Saturday 24 July 2010

Prophetic Word Confirmed!

Dear Richard,

Greetings.
Thanks for the visit here in Butuan and your message in myself i was so Bless
from the beginning until you end the meeting....

I remember the word you give to me during the washing of feet.
that you release a prophetic word which is confirmation of the prophetic word which is given to me last two years ago by a Canadian Minister who visit to us.
Thank you brother i know God will do more great things about this.
You mention that i would be a blessing and travel to different nation in Asia and other.
as the same as they said too.

Thursday 22 July 2010

Healed!

We are so blessed with your life... Indeed, we really see that God is really at work in you and He blesses you so much. Thanks for your kindness to all of us. We appreciate it very much.... BY the way, you know Pastor, I forgot to tell you and to thank you for praying for me. Remember, when we were in Dotties, I had a very bad headache and my eyes were swelling already due to sinusitis? You know after you prayed for me,everything back to normal. I can really testify it coz before every time that I had a sinusitis and its really bad, it will really take 2 weeks to 3 weeks or sometimes a month before it will be cure. The last sinusitis that I had that really last for almost 1 and half month was last December until January 2010. It was really bad coz I almost had a very bad headache everyday and I can't even concentrate in my work. But now, thank you so much. God is really using you to blessed other people. God is so great to us. His is so powerful and do miraculous things unto us. Thank you very much Pastor.

Wednesday 21 July 2010

Testimony

Dear Pastor Richard,

We were not able to go with you to the airport in Butuan to say thanks for all that you have done in our lives but our prayer will always with you that God will keep you always with His loving arms. Please greet and say thanks to your brethren and family for us as they allowed you to come to the Philippines to blessed us with food for our stomach but most of all the food for our souls.

Your visitation in the Philippines is a great blessing to our people, to our church, to my family and to me personally. I really touch by the love of the father through your kindness and humbleness you have showed to us. Since I become a Christian I don't seen leaders or pastors washing the feet of the brethren even from the leaders of the group which I am connected. I am learned now how the father loves me through His son Jesus Christ. The truth you share to us it encourage me with eagerness to desire for more of His presence and the revelation about Jesus. As you continue to teach us the more I know Him the more I honor Him and praise Him and I see myself very little and unworthy but praise God that Jesus is in me and I in Jesus as you have said many times during your seminar. I am forever accepted of the father because He sees Jesus as my righteousness, holiness, health and my success. Hallelujah!

I am very grateful to Pastor Berwyn also for his big heart not only for the lost souls but for the leaders like me. He didn't forget us when he is blessed with spiritual blessing as well as material blessing. He always encourage us to attend the "Prophetic Leadership Seminar." His heart is really a heart of a leader and he is faithful friend from the little children even to the leaders. Yesterday he is like angel sent by God to meet our needs, God really knows what we need. During our devotional hour early in the morning I used to ask prayer request from the children and I notice that from that day is the exam of the children from college to the high school and they really need money to go to the school. It seems that I tempted to worry but praise the Lord pastor Berwyn show up from the airport with smiling face and I surprise when he shake hands to me there is white envelope as I open it wow! there is blessing inside. Praise the Name of Jesus! My wife is very happy and excited and want me to go Cabadbaran to buy fish and medicine for her diabetic maintenance. And the rest of the money that Pastor Berwyn give are for the children for the next two days. Pastor Berwyn is really a blessing to me, to my family even to the body of Christ. Pastor Richard, we are so happy that you keep in touch with this young man that have a heart for God like you have. For all the spiritual and material blessing you have given to us, all of these things will not go unnoticed to our heavenly Father.

May the Lord bless your ministry, your people and family always.

With our love and prayers,

Pastor Memucan Lumba

Sunday 18 July 2010

Fire Ignited!

