I have been told that this was by far the largest event ever to take place on this island. Whether this is true of not, I do not know. But I can say that the Lord is alive in Rote!
The Hope Festival was held in rote Island over three days, April 27-29. The crowd grew to more than 7,000 people by the third and final night. They arrived from all over the island. Originally, we had organized 30 trucks to bring the people to the evening meetings. These were our buses. But by the end of the week, we were using more than 70 trucks! Each one of them came packed full with people who were hungry for the word of God.
Radio
Rote has only one radio station on the island and they gladly volunteered their services. “Swara Malole Radio” was on site to broadcast the entire event, and God used this to amplify our every effort. People from all over the island listened in each night as we lifted up the name of Jesus. There were many people who could not fit onto the trucks and were forced to stay at home. They would have missed the meeting, salvation or their physical healing altogether had it not been for the radio broadcast.
The Gospel… The Power of God for Salvation
The Gospel thundered through the crowd and over the airwaves
for three nights. There were more than 4,000 present the first night. This number sequentially grew to 6,000 and then to more than 7,000 on the final evening.More than 800 people came forward in the meetings to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. It is estimated that the number of salvation decisions through radio is likely to bring the number of decisions to more than 3,000. One young man came up to me with tears in his eyes, telling me that the Lord had done a miracle in his life. When I asked what Jesus had done, he looked me in the eye and said “I feel so clean inside. Jesus has saved me.” My tears joined in concert with his as we celebrated what Jesus had done in His life. This is truly the greatest of miracles. The Gospel thundered through the crowd and over the airwaves for three nights. There were more than 4,000 present the first night. This number sequentially grew to 6,000 and then to more than 7,000 on the final evening.
More than 800 people came forward in the meetings to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. It is estimated that the number of salvation decisions through radio is likely to bring the number of decisions to more than 3,000.
One young man came up to me with tears in his eyes, telling me that the Lord had done a miracle in his life. When I asked what Jesus had done, he looked me in the eye and said “I feel so clean inside. Jesus has saved me.” My tears joined in concert with his as we celebrated what Jesus had done in His life. This is truly the greatest of miracles.
Healings
Many people stepped forward to testify about how Jesus had healed them 
during the meeting. One man who had very severe pain in his right arm was surprised when the pain vanished as we prayed for shoulder pain.
A young man could once again hear through his left ear. He stood on that platform, seemingly stunned to hear the cheers of the crowd in stereo (with both ears)!
People began to send “text” messages to the radio station from their cell phones to tell what Jesus had done in their life and in their bodies. People told how Jesus had opened their blind eyes. Others reported that their hearing had been restored. Still others also told of stomach and chest pain disappearing as though it had never existed.
Finally, one man sent message to the radio station to say that he received his healing from Jesus through the radio broadcast. He had not been able to walk for three years, but that has all changed. He is now able to stand and to go wherever he wishes!
them during the meeting. One man who had very severe pain in his right arm was surprised when the pain vanished as we prayed for shoulder pain.
A young man could once again hear through his left ear. He stood on
Many people stepped forward to testify about how Jesus had healed them during the meeting. One man who had very severe pain in his right arm was surprised when the pain vanished as we prayed for shoulder pain.
A young man could once again hear through his left ear. He stood on that platform, seemingly stunned to hear the cheers of the crowd in stereo (with both ears)!
People began to send “text” messages to the radio station from their cell phones to tell what Jesus had done in their life and in their bodies. People told how Jesus had opened their blind eyes. Others reported that their hearing had been restored. Still others also told of stomach and chest pain disappearing as though it had never existed.
Finally, one man sent message to the radio station to say that he received his healing from Jesus through the radio broadcast. He had not been able to walk for three years, but that has all changed. He is now able to stand and to go wherever he wishes!
that platform, seemingly stunned to hear the cheers of the crowd in stereo (with both ears)!
People began to send “text” messages to the radio station from their cell phones to tell what Jesus had done in their life and in their bodies. People told how Jesus had opened their blind eyes. Others reported that their hearing had been restored. Still others also told of stomach and chest pain disappearing as though it had never existed.
Finally, one man sent message to the radio station to say that he received his healing from Jesus through the radio broadcast. He had not been able to walk for three years, but that has all changed. He is now able to stand and to go wherever he wishes!
Equipping Leaders
Two days were spent pouring into more than 250 local church leaders from 
all denominations represented on the island. Many of the leaders came from other small islands to participate. The Nations Hope paid for their lunches and their transportation to the conference. They were required to pay for their return trip which cost 35,000 Rupiah (about $4.00 in US currency). This is equal to one week’s wages. Their attendance was an expensive sacrifice.
Pastor Paulus Wiratno of DiscipleMaker Ministries and I shared the load of preaching the conference. Pastor Wiratno focused on marriage and family, while I maintained focus on soul-winning and the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Voices were raised to heaven in the final meeting as the Holy Spirit filled them with tongues of fire and tears of joy. The Lord anointed His servants for service! Almost without exception, their flammable hearts received the best from the Lord; the empowering gift of the Holy Spirit.represented on the island. Many of the leaders came from other small islands to participate. The Nations Hope paid for their lunches and their transportation to the conference. They were required to pay for their return trip which cost 35,000 Rupiah (about $4.00 in US currency). This is equal to one week’s wages. Their attendance was an expensive sacrifice.
Pastor Paulus Wiratno of DiscipleMaker Ministries and I shared the load of preaching the conference. Pastor Wiratno focused on marriage and family, while I maintained focus on soul-winning and the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Voices were raised to heaven in the final meeting as the Holy Spirit filled them with tongues of fire and tears of joy. The Lord anointed His servants for service! Almost without exception, their flammable hearts received the best from the Lord; the empowering gift of the Holy Spirit.