Holy Ghost Outpouring!

We got on the bus this morning at 8:45 a.m. and headed over to the church. We prayed in the bus that God would have his way in the service. There has been an immediate bonding that has already taken place between our group and the people of Sri Lanka. They have been so incredibly kind to all of us. People we don’t even know are greeting us with smiles and kind words everywhere we go. Several hotel staff members have asked us to pray for their sick children and family.

When we arrived at the church this morning, the entire congregation formed two lines as they awaited our arrival. As we walked through, they all clapped for us. We felt so unworthy of the kindness that was bestowed upon us.

Service opened with Brother Mathiasz and Brother Subash leading praise and worship. The Holy Ghost began to move throughout the building. The choir sang a few songs and the puppet team ministered to the children. The second time the choir went up to minister, there was a shift in the spirit. The worship was no longer reserved, but extravagant. There was an awesome move of God and people were worshipping and praising God, many of them for the first time. It was so beautiful to see the sincere worship of the people of Sri Lanka.

After the choir finished singing, Pastor Doug spoke to the congregation about hunger. Sometimes there are only certain things that satisfy us. Being away from home many of us can relate to wanting our wives’ or mother’s cooking. This is the kind of food that would “satisfy us.” He asked the congregation if they were hungry. Have you ever seen grown men after they have worked hard all day long? Don’t get in their way because they are hungry. No one has to ask them if they want to eat. No one has to explain to them what it is. No one has to beg them. People are hungry for something today. In the United States people are hungry for money. They will do anything to get more money. They will neglect their families, work holidays, lie, cheat and steal. ‘Is there anybody in the house today that has a hunger in your heart for Jesus Christ? Something that says I must get to Jesus? Why, because I have a hunger for God.’

He spoke about the woman in the bible that was sick for twelve years. No doctor or amount of money could heal or help her. But one day, somebody told her that Jesus is coming to town and he can heal, save, and deliver. Something happened inside of her. She had a hunger. ‘If I could just touch him. No one has to lay hands on me. No one has to convince me. If I could just touch him.’ She pushed her frail sickly body through the jostling crowd of people eager to see Jesus. She was pushed and shoved but nothing could stop her. She had a hunger for God. She reached the place where Jesus was. She was unable to speak to him. She couldn’t touch his hands or face. But the hunger in her heart gave her faith to believe. She reached out and touched the hem of his garment and all that the doctors could not do in twelve years was done in one moment. Despite all that had touched Him that day, Jesus felt that woman’s touch. It was unlike any other because He could feel her hunger. “Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you whole.”

The altar call was incredible. The floor was packed so tightly that you could hardly get to the altar. There were families praying all together, men, women, and children. People were slain in the spirit. God moved like a wave across the floor. One after the other, people opened their hearts and were filled with the Spirit. 17 people received the Holy Ghost during this service, all of them carrying a story. Many of them came from Buddhist and Hindu backgrounds and had never been in a Pentecostal service. However, the presence of God was so strong, it covered the entire building. They could not help but get touched, God was moving everywhere. 8 people were baptized in Jesus name. We rejoiced with them as they were cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus.

Through Sister Fotine’s testimony, a young woman in the congregation was saved. She had tried to end her life shortly before today and as Pastor Doug told of Fotine’s testimony, the young woman sat in astonishment as she thought he was speaking about her. “How does he know about my life?” she said to her sister. She was so touched by this living testimony and blessed by seeing what God has done to someone in the same situation as her that she went straight to the altar and received the Holy Ghost. We watched as she was also baptized in Jesus name.

One precious woman, Tanuja, that I met on Saturday had been praying for the Holy Ghost for several weeks at least. Tanuja had wanted it more than anything and had gotten caught up in trying so hard to receive it. However, this Sunday she prayed for the first-time visitors. She told God: “Today is about the visitors. I will get mine before the end of the crusade, but today I will pray for everyone else.” Twice while she prayed, she wanted to go and sit down. However God told her to stay. To wait. To keep praying for others. It was when she stopped focusing on everything else that God blessed her. He saw how she humbled herself and blessed her for it. It was then that she was filled with the Holy Ghost. Her response was “I feel so good, I can’t stop smiling.” Praise God.


The people of Sri Lanka told us that they almost didn’t know what to do during the service because they where so overwhelmed. They didn’t know whether to clap or stand or lift their hands. Many just sat there and cried and wept in the spirit.
We thank God for all he has done so far. We can only imagine what else God has in store for the remainder of this trip. We have seen miracles take place in just one day. Thank you for all your prayers back home, you are truly with us in our hearts. We have taken your sincere worship with us.