The Harvest is Plentiful!

Dear Ministry Partner,

Tonight we will be pausing to celebrate what God has done through SWIM over the last 12 months as nearly 90,000 have come into a saving relationship with Christ through our efforts.

We will also kick off new efforts for this summer and into the fall 2012. I thank you for the prayerful support and joyful engagement you continue to accord us as we pursue God's Kingdom purposes together.

While many of our partners will be joining us tonight over a sumptious meal, great music provided by recording artist Sara Renner , and testimonies including from our keynote speaker Pastor Clarence Muruthia, who recently hosted our India Festival, you may not be among them. I want to request you to stand with us in prayer that the evening will proceed very well.

One of our goals tonight is to raise a significant portion of our annual budget going into this Summer's mission initiatives in Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya and a little later here in Minnesota and India. We need $274,000 to underwrite the projected ministry expenses for these initiatives. This will help us bring the Good News of Christ to nearly 200,000 people by the end of this year at an average cost of $ 1.50 per person.

I appeal to you to join us in these efforts. Several of our generous Faith Partners have stepped forward to provide a matching challenge totaling $52,000 as we go into tonight. Please help us provide a match for this challenge with whatever gift you can afford by clicking this link.

I welcome you to consider the following possible levels:

1. Sponsor 20 People to hear the Good News for $ 30.00
2. Sponsor 105 people for $ 157
3. Sponsor a Village of 255 people for $ 382.50  (See this video)
4. Sponsor a city of 4,025 people for $ 6037.50
5. Sponsor a whole festival for $ 45,000

In addition to evangelism, part of our mission focuses on equipping leaders with transformational leadership tools. It costs an average of $ 78 to sponsor an international pastor to receive training at our conferences. We anticipate over 1000 leaders will be trained by the end of the this new phase of ministry initiatives.

1. Sponsor 1 Leader for $78.00
2. Sponsor 5 Leaders for $ 390.00
3. Sponsor 50 Leaders for $ 3900.00
4. Sponsor a whole conferene for $ 23,000.00

The Bible declares, "How beautiful on the Mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7). And again Jesus says, "The Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." (Matthew 9:37-38).

Will you join Jesus and us in His appeal for laborers? Will you become an answer to Jesus' and our prayer by sending us? See how the gospel of peace brings great joy to peoples and nations far and wide!


Serving By His Power and for His Glory

Sammy Wanyonyi
President and World Evangelist
Shine in the World International Ministries
Web: www.swimministry.org

Final Report: From Death Lead Us to Eternal Life!- India Prays!

A multitude numbering close to 80,000 thronged the rickety temporary structure covering about five football fields that hang low over their heads to protect them from the blazing heat.   Many watched on the TV screens spread around the field as were millions of others in their living rooms all across India. 

“At least 75 percent of them are Hindus,” Pastor Clarence Muruthia, our lead host and local superintendent of the Assemblies of God churches informed us.  He was not exaggerating.   For India’s Christian population only comprises 2% of the national population.  Scores of them bore the bindi, the traditional Hindu dot, on their foreheads, a sign that they had prayed to their Hindu gods that morning.  Here, shoes off their feet, sitting close to each other, men on one side and women on the other to comply with the cultural norms, they quietly listened to the message of Christ.  Somehow they felt an attraction to Jesus Christ. 

The mood of the audience seemed to echo the centuries-old Hindu Sanskrit prayer, “From untruth, lead us to truth!  From darkness lead us to light!  From death lead us to eternal life! Let there be peace!”  This prayer captures the ancient longing in the hearts of humanity from all ages to find truth, light and eternal life.  The men and women of South India are no exception.

I spoke from the Gospel of Luke 18:35-43, expounding and demonstrating the gospel through the story of the blind Bartimaeus.   The audience seemed to take in every word, several closing their eyes in a deep meditative state. 

“Here was a blind beggar living on the fringe of society.  He had physical disabilities.  He was weighed down by the daily and constant darkness that characterized his life.  He longed for a day when he could see.  He hoped for a season when he could be freed from the limiting chains of blindness.    He anticipated a time when God’s true light would dawn on him.  He wanted to he heard and listened to.  Thank God that on this day on the streets of Jericho, his longing was to be met at last by none other than Jesus Christ Himself.  At last God stopped for the man!” I explained. 

