Saints came from all over Europe to the Isle of Man in March for the School of Power Evangelism, to learn about the power of carrying the Gospel everywhere we go. It turned out to be an incredible encounter with God.
The teaching and testimonies were inspirational, yet it was the tangible presence of the Lord that earmarked this weekend as a standout. It was also so much more than just good worship and wonderful teaching – it transformed our thinking and understanding of what it means to make Jesus famous in our generation. There were beautiful moments of people being set free, built up and released to fulfill the Great Commission of every Christian.
Tommy Hanrahan (Firebrand Church, IRL) talked about the power in the Gospel message itself and that we can be confident in it.
Nadene Badenhorst (Joshua Generation Church, RSA) shared part of her testimony and how believers can count on the help and partnership of the Holy Spirit to win souls for Christ. She also led various activations on hearing God for unsaved people and sharing the Gospel with them.
Paljinder Dhesi (Arc 2.0 Church, GBR) testified about growing up as a Sikh, and how Jesus had reached out and saved him when he was about to take his own life.
Euan MacRae (Living Hope, IOM) looked at the story of Mephibosheth, and how the Gospel is a similar story of a King who shows undeserved mercy to us.
Here are some power-filled testimonies from saints after the weekend:
Testimonies
Wim & Elisabeth Gerritse
(Living Waters, Netherlands)
Wim: “It is the Holy Spirit who shows us the opportunities and we have to be sensitive to Him. During the break we ordered some coffee, and a lady noticed the key cards that were on the table and asked what they were for, and we had the opportunity to share the Gospel with her.”
Elisabeth: “After the weekend, my neighbour came around for a coffee and I remembered what Nadene had said, “Be interested and have an interesting conversation.” So I asked her with interest how she was, and she told me about something in her life and I was able to tell her how I do that with the Lord in my life. I was then able to tell her the Gospel message and she received the Lord into her life at the dinner table. So incredible.”
.
Tirrie Noongo
(Living Hope, IOM)
The Lord healed me from endometriosis. I always joked that the Lord would heal me in the 12th year, like the woman with an issue of blood. And truly, after 12 years of unbearable pain, He did it for me! I went to the School of Power Evangelism in pain with pills in my pocket, and came back healed. This personal testimony is a new evangelising tool for me to tell others about the goodness of God. I can now testify with my own story that He is a healer. Now more than ever, I want my relationship with the Holy Spirit to bear fruit. God has given me a new love to spread the Good News.
Holly MacRae
(Living Hope, IOM)
Following on from the School of Power Evangelism, I sent an invitation to our church gathering to a girl who had just moved here from Germany and who doesn’t speak much English. I met her for the first time at this gathering and she said that she could not believe the love in that room, the love she experienced, people praying for her, people dancing crazily for Jesus. And I had been asking myself why I had been learning German and felt like it was pointless, but it became clear to me when I was able to share the Gospel with her after the service. And she said, “You know what? There are just too many coincidences in my life to deny the existence of Jesus – I’m in!” So praise God, she is coming to church now and loving Jesus!
Kelly Stok
(Living Waters, Netherlands)
We were filled with the Spirit on our flight back to the Netherlands, and we were given the chance to testify to the young woman sitting next to us for the entire flight. And it was because we were full – the lesson I took away from this weekend is that it is so important that I am full of what Jesus has done for us, at every moment, so that I want nothing more than to testify. And also what Nadene said touched my heart: “The Good News is only good news when it gets there on time.”
Sina Oguntimehin
(Lighthouse, Thurrock, UK)
One of the main things I learned is that it’s not about how we feel – it’s a command and a call to go and spread the Good News about Christ. And it’s not something we’re trying to sell, not an offer at a shop, but the power is in the Good News. That it’s not about how I present it or if I feel like I carry it well or bring it across in a compelling way. It’s about trusting the Holy Spirit to do the work in them, just as He does a work in me as I share. It was encouraging to hear from the testimonies that even if you’re scared, you can step out and share and His grace is sufficient in our weakness. I have a fresh fire to see people come into God’s Kingdom! So grateful I got to be there.
