Sri Lanka and the Philipines
In February/March 2023, we went on a mission to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and then journeyed on to Manila in the Philippines. It was our fourth trip to Sri Lanka, where we had first gone in August 2021 as the world was reopening after Covid. This first trip since Covid the travel arrangements were a bit challenging because we had to show negative rapid antigen tests to be able to travel. Having declined the opportunity to receive the experimental medical treatment. Sri Lanka at this time was experiencing unprecedented challenges, with seven-day waits for gas for vehicles and daily power cuts. The people were suffering and were just emerging from the Covid restrictions. The day after we arrived, there was a protest that resulted in the overthrow of the government. We were in the flow of a Holy Spirit lead time!
We were part of a camp organized by Brookside Community Church, pastored by Dr. Lalith Mendis, at their camp facility near Negombo, just outside of Colombo. The church had taken a step of faith to put on the camp, and we witnessed a tremendous move of the Holy Spirit as many young people were baptized in the Holy Spirit for the first time. We saw many young people recieve the Lord and close to a hundred young people speaking in tongues for the first time as the Holy Spirit was poured out into their lives.
After the camp, I reconnected with the Pastors of Overcomers Church, Pastor Dinesh Michel and Julian Fransisco who I had met almost a decade earlier at a missions conference on the island of Penang, Malaysia. On the last night of this trip, I was invited to meet with the Mayor of Colombo with these en of God and we were able to deliver a prophetic word to her that was given at the camp earlier in the week. It was a word that God was going to restore blessing back to Sri Lanka within the year and was a word that was received as the nation was in a very turbulent and difficult time for many. It was a fruitful trip that released a fresh move of God in the hearts of those we connected with.
In March 2023, we ventured on to the Philippines, where we ministered in Manila and traveled down to Odiongan on the island of Romblon. There, we reconnected with a community that had been impacted by Pastor Laurie Hennessy’s ministry 30 years earlier. We were blessed to meet several individuals who had attended those meetings and recounted some remarkable stories from the crusade that took place in the town square three decades ago. They shared how, in the middle of the sermon, Pastor Laurie pointed to a man at the back of the crowd and said, "Sir, put your hand on your eyes." The man did not move at the time because he was blind, but the people beside him reached out, got his attention, and he was prayed for. He was instantly healed of his blindness.
We ministered in the local Foursquare Bible school and the local Assemblies of God churches, where we witnessed a tremendous move of the Holy Spirit. We were blessed to be able to preach and teach on the baptism of the Holy Spirit and to see an impartation of faith and power deposited into the local community.
We returned to the Phillipines with Pastor Laurie Hennessey in June 2023, we flew down to the Island of Mindanao and worked with Pastor Warren Aragona who started the Mindanao initiative (MI) a ministry that is reaching out to Muslims in many of the neighbouring towns and villages. We had a powerful time ministering at a conference to strengthen the leaders of the (MI) teams. There was a powerful time of impartation and prophecy. We then ventured on to Davao, Tagum, Nabunturan and ministered on the Island of Samal and finished up in Kidapawan. Over the few weeks of Ministry we saw many young people saved and hundreds filled with the Holy Spirit. God had connected us with a move of God in Mindanao and it was a blessing to serve the Church there.