“Today, Jesus, the Son of God, is visiting Palaymkotai, Nazareth, and Tenkasi, here South India.  Today, you too can find hope, forgiveness and eternal life!”  I continued.  “Jesus wants to answer your prayer from the ancients.  He says, “I AM the way, I AM the Truth, I AM the Eternal Life, and I AM the Prince of Peace!” 

I made the invitation to those needing a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  Two-thirds of the audience raised their hands, several with tears streaming down their cheeks.  God’s Spirit was moving over them and they responded with great intensity and openness to the forgiving grace of God.  To the glory of God, almost 60,000 thousands were raising their hands to make a commitment to follow  Jesus Christ. 

By the end of our week-long mission, almost 100,000 people had directly heard us share the gospel of Jesus Christ with through the festival events and special sessions on four different Universities, two High Schools and three Primary Schools.  All together, nearly 70,000 people had given their lives to Christ for the first time.  To God be the glory!

Bartimeus: From Darkness to Light

One of the most powerful accounts in the gospels is that between Jesus and Bartimeus, the blind beggar of Jericho as recorded in Luke 18:35-43.  Bartimeus was a disadvantaged man.  His lived in Jericho, the accursed city (Joshua 6:26).  Not only that, he was the least of the least and the poorest of the poor of Jericho.  In Karmic terms, Karma was against him.  But yet on this day Jesus visited Jericho.  Bartimeus saw his opportunity for hope and he seized it.  He broke through from a life of darkness into Light.

Bartimeus did four things that heralded his breakthrough from a life of darkness to the Light.  First is that he recognized who Jesus is.  He inquired from friends, neighbors, and the multitudes who the Person passing through town was. You see, Jesus does not discriminate.  And on this day, He passed through Jericho the accursed city.  As many as would lift their voices to Him in Jericho, He would take their curse upon Himself.  For Bartimeus, beyond inquiry, he believed the report about Jesus.  That He was the Messiah who was to come, the Hope of Israel, and the Savior of the world.  Hence he called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

To experience God's power in our lives, we must recognize who He is.  We must recognize Him to be LORD, Messiah, Prince of Peace.  We must be willing to make Him the LORD of everything in our lives.  He is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.  We must welcome Him into our lives as Savior and Master.  Then when we call, He will hear us because we rightly recognize His Person.


Secondly, Bartimeus recognized his own need.  He acknowledged his blindness and disadvantage in life. He was blind.  He was poor.  He was the least of the least of the least.  He was a sinner. 

Beyond acknowledgement, he put desire for change into his situation.  He resolved to do something about his condition.  He would call out to Jesus in faith, the only one with power to change his life.  He believed that Jesus would hear him and give him the time of His day.  He trusted that he would be heard.  Bartimeus could not see but he could speak.  He resolved to use what he had going for him...his voice.

Sometimes we come to God desiring Him to bless us.  Yet we hold proudly onto our situations and conditions.  We want to be in control. We want to appear dignified.  We do not want anyone to know our short-coming lest we lose our respect, position, or face. We pretend that all is well.  And so we chase one lie and cover it up with another.  We might even engage in some good work and give to a good cause because, afterall, we want to impress others and show that we are good people. 

The truth of the matter is that we are blind and we are needy.  We are sinners in need of a Savior.  Bartimeus did not showcase how well he had managed to live with his disability.  He was not out for an applause.  He was out for a miracle. He vied vehemently for it taking the pain and risk of being trampled by the crowds in order that he may encounter the Savior.  He was not to be disappointed.

Thirdly, Batimeus defied the opposition in order to fight for his blessing.  Evil rarely goes down without a fight.  The Scriptures reveal to us that beyond our sinful nature we have an array of demons; principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places, that stand in opposition to us (Ephesians 6:12). The inhumane acts of men and women toward fellow humanity in our world are often inspired by a source other than human.

