Freedom for Sahara!

On the day of the festival, I had just given the invitation to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.  The crowd pressed forward – counselors began to counsel and we rejoiced as a team watching the miracle of salvation take place and witnessing so many Bhutanese refugees desire to receive Christ.  As the counselors had begun to counsel we were startled by the shrieking of a woman near the front.  Her body began to convulse as she screamed and writhed back and forth.  Instantly, two team members and several counselors went to her and placed their hands on her to pray.  She had such an angry posture and violently shook her fists.  As folks began to pray over her a couple counselors spoke to her.  It was clear she was in bondage to a demon!

After about ten minutes there was a sudden quietness.  She collapsed into the arms of two individuals but quickly recovered.  The look on her face was amazing.  From anger to beauty and lightness of spirit.  Through tears of great joy she told her story.  Her name is Sahara.  Two years earlier her sister committed suicide by hanging herself.  Life in the refugee camps had been too much for her sister.  Sahara said that ever since discovering her sister hanging, she had been plagued by very dark dreams of death.  In fact, she told those near her that she often thought of death and had felt an overwhelming desire to kill herself.  These dark thoughts, evil dreams, and a sense of being followed by death were a daily burden.  Sahara then said that as people were praying over her and she wanted Jesus in her life she saw a great light and a person.  It was the living Lord – Jesus Christ.  Sahara said the evil presence immediately went away and she was flooded with an inner peace.  She told us her whole person felt lighter and that she had joy.

It was an amazing testimony of the power of the Gospel to heal, free, and save!  Sahara gave her heart to Jesus and in the process was set free from demonic affliction.   

Blessings,

Mike Parker

An angry Sahara as she is first hearing of Jesus

Sahara in the midst of her torment

Sahara nearing release

Hi! My Name is Rosa!

On the second festival day, my good friend and partner, Reid Saunders, was preaching the Gospel.  Reid and his organization, Reid Saunders Evangelistic Association (RSEA), had invited us to partner with them in Demak, Nepal to minister to Bhutanese refugees.  The day before I had been the evangelist.  But on this second day, myself and two others had stationed ourselves in the back of the crowd to pray. 

Near the end of the message, a man  walked up to me and introduced himself saying “hi, my name is Rosa.”  He had learned English over the years of bing in the U.N. refugee camp.  Rosa then went on to tell me he wanted to introduce me to his friend.  He then shared that for two years he had been praying that his friend would come to a saving faith in Christ Jesus.  His friend had suffered for a few years some sort of chest pain and shortness of breath continually.  Rosa went on to tell me that the day before when I was preaching he brought his friend to the festival.  During the invitation time and a special prayer for healing, his friend had gone forward.  His friend then said, through Rosa’s translation, that his pain had instantly gone away.  He then gave His life to Jesus.  Rosa’s friend then went on to tell me that he had been experiencing great happiness in his heart. 

For the next 15 minutes we were able to speak.  We discussed the importance of church and growing in His new walk with Christ.  I do not often see people healed from some physical ailment.  I cannot say what the chest issue was with any medical definitiveness.  I can only tell you that whatever miracle God had done, it was enough for pain to go away!  It was great enough for a friend to witness his prayers of two years answered and with joy want to thank and tell me.  And I can say that as a man gave his heart to Jesus  -the miracle of salvation brought both a physical and spiritual healing.  Praise God!

Blessings,

Mike Parker

Rosa and His Friend

Mike and team had a very successful trip to India and Nepal!  Thank you so much to those of you who helped to cover this trip with your prayers.  The "prayers of the saints" were definitely felt!  Overall, over 21,000 heard the gospel and out of this about 8,000 responded with decisions to follow Christ!  Nearly 1,700 were treated medically, 5,500 school children were ministered to, and 14,000 attended the two festival days!  Additionally, there were other outreaches, churches preached within and pastors who receiving training and encouragement.   It was a very exciting time for those on the team!
In India, Mike and team caught a clear vision of ministry there and ANM will be taking a team back to Northern India in November, 2012. More on that to come!
The photo gives a glimpse of the many hands acknowledging hearts opened to Jesus.
Stories from Mike are coming in the next several days!!