This will be my last entry as tomorrow I fly back to Frankfurt via Manila and Hong Kong. Today was another special day with God. This morning I spoke at a small church near Mabini Christian Fellowship, called Lift Jesus Christian Fellowship. On the way to the church I passed a place where they make their traditional roast pork - most interesting...


After I spoke to this dear church family about how God has ignited us with His fire to set the world alight, I ministered to each person, again asking the Lord to touch His people and once again the Lord was faithful and ministered to His children. I interviewed the pastor's very talented young son who played the drums...




We then had lunch at the Villadares' home before we made our way back to Butuan where I was invited to speak at a Free Methodist Church in the evening. About 50 young people congregated for the evening service and I spoke to them about how we must honour the Holy Spirit if we are to receive a greater revelation of the Father and the Son (John 16:13-15). In response to God's Word I simply asked the people to recommit their lives to honouring the Holy Spirit in every area of their lives and to repent of any way they believed they had grieved Him or ignored Him. The response was precious as we worshipped the Lord and the people engaged with God and responded to His presence.

After the meeting we went for a coffee and the guys had a traditional snack (Balut) which you can see in the clip below...



It's sad to leave this wonderful place and the many new friends I have made. God has been so faithful during my entire visit here and I praise Him for His abundant grace and love. I believe a fire has been ignited! To Him be all the glory for all the wonderful things He has done here and will continue to do here! I am excited about KLF partnering with Pastor Berwyn and His wife Liberty in continuing to build God's Kingdom in Mindanao and the Philippines. God is richly blessing our relationship and I believe we will see even greater things yet! Hallelujah!

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." "Philippines" 1:3-6

Saturday 17 July 2010

Worship Seminar


Today we had a worship seminar for youth at a Free Methodist Church in Butuan City. Over 80 young people attended. Before I even got to talk about worship in song, the Lord prompted me to talk to the young people about sexual purity and why it is so important to understand how the believer is one with Christ and therefore should not be joined to one who is without Christ (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1).

We then looked at John 4:1-26 and saw how we need time in God's presence to receive a greater revelation of who He is, in order to "worship what we know." As the woman at the well spent time in Jesus' presence she moved from knowing Jesus as a man, then a prophet and then the Messiah! The Lord also spoke to us about what it means to worship in spirit and truth and how it is only by the Spirit of God that we can address God as Father! God's presence was wonderful and when I asked how many people wanted to recommit their lives to Jesus almost all those present responded. Hallelujah!

Their response really opened the way for God to do even more. After speaking to these young people about honouring God with their lives as their spiritual act of worship (Rom 12:1.2) we looked at the account of David bringing the Ark to Jerusalem in 2 Sam. 6:1-23 and how the believer must honour God's presence and treat God with reverence and fear! God just continued to pour forth spiritual revelation on passages I had never preached from before and the people were taking it all in, despite the intense heat and humidity. I then asked everyone who wanted to be filled to come forward for prayer and almost everyone came forward. We then worshipped the Lord and I asked the Holy Spirit to minister to them and as they responded to the Lord's presence I laid my hands on them and they all received. Many fell over into the loving arms of the Father and sobbed on the floor as God revealed His overwhelming love to them. It was wonderful!

I praise God for what He did today. I subsequently found out that these young people had never experienced the manifestation of God like they did today as many of them come from churches that are not open to the Holy Spirit's work. So I praise God for His amazing love and faithfulness and for the many changed lives today! Hallelujah!

Tomorrow is my last full day here and I will be preaching in the morning and evening.