 

For Bartimeus, this evil inspiration was manifest in all the other voices telling him to be quiet.  There were those telling him he needed connections to be introduced to Jesus.  There were those powerful individuals that told him to get out of the way because to them he wasn't important enough for Jesus.  Then there was the voice of his own condition inspired by his sinful nature.  He could not see, how could he hope to catch the attention of Jesus? He would be better to stay as far away as possible and wait for his sealed fate rather than attempt to join the maltitudes and he might lose his legs in addition to his eyes. 

But as we see from Jesus' response, Bartimeus was the most important person in Jericho that day.  He had open access to God.  Because of him and for him, Jesus stopped.  Whereas we have no mention of the names of those other people that told him to be quiet; neither the richest man in Jericho nor the city mayor, we have the record of Bartimeus. 

He defied the opposition and shouted even louder because he was desperate for Jesus.  Suddenly, this Jesus who everyone had told him a moment earlier that he had no hope of being heard by Him, stopped.  The King of the whole universe, creator of the billions and billions of stars and galaxies, commander of the Armies of the Living God stopped for a blind beggar on the streets of Jericho.

  

Persistent prayer in pursuit of God's promise always pays off.  When we stand our ground and defy those defeating voices of opposition from within and without, we gain a great deal from God beyond the immediate reward.  For more than two thousand years and all the way into eternity, Bartimeus' example of faith is a lesson to all of humanity as to what it means to be persistent. 

To God, so long as we have breathe, there is no one with a sealed fate...there is no karma.  No, all may enter in freely and all may partake of salvation and of eternal life through Jesus Christ.  In Christ there is only amazing grace.

Finally, when Jesus asked Batimeus what he would have Jesus do for him, he was specific in his request.  "Lord, that I might regain my sight."  He did not leave it to Jesus nor to the maltitudes to tell him what to ask for.  He did not try to narrate how he lost his sight or the kind of misery he was in for the luck of sight. 

He did not engage in the blame game either. He knew his need and he seized the moment to tell it to Jesus. "Lord, that I might regain my sight,!" He said.  What do we need from Jesus today?  Is it salvation?  Is it healing?  Is it restoration of a broken relationship?  What is it?  We must tell it to Jesus.  We must be specific.  

This Jesus is no ordinary guru.  In the words of one African American preacher, "No means or measure can define His limitless love.  He is the sinner's Savior and friend.  He stands in the solitude of Himself, magnificently unique, unparalleled and unprecedented.  He is the highest personality in philosophy, the fundamental doctrine of true theology.  He is the coral necessity for spiritual religion.  He is the miracle of the ages...the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Savior...proclaimed of God.  Acknowledged by angels.  Adored by saints and feared by devils."  This Jesus is our Lord and our Savior.  

The Other Frontline in the Battle for Souls- By Suzanne Wanyonyi

I've learned quite a bit while Sammy's been away in India. Other wives have told me over the years, that when their husbands are gone for ministry for extended periods of time, the enemy tries to attack during the husband's absence by causing the garage door to break, or the toilets to break or the hot water heater to go out.

So, from the very beginning of our marriage I anticipated those things and shared my concern about them with Sammy. He understood. We've always had a plan in case something breaks around the house while he's away.

Well, none of those things have ever happened. Other things have happened.  During this latest mission, while nearly 80,000 people were being won to Christ, the attack came in a way I wasn't expecting: The kids.

There were more than a few nights where I had about 2 hours of sleep because the kids kept waking up. With Malaika it's not so uncommon, but Junior has slept from 8-8 for as long as I can remember. He's a very good sleeper and hardly ever wakes up at night.

 Well, let me tell ya, it wasn't "normal" in the sleeping department around here! One of the nights, I was up every 15-30 minutes from 3 am until 8:30 am! That is not exaggerated at all. At the time, in my grogginess, I didn't realize that it was spiritual warfare, but as I reflected on it and asked the Lord about it I realized that it was.

 I hate not having enough sleep. The enemy knows that. He wants me to dread and fear when Sammy leaves so that I won't be supportive of him as he goes to do what God has called him to do. Plain and simple!

