SWORD OF THE SPIRIT MINISTRIES

Faith Evangelistic Ministry 2001 Conference

By Jane Mwangi

SSM Reporter (25^th September 2001)

Thousands of people from all walks of life converged at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre Plenary Hall to listen to mighty men and women of God during this year's Faith Evangelistic Ministry annual conference. The conference, which was held between 13th - 19th August, attracted international preachers such as Bishop Blake of the USA, Bishop Mark Kariuki, Revs. Brown, Anderson, among others. Renowned Gospel singers Andrea and Sandra Crouch also ministered in praise and worship.

The meetings were characterised by insightful teachings that left those in attendance well grounded in the Word of God. Ministering in one of the sessions, the founder of Faith Evangelistic Ministry, Evangelist Theresia Wairimu (pictured above) called upon everyone and everything that has breath to praise the Lord (Ps 150:6) saying that 'dead people cannot praise the Lord'.

The Word explosion and soul refreshing conference was graced by the Ambassador of Israel to Kenya who asked Kenyan Christians to pray for the nation of Israel.

One of the invited speakers, Reverend Brown, encouraged the attendants to hope again. Preaching from Psalms 42, he said that hope is important in the lives of believers. He said that hope and faith are inextricably tied. The devil, he said, does not want us to hope for anything since his mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. For hope to remain, Rev. Brown went on, there are three factors that should be involved. 1. Hope is a goal-setter: it gives one the basis or foundation of what they are hoping for. 2. Hope gives direction. According to Mark (11: 24) whatever we set our eyes on, 'whatever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.' Therefore, never give up hope. 3. Hope must remain in the present. Hebrews 11:1 talks of 'now faith'. In conclusion, Rev. Brown encouraged brethren to constantly wait on God for their strength to be renewed. For hope to work, he warned, brethren must first ensure that their faith is working since hope does not exist in the absence of faith.

Another invited guest, Reverend Anderson, picking from where Rev. Brown stopped asked the all-crucial question: is your faith working? To assist believers answer this question, he talked of faith received from God, weak faith, and dead faith. Dead faith is compared to a body without spirit (James 2:26). Faith without work is dead. Weak faith on the other hand does not finish the race. A person with a weak faith is overcome by circumstances. When Peter removed his eyes from Jesus as he walked on the waters, he started to sink. Jesus rebuked him for his little (weak) faith (Matt 14:31). Finally, he said, the faith that overcomes is the faith of the Centurion who believed even without seeing. He believed in the word of Jesus that his servant has been healed. This is the kind faith that is received from God. It is the only faith that works.

Bishop Blake on his part encouraged brethren that God can use anyone. If God uses others, why not us? He posed. Speaking from Judges 6: 11-16, he gave the example of Gideon who considered himself so unworthy such that he considered himself the least of the least (Judges 6:15). Many have been tricked by the devil into believing that they are not chosen. God is the one who chooses, not man, Blake said. God is not limited by anything or anyone but He chooses those He wants to use irrespective of visible limitations.

The hilarious Bishop Mark Kariuki of Deliverance Churches in Kenya said that God uses the weakest to bring about His will in the world. He said that Christians are not called to be spectators but participants in the Kingdom of God. Every Christian has an assignment in the Kingdom of God, which they must accomplish.

Another Kenyan preacher, Pastor Kamau of Faith Evangelistic Ministry, encouraged the brethren that the time for taking possession of their miracle was at hand. He charged them to keep on moving towards their miracle and not to stop even when they encounter obstacles on their way. He gave the example of the Israelites on their exodus from Egypt. They faced all manner of obstacles on their way but they kept moving on. When they were thirsty, God gave them water. When they were hungry, God provided them with food. When they were attacked, God gave them victory. Through all these and more, they kept on moving on until they came to their miracle - the Promised Land.

Other ministers of the Word of God packed the conference with powerful messages. If you would like to receive these messages in audiocassettes, contact our sales department at sales@swordofthespiritministries.net. Faith Evangelistic Ministry annual conference is held in August every year. FEM, under the stewardship of Evangelist Theresia Wairimu, also holds monthly crusades at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, every second Sunday of the month.