Edd Graham
(Living Hope, IOM)
Something just unlocked for me this weekend, in seeing the reservoirs of joy in evangelism and seeing this not as something just to be endured, but as an adventure that God was calling us on that was full of fun, full of excitement and full of urgency – not a weighty, “Come on, you need to get on with it”, but that this is something that matters and is important, and there is joy waiting for you in it.
Julie Smyth
(Living Hope, IOM)
Testimony 1: One of the questions I had was how to evangelise to people in my workplace, which is the healthcare environment, where rules & regulations make it quite difficult. And you answered it perfectly by saying to just invite them outside of work! I hadn’t thought of that and it really was just so simple.
There is a gentleman at work who has been going through such a tough time and he needs Jesus in his life. So after the School, I invited him to spend the day with me and my Mum – we went shopping, to the beach, and he had lunch at our place where we were able to minister Jesus into his life. And at the end of the day, he said it was the best that he had felt in a long time and felt a real love in his heart. So I said to him why doesn’t he just come to church? Previously in my workplace he had always been quite closed off. And he said yes, he would love to come to church. And I thought wow, something as simple as ministering to someone outside of the workplace. Now I’m standing in belief and declaring that he will be a new salvation in Christ. The School ignited a fire and passion within me for the lost and given me back that boldness.
Testimony 2: This happened just before the School of Power Evangelism, but I want to share it to encourage us to keep praying for our unsaved loved ones and friends.
I have a good friend and I’d been planting seeds for several years, and he got sick and ended up in hospital. God stirred my heart and told me what to say, and in that moment he gave his life to the Lord. Praise God!
He ended up in the Liverpool hospital, so I continued ministering to him. He said it was like he had been woken up from a deep slumber. When the other patients asked him how he was so calm, he said God was with him and he was filled with His love. This then led the other patients to start seeking God! How cool.
One thing I took from this is that God can and will use us right where we are, no matter our circumstances, and will use what we have in our hands – we just need to be obedient to Him!
My friend was in hospital, waiting on a triple bypass, and God used him right where he was. What did he have in his hands? The love of Jesus.
Shirley Robertson
(Living Hope, IOM)
My takeaway is a determination to invite everyone I can. I no longer care about being rejected because I have a hope for everyone to be saved (because God tells us no one is too lost for His power to save) and God loves everyone, so they are worth me investing in too, and if my attempts to snatch people for Jesus only ever gets one person saved, then I thank God for that one who won’t be lost. I am brave for God. I believe what He says and I’m gonna open my mouth to invite and let God use me.
Kyle Porter
(Living Hope, IOM)
God spoke to me during the activation on the Friday night when I went up for prayer to receive the Holy Spirit because I was filled with doubt, and I fell to my knees and felt the Father’s heart and the life of sin that He had saved me from. I had always felt God’s power but never really knew His love. I wept and wept. Then, on the Saturday, I opened my hands and asked God to show me His love, and Tommy pulled me from the crowd and he hugged me, and as he held me, I felt the love of the Father right in that moment.
Selu Mdlalose
(Living Hope, IOM)
I was really encouraged and particularly challenged by the reminder that the Holy Spirit prepares not only the bearer but the receiver of the Gospel, whether one-on-one or when preaching it on a Sunday in church. We were also challenged to be intentional about praying and acting on it with friends and people we want to see come to the faith. So I will be following up with a person on my long-time list. It’s the Great Commission, not the Great Option, so let’s keep burning.
Claudia König
(Living Hope, IOM)
One of my main takeaways was that Jesus ‘commanded’ all of us to share the Gospel – that it’s not an optional extra or only something for those who feel called to evangelise. And I’ve been very encouraged by the many ways mentioned over the weekend of how God can use us to reach different people. It has led me to encourage Christian friends from less evangelical churches to also share as they feel led by the Holy Spirit. Some may feel that it is only for the Billy Grahams of this world, without realising that when they send a daily devotional to a non-believing family member or friend, they are also in some way sharing the Gospel. I’ve also told several people (including my 3 sisters) Pal’s story to make them see how important one encouraging Word from God can be in a certain situation; it can be the difference between life and death!
