Goodrum Update

 Eleven more men were baptized in January in the prison where we continue to preach and teach every Thursday afternoon.

With a new trailer to haul all the equipment, the evangelism team has already facilitated two 3-day tent revivals—better known here as a Campaña Evangelistica—with many more to come in the future, Lord willing. The revivals in Pilar and Maramburé both included a special children’s service, and a total of 9 people received the Holy Ghost and 3 were baptized!

We have kept the duplicator busy printing thousands of invitations to special events and tracts that boldly share the Acts 2:38 message; our Bible college students have kept busy handing them out everywhere they go! We are sowing the seed! Please pray with us for the upcoming campañas in Encarnación and Ciudad del Este during May and June. As always, we thank you for partnering with us in prayer and finances! God bless you!

Vlad shared the Word prior to a baptism in a beautiful place called La Colmena.

Samuel celebrated his fourth birthday with preschool friends at New Heights School.

Africa in Revival

Throughout our continent this month, a total of 1940 received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and 856 were baptized in Jesus' name! Let us rejoice and be glad!

Botswana
reported by a pastor

At National Ladies Conference, four received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Minister's Review conference was a success as pastors committed to make positive changes in their local churches to enable positive church growth.

At a local church, four received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, four were baptized in Jesus' name, and some were healed of various illnesses.

Republic of Congo
reported by Regional Missionary, Gistophe family

Two received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Ghana
Nick Sisco & Colleen Carter families

During regular services throughout the country, a total of eighty-four received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and 250 were baptized in Jesus' name.

At a Regional Youth Camp, eleven were baptized in Jesus' name and five received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

At four Regional Conventions, a total of thirty-five received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and many received their healings.

Guinea
reported by Albert Stewart family

The second annual conference had an average attendance of 200. Twenty-three were baptized in Jesus' name, and three received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Kenya
Jim Crumpacker & Patrick Groves families, submitted by Pastor Shiunwa

Throughout the country a total of 166 were baptized in Jesus' name, 173 received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fifty-two were healed. There were also 219 Bible studies taught.

Liberia
Albert Stewart family

During regular services thirty-three were baptized in Jesus' name and thirty received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Madagascar
Chris Richardson family

In the first two weeks of this month, the reports are that 191 received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and 134 were baptized in Jesus' name.

In one local church revival, a mute person was healed while being baptized in Jesus' name.

One lady had been battling infections in her mouth for two months. She came to one of our local church services, was healed in Jesus' name, repented, was baptized in Jesus' name and filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

At a Regional Conference, 1,303 received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Malawi
AIMers, Chris Gibbs family

During March, the church fasted each day from supper to supper. Within a few days, the miraculous began happening.

In one of the churches, a Muslim family came and spoke with the Pastor, and said the Lord spoke to them to go to the UPC church, that this was where they would find truth.

Another Pastor reports that his church has always run about twenty-five members, but within the first week of fasting and prayer, over fifty visitors came and now the church is too small.

Another church baptized forty-two in Jesus' name.

One church had eight receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The National Superintendent, his wife, and the missionary family went to a district to minister to a Trinitarian church. During three days of preaching and teaching, seventy-nine were baptized in Jesus' name and two received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Of the two that received the Holy Spirit, one was the Pastor of this church.

Fourteen men of God graduated from the certificate level in the GATS program.

Mauritius
Randall Richardson family, reported by Superintendent Pastor Jacques Dubois

During the Bible Conference, there were three new visitors and two were baptized in Jesus' name. One sister was healed during the conference.

Namibia
reported by National Secretary Treasurer, Pastor Lorens Hauseb

At General Conference, two received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and two were baptized in Jesus' name. A wheelchair bound man was healed by the power of God and asked to be baptized in Jesus' name. The conference attendance was 110.

Nigeria
Gerry McLean family

One pastor baptized five in Jesus' name.

At a Oneness Seminar, the brother of one of the church's National Officials received the revelation of the Mighty God in Christ. He was immediately baptized and now he wants to affiliate his church with the UPCI.

