives. I said I would certainly be back — it’s my life and what I love to do — bringing the reality of God’s supernatural love in to the lives of real people, in real situations.
Could be any of us growing up in Diepsloot.
Remaining healthy in Diepsloot can be challenging since many residents don’t have access to running water, proper sewage removal, medicine, nor can many afford to eat a nutritious and balanced meal. Then there is the plague of HIV and AIDS which ravage lives and spread not only amongst those making unhealthy lifestyle choices, but amongst the victims of those making those poor choices — innocent women and children.
Untold numbers of men, women and children suffer debilitating sickness and disease in Diepsloot. Many (in a society in which 50% are unemployed) find themselves unable to properly provide for themselves or their families — and this is multiplied and compounded when the breadwinner is sick in bed and can’t get up to care for his or her family. Kids go hungry; a grandma caring for her grandchildren (because her son died of AIDS) can’t get up to take care of the kids, and the list goes on.
Why do I walk the streets of Diepsloot extending God’s personal, healing touch? I think the answer is clear. It’s vital to be healthy in order to even hope to scrape by within the context of the dire living conditions the residents of Diepsloot find themselves in. Beyond this, the encouragement and positive paradigm shift people experience when experiencing supernatural healing lets them know they are loved — by God, as well as by someone who cares enough to bring them this kind of deliverance. A bit of hope in the midst of adversity begins to shine through … a burst of light within a previous realm and experience of darkness. People begin to see there’s more to life than the pain they’ve experienced, and that perhaps there’s even more to life than they’ve ever imagined — a reason and a purpose for it all. Faith is born; faith that leads in to a relationship with the One who created them … and safely under the shadow of His wings, they find a security, love, and purpose that could not possibly come from any other source.
Friends in Diepsloot
The core issue is this: God Himself made provision for the healing (spiritual and physical) of all mankind within the context of what Jesus has provided and accomplished. (See Isaiah 53:4-5 and Matthew 8:16-17). God is in the business of setting people free from all forms of oppression (Luke 4:18-19) and this includes liberation from sickness and disease. This deliverance is extended and proclaimed through the hands and faith of all who believe. (Mark 16:17-18) Let us never make the mistake of asking why God would allow sickness and disease. Rather, let us askourselves why WE allow it when God has furnished us with His power to eradicate it.
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you … I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these.” — Jesus (John 20:21, John 14:12)
Looking into a grandmother’s relieved and peaceful eyes which just a few minutes before were marked with pain and suffering — perhaps I experience just a tiny bit of the love and joy that God Himself experiences every time someone is set free from this kind of pain and suffering — all made possible because of what He’s already accomplished through Jesus Christ.
Had a great time a few days ago sharing with students at a school in Diepsloot. I was involved in personally counseling the students as well as sharing with a classroom of about fifty students who all hopefully walked away with a larger vision of life, God, and what they could do to make an impact in their society.
For those not aware, Diepsloot is home to about 250,000 people; many of them live in 3m-by-2m shacks assembled from scrap metal, wood, plastic and cardboard. Some families lack access to basic services such as running water, sewage and rubbish removal and find themselves living in the midst of violence and uncertainty.
Life for youngsters in Diepsloot is obviously not a bowl of cherries. Some have endured things which others in more “sheltered” environments can only imagine.
It’s within this setting that I was able to participate in personal counseling and was able to share my experiences and ongoing life with God to a classroom full of hungry minds and hearts. I encouraged the students to be all that God created them to be, first off by beginning a relationship with Him if they haven’t already. All prayed and asked Jesus to be with them and to be filled with filled with God’s Spirit.
Happy students putting love in action after listening to the message.
Next I encouraged them that as God’s children, they can live a life as Jesus lived — one that impacts others with love, faith, and the power of God working through them in any situation. This power was demonstrated on the spot when some came forward for prayer against various pains and ailments — and all experienced God’s healing touch.
I believe that a life connected to the very heart and life of God provides the hope, power, and vision for life these kids need to face and overcome the situations they find themselves confronted with on a daily basis. I trust these sparks and flames of truth will burn even brighter in their lives as they step out to embrace and follow the God who will never leave nor forsake them — the God who is their hope, comforter, provider, counselor, and source of love and power.
Students in Diepsloot find faith, hope, love -- and the vision that they too can make a difference.
Was at a Petrol Station yesterday and saw a man (Siphewe – left of photo) limping with a crutch and a brace on his leg. After some hesitation the thought came to me, “if you really believe God will heal him when you pray, wouldn’t you just go without hesitation?” So at that I went over and asked him what was wrong with his leg.
