26th February, 2006

DAN WOODING

Founder of Assist Ministries

Thousands of people in the war-ravaged land of the Democratic Republic of Congo have found spiritual healing in the form of love and miracles from a group of Korean Christians.

Some 700,000 Congolese crowded into a venue in the capital city of Kinshasa from 16th to 18th February for the “2006 DRC Miracle Healing Festival” led by Dr Lee Jae-Rock, senior pastor of the 100,000-member Manmin Joong-Ang Church based in Seoul.

CROWDED CRUSADE: Some of the 700,000 who turned up at Dr Lee Jae-Rock's crusade in Kinshasa last month.   “It was an amazing sight each night when Dr. Lee prayed for the sick and we saw many miracles including the blind receiving their sight, including a little boy who was able to see for the first in his life,” said Johnny Kim, director of Manmin TV.

“It was an amazing sight each night when Dr. Lee prayed for the sick and we saw many miracles including the blind receiving their sight, including a little boy who was able to see for the first in his life,” said Johnny Kim, director of Manmin TV.

“We saw deaf mutes hear and speak for the first time and also paralytics who were brought in wheelchairs stood and were able to walk by themselves.”

The huge crowds were entranced with the various Korean worship groups who danced in African style and sang in French and Lingala, as the large audience joined in and clapped, swayed and sang along with them.

Congo’s famous pop singer, Werason, who is also known as the “Ambassador of Peace for Africa” caused a sensation when he appeared on stage and began singing a praise song acappela.

“Before the meeting began, Werason came to see Dr Lee at his hotel and asked him to pray for his wife that she might have twin sons,” said Johnny Kim.

“He said that if this occurs, he promised to testify wherever he goes to what happened.”

Before the first night of the festival, the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, invited Dr Lee to the presidential palace for a friendly dialogue.

With him was Johnny Kim, who said: “President Kabila expressed his appreciation to the Dr Lee for visiting DR Congo to conduct the crusade, and asked him to pray for stability in his country so that they might have a successful general and presidential election in the near future.

“So when Dr Lee began speaking each night, he said that DR Congo is the third largest land mass with so many natural resources but to experience the blessing of God those there had to be united in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Kim went on to say that the crusade was held with support from political, economical leaders as well as from the church leaders and the local press.

"Many of the prominent members of DR Congolese society said they anticipated great blessing from God through the crusade in the days to come. Rev Lee Jae-Rock and the mission team were welcomed by the church leaders including Bishop Albert Kankienza, the president of Revival Churches in DRC as well as hundreds of local evangelical Christians with a special traditional Congolese performance at the Kinshasha International Airport. They also had a press conference at the VIP room with many local media including the national TV and radio network, RTNC.”

“On the first night, there was a sudden rainfall in Kinshasa which cooled down the heat and drove away the insects for the congregation gathered in the stadium. Pastor Peter, the interpreter from English to Lingala (the local language), said: 'We consider rain here in Kinshasa the blessing of God. Tonight we have rainfall which symbolizes the blessing of God to us.’ Dr Lee spoke on the first night on ‘Why is Jesus Our Only Savior?’ He also testified to countless instances of the work of God’s power manifested through Manmin and around the world in the name of Jesus Christ. The crowd responded with a big applause as the urgent and powerful experiences of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by the manifestation of the powerful works of the living God, took place.

“On the second day, the rain just poured down and when the team got to the stadium where the outreach was to take place, there was just a small crowd of about 3,000. But amazingly, the rain stopped when the sermon was to begin and people then began pouring into the stadium to hear the message called ‘God, the Creator.’”

Again, many received Christ as their savior and also many others said they were healed.

Those on the stage included Dr Jaynet Kabila, the chairperson of the Kabila Foundation and the acting first lady, H.E. Azarias Ruberwa, the vice-president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madam Lylian Bemba, the wife of vice-president Bemba, the daughter of the president of the neighboring Republic of Congo and cabinet ministers, senators, governors as well as pastors from Nazareth in Israel and a former higher official from Dubai.

On the final night, when there was no rain and an estimated 500,000 poured into the area where the stage was set up. They enjoyed the singing and dancing and then listened intently to Dr Lee speaking on “The Power of the Holy Spirit.”

He introduced many stories of miracles that had previously taken place around the world on large video screens and then, when he prayed for the sick, a large number filled up the stage and many spoke publicly about what had happened to them.

“Dr Lee prayed specially for the blessing of the people and the country of DRC in the name of Jesus Christ," said Kim.

Dr Jaynet Kabila expressed her impression described Dr Lee's message on ‘Why is Jesus our only Savior’ as "so good".

"Dr Lee is truly a man of God I appreciate him for his visiting and conducting the crusade in this country, Democratic Republic of Congo for the peace and blessing from God."

The crusade was broadcast live through national-run RNTC TV (Radio Nationale et Television Congolaises), as well as around the world via satellite channels and the internet.

CROWD SCENES: Another scene of the thousands who turned up for the crusade.

Throughout the week daily newspapers, including Le Potentiel - one of country's top newspapers, ran stories on the crusade.

The outreach ended on 18th February and in the morning of that day, the country experienced an historic moment when they signed a new constitution that will pave the way for upcoming general and presidential elections. The signing of the new constitution took place in front of the Presidents of South Africa and the Republic of Congo.

In what some experts call the deadliest humanitarian crisis of the last 60 years, an estimated four million people have died in Congo, mostly from hunger and disease, since a civil war began in 1998. It ended officially in 2003, but deaths continue.

Dr. Lee’s next outreach is scheduled for 30th June to 2nd July in Meadow Corona Park, New York City.

This article was first published on Assist News Service (www.assistnews.net).