Tanzania
Richard Smoak family

The national ladies' ministry leader held a women's conference in one region. Fifty-one women attended, seven were baptized in Jesus' name, and twenty received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Togo
Randy Adams & Mike Benson families

The Bible school students had a weekend of evangelism in the northern part of the country. Fifteen were baptized in Jesus' name, three received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and numerous people were healed and delivered.

During this weekend of evangelism, the village chief's wife was miraculously healed of a long standing illness. As a result, some began to burn their voodoo idols. Now, the village chief is at the point of abandoning his voodoo practice as well. Please pray that he will receive total deliverance.

Uganda
Phil Tolstad & Steve Phelps families

In one region, seventy received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and ninety were baptized in Jesus' name.

In this same region, two new pastors have joined our church.

Republic of Georgia Update

March:

March has been an exciting month for us.

Baptism of a Trinitarian Pastor in Rivne, Ukraine

At the beginning of  this month, I was able to attend some important training in Rivne, Ukraine. I want to say thank you to all of  our field account partners for making that possible. Upon return to Georgia, we instituted the Revival By Design program into our Bible school and have already begun the planting of three new churches. We are also taking our current congregation through this training and will be ready to launch five additional works by June 2012.

Living Hope UPC, 30th Anniversary

I was also privileged to visit the USA for the 30th anniversary of Living Hope UPC in St. Mary’s, MD (my home church). While there I also visited Living Hope UPC, D.C.. I want to say thank you to both congregations for their great support and friendship. I also want to say a special thank you to the D.C. congregation and all that gave to the offering. we are getting ready to baptize our first person in the portable baptistry you all bought for us.

 Prayer Focus: 

Spiritual freedom from the spirit of  Heaviness

Open doors into the targeted communities

A central training facility

A bus for church use

Into the Future:

In April, we are beginning the Harvest phase of  our targeted outreach. The last two weeks have been filled with prayer, fasting, and spiritual warfare. It is exciting to see the Bible school students putting their teaching into action. I watch as they continue to grow in faith and power. God is truly opening doors into the harvest. I look forwosd to being able to give you a great report next month of  what God has done here in Georgia.

The Staten Family

Vietnam Update

The Future Is Bright!

Dear Partners,

 I had to make a quick pre-planned trip back to Vietnam in order to interview a few more perspective students who want to attend our Bible school (ACTS) next year in Manila, Philippines. I had the privilege of meeting with several young people who were recommended by my Vietnamese pastor friends. The challenge is finding people with good English schools. Another obstacle is being able to pull them away from obligations to their local churches or families. One young lady rode her pedal bicycle, through Saigon's heavy traffic, for over an hour and a half for her interview. One young man was willing to leave his young wife and recently newborn baby to attend. Of course, we couldn't accept that.

Vietnamese young people -- the hope of Vietnam! Training the next generation!

The highlight of my short trip was attending for the first time a newly-formed home church that has been in existence for only 1 1/2 years, and it is filled with college and young married couples. (See picture above) There were over 45 in attendance. As I sat on the front row, waiting to be introduced, I marveled at what the Lord is doing with the younger generation in this nations. I took in my surrounding:

From my front row seat, I couldn't help but notice the keyboard player's toes as they stuck out from his sandals. He had been born with seven toes on each foot, but had two toes removed from each foot leaving small stubs. My eyes turned to the wall on my right, and I saw an elaborate chart that challenged the congregation to reach the lost. They had an up-to-date P.A. system, a projector for power point, several instruments and praise singers with microphones. As my eyes continued to circle the room, I saw a nicely dressed congregation standing with their hands lifted up, lost in worship. And each had a nice looking chair to sit on during the service.

This was a far cry from what I experienced nineteen years ago when I first started visiting churches. Back then, you had to sneak in through back doors, sometimes in the dark of the early morning or after the sunset. People sat on floors, shared pages of Bibles torn from the one fortunate person who actually had a whole one, and sang with acoustic guitars with missing strings. We spoke in hushed tones, sang quietly and had lookouts at each door and window.

Having Church the Old Way -- 1994!

The above picture was taken in Da Nang, Vietnam back in 1994 when we had church on a deserted beach in order to feel safe. If someone suspicious showed up, we acted like we were having a picnic.  The pastor on the far right died at an early age with lung disease. He was ready to meet the Lord! (That's me with the dark blue jacket.)