Thankfully, I've had to toughen up during this trip, and have come to realize that I can still fully function, have a good attitude and be a good mom to my kids, on 2 hours of sleep, BY GOD'S GRACE, of course. ;)

The attacks were more intense this time while Sammy's been gone. I think it's because he's been in India. The spiritual climate is different there than in Africa, therefore different spiritual attacks.

One of the nights I was attacked with intense fear. I was physically shaking, I was so afraid. At the time, I knew it was warfare, by the way that it happened. I've come to see the pattern:

1. It's intense fear.
2. It comes at bedtime.
3. It comes in the form of a thought. For example: "Junior has a terrible cough. What if it's whooping cough? I should google whooping cough to make sure. Oh, wow. Junior has all of those symptoms. He must have whooping cough. Oh, whooping cough kills babies. Malaika is going to get it. She's going to die." Let the freak out session begin. Panic ensues.

That exact scenario happened. So, what did I do? I texted Sammy in India. I was so scared, even though I knew it was an attack, I couldn't get the fear to stop. It turns out that he was preaching at that very moment. That's when it was solidified that it was spiritual warfare.

Sammy was shining the light of Jesus Christ in the darkness, and Satan couldn't get him to stop, so he attacks me, freaks me out and I text several times while he's preaching.


The good thing is that my texting didn't disrupt him one bit, he finished his sermon, texted back to reassure me, prayed for us, then turned to pray with all of the people lined up in front of him waiting for prayer. Ha!

The Lord has also given me a bit of wisdom on how to discern through worries that I'm having. Sometimes I get all freaked out about things like whooping cough, for example, and I can't really tell what reality is. It's hard to know if it's a legitimate concern that needs attention or if it's just the enemy trying to throw me for a loop.

The Lord spoke to me as clear as a bell one of the days, (while I was busy having another freak out session about another topic): He said, "Look at the fruit it's bearing in you." It dawned on me. When a thought or concern is bearing intense fear in me, it's not from God.

When He speaks or warns about something that's going to happen, or is happening, the gentle peace of the Lord will still be there, even if it is about whooping cough or some dangerous situation. When it's a legitimate concern, His presence will be there. His peace will be there. That brought so much assurance and freedom to me!

I've decided that the next time Sammy is gone, I'm going to take more of an offensive stance rather than a defensive one. I realized that I hadn't been taking up the full armor of God. I'm going to pray more for the kids and for myself to cover us spiritually in addition to focusing on praying for Sammy and the team that is with him.

When people ask how they can help, the real need that I have is prayer cover. God helps me function with 2 hours of sleep. I can get the kids to the store to shop. It's fine if I don't have a break. But what I cannot do without is prayer covering. My need while he's away is spiritual. Yes, the physical help is wonderful, and I love it, and I will take it. But what I NEED is spiritual.

 Those are a couple of the things I've learned this trip. I hope something in there encourages someone reading this. They are not at all what I was expecting to learn or experience, but I'm glad to have gone through them.


Praise God, that the difficult things we face in life are there to grow, deepen and strengthen our faith. I'm so glad that we don't go through these things for nothing, but God uses them for His great purpose, especially in the drawing of multitudes to Himself. 

Officially, about 80,000 people came into a brand new relationship with Christ.  Unofficially we cannot estimate how many did so as millions of Indian people across India tuned into the live TV broadcast to hear the Good News.  To God be the glory!

95,000 Attend Events here in India. Millions more follow on Live TV

God has done great things here in India as 95,000 have participated in events. Several millions more watched Saturday's live TV Broadcast all across India. See Pictures!

From Darkness to Light...India's Deepest Prayer!

The shrine of Om in ancient city
of Hyderabad, India

People reverendly approach an altar dedicated
to Hindu god Om in the ancient city of Hyderabad

"From untruth lead me to truth. From darkness lead me to light. From death lead me to eternal life. Let there be peace!" This is a quotation from the Hindu Sanskrit that perhaps represents India’s highest and noblest quest. And I say, Amen!

India's future lies in the truth of Christ.

After being here for the last ten days, I can tell that India’s need is not so much material as it is spiritual. This might come as a surprise to some in the West, given that no other place on earth teems with gods and goddesses like does India. They occupy her peaks and valleys.