India/Nepal trip wrapping up

Mike and his team members are now on their way home after a very successful time in both India and Nepal. Mike is most anxious to get home and share of the amazing ways God showed up on this trip!! The time in India definitely kindled a desire to go back and minister to the unreached people in Northern India, near the border of Nepal. It is a very dark place spiritually and these people have never heard of Jesus! The team built a good relationship with the young pastor there and Mike looks forward to working together with him. We will have more to share soon! The time in the Bhutanese refugee camps was amazing as well. Thousands of refugees decided to put their trust in Jesus and many miracles happened! Mike's comment was that it was like those in the book of Acts. Communication has been sparse so please check back next week for details of the trip!!

Only 2 more weeks until India and Nepal!!

Only 2 more weeks until Mike and team leave for ministry in India and Nepal! They will start the trip in Northern India with a dynamic,young evangelist and church planter that Mike met one year ago in Cape Town, South Africa at the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelism. They will strategize for the first three days to see how they can partner together in ministering to the unreached people in Northern India. Mike is hoping a thriving, multi-year partnership will result from this time together. Then it is off to the Bhutanese refugee camps in Southeastern Nepal. They will team up with the Reid Saunders Association from Salem, Oregon and KidStand from Dallas, Texas. There will be 5 days of treating the refugees in a medical clinic as well as 5 days of school and community outreaches. Additionally, there will be very engaging children's ministry events happening throughout the week. The week will conclude with a large pastor's conference and 2 evangelistic festival days over the weekend. Mike Parker will speak at one festival outreach and Reid Saunders will speak at the other outreach. Both of these men have a heart and passion to reach the lost and will powerfully bring the good news of Jesus Christ to this dark and lost area of the world. Would you please be in prayer for safety and protection for these teams, for individual gifts and talents to be poured out in full, for ready hearts and for a great harvest! God is good!

Planning for Nepal!

In just one short month from now I and a small team will be heading to Nepal to join forces with two other ministries to share the love of Jesus Christ to Bhutanese refugees living in Southeastern Nepal. Our ministry team will consist of a medical team, a kid's ministry, and two evangelism ministries.
Situated between the emerging superpowers of India and China, the isolated Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, hailed by some as ‘the last Shangri-La’, has generated one of the highest numbers of refugees in the world in proportion to its population.
Since 1991 over one sixth of Bhutan's people have sought asylum in Nepal, India and other countries around the world. Sadly, it is estimated that 12,000 girls are abducted and taken from Nepal into India every year as part of the sex slave industry.
Our team departs November 3rd and will return November 16th. It is our intent to minister to these Hindu Bhutanese refugees over the next few years with evangelism, medical teams, pastor training (for the few small churches), and other physical aid. It is also our hope that we will partner with other ministries that focus on human trafficking.
We still need to raise nearly $5,000 for this ministry trip! Would you please pray that God would be stirring the hearts of people who would partner with us financially? The return on this kind of investment is truly immeasurable!

Mike

Recent Sermon from Joshua 5 & 6

Mike preached at Sisters Community Church again on June 5th. For this sermon Mike sensed a prompting to preach a reminder from church history about how God is moving even when it seems very dark to us. There is a much larger story that God is writing even when we can’t yet see it. It’s like creating a tapestry with all the individual threads being woven together to create a design of great beauty in the end. He referred to Joshua 5 & 6 to illustrate how we need to obey God’s leading even when it doesn’t make sense to us in the beginning. He can accomplish great things out of this obedience. Click here to listen to this sermon!

Healing and Psalm 84

Mike recently preached at his home church of Sisters Community Church in Sisters, Oregon. This church is going through a significant transition with a launching of two separate churches. The pastor, leadership, and full elder board has been sensing for some time now a clear call to plant a new type of church in Central Oregon. The pastor recently resigned in order to pursue this new calling. As a result, Mike was asked to help the first few Sundays in the transition by providing messages to a dividing and hurting body. (Clearly, anytime something of this magnitude happens within a church, there will be mixed emotions on the part of the congregation.) Mike had a strong sense that the first sermon should point eyes up and be briefer and simple, yet not simplistic. As a result he preached from Psalm 84. Many of the congregation shared with him afterwards that it was just what they needed to hear at this time. We would like to give you the opportunity to listen as well. Just click here to hear Mike’s sermon from Psalm 84.

