Yorba Linda Vineyard

We have just received an email from a friend that gave us an amazing testimony. We had given him some of John Wimbers materials, teachings, etc. to translate for his mission to Romania. Here is what he has told us!

"I am writing this with tears in my eyes at what God is doing here. This morning Mihail and I went to an area where there are 4 Gypsy churches. There are over 1,000 people in those churches and over 1,800 children! Of those children 350 have enrolled in a “Sunday School – Bible school” and we met about 100 of them. To see the love on their faces was a privilege in and of itself. To see and hear them praising God was another. Then I had to speak to them and they are shouting to me of God’s love! So I did the tiniest of talks which was full of action and loud shouting just of God’s love – it is amazing what you can do with John 3v16 – how much does He love us???

There was a young lad at the front that I could sense God wanted to use mightily but did not know how to pray for him. As the children were dismissed another young lad came and wished Mihail and me Pace – Peace and shook each of us by the hand (very british) and I prayed a blessing upon him as I saw the power of God come on him as he shook my hand. The other boy saw me praying and was up like a shot and shook Mihail and then came to me and I asked did he want me to pray for him – he said yes. His name is Nathaniel – the moment I started to pray the spirit of God was all over him – a child who just received and received and who already gives out and not is even more equipped. Afterwards, Joe the “senior pastor” told me he was special and they had already seen God use him.

Joe is not a Gypsy but his whole family is accepted because of the “father pastor” who oozes the love of God one look at his eyes and you feel the warmth and generosity of the love of God flowing towards you irrespective of who you are. They now have Gypsy Sunday school teachers but the majority of them are quick learners but also they seem to forget just as quickly so every 6 months they have to have a refresher course. There are still many problems with the girls being given in marriage as young as eleven but slowly it is changing. The girls who are married still come and ask can they still belong to the Sunday school and of course the answer is yes. There are four or five pastors and about 20 teachers both young men and women. But wow.

Mihail and they travelled back for me to preach to the Gypsy church – Zion – at Radio SOS. I thought I should preach from Ps 103 v1-6, we arrived at the church late (true Romanian time!) unaware that while we were on the road they were looking at those same verses and someone had sent a letter on the same subject. Before I preached I asked for Mihail and Gigi to pray for me and though I did not understand a word, I became overwhelmed by the power of God. After preaching I invited those who wanted to be touched by God to come forward about 40 responded of all ages. I then saw the spirit of God come on many of them as I prayed. Tears for some, joy on others, others a gentleness of peace. I asked those who had come especially to be prayed for to stay – this left about 15. With the help of the Pastor, his wife and two others we prayed for each person and there was an even greater release of God’s power. Everyone appreciated the prayer. I then had a word for a member of the worship group.

After the service a man asked us to pray for him because he had a pain in his back. So we did and the spirit came upon him, but he felt nothing. Then he started to speak in tongues and after a while I asked him to stop and to receive from God, with that he started to shake and tremble in particular where his back pain was. He said it was a lot better but there was still some pain, so he agreed to us praying some more. As I had my hand on the spot the spirit of God came in even greater power and he started to arch his back, unaware of what was going on, this went on for a few seconds and then we stopped and the pain was gone. He could touch his toes he was healed!

Talking to the Pastor, he said that on Sunday as I shared the picture of the Glory of God hovering in the building and rain drops falling on people he sensed God pouring a cup of water over him. Tonight as he prayed for one of the children during the ministry he became overcome with God’s compassion. His wife said that she felt something had started in the bottom of her stomach and was filling her up. She had a sweet taste in her mouth and every time she tries to lick it there is still more. Yep God has finished – no wonder I am in tears!

A woman asked for prayer for peace in the home and healing for her daughter, a baby who is blind in one eye. The baby was not present so we prayed for her and as we did two things happened, the power of God settled on her and on the pastor’s wife as she prayed! Peace settled beautifully on the woman, even as I prayed in English before Mihail translated which is what has been so fantastic – The Holy Spirit moves irrespective of if we know how the people are praying – how many times do I need reminding! A Man asked for similar prayer so we prayed for him but I was just not sure about him, I will just leave him with God."