Friday 16 July 2010

From the highest to the lowest

Today has been a day of contrasts! This morning Pastor Berwyn and I had an appointment with the mayor of Cabadbaran. It was on our hearts to meet him and not only make Berwyn's work known to him but also to encourage him as a leader in this nation. We were warmly received and I was encouraged to discover that he is a Christian. He told us that they have a weekly prayer meeting and that when the new City Hall was built he had the words, "To God be all the glory" put over the entrance! We assured him of our prayers and told him that we wanted to encourage him as a leader to pursue God's will. I told him that God had spoken to me prior to my visit that the Lord has it on His heart to restore the value and dignity of the women in this nation. Pastor Berwyn shared what he is doing with Mabini Christian Fellowship and the poor "mountain people" and the mayor was pleased, encouraging Berwyn to continue this much needed work. When I was in Hong Kong, I had bought a book on leadership that I gave the Mayor as a gift. He was very pleased as he enjoys reading and he asked me to write something in it. We then prayed together and we blessed him and his work. It was amazing! Praise God!

After visiting the mayor we again looked at some plots and premises to get an idea of the cost and availability in this area. After a quick lunch we made our way toward the mountain area near Butuan City where the "mountain people" were waiting for us to lead the church service. Because the place where the church is situated is quite remote we had to travel by motorbike! A first for me and a little scary.

The church was full of children and a few adults and I knew I was going to have to rely again on the Holy Spirit to communicate whatever He had planned for us. After a few songs I was asked to preach. I praise the Lord for His Anointing as I taught the children and adults how God can turn the little we have into a miracle as I graphically described the feeding of the 5000 from the little boy's perspective who shared his lunch with Jesus. I also told them how important it is that we taste God for ourselves using a mango to explain the goodness of God! It's all God's grace and I praise Him for His faithfulness! I then asked those who wanted to taste God for themselves and who wanted to give their lives to God to respond and over 10 people gave their lives to Jesus! Hallelujah!

Once again I had a lot of fun with the children and the adults and after our supper together the children began surrounding me and talking to me. They then sang me their songs quite spontaneously and they even continued whilst I filmed them. I was absolutely overwhelmed with their joy and love for God. These children have nothing and yet they have everything! Berwyn was telling me how they once asked for spaghetti as they had never tasted it before and wanted to have some! He also told me that he and some other pastors are fighting for the rights of the "mountain people" who are discriminated against as many don't even have birth certificates or marriage certificates. The kids were also telling me how they sometimes have 6 to 8 brothers and sisters! They were such a joy to be with today and it it was such a blessing for me to lay hands on each one of them and declare the Father's love over them.

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God." Mt. 5:8



The day began with the richest but now ended with the poorest. What a day of contrasts!


Thursday 15 July 2010

Preparing the Ground



Today I spent the day with Pastor Berwyn and his family. We went to the local beach for lunch and in the afternoon Berwyn and I scouted the area to get an idea of what God has in store for the ministry here. Berwyn has it on his heart to provide a proper facility for the children in this area in order to educate them and provide for their physical needs. There is a real need here to look after these poor children (of which there are many) and provide them with some form of stability to give them hope in life. The goal is also to reach the parents with whom relationships will be formed as the children are connected to the ministry. This already happens when Berwyn has enough resources to be able to feed a group of children and share God's love and Truth with them (sometimes only twice a year). The children love Mabini Christian Fellowship and know that they are loved and accepted and can even get some food there sometimes. As we travel along the roads here there are literally hundreds of little children around, playing on the streets. Apparently this nation is over productive and the government has had to address the issue of using birth control in order to try and reduce the growing birth rate. Many religious groups however do not allow birth control and therefore the issue still remains! The short clip reveals the amount of kids at the beach and this is not the weekend! When the children saw me filming, they started to get really excited...




Tomorrow we have an appointment with the Mayor of Cabadbaran. The purpose of our meeting will be to create a relationship between the Mayor and Pastor Berwyn and to simply make him aware of the work that Mabini Christian Fellowship is doing and desires to expand. We also want him to know that we are praying for him and that he has our support as a leader in this nation. God is at work here! Hallelujah!

Wednesday 14 July 2010

The Fullness of God

Today was the third and last day of our prophetic leadership conference. In the morning the Lord spoke to us about what it means to fear Him and how to honour His presence in our lives. After lunch we looked at Heb. 10:19-23 and the Lord showed us how to enter into the Most Holy Place. We then spent time in the Lord's presence and worshipped Him. The room was electric with God's presence and people began to respond to Him in various ways as He revealed Himself to us.

