CELEBRATION OF 40 YEARS OF REVIVAL
AT KWASIZABANTU MISSION

2 - 4 March 2007

(for more photos, go here)

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Sunday, 4 March, 10:00 - Rev J Dube and Rev E Khwela (two of the co-workers who were in the work from before 1966) testified of how the Lord has worked during the revival and in their personal lives. Some of the schoolboys and -girls from DSS, whose lives were changed during God's recent working in the school, also testified of the ongoing revival and what God did in their lives. After them some of the AIDS patients (who were healed) from Emseni Care Center gave their testimonies of how Jesus healed them after they confessed their sins and made their lives right with God.

Even in this time of ours Jesus is still the same. He still works in the same miraculous ways, confirming His Word by the signs that follow those who believe in Him, as we read in Mark 16:17, 18, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Click here for the baptismal service on 4 Feb 2007 regarding this verse)

Saturday, 3 March, 19:00 - During the evening session two videos were shown of the work in Europe (from 1975) and the work in South Africa.

Saturday, 3 March, 10:00 - The morning session was a 5-hour marathon-session which lasted till 15:00! Although it was so long, it was refreshing to hear various testimonies of how the revival started in 1966 and how it spread across world. We also had the priviledge that a number of our local and national dignitaries could share in our joy and celebrations. The dignitaries included

• Dr Z Mkhize - KwaZulu Natal MEC of Finance and Economic Development
• Mr W Mdabe - Ilembe District Mayor
• Dr M Buthelezi
• Dr L Mtshali
• Mr JB Sibisi - Provincial Chairperson of the CPS
• Bishop Sibiya - Evangelical Lutheran Church of Southern Africa

Mrs Hilda Dube related how that she met the Lord in the beginning of the revival. She used to work in the shop of Rev F Stegen, the brother of Rev E Stegen, in 1962. At that time Rev E Stegen pitched a tent in that area and preached the Gospel to them. She and a few others believed on the Lord Jesus and a small congregation started there.

When she believed she shared with Rev Stegen that she had a husband who was a drunkard and would beat her up regularly. He advised her to make her peace with God, confess her sins, and be submissive to her husband. She did that and without preaching to her husband, by her godly living, won her husband and he too repented and gave his life to the Lord Jesus.

One day Rev E Stegen arrived for the service but announced that there would be no service. He said that he was greatly troubled for he read in the Bible what the first church was like, but did not experience the same in his work and ministry. People would get converted in great numbers but soon fall away again. Our hearts were stirred as he explained to us what the first church was like. We went onto our knees and cried to God for days to work in our midst as He worked in the first church.

God was gracious to us and heard our prayer. We experienced Him one day coming down in His might and power in our midst. It's difficult to describe what it was like.

God also worked miraculously in my family. I cried and wept tears before God for my six children, for I realised they were on their way to hell. I asked God that at least one of my children would also repent and follow me into your work. I didn't choose which one it should be. But my son, Jabulani answered that he would also give His life to Jesus and repent. After that him his sister also repented and eventually all six of my children gave their lives to God. God worked great miracles in my family.

The Holy Spirit taught us to be one of heart, one of spirit and love each other. And not only us who were together there, but that we must be of one heart as God's people.

Friday, 2 March, 19:00 - Rev E Stegen took the opening service of thanks to God and related a few things of God's working from the beginning of the revival.

He related how, when he was only 15 years old, he felt a strong drawing towards Maphumulo. Later when God poured out His Spirit in revival it became clear how God had already chosen to send revival years before. In fact, even before the foundations of the world was laid, God had chosen to send revival at Maphumulo amongst the Zulus. God has His plan and blueprint for you too, and woe if you're not found to be in His will for your life.

Before the revival we were invited by the magistrate at Maphumulo to come and preach in his area. But I felt that it wasn't enough that the magistrate alone invite us. We must be sent by God. The following morning I read Rom 1:14-15, "14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also." At that Word I felt that God also sent us to Maphumulo to preach the Gospel, and the fruit showed afterwards.

Rev E Stegen also related how the revival started. After having preached for 12 years, he became despondent, for hundreds - even thousands - of people got converted, but their conversion would only last for a while. Before long they would be back in the very sins they repented from - slander, back-biting, sexual immorality, drunkenness, anger, jealousy, etc. Converted girls would plaster their walls with half-naked pop star men and likewise the boys with half-naked girls. While in this state they would imagine themselves on their way to heaven, whereas they would be believing a lie. They were on their way to hell. This was not how it was with the early church in Acts.

So we cried to God to once again pour out His Spirit as He worked in the early church. Then God started showing me that He cannot work when there is sin in our lives. He cannot work when there is sin in the lives of His children. Ananias and Sapphira died when they lied to the Holy Spirit. The two sons of Aaron died when they brought strange fire before the Lord. He revealed to us that "whoever names the name of Christ, let him depart from iniquity." After He dealt with us, He poured out His Spirit.