Having a Seminar the Old Way -- 1994

This picture was taken in a wooded park in Hai Phong, Vietnam in 1994. This church pastor felt safe by having me teach a seminar practically in the jungle. The funny thing was we did have a government official approach us during the study, so we cut our seminar short.  The agent had us followed which resulted in a chase. My interpreter's motorcycle crashed, and he was hurt.

 Today the whole nation has been transformed. Gone are the old, rickety Russian-made motorcycles, cars and airplanes. Welcome Japan, Korea, the United States, and a score of other nation's expertise, goods and services. Gone are the old hotels. They have been replaced by thousands of newly constructed and economically priced structures. Restaurants abound everywhere, and tens of thousands of tourists land at brand new airports throughout the country. And thank God, gone are the mean-looking men and women dressed in drab green government-issued uniforms, roaming the streets and keeping a watchful eye on everyone.

Vietnam is definitely on the up-and-up and progressing economically. Unfortunately, there is still only about 3% of the local population claiming fundamental Christianity. But after observing this youthful group enjoying Jesus, my faith soared. As young David picked up five stones to take on Goliath, God is raising up an army of Davids to break the backs of Buddhism and ancestor-worship--thus, the need to find and train new national leaders and hopefully the five-fold ministry. We have secured sponsors for two students to attend Bible school thus far. But three more students are in need of sponsors. If you would like to help sponsor a student, host a seminar, or help us continue our ministry to Asia/Pacific, it would be greatly appreciated.

We will be home for 2 1/2 months starting April 15 and returning July 4 to Manila for the start of a new school. If you would like us to visit your church while we are home, we will do our best to accommodate you.

Blessings,
John & Deborah Wolfram

Pentecostals of Geneva - March Newsletter

Greetings in Jesus’ name from Geneva! Things have been moving quickly in Geneva over the last few weeks! Here is a quick recount of what the Lord has been doing:

• We have had near record attendance for the last couple weeks. 
• We moved into a larger room, which costs over twice as much, but the Lord has provided for us! 
• We baptized Sister Gladys last week in the name of Jesus Christ in 50F water in Lake Geneva!
• We are looking at using a chapel, which has become available, for our services.
• We are planning our first ladies’ singing group for our Easter Services.
• We have had regular evangelism team meetings over the last couple months.
• We will have a Friends’ Day service with a visiting musician/ evangelist from France, Bro. Tshibangu, on April 22. 
• God is bringing restoration to some in the church who had left for some time and have returned, ready with repentant hearts!
• We have had quite a regular flow of visitors throughout the last several weeks.
• God has given us a group of 85 young people who are planning to come in July for the AYC trip to Switzerland and Liechtenstein! 

So we have been very busy with a lot of opportunities and a lot of changes! We have also restructured our Friday Night House of Prayer to alternate between prayer service, out-and-out worship service, in-depth teaching and forum discussion times where we dialog on a certain aspect of scripture. This has been a refreshing change and this has enabled us both to get a little closer to those attending as well as to keep things fresh.

In our new meeting room, we are also located conveniently, that we can hang some new banners in a very prominent corner of the city, just across from the main train station!  Praise God!

We are very excited about all that has been going on in Geneva and look forward to a great harvest of souls in the next  couple months!!

Prayer Requests and Financial Needs

We continue to look for a more dedicated meeting place. So far we have searched, inquired and asked… please pray with us that the Lord would open the RIGHT doors for us!

Please pray with us for Easter Service, Friends’ Day and a leadership seminar that we will hold along with revival services with Bro. Robinette in May. 

Regards, 
Mitch & Jutta Sayers
Revival in Geneva. The time is now.

Africa in Revival - March Report

Burkina Faso
Ken Cantrell family

Praise God for the help received to feed families needing food due to the severe drought in the country this past year.

Burundi
Richard Smoak family

Bible school property has been purchased.

Central African Republic
Mike Benson family

Twelve were baptized in Jesus' name.

Equatorial Guinea
Regional Missionary, Peter Mua family

Two were baptized in Jesus' name, and three received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible school successfully began with eleven students studying the GATS certificate program.