Here, men and women bow down in reverence to Om that is considered the Brahman along with a million other gods.

A crowded street.  With over 1.2 billion people
and just 2% Christian population, India
desperately needs the Gospel of Christ

Yet their hearts are left with great and deep longing. Their hearts are empty of the tranquility they seek in the high places. For om is nothing but an idol.

Believers pray for the salvation
of India during a Sunday service in Chennai 

To India I say, Christ is the Truth…your truth. Christ is the Light…your Light. Christ is the giver of Eternal Life…your Eternal Life. Christ is the Prince of Peace…your Peace! Christ is who you need in order to realize your highest and noblest quest.

God is doing great things as people pray.  This past Sunday
I ministered in this 5 AM service and four other times
throughout the day in Chennai. Many are coming to faith.

Christ is who India needs to bestow dignity and sanctity to her subjects that live under the curse of the caste. Christ is who India needs in order to be free from the demonic oppression that dominates entire communities holding them hostage to fear and to classism.

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Pray with our ministry team this week as we commence our week-long campaign to proclaim Christ in various arenas here in South India. Pray for open hearts and minds among students in High Schools and Universities. Pray for the salvation of multitudes in the.

Pray for the believers to be strengthened and energized as we encourage them. Pray for our team to be strong, healthy and nourished throughout our time here. Pray for our families back home to be strengthened, healthy, and encouraged throughout our absence.  Pray that Satan will not have access to attach them with sickness, discouragement or loneliness.  

Please, stand in the gap with us so that the Gospel of Christ may go forth in power throughout this vast land of India.  

In Christ, with Christ, for Christ!

What Flavoring Shall I Use for the Gospel Here In India?

Shortly after arriving in Mumbai, India yesterday in transit to my next destination of Hyderabad, I decided to get something to eat.  I was hungry and, wanting to stay on the side of caution, looked for something familiar.  Guess my delight when I saw a KFC joint in the domestic flights food court.  I went over to the counter and requested for chicken, and wanting to adapt slowly, some rice on the side. 

I cannot claim to have eaten a lot from KFC in the United States.  Perhaps 4 or 5 times that I remember.  I always try to avoid fast foods.  But being here in India, hey, it looked pretty good given the unfamiliar alternatives. I knew exactly what to expect once I bit into the crunchy exterior of the chicken that looked just like the KFC chicken back in the United States States, right? Wrong!  

To my surprise, the Indian KFC had a bit of Indian flavor to it.  It was spicy, though of course not to Indian standards.  I got a more rude shock when I bit into the side that came with the chicken.  Very attractive looking side of rice.  But when I bit into it, I immediately started perspiring (I am a wimp when it comes to hot foods).  I qucikly learned that here in India, KFC, although bearing the same brand logo and look, has contextualized its' food to fit Indian taste buds.

In 1 Corinthians 9:20-22, Paul shares with us his missionary approach in the course of proclaiming the gospel of Christ.  He states, "²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under ^[a]the Law, as under ^[b]the Law though not being myself under ^[c]the Law, so that I might win those who are under ^[d]the Law; ²¹ to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. ²² To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some."

In a weeks time, our SWIM ministry team will be conducting outreach events in the South India State of Tamil Nadu.  Starting Sunday, I will be preaching, first at Peace Assembly of God church, Chennai, a leading congregation in the city. 

Thereafter, the rest of our team from the United States will join me on Monday January 23 in Tirunalveli to commense the week-long evangelistic campaign that that will see us share the gospel of Christ on at least five different University Campuses, several colleges, High Schools and Primary Schools that will reach as many as 10,000 students wth the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Then on Thursday January 26 we will minister at a revival prayer gathering with about 4000 believers in attendance.  This will be followed conduct a pastor's conference with about 200 leaders as well as commense the 3-day festival events.  The climax of the festival is on Saturday when anywhere from 50,000- 100,000 people are expected.  We will conclude the campaign with ministry in churches on Sunday the 29th.  All in all, before next week is over we could well have ministered to over 100,000 people in various settings.