After a coffee break I asked everyone to sit next to each other in a large semi-circle so that after teaching from John 13 on Servant Leadership, I could wash everyone's feet, bless them and prophesy as the Lord led. I cannot explain in words what I felt as I ministered to these precious people, taking time to share God's heart with them. People wept and were overwhelmed with God's love for them. Many times I myself wept because of the Lord's compassion and had to wait until I could speak again to continue to share the Father's heart. After 90 minutes I had washed everyone's feet and the room was filled with God's love and tenderness. God did something in our hearts today that I will never forget! Jesus truly showed us "the full extent of his love" (John 13:1).

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Eph. 3:17-19

Tuesday 13 July 2010

Testimonies of God's Grace



Today was another wonderful day in the Lord. The word has spread and over 120 leaders attended today's prophetic leadership conference. A Free Methodist seminary professor cancelled his class and brought his entire class to the conference because he heard about the revelation God is pouring out upon His people. In the morning we continued to look at the nature of the prophetic and after a tasty lunch (including a whole pig and a birthday cake for me), we gave people the opportunity to testify about what God is doing in their lives and what has really spoken to them. We spent over an hour listening to stirring testimonies of what God is doing during this conference. Some testified that they were about to give up the ministry but God has so encouraged them and so strengthened their faith that they have recommitted their lives to His call. The Lord is really enlightening the hearts of the leaders with spiritual revelation and everyone is being revived by the Word and the Spirit - it's more than I could ever ask or imagine. Glory to God!



After the testimonies I taught on "Building Kingdom Culture" and how the leaders can apply what they have learned very practically. The feedback is very positive concerning the simplicity of the communication and the clarity of the messages. God's grace is evident and we are rejoicing in God's revelation to us.

"...this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery..." Eph. 3:8,9




Monday 12 July 2010

Prophetic Leadership Conference

Today was the first day of our 3-day Prophetic Leadership Conference. About 50 pastors from Butuan and the surrounding villages attended. These precious people are so poor that they would not have been able to attend if we hadn't paid for their bus fare to get to the conference hall! We also included a free lunch and refreshments to bless these men and women of God.

In the first sessions we looked at the diffrence between the natural and the spiritual, and the nature of the prophetic and how it is revealed in the lives of Jeremiah, Jesus, Paul and the early Church. On this first day the Lord led me to emphasise the foundation of "Christ in us" and to encourage the people to realise what they have received in Christ by being united to Him. We also looked at the significance of spiritual revelation and how the believer can only know the secrets of the Kingdom by the Holy Spirit.

The leaders responded very positively and are feasting on the revelation of God's Word. The feedback I have received today is that the teaching is simple, easy to understand and people are able to apply it to their lives. There is a real buzz in our time together - excitement about the revelation of God's Truth, and enjoyment of fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

After the teaching session in the afternoon I invited all those who were hungry for more of God to come forward to be prayed for. Almost everyone came forward with faith and expectation. We began to worship the Lord (without instruments or any "props") and waited for the Holy Spirit to do His work. As I observed the Father touch His people I simply worked with Him and prayed for those who were already responding to God. Once again people wept, laughed, fell over, stood quietly, shouted, spoke in tongues and allowed God to do His work in them. I watched the Holy Spirit fill pastor couples simultaneously as they both fell into the Father's arms. When everyone had been prayed for I encouraged the leaders to do the same with their people and to pass on what they had freely received today. The Lord is equipping His people to spread the fire of His Truth and Presence to the people in this nation. Hallelujah!