The son of a new convert fell into a well about 20 feet deep, and he did not reach the bottom. Neighbors helped pull the child out; the father said it was Jesus who held the hands of his son.

Three testified of being healed from different types of sicknesses by the power of God.

Ghana
Nick Sisco & Colleen Carter families

A total of five received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in services attended by missionaries.

Two were baptized in Jesus' name at one of the Bible school church plants.

Twelve were baptized in Jesus' name at one church, and five received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the water.

Two extension Bible schools have opened for another semester of studies.

Kenya
Jim Crumpacker & Patrick Groves families

Throughout the country a total of ninety-seven were baptized in Jesus' name, eighty received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, sixty-seven reported healing, and 111 Bible studies were taught.

Liberia
Albert Stewart family

During regular services 110 received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and seventy-six were baptized in Jesus' name.

At the annual General Conference, thirty-two received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and eighteen were baptized in Jesus' name.

A church dedication service yielded eighteen filled with the Holy Spirit.

During a crusade in a Muslim dominated area, twenty-seven received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and nine were baptized in Jesus' name.

Madagascar
Chris Richardson family

One lady had been sick for many years, passing out repeatedly. She was healed immediately when hands were laid on her and prayer was made in Jesus' name.

Another person was healed after being baptized in Jesus' name.

One pastor testifies of a lady who had persecuted the church for some time. She was in the hospital, and they called for the pastor to come and pray for her. She was healed and is now baptized in Jesus' name and filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

One person possessed of a demon was delivered in Jesus' name.

A nine year old boy was very sick with high fever and had been suffering with non-stop nose bleeds. He came to one of our services, the church prayed for him in Jesus' name and he was instantly healed.

Nineteen churches report a total of sixty-seven being baptized in Jesus' name and 167 receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Malawi
AIMers, Chris Gibbs family

A total of eleven received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in a normal church service.

Mozambique
Regional Missionary, Cezar Moraes family

One area is receiving much teaching on the book of Acts.

Niger
Area Coordinator, Randy Adams - reported by Pastor Damien

The church has started the 4/14 Vision in each village focusing on the 7,544,000 children between the ages of four and fourteen to be saved. Specific times of prayer are being made.

The church is also visiting the prisons and those suffering from AIDS.

Nigeria
Gerry McLean family

Five new Bible school students were baptized in Jesus' name.

One of the pastors traveled and while away he baptized eleven that he met on the trip including three Catholic priests.

Over the last year, one of the pastors has baptized 247 people. Everywhere he goes he proclaims the new birth message. There are at least three pastors in his area that are affiliated with other fellowships that do not endorse Jesus name baptism, so they bring their members to him for baptism.

Seychelles
Randall Richardson family - reported by Pastor Mamy Razanajatovo

A new work has started, and ten visitors attended the first service.

Tanzania
Richard Smoak family

Pass the Word results:

• After receiving a Bible study and prayer, a hospitalized woman with pregnancy complications delivered safely.
• A new church was established after a Bible study teaching. It now has fifty-eight members. A week ago fourteen new members were added; two received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and five were baptized in Jesus' name.
• A Trinitarian pastor was baptized in Jesus' name after a Bible study on the oneness of God.
• A Trinitarian pastor was baptized after receiving a Bible study and brought six more to join the Bible study group.
• After a three week series of Sunday school lessons on receiving the Holy Ghost, a special evangelist held a Holy Ghost rally and over forty were slain in the Spirit and spoke in tongues for a half hour.

A pastor's wife was healed from a severe illness after prayer.

In a two week period, reports from three local churches indicate fourteen received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and eight were baptized in Jesus' name.

A new preaching point was opened in a new region.

After a six week radio series on "Having a Meaningful Marriage," the church received over 200 text messages and pastors have met with fifteen couples who are not church members and answered questions live on the radio.

At a three day seminar in one of the developing regions, three received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Togo
Randy Adams & Mike Benson families

As a result of the radio ministry, three have acknowledged the truth and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Six were also baptized in Jesus' name.

In one of the new church plants, a lady passed out and was unresponsive for approximately thirty minutes. As the church prayed over her, she recovered and was totally healed.