In light of Paul's effective approach and given the example that KFC provides above, one of my biggest tasks this week of prayer and preparation is determining how to best communicate the gospel of Christ so that it can touch and flourish within Indian souls.  It is to find the right spices that waft the Indian aroma and draw in the hungry multitudes to the Truth that is Jesus Christ. Pray for me.

Thanks be to the Lord Jesus Christ and to the Holy Spirit of God who, more than cultural anthropologists or sociologists, have an intimate knowledge of the longings and desires that reside in Indian hearts.  These, Christ has met through His incarnational birth, life, death, and resurrection.  Pray for the Gospel of Christ to flourish this coming week and that thousands will run to Christ as their Master.

By His Power and for His Glory!!

P.S. consider financially supporting what God is doing here in India.  Click on the donate burton to your right.

Happy New Year 2012!

From my family to yours, Happy New Year, 2012! 

As I am sitted in my home office reflecting on the past year, one thing that stands out for me is the generosity of God. 

Yes, the Prophet Jonah was right in his (absurd) lament: "Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country?...for I knew that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm."

Like Jonah, I am totally blown away by the generosity of God.  But unlike him, I am elated that God is a generous God.  Jonah forgot that he, like the Ninevites, was a benefactor of God's abundant mercy.  

I am grateful for the things which Christ has done in my life and in the lives of thousands of others around the world as we reached out to proclaim His love, grace and mercy.    I am grateful for the hundreds of our partners that participated with us to make it a reality.  Here is what we accomplished in 2011:

Ministered to an estimated 120,000 people world-wide our ministry spanning three continents: North America, Africa and Asia.
12,048 people made first-time commitments to Christ
Over 20,000 people rededicated their lives to Christ
More than 1000 leaders went through our Schools of ministry leadership
Hundreds of local congregations were encouraged and strengthened in their pursuit and service to the Kingdom of God.
About $ 200,000 was raised by both our local and international partners in support of our ministry efforts. 

Thus, 2011 goes down in our ministry’s short history as one of the most productive years in terms of outcomes, response, and partnerships.  Glory to God!

2012 is already shaping up to be a landmark year.  With the festival in India expected to reach 80,000 people just three weeks away and preparations underway in five other countries, we anticipate our reach will exceed any other year so far. 

Please pray with our team as we launch out in faith and confidence.  Pray for amazing provisions beyond our wildest dreams.  Pray for me as I travel and proclaim Christ to be full of the Holy Spirit.  Pray for my wife Suzanne and our kids Jr. and Shiloh to experience God's care and provisions all throughout this new year.  Pray with our Leadership Board as they help us discern the Lord's leading.

May 2012 be a year of great blessing to you and your loved ones as you serve Christ.

God Opens the Door to Take the Gospel to India in January 2012



In 2005, I visited several villages in Tamil Nadu devastated
by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami to comfort the residents

This January, in answer to a long time prayer, our SWIM ministry team has been invited by several churches in South India to conduct a Festival of Hope and pastoral/evangelism leadership conference touching several cities near Chennai, Tamil Nadu.  We have been working on preparations for the festival since early this fall.  With just one month to go before the outreach events, join me to pray that this effort will be fruitful beyond my expectations. 

In 2005, my friend and fellow evangelist Nick Hall and I knelt on the expansive Marina beach in Chennai, India, in earnest prayer. “Lord, please make it possible for us to come back here and share your gospel with the people of India,” we prayed. We dreamed of the beach being filled by thousands of Indian people listening to the Good News of Jesus Christ.



Six years later, God has answered our
prayer. This January, I will be preaching
the Good News of Christ to as many
as 80,000 people in India's Tamil Nadu.



We had travelled through the villages in Tamil Nadu, South India, devastated by the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. We listened to heart wrenching stories of whole villages wiped off the map by the raging waters as the waves came ashore.

In one such instance, seven boys aged 9-12 (pictured above) took me on a canoe through a channel in the Bay of Bengal sandwiched by thick virgin Mangrove forests to a small sandy Island that had once been a vibrant village.  They told us a tree top visible about 1000 feet into the ocean had once been the center of their village.


In one of our earlier Missions in India,
hundreds of youth attend a SWIM youth
Festival event where Sammy shared
the gospel with them.

