Cote d'Ivoire Crusade


Warmest greetings from Cote d'Ivoire in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I hope you are all enjoying the blessings of the Lord at Yoido full Gospel Church in Korea. By God's grace, everything is fine here in Cote d'Ivoire. We are
still enjoying all the blessings God gave to our nation and His Church through Dr. Cho's crusade. Once again, thank you very much for your work for the Lord.

I would like to take this opportunity to send you a testimony about our REFICE 2001 crusade with Dr. Cho in Cote d'Ivoire. In September 1999 when I was praying for the Church of God in our nation and for the nation itself, God asked me to invite Dr. Cho to our nation for a great crusade and for a seminar for the spiritual leaders in West Africa, because God wanted to spiritually and politically heal our nation. Actually, I didn't want to do it because my mission is an interdenominational and non profit organization, so we didn't have the means to sponsor that kind of program. So I asked God to use another spiritual leader in Cote d'Ivoire, but He wanted me to do it. I couldn't do anything but OBEY HIS VOICE.

In March 2000, I sent an invitation letter to Dr. Cho. After prayer, God confirmed to Dr. Cho that he should come to Cote d'Ivoire. He sent Rev. John CN Park, DCEM to check with me about how to organize a crusade. After Rev. Park's visit to Cote d'Ivoire, a few weeks later he called me, confirming that Dr. Cho would be coming in August 2001. Actually, I was very happy to hear him say that, but I was also sad at the same time because I did not have the necessary money to organize such a big event. I told God, "Lord, You are involving me in a historical event for my nation and I said I would OBEY You. Now please give me the necessary money and people to successfully serve you." Since I was working for the Church of God in my nation and for the nation itself, I decided to solicit the help of all of the evangelical and protestant churches and denominations in the country to assist in organizing the project. God opened the doors of all the various denominations and churches so that they could give me a hand and work together in organizing the event. However, we still did not have enough money to organize the crusade. Some tried to stop the project by discouraging others, but thank the Lord He helped us to overcome that adversity. I still continued working heartily by faith because I knew that I was fulfilling a vision given by God, not building by myself.

The huge budget seemed unattainable - even three weeks before the crusade. Then God began to perform miracles through a very faithful brother who had a desire to help me. When he asked me what the crusade needs were, I mentioned three things:
1) money to help organize the crusade
2) a stadium for the crusade
3) a hotel room for Dr. Cho

Also, I needed a plane for Dr. Cho and his team to fly to Ghana where he would have another crusade. The commercial airplane schedule was not stable from Cote d'Ivoire to Ghana at that time. God spoke to the brother's heart and he gave me more than what I asked for, even more than our budget. He also paid for Dr. Cho's hotel expenses. In addition, he gave me five plane tickets for the Church Growth International Conference in Seoul, Korea. He also helped us get the stadium. The President of Cote d'Ivoire allowed Dr. Cho and his team to use the presidential plane to fly to Ghana for Dr. Cho's next crusade. God provided miracle after miracle! God initiated this crusade project and He gave the provisions in His own time. I have only been an instrument in His hands to fulfill His will. All the glory belongs to Him.

I learned one thing about this successful event in Cote d'Ivoire, "OBEDIENCE TO GOD ANY TIME." More than 65 various denominations and churches worked together to fulfill this great vision. Once again I thank God for leading me in this great experience of faith. NOBODY CAN SERVE GOD WITHOUT FAITH.

May God bless you all. I hope this testimony will help others in fulfilling the mission God gives to them.