Mission America Coalition: Orlando 2011 A Leadership Consultation

I am currently in Orlando, Florida for a very critical leadership consultation related to Cape Town 2010 - The Third Lausanne Conference on Global Evangelism. Mission America is the US arm of the Lausanne Movement. It expresses itself through three ideas - prayer, care, and share so that churches and communities are reaching out in prayer, deed, and proclamation of the Gospel.

The meetings this week are for US church and ministry leaders to pray, discuss, and Lord willing - initiate new strategies related to the major challenges and opportunities facing the US and Global Church. After the last Lausanne Congress in 1989 held in Manila over 300 new strategies/initiatives were launched - including new ministries.

Approximately 1,000 US church and ministry leaders are in attendance - many of whom did not attend Cape Town but are involved in the greater movement of Lausanne Mission America and/or are significant ministry leaders.

Our meetings this week are being wonderfully hosted by the international headquarters of Wycliff Bible Translators, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Vision 360.

I would really appreciate your prayers for the week. Each day, there are 20 affinity group consultations around the major themes discussed in Cape Town. I have been asked to help provide leadership to the affinity consultation "US and Global Evangelism.". It is a huge honor and blessing since we are such a small organization. The over arching prayer is that the results of this week will lead to strategies for the next 10 to 15 years.

My second prayer is for networking/partnerships. Pray that the Lord would open some significant doors of friendship and ministry partners with churches and other ministries.

My third prayer request is for the Lord to really show himself and speak to our hearts as a collected body what He wants for the US church in initiatives, partnerships, strategies, and the re-evangelizing of the US church and a move of the Holy Spirit in awakening the church.

Last, pray that God would show me how and where ANM can begin to minister in the US in equipping churches and communities for evangelism. Maybe this would mean an open door this week into a few churches or maybe it means partnering with others.

Lastly - pray for my wife and daughters that the Lord would care for them while I am gone - no one sick, no one injured, no appliances or vehicle trouble.

Blessings

Mike

Final Photos and Report from Jamaica

Final Report from Jamaica

We would like to share a final report of the Fun in the Son Festival in Jamaica as described by Randy Burtis, Festival Director with the Luis Palau Association. The following is his report!

It was a weekend of great victories! We had an awesome week in Kingston as our team spread out across some of the toughest neighborhoods on the Island. On Monday, our missions team from the U.S. and the UK drove up into the Blue Mountains to begin three days of ministry at the City of Refuge orphanage. In the morning, after a 90 minute bus ride, they did painting, cleaning and moving furniture so the next team could do some remodeling. Afternoons were filled with ministry to the 70 abandoned children at the orphanage. Then a 90 minute ride home on some of the narrowest, roughest, mountain roads you have ever seen. Meanwhile, our Alliance team of Mike Parker, Brett Butcher, and Jud Heald’s “Untitled” team of athletes ministered in 13 public schools to more than 5,500 students. At the end of school assemblies filled with skateboard & BMX demos, testimonies and gospel messages by Mike and Brett, 2,300+ students committed their lives to Christ.

Toward the end of the week, the team in the mountains came together with the Alliance team to finish out the school ministry, conduct two Good News Clubs, and to do an amazing evening outreach in Trench Town, one of Kingston’s most notorious neighborhoods where evening gunfire is a fairly common occurrence. When the crowds didn’t flow into the outdoor theater we had set up, Brett and Mike each took some athletes and did a Pied Piper routine through the housing projects. They invaded the public square in the projects unannounced with portable skate ramps, a small (but loud) PA system preaching the gospel and inviting them to the theater. Kids followed from project to project, and the theatre filled as we concluded the night with one last gospel presentation.

Andrew arrived on Thursday to do media interviews for Fun in the Son and to meet with the team for a time of sharing, encouragement and prayer. When Andrew stepped to the microphone at 7:15 on Saturday evening he was facing a huge crowd of very excited Jamaicans (conservative estimates were 55-60,000) . We were in a new venue and we needed every inch of it, as the crowd was much larger than last year. It was an amazing sight. The forecasted rain never happened. The early part of the day was clear and bright, and at night the same huge full moon that they saw in Phoenix was right over our stage in Kingston. Andrew gave the gospel out of John chapter eight. Much to the delight of the crowd little Sadie greeted them as Andrew talked about the fact that there is a heavenly father who is eagerly waiting to adopt and love everyone. When Andrew gave the invitation, hands went up all over the park. We are still waiting to hear how many responded. Andrew is clearly accepted here as “one of them”.