In another surviving village, after a celebratory fluit dance welcome, the residents took us to the temple of their gods. Idols that we knew were not God at all. Our hearts ached with great sorrow that so many had died without the knowledge of Christ, but perhaps more tragically that so many were living without Christ and without hope.



Praying with villagers



We were under strict orders from our hosts not to proselytize due to anti-conversion State laws in Tamil Nadu. In spite of the limitations, we helped the people with little material help we could afford. At least we could pray, as we moved from village to village, that God may open the door for us in the near future to help usher in a harvest of Indian people into the Kingdom of God.


Well, six years later, God has answered that prayer. This January our SWIM ministry team has been invited by several churches in South India to conduct a Festival of Hope in several cities near Chennai.

There is great Spiritual hunger in India.

Pray for my associate Stanton Peterson

as he champions ministry in Schools

during our time in India

Our team of four will minister in several Schools, Universities, and Colleges, conduct a Pastoral Conference, and hold three days of evangelistic festival in addition to ministery in churches between January 23-30 in Tenkasi, Triunelveli, Palayamkottai, and in Nazareth.  Additionally, I will have the privilege to speak to a gathering of at least  25,000 Indian believers organized by well-known Indian Evangelist Mohan C. Lazarus, as they pray for their nation.  We anticipate we will minister to as many as 80,000 people.

My Associate Stanton Peterson will
champion ministry to Kids during
our India Festival outreach. 

Please pray with our team of four (SWIM Board Member Steve Wareham, SWIM Board Member David Sumners, SWIM Ministry Associate Stanton Petersen, and I) and for the churches in South India over the next couple months as we partner together to proclaim Christ in this environment that can be very hostile to Christ and to those turning to Him.

With over one billion people and less than two percent being Christian, India is a frontier mission field in desperate need of the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Pray for us for boldness and clarity as we preach, teach and train fellow workers.  Pray for good health for us.  Pray for the provisions we need to successfully conduct the festivals and conferences.  We have a need of $ 30,000 that needs to come in over the next one month.  As the Lord has endowed you, prayerfully consider supporting our missionary efforts around the world with a generous year-end gift by clicking the donate button on the right side of your screen to a secure donation site.

God Does Great Things in Mankato, Minnesota

Sammy Wanyonyi speaks to several hundred
students at Mankato State on November 4th

Sachi- Student from Japan

"When you first visited our campus I wasn't a believer. But I came out to hear you speak. It was really powerful and touching!  Soon after, I repented and gave my heart to Christ.  And yes, life is so much better!   Now, I am serving God and people to lift His name high here in Mankato! I am happy seeing more people getting saved and becoming bold here at MSU! God is moving!! I thank God so much for everything He is doing here. Thank you for coming to MSU."

That was Sachi (right), a student at Minnesota State University, Mankato as she prepared to help with the follow-up process for other students who came to Christ this past week at our Flame Night sponsored by SWIM and co-hosted with various campus ministries. 

Hip Hop Artist Flame gets the
crowd excited

Artist VRose gets the crowd excited

Like several other students who came out to the event Friday night, Sachi is an international student from Japan. She was referring to one of my earlier campus visits when plans for Flame Night were in their embryonic stage. I had spoken to a group of about 14 students that afternoon, brought together by Maranatha Christian Fellowship. She was one of them. Now, Sachi is a vibrant follower of Christ.

MSU Students enjoy the moment

MSU student Paulkani from India hosted MCs.

For 51 out of several hundreds of students that attended the Flame Night on November 4th, it is a day that they will remember forever. One in which they met and received Jesus Christ into their hearts as Lord and Savior. We rejoice in Christ's victory on the public University Campus.

Hip Hop Artist TruServa
Performs

For many others who attended Flame night but are yet to receive Christ, we believe their openness to come out and hear the presentation of the Gospel has ushered them closer to embracing the truth of Jesus Christ. It is our prayer that they will one day look back at that moment and, like Sachi, connect the dots to a new relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Sammy Challenges the students to receive Christ.

