AN INCONTROVERTIBLE SUCCESS STORY... DESPITE FIERCE OPPOSITIONS AND PERSECUTIONS!!!

Like others before it, the organization for the Night of Bliss Johannesburg was detailed and had put into very careful consideration the crowds expected. The ministry is no stranger to mammoth crowds. Crowds are, in fact, a distinct characteristic of Pastor Chris meetings. No expense is spared to publicize, using all available means and media. And because the people are expected to come, rigorous preparations are made to receive them. For this reason, the ministry requested for the use of the Ellis park stadium grounds—the only large space adjacent to the Johannesburg stadium to accommodate the spill-over crowd. There were also several viewing centres across the country and indeed around the world. This gave millions of people the opportunity to witness the programme live via satellite television (LCN) and on the internet.

Two Stadia For One Meeting!
Bookings were made for the two stadia – the Johannesburg stadium and the Ellis Park Stadium – and other overflows from December 2007. Several weeks to the program, negotiations were concluded with the relevant officials and plans made for ample spaces, visuals, sound, lighting and seating arrangements. Three weeks to the set date, however, the stadium management did an about-face, refusing to allow the use of the Ellis park stadium and other overflow spaces. They also threatened to reduce the number of people to be allowed into the stadium. All efforts to convince them these spaces they had earlier approved were required were abortive. It was later gathered that this was a result of efforts made by a group of people (including some churches) determined to stop the program to hold.

Their endeavours however ended in a complete fiasco as proven by the phenomenal and incontrovertible success of the Night of Bliss. The plan of the enemy to throw a spanner in the good organizational work done by the ministry was foiled as the success of the event was epochal. On D-day, when the stadium officials were overwhelmed with crowds still thronging the Johannesburg stadium long after it had been filled to the rafters, they were forced to throw open the other spill-over facilities.

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PACKED-OUT VENUES ARE NOT A NEW THING

To have venues packed out with people hungry for God’s Word and His touch is not a new phenomenon. The scriptures record that Jesus had such meetings. In fact, He had one where four men desperate to have their paralyzed friend ministered to, climbed to the roof of the meeting place, tore off part of the ceiling and lowered their sick friend in the midst right in front of Jesus to be prayed for (Mark 2:1-5). An eyewitness account of a demonstration of such undeniable faith at the NOB was given of a dear mother, who, realizing she may not be able to make it into the stadium grounds, hoisted her sick child over the gate into the stadium for the child to receive a healing touch.

Even more striking, however, is the fact that miracles were not restricted within the Mainbowl, they happened everywhere the people gathered including the overflow spaces outside the stadium, the Athlon College Grounds, and in viewing centers around the world.
Indeed, for Pastor Chris and his ministry, the undeniable success of the Night of Bliss in Johannesburg spelt these words in gold: “they that are with us are more than they that are against us!” The resultant triumph of the Night of Bliss and the cause for which the BLW ministry stands was reminiscent of the victory won when the hosts of heaven fought on Deborah and Israel’s side against Sisera’s host. History repeated itself, and good once again prevailed!

It was clear that the negative responses and oppositions were not the effects of high-handed bureaucracy but were orchestrated by the forces of darkness that knew the programme spelt doom for them; it spelt the end of their evil reign over the lives and destinies of many. The Kingdom of God had scored a major victory in South Africa!

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A RESPONSE TO THE CYNICS

Friday 28th of March 2008 will go down in history as the night Johannesburg, and indeed South Africa, stood still for Christ. The programme was such a huge success that it was the topic of screaming newspaper headlines for days and weeks afterwards. Even those who were opposed to it couldn’t resist writing reports, most of them malicious fabrications, as can be expected from people with a negative disposition to things beyond their understanding. That a gospel crusade, organized by one ministry could attract such mammoth crowds of worshippers, such as never been witnessed in Southern Africa beat hollow the imagination of every sceptic.
Reports peddled by some tabloids reeked of sensationalism. It’s unfortunate that they succumbed to the twisted allure of this irresponsible style of journalism to their own hurt. In their attempt to cast aspersions on Pastor Chris and his ministry, they only succeeded in publicly displaying their lack of integrity.

Their scathing criticisms came as no surprise to Pastor Chris. Through the years, he has weathered the storm of many such criticisms and has always come out vindicated and victorious. The Lord Jesus was Himself the target of the Jewish religious leaders of His day who constantly disputed His authenticity as the Son of God. Jesus declared in John 8:12-19, “…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. But the Pharisees retorted “...Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus already warned that if they didn’t believe Him then and persecuted Him, we should expect the same (John 15:18-21).

Obviously, the same group of people who tried and failed to stop the Night of Bliss went into league with these newspapers and conjured up stories fraught with laughable allegations against Pastor Chris and his ministry.