Fun in the Son Festival

Saturday's Fun in the Son Festival was the largest attended event in it's nine year history. The crowd there to hear Andrew Palau preach was estimated at 65,000 or higher! They think over the course of the day 100,000 people came and went! Praise the Lord for hearts softened and lives changed. Please pray for the follow up work to be fruitful as well.

Rastafarianism, Gummy Bear and Teen Boys:

Thursday night in Trench Town was a wonderful event. You may have read the story of God moving in the life of Jason, the drug/gang/murderer. Over the last couple years Joy Town Church has tried to make an inroad to the lives of the men who are Rastas. Rastafarianism is a religion that has drugs and violence as part of it. One man, Gummy Bear, has begun to come to church, attend certain activities, but has not yet embraced Christ. This week Gummy Bear shared with Pastor Richard, he was excited to come to the event on Thursday. He wore a Rasta hat with the vibrant colors of red and green and yellow, has dreadlocks, and very much dresses in the typical image of one involved in Rastafarianism.

Gummy Bear watched with great interest the Extreme Athletes as they performed. He then listened attentively to my message of how one can find Peace. At the end of the event, Gummy Bear told Richard that he was excited. Gummy Bear then told him he would come to the Fun in the Sun festival today. He is ever so close to embracing Christ. Please pray for Gummy Bear. As Richard said, “if Gummy Bear comes to Christ, other Rasta men will also then follow.” He said they have been praying for this type of breakthrough in Trench Town – a Rasta stronghold.

As we finished up in the open-air theater, Richard came up to me with a sheet of paper. On the paper were the names of four teenage boys whom he had just spoken with. Each of these teenage boys had just responded to the Gospel. Richard was excited because these boys were just beginning to involve themselves with Rastafarianism. Praise the Lord for the power of the Gospel for Salvation.

“I am a Murderer but I now have peace.”

Tonight we went into Trench Town - an area that even up to a year ago, gun shots would be heard throughout the night as gangs, drugs and territorialism ruled the night (and day). We worked with a local church to have two teams disbursed throughout the area. The extreme athletes performed on streets, street corners, and sidewalks. Each of the teams had a mini-portable speaker system in which to play music and announce the event of the evening as well as the Fun in the Son Festival. Small kids were everywhere. Also were older males – already drinking and smoking weed. The fruit of wasted lives on drugs was evident in the community. Poverty, kids without supervision, trash everywhere (compared to other areas) and so on.

Our team went into one busy street and set-up. The guys did skateboard tricks and drew a crowd. Then I began to share my story. Over the past few days praying about this early evening event, I felt the Lord wanted me to speak into on the subject of Peace in this area. One of the names of Jesus is the Prince of Peace. In John 14 Jesus tells us that “peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” This area can only be described as an area that lacks peace and where fear has reigned. So, I shared my story and the storms in life I had faced. I shared my journey to find peace – through women, drugs, crime, and so on. I told them how many of the my friends (even close friends) are now dead (murdered) due to drugs or spent time in prison.

As I was sharing how Jesus made peace between God and Man and between men, one man was walking in our direction – listening intently. As he strolled down the sidewalk, in tattered clothes, thin from drug use, and looking as if he had not bathed in days – he stopped. He and l locked eyes and I knew the Lord was speaking to Him. When I asked who wants peace – he raised his hand (along with many others). He then prayed to the Prince of Peace asking forgiveness and inviting Christ into his life.

After our street event was over, he called me over to him. We sat on the sidewalk and spoke. He told me his name is Jason. He then shared that God had just now given him peace – he felt peaceful inside. Jason then told me a little of his story – he said “your words spoke to me, I am a drug user and dealer. I am also a murderer. Would you please pray with me.” So Jason and I spent time together, speaking of the Lord and praying. I then let the pastor know about him. He knows Jason and will begin to follow him up.

Amazing! If Jason is all that God brought me to Jamaica for – he was worth it. A new life, a redeemed life, a life that now can have meaning and purpose and Peace!