Fifty one students gave their lives
to Christ during the event

Please pray for the 51 students that came into a relationship with Christ to stand and grow in their faith.  Pray for the various campus ministries that are partnering with us in the follow-up process such as Intervarsity, Maranatha Christian Fellowship, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Life Family Church, New Creation Church, and many others working on the University.  One of the powerful outcomes of the outreach was the demonstrated unity in the Body of Jesus Christ as they help reach out to students in a secular arena.

Twelve Thousand Come to Christ on the Hills of Rubavu, Rwanda. 78000 Attend.



Sammy Wanyonyi leads a crowd in repentence prayer

They came from all walks of life, strutting across the gentle hills of Rubavu, to attend the SWIM Ministry Festival of Hope events that lasted for a week. These same hills, that not long ago hosted thousands fleeing for their lives from the genocide and ethnic gangs bent on revenge, became places of gatherings of hope, forgiveness and reconciliation.





Often, they withstood the elements, rain, wind, slippery hillsides, in order to listen to the Good News of Jesus Christ.



250 Women leaders attend the conference facilitated by
SWIM team members Kimberly Wolf and Judy Chase. 

Each night, our ministry team proclaimed the love of God to several thousands. Each time, hundreds of people responded to the invitation to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. By the closing of the festival on the 7th day, 11,980 people out of the 78,000 that attended the meetings, had prayed with us to receive Christ.

Ingabire found hope through Christ.

One such individual was a young woman named Ingabire (pictured) who was on her way to commit suicide by drowning herself and her baby girl in the nearby Lake Kivu when she stopped by the festival long enough to hear Sammy proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.



Each night hundreds responded to the invitation to receive
Christ at festival events all across the city.



Standing precariously on a precipice overlooking the lake with her baby strapped on her back, Ingabire listened intently and learned that God loved her. She heard of how God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die in our place so that none of us should perish if we believe. She understood that God is able to restore hope where we feel hopeless and to help us where we feel helpless and vulnerable.



Blair Carlson, Laussane Movement
Associate Director prays with a
local evangelist attending the
School of Evangelism. 300 local
evangelists participated in the School.



As Sammy concluded the message and gave invitation to those present to invite Jesus Christ into their lives, she responded among throngs of others that night. Tearfully she prayed repenting of all her sin and shame.



Hundreds respond to receive Christ at closing event.

Moments later, she met with a festival counselor. Crying for God’s mercy and forgiveness, she reported her earlier mission to drown herself and her baby in the nearby lake. Now, she realized that God cared and God was there to help her. God’s mercy had prevailed over her sin and shame to rescue her both from self-destruction and from eternal condemnation. Our team was able to connect her to local resources where she is receiving on-going counseling.

SWIM team with a team of local

evangelists from Africa Enterprise

Rwanda who assisted with the Festivals



Besides the evangelistic events, our team trained and empowered 620 local pastors, evangelists, women leaders, high profile political and business community leaders as well as helped the local community rebuild seven homes for genocide victim families. These leaders continue to extend the impact of the ministry in the region.



300 pastors and evangelists participated

in the SWIM School of Evangelism.




Over the last three weeks since end of Festival,

399 are reported by 9 congregations to have been baptized. 

Another 1000 are in process.  Thousands more are in other
churches that haven't sent in their reports as yet. 
To God be the glory!



Local evangelists and pastors
at the SWIM School of Evangelism
engage with each other.



In the last three weeks since the end of the Festival, nine churches in Rubavu out of the seventy-five that participated with SWIM in the outreach have reported baptizing a total of 399 individuals that came to Christ at the Festival. They also report about 1000 other people currently going through the discipleship process in their churches. Hundreds more are doing the same with 66 other congregations in the city of Rubavu. We give God the glory!



This Fall- Bringing the Message of Christ to Mankato, MN


As we enter the Fall season, we are excited for the opportunity to partner with ministries and churches to bring the message of Christ stateside to the city of Mankato, MN. On November 4th and 5th, SWIM ministry will host our second Mid-West Festival event on the University Campus of Minnesota State University Mankato.

Among other activities, the events will feature national Hip-Hop Artist Flame, Heart of the City Worship Band, and a message of hope from evangelist Sammy among others. Please pray with us for a great harvest of souls especially among the 14,000 University student population.