One of the tabloids in a desperate bid to gain public attention and shore up its sales, carried a fallacious story on its front-page: “Fake Healer or Faith Healer” to the effect that Pastor Chris offered someone money to lie about his powers and recruit for his church.
The questions any reasonable reader should ask are: Who is this individual? If indeed he exists, why wouldn’t he and the tabloids reveal his identity? What proof does he have that he was approached by an authentic official of the healing school and asked to act his healing for a R10,000 reward, as he claimed?

If, as alleged by this anonymous (faceless) critic, Pastor Chris doles out such amounts to healthy people to feign sickness, can he also bribe them to be visibly lame (with withered legs) and to be perceptibly blind (with sunken eyeballs)?

Again, if, as alleged, Pastor Chris bribes each and every would-be beneficiary of his healing powers with as much as R10,000, then he must require tons of dollars or rand at every healing crusade, judging by the sizable crop of healings that take place on each of such occasions! Would that make any economic sense to any person or corporate entity? The fact remains that these allegations are absolute falsehoods concocted by the tabloids’ reporters themselves.

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WE NEED A PROOF OF MIRACLES?

The tabloids and some uninformed respondents ignorantly requested proof of the genuineness of miracles received in the healing ministry of Pastor Chris. What they have not realized is that miracles are not in the realm of science and therefore cannot and should not be subjected to tests for proof of authenticity.

When it comes to divine healing, people must understand they’re dealing with God and not man. Many who question miracles reason as though God is a man. For instance, they question how someone who was born blind and is miraculously healed can immediately identify colours. It’s because they don’t know who God is? If God can raise the dead, open blind eyes and unstop deaf ears, can it be such a hard thing for Him to give someone the supernatural knowledge of something he never knew?

There are so many instances of miracles in the Bible that we believe and affirm. Maybe the critics, many of them Christians, should ask God for proof He created the entire universe in 6 days, or that Jesus was indeed born of a virgin. Maybe we should ask them for proof that there is a Holy Spirit. If they say the Bible is their proof, what is the proof that the Bible is from God and is right?

The list goes on endlessly. This is why miracles cannot be subjected to empirical methods of testing to prove their authenticity; they’re beyond the realm of reasoning. They do not belong in the mental realm and are therefore not subject to debate.
A miracle is in itself enough proof– proof of the presence and power of God. Or what more proof should one who was blind and now sees present that he is the recipient of a miracle? Or a cripple who now runs and jumps? Or a deaf-mute who now speaks and hears perfectly? Or one with a large tumour that suddenly disappears? Or a raving lunatic instantly restored to his right mind? The truth remains that miracles have outlived their critics since the days of Christ will outlive anyone trying to fight against them today.

About the Healing School of Christ Embassy
Some have complained about the restrictions placed on people coming into Pastor Chris’ healing meetings with cameras and other recording equipment. The ministry has no apologies for adopting this modus operandi. It is only right and proper to have such restrictions, considering the spiritually sensitive nature of these meetings and also, of course, the need to respect the privacy of the individuals who attend them. There’s no telling how and where images captured at such meetings can be used by negatively-motivated groups and individuals.

There are, however, no mysteries about Pastor Chris’ healing school or the miracles that take place there. The school painstakingly re-iterates to all-would be students that admission is completely free. There are clearly spelt out guidelines and procedures for enrolment and attendance that every would-be student is fully aware of and adheres to before being admitted to the school. Key amongst these is the presentation of a medical certificate, duly issued by a qualified medical practitioner, stating the nature and status of the ill-health of the applicant. Such certificates are readily available to any incredulous researcher.

None of these meetings is shrouded in mystery, hidden or done in a corner. Pastor Chris prays for people openly, they are healed and their miracles are recorded. Thousands from all across the globe have been beneficiaries of the healing school. The miracles are very well-publicized via the widely-circulated healing school magazine, the healing school website as well as the satellite station, LoveWorld Christian Network. The inability, therefore, of these newspapers to find one of these to question about their miracle is only indicative of their ineptitude or mischievous intent.

All in all, the Night of Bliss in Johannesburg was an outstanding display of the grace, power and glory of God. Lives were touched and destinies irrevocably altered for good. The ministry’s correspondence center has been inundated with calls and mails of amazing testimonies and positive reviews from attendees of the programme. People are being added to the Christ Embassy churches all over Southern Africa daily and the Kingdom of God continues on its advance...forcefully.

Watch out for the next Night of Bliss with Pastor Chris, holding at the Excel Centre London, on the 27th of June 2008 from 7pm till dawn. It’s going to be another destiny shaping event; a night of miracles, blessings, transformation and divine visitation! The anointing of God’s Spirit to move you from your present level of success to a higher one will be released upon your life. Don’t miss it!

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