At a local church, seven received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in one service.

Cooney Update Newsletter

30 Days of Prayer and Fasting
We began this year of miracles with 30 days of prayer & fasting. It was a time of consecration & dedication to the Lord. The Lord richly blessed us during this time and brought us into focus for the New Year 2012.

Capital Campaign
The Church of Acts entered into a building fun campaign at the end of January. God moved on our leaders to give in one time offerings & pledges €18,090 total. The rest of the church followed by giving in one time offerings & pledges €8,285. Bro. Charles Robinette (Missionary to Austria) has been busy and blessed while on deputation in the U.S. too. With the help of God, he's been able to raise $36,392 (€27,730) with an additional $18,000 (13,715) in pledges that will come in within the next 6 months. Our goal is to raise €100,000 by the end of the year so that COA can make a down payment on a building to own. Because of God's goodness and manifold blessings, we are almost at the halfway mark (Just under €50,000) with funds that are already in the bank! We are beginning to look throughout the city for possible building venues. We thank the saints/leaders of COA & all the U.S. churches that have partnered in giving sacrificially toward the kingdom vision for the country of Austria! Please keep this mighty endeavor in your prayers!

February was our Family Month! We had two main events and the privilege to host great people & ministries:

Family/Marriage Weekend
Before Valentine's Day, we had a Family & Marriage Weekend with guests Bishop Leroy & Olive Francis (Superintendent UK & Ireland). They did a fantastic job ministering & strengthening our families & marrieds. One lady received the Holy Ghost on the last day!

Children's Revival Weekend
The last week of February we hosted Frank & Marion Nowacki (Melun, France) for a Children's Revival. They did an excellent job ministering to our children! Most all the children prayed back through with a couple receiving the Holy Ghost. We highly recommend them if your children are in need of revival!

Testimonies

Christina Capule
is our daughter work (Eisenstadt) pastor's wife. She was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer right when we arrived in Vienna last August. She has gone through the process of chemo treatments, has fully recovered and is strong as ever! Her testimony is so powerful, and it edified the church when she shared it in speaking & singing. She's never complained through the whole process and has been a witness to many while in the hospital. Her one and only request now is that the Lord would bless her with another full head of hair to continue bringing him glory in all that she does. Please join us in this prayer request.

Josie Reyes
We shared this testimony in our last newsletter. Josie was given 2 days to live back in December, but God miraculously raised her from her hospital bed. We've been praying that the Lord would continue strengthening her to be able to make the long flight from the Philippines to Vienna. Just a few weeks ago as we were praying before service in the prayer room and I was stepping out, I glanced over and realized that she was really there praying! Immediately the other saints came over and began praying with her and rejoicing that the Lord made a way for her to return to us. She testified to the church the next week and has been with us in each service since!

Cecelia Opoku
had a second stroke last year and was in a coma for 4 months. God has miraculously brought her out of this coma. She can even move her limbs and speak. We visited with her a few weeks ago in the hospital. She had tears streaming down her face thanking the Lord for His healing & preserving power as we prayed for her. Our ministers & saints visit with her frequently and have been able to minister and pray with other patients in beds beside her because of the witness that she's been and the power of the Lord that's brought into the place each a team visits. We look forward to having Cecelia in church and testifying in the near future!

Urgent Prayer Needs

Momma Cooney - I shared this testimovy a couple months ago. The Lord opened up a great door to move my mother at the end of January into a beautiful new facility. Her health has still been declining, and we are still believing for a miracle to take place. She needs prayer specifically for healing in her lungs & esophagus. Her weight is down to 102 lbs which is extremely light for her.

Fanny Cooney - Needs a breakthrough for her U.S. Visa. We begin our deputation at the end of July 2012, and our family would like to be together during this time. 

God has performed the miraculous the last few months, and we’ve seen Him do it time and time again. “FAITH is the substance of things HOPED for, the EVIDENCE of things NOT seen.” Agree, Believe & Pray with us for God to do the miraculous!  This is the Year of Miracles! 

Thank you for your continued support in prayer & finance!

Rev. Joe, Fanny & Jaylon Cooney 

Furlough Replacements - Vienna

Missionaries to Ireland