Corine Berger
(Living Waters, Netherlands)
After the School, my sister-in-law came to visit and asked many questions about water baptism, baptism in the Holy Spirit and how she could clean up her “walls” (clutter), and we prayed together, confessed sins and can testify to how God wants to use us to bring about change in the world we live in. Through His church!
Michelle Ateere
(Living Hope, IOM)
I’m so grateful that my friend encouraged me to go. It allowed me to see that evangelism is not just one person’s responsibility; not your elders, your deacons, the evangelist, but rather everybody’s responsibility, and it just opened my eyes to the grace & mercy of God that He has put on us. He has given us the courage to go out there and speak about His Word, to speak to colleagues, friends, family. It’s literally just taking someone out for coffee and speaking about God. Actions are one thing, but it’s also talking about the love of God and encouraging people to experience Jesus. And then, once you’ve done that, to also follow up on it, not to just leave it. If you didn’t go this time, please do go next time!
Neil & Kirsty Thompson
(Living Hope, IOM)
Neil: My biggest take-home was that the last thing Jesus asked us to do was to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them and teaching them to obey everything He said. It was such a good reminder that this should be my number one priority as a disciple of Jesus. He has asked me to do this – it is His only plan and there is no Plan B – and I owe it to Him and everyone I come into contact with to at least share the Gospel with them and let the Holy Spirit do His transformational work. What a great weekend!
Kirsty: One thing that practically impacted me was the reminder that there really is power in the gospel – it is the power unto salvation and that I don’t have to, in any way, peddle the message because it has a supernatural power of its own. And when it comes to the business of soul-winning, I’m not alone – I have the Holy Spirit in me, and He is the one anyway who prepares the receiver to hear the Word, prepares hearts, convicts, reveals Jesus. He does all the heavy lifting, I just have to open my mouth and be obedient in doing what He asks me to do by telling others the Good News.
Cheryl Alford
(Living Hope, IOM)
The Lord dropped into my heart that the Holy Spirit will be my helper and partner, and will give me the courage to win souls for him, and that He will be with the receiver of the Good News. I thought about my colleagues when Tommy said, “You are not alive unless you believe that He is alive.” That was my takeaway phrase from the weekend. I had a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit and was so encouraged to run hard for Jesus and to keep on praying and believing for the people for whom I have been praying for a long time. He is able and worthy of it all.
Dawn Kelly
(Lighthouse, Thurrock, UK)
What stood out for me were the activations. They just lifted everyone’s faith with the knowledge the Holy Spirit is backing us up. The testimonies from everyone who taught/shared were also such an encouragement. It was a refresher course that opened up the appetites of the listeners. We were left feeling so enriched and empowered to go, from the testimonies and with the Good News! God is just looking for faith to rise up and for us to speak and He will do the rest.
Euan MacRae
(Living Hope, IOM)
One highlight for me was to see friends of my children come to church for the first time, having been invited during an activation at the School of Power Evangelism. It wasn’t just that they came, it was the pure joy I saw in Holly and Conor in seeing their friends come along – I see the heart and compassion of Jesus in this! Beautiful.
Testimonies
Wim & Elisabeth Gerritse
(Living Hope, Netherlands)
Wim: “It is the Holy Spirit who shows us the opportunities and we have to be sensitive to Him. During the break we ordered some coffee, and a lady noticed the key cards that were on the table and asked what they were for, and we had the opportunity to share the Gospel with her.”
Elisabeth: “After the weekend, my neighbour came around for a coffee and I remembered what Nadene had said, “Be interested and have an interesting conversation.” So I asked her with interest how she was, and she told me about something in her life and I was able to tell her how I do that with the Lord in my life. I was then able to tell her the Gospel message and she received the Lord into her life at the dinner table. So incredible.”
.
Tirrie Noongo
(Living Hope, IOM)
The Lord healed me from endometriosis. I always joked that the Lord would heal me in the 12th year, like the woman with an issue of blood. And truly, after 12 years of unbearable pain, He did it for me! I went to the School of Power Evangelism in pain with pills in my pocket, and came back healed. This personal testimony is a new evangelising tool for me to tell others about the goodness of God. I can now testify with my own story that He is a healer. Now more than ever, I want my relationship with the Holy Spirit to bear fruit. God has given me a new love to spread