We closed the meeting a little earlier than scheduled because the Holy Spirit was done and many of the people still had a 2-hour journey home by bus! These people are so hungry for the Word of God and they so appreciate that someone would come all the way from Europe to share God's heart with them in Mindanao. Apparently US citizens are not allowed to travel to this area because of the radical Islamic terrorists present in parts of Mindanao. Pastor Berwyn had planned for me to visit the "mountain people" on Friday but because of his concern about potential danger, he has arranged for these people to come to his church in Mabini.

Tomorrow promises to be another exciting day in the Lord and I will be sharing some key principles on leadership to help the spiritual leaders become a Kingdom influence in their churches and in their communities. Hallelujah!

"Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, 'Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to build and to plant.'" Jer. 1:9,10

Sunday 11 July 2010

Baptism of Love

This morning I was invited to preach at a church that is associated with the Four Square Church that Treffpunkt Leben also belongs to. The church building has no doors or windows and is basically a sanctuary without walls. The pastor and his wife are good friends of Berwyn's and after a wonderful time of praise and worship (mostly in English) with drums, e-guitar, keyboard, bass and voice I was invited to bring God's Word and minister to the church. The Lord spoke to us about how Jesus has restored our intimacy with the Father and that we have access to know and experience the Father. After the Word I invited the people to come forward who were hungry to know God and experience more of Him. Many people came forward for prayer and as I began to minister to the people and lay my hands on them, the Holy Spirit came. I was not ready for what the Holy Spirit began to do because as I asked the Lord to fill His people and I prophesied the Father's heart, I was overcome with His compassion and aching heart for these people and I wept with His compassion. At the same moment the Father poured out His abundant love on those I touched and some began to weep, some shouted out as though they were being touched where it really hurts and God was healing them, some fell over with tears, some cried out as the Spirit released something in them. It was truly a baptism of love as the Father ministered to His children.

"God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,whom he has given us." Rom. 5:5

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1

No human power nor human words could ever do what the Father did in the lives of these precious people today. I give Him all the glory and I praise Him for His overwhelming love for us!

I had it on my heart to teach the worship team some principles for worship so right after the church meeting I asked to meet with them. They came and so did 20 other children of all ages who also wanted to hear what I had to say. These people are so hungry for God! I then spoke to them about worship in heaven and how we have the privilege as citizens of heaven to bring God's Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. It was a very special time.

I then had lunch with the pastors and Berwyn and I continued to share the same principles with them as well as how to develop Kingdom culture. They were so excited about the revelation and are now eager to put what they have learned into action. Hallelujah!

After lunch we made our way to another Pastor's home and on the way it began to rain and I mean it poured as though a bucket of water had been tipped out over the Philippines. We travelled in a very crowded bus once again but this time the very poor folk were travelling on the bus who literally have nothing but the clothes on their back. A family was in the bus seated next to me with 2 twins and a 2 month old child, dirty and smelly and very hungry. Berwyn asked the bus driver to pass a place where we could get a few rolls for the babies and so he gave them some food. This family's home had burned down and they were telling us how they simply did not know what to do. My heart aches for these people and for the broken lives I am seeing every day. They so need the Father's love and proper social care.

On the way to Berwyn's parents' home near Butuan, I sat in the bus next to a young girl who asked whether we were born again because she had seen the lad who accompanied us with a Christian band around his wrist. Berwyn and I then told her we were indeed and that we were pastors and I began to prophesy over her and she began to beam from ear to ear. Our God is such an encourager! She opened up to us and told us how her mother is working in Dubai and her father is a drunk and doesn't work. It was a God encounter and she was mightily blessed by the Father. Hallelujah!

It's been another wonderful day in the Spirit and I am looking forward to tomorrow's first day of the prophetic leadership conference. Glory to God!

Saturday 10 July 2010

Let the little children...




Today I spent the morning with Pastor Berwyn, encouraging him and equipping him by giving him spiritual revelation and Kingdom principles - tools to work with to continue to build when I leave again. We then traveled to Mabini and had lunch at Berwyn's brother-in-law's home where he was celebrating his birthday with family and friends. We had a traditional roast pig and lots of sea food and I got to meet some more of the people in the community.