No more crutch! Siphewe's (left) tendons were healed, and his nephew (middle) accepted Christ as a result.
He explained the ligaments in his ankles were practically torn and thus he walked with constant pain. I mentioned Jesus can heal him and then knelt down and laid my hands on his ankles, after which he said he said the pain was gone, except for an area where one vein was still bothering him. Laid hands again and he said the pain was gone.
I encouraged him to test out his leg and he realized he could walk now without pain, and without the need for his crutch. Upon experiencing healing in his leg he asked for prayer for some other situations in his life — which I was happy to do as well.
As his family was waiting for him he got in to the bakkie (pickup truck for you non-South African’s ;) — and they drove away … however just a minute later they turned around and his sister was motioning me to come to them, and she was quite excited about how Siphewe’s leg was now healed. (Actually at this time I prayed one more time for a lingering pain in part of his leg — at which time he said it felt like electricity going through his veins, and the pain disappeared.)
She was all excited about what happened and asked me to pray for her two children (in the middle of the photo) — for protection, and other general requests. I also prayed for her son who at that moment accepted Christ in his life.
As we parted I couldn’t stop thanking God for how wonderful it is to be his hands and feet, bringing the health and healing which Jesus provided for all — both physical and spiritual … and of course the most wonderful of all — helping people begin a relationship with God Himself.
Not long after this an attendant at the petrol station introduced me to his colleague who had pain in her womb and head. After rebuking the pain and commanding healing in her womb and head, all pain was gone.
Again I left with a deep sense of deep joy in thinking about all that Jesus made possible for us to walk in as a child of God.
Faith in the name of Jesus brings life and healing (Acts 3:16). Here’s a few testimonies along these lines we’ve experienced over the past few weeks. I’m sharing these with the hope they’ll be an encouragement for others to walk in and expect the same. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
1) A man was lying on the floor clutching his heart, seemingly having a heart attack or something of that nature. People were clamoring to organize a trip to the hospital. I stooped down, laid my hands on his chest and proclaimed the healing Jesus already provided. The man said a presence of peace replaced the fear that was gripping his mind. Soon after his heart was no longer in pain, and no trip to the hospital was necessary.
2) A 70 year old man was hospitalized with blood blots in his lungs and legs. Two days after prayer (and I’m sure others were praying as well), we received notice the clots had dissolved.
3) In a shopping Center my son and I were walking and noticed a woman on crutches just about to get in to the backseat of a car. Knowing that love always leads to do to others what we’d like done to us, we went to pray for this woman’s healing. After prayer she tried out her legs and said she previously hadn’t been able to step up stairs like she was just now doing. Others observing from the car compelled her to come in as they were waiting for her, but we trust the healing was done.
4) Prayed for a man who had Tarsal tunnel syndrome (he said it felt like walking with the pain of constant pins and needles in his feet) – after prayer the pain was gone and he was healed. He had another ailment in his arm, which I don’t remember the name of — but after prayer this was also healed.
5) A girl had problems with her jaw — it was separated and often “clicked” — after prayer, completely restored (and no more clicking).
6) While at a township in the Cape area a friend and I heard about a woman who was confined to bed due to pain all over her body. We went to her home (a shack with a tin roof) and found her lying still and in fact, in extreme pain. We proceeded to pray and the pain left and she was healed.
7) When leaving this woman a man called us over to his home (another shack) to pray for his mother — also in bed with pain. Turns out she was having trouble breathing (due to Asthma complications) and had pain throughout her legs which were also swollen. After prayer she could breath normally and she had no more pain in her legs. After her son and the family present witnessed this, I shared that the same Jesus who healed their mother could also be present with them at all times. They all proceeded to receive Jesus and asked Him to be present with them always. I find that after people witness such an obvious demonstration of Jesus’ power, they no longer need to be convinced as to the reality and presence of God — they’re usually eager to experience Him in their own lives.
“And He (Jesus) cast out the spirits with a word, and healed ALL who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:16–17)
In the midst (or rather beginnings) of house hunting here in South Africa we were invited to share on the topic of discipleship at a youth group at the Dutch Reformed Church in Morletapark, Pretoria.
Since we enjoy taking every opportunity to share — we went and had a great time with a group of sixteen year olds. They had many interesting questions and we were able to share quite a few testimonies…
So great to inspire and challenge young people to be all God has called us to be…