Jamaica, Day 3

We spoke at two schools today to a total of 550 students. One was an elementary and one a high school. Again, half the younger kids responded and about a third of the high schoolers responded. Amazing! It’s really fun to have these school outreaches with the Extreme Sports Athletes.

The two outreaches to the prisons were canceled due to unrest in the prisons. They are not letting anyone in currently – kind of lock down mode. I am not sure what it is related to but one suspicion has to do with political/gang rivals. Political parties have helped support the gang leaders years ago in order to get neighborhoods to vote (by force). This in time helped the Drug Dons become powerful – leading to a downward spiral. Apparently, a couple months ago, a significant drug/gang “Don” was extradited to the US. It took a year for the extradition to take effect. Some 200 police went in to an area, not far from where I will preach Thursday, and open warfare took place. The gang tried to keep the “Don” from being arrested and started to open fire. Caught in the cross-fire were innocents – about 70 “civilians” were killed. There is a big open hearing right now where the government is looking into the political party involved and their tie with the “Don.” Very Sad! It is significant news here as the investigation/hearings are taking place.

I speak in a school in the morning and then we have the mini-festival in “Trench Town” tomorrow. Pray the Lord brings many to hear the Good News and many will turn to him in repentence, belief, and faith.

School Counselor moved by Testimony:

Today we went to two schools in an area of Kingston known as “Trench Town.” This area is the heart of the drug, gang, and “murder capital of the world” here in Jamaica. As we drove into the area our host Millicent (national director of CEF)shared that even the drivers for hire tend not to know their way around this part of Kingston due to a fearfulness of the place. Millicent also shared that less than half the kids in this area are in school any given day. They are often neglected and not parented.

Yet, God is moving powerfully to redeem this part of the city. Many NGO’s are now working there and churches have begun church plants. As we arrived at one of the schools, the children were eager to see the pro extreme skateboard guys perform. With ooh’s and ahh’s they watched them skate and do stunts. They were engaged! They then heard, Judd, share a little bit of the Gospel.

When Judd was finished, I was able to share my testimony with these children. Of life lived without God. Of drugs, fighting, and death of friends due to crime. I shared how the Lord can heal their hurts and be family to them. I shared how God took my life and changed it and gave it meaning and purpose. When I finished – half of the kids responded to the Gospel. Wow!

At the end, as we headed back to the van and the kids returned to class, Millicent told me about the school counselor. She said she was very moved by what I shared. She told Millicent that it gave her hope that God does and can change lives. The counselor said she was touched by the Gospel and it’s power – that there is hope!

My team spoke to about 360 kids today and half responded to the Good News of Jesus Christ. I am always amazed at how God brings the children to Himself. The other team has had similar results. Thanks for praying. Keep praying! Tomorrow we will be in four more schools. I will speak in an elementary school and a high school.

Fun in the Son Festival

Sunday I arrived in Kingston, Jamaica for the Fun in the Son Festival with Andrew Palau. The Palau team invited me to join them here when our festival in Liberia, scheduled for March, was canceled. I will speak in schools, possibly a prison, and also have an evening of street evangelism in one of the main gang areas of Kingston. Kingston is known as the murder capital of the world. High unemployment, Columbian drug cartel drugs and money laundering, corruption and poverty have impacted this nation over the past twenty years. Many of the kids see a life of crime – drugs and gangs as a way out. Think of urban areas like L.A. during the 80’s and early 90’s with the negative influence of drugs and gangs.

We will creatively share the gospel in many schools over the course of the week. Part of the creative sharing will be with professional BMX and Skateboard athletes. They will share their testimonies and do stunts/tricks prior to my sharing the Gospel. A national CEF director has opened the doors to the schools and will work with the kids that respond to the Gospel.

Please pray that the Lord draws many hearts to Himself. Pray that God would anoint our words in a powerful way and that the kids see there is a different life they can lead – one of hope and not despair. Pray that the fragrance of Jesus Christ would so powerfully draw the kids away from gang life so they could live transformed lives.

Testimony from Cape Town 2010

Please click on this link for a powerful and moving testimony from a young girl from South Korea/China.
This girl’s testimony was part of a moving night (during Cape Town 2010) focused on the persecuted church around the world. She gave an impassioned plea for missionaries to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to people in North Korea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KEFbo2tJ_8