At 2pm we were supposed to begin the church service but Berwyn explained that in the Philippines it is common for people to come over an hour late. So the meeting "began" at 2pm with a room full of children on plastic chairs waiting for some action. There were about 30 little ones present so I began to play with them and very quickly had their complete attention. I then told them the story of Lazarus with all the actions I could think of as well as the story of Peter throwing the net on the other side of the boat and catching many fish. I was amazed! I had the children's attention for over an hour and was able to communicate that Jesus gives life and that when we depend on ourselves we will only catch one fish but when we depend on Jesus, we will catch a whole net full. It was a wonderful and most thrilling experience as well as a lot of fun and laughter!

At around 3pm the adults began filtering in and after a time of worship in song I preached and ministered to these precious people for over 2 hours. The Lord was present and the Holy Spirit touched the lives of those who came forward to receive from God. One man gave his life to the Lord and I prophesied over almost everyone, revealing God's compassion and love for these poor and broken people. The Lord affirmed and declared His abundant love to them and they were deeply touched and encouraged.

I praise God for His faithfulness and outpouring of love.

Tomorrow I will be ministering at another church and I am looking forward to what God will do!

Friday 9 July 2010

Arrived

As the plane broke through the clouds and we approached Hong Kong airport I couldn't help thinking how this prophetic picture was symbolic of heaven invading earth as I determined in my heart to be available to God to further His Kingdom wherever and whenever. I had a 12 hour layover in Hong Kong so I set my face toward the city centre, ready for an adventure with God.

After walking around and exploring the streets I came across a small garden that led up to a buddist temple. In front of the temple there were a few beggars and some locals enjoying the cool shade of the willow-like trees. As I sat and drank my water I observed how the worshippers entered and exited the temple, paying no attention to the beggars. After a while I felt prompted to go over to a cripple in a wheel chair to speak to him. After explaining that God loves him he gave me permission to pray for him and lay my hands on him. After a short prayer I could see he was touched by the attention he received. Jesus took notice of him!

I then wandered around some more and stumbled across a Christian Book store. I went in and had a wonderful time of fellowship, sharing the Word and praying with the precious Chinese shop owner. After some dim sum for a late lunch I made my way back to the airport to continue my journey to Manila and then Butuan the next morning.

I arrived in Butuan this morning and was welcomed by Pastor Berwyn and some members of his extended family with a huge banner. After lunch and checking into the hotel in Butuan we made our way to his village, Mabini, to see the church building and to visit Berwyn's home. Around the church building (which is about 80 meters squared) I met a lot of the locals and particularly a large number of children. I received quite a few inquisitive stares but was blessed by the openness, friendliness and receptivity of the people. At Berwyn's home I met his wife, Liberty and their two children as well as Berwyn's mother-in-law who is suffering from gout and arthritis. After ministering to her with Berwyn she told us she felt God touch her body as we prayed over her. Glory to God!

Later this evening 3 more young women visited Berwyn's family and we had supper together. After an interesting meal I felt prompted to prophesy over the 3 girls and was deeply moved by the Spirit concerning God's heart to restore the honour and dignity of the Philippine women. It was another very special time in the Lord's presence and I am excited about what God is going to do tomorrow.

Friday 2 July 2010

Mabini Project


Mabini is the name of a small village, near Butuan on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. I (Pastor Richard), will be travelling from 7 July - 20 July to this area to pursue a relationship God has orchestrated between Pastor Berwyn and me and between Mabini Christian Fellowship and Kingdom Life Frankfurt. During my 10 day visit I will be leading a 3-day prophetic leadership conference, a 1-day worship seminar for the youth and I will be ministering to various churches and leaders in the area. The purpose of the trip is to establish the work God has begun and to find out how God wants KLF to support and build in this area of the world. I hope to keep a regular report of what God does during my visit on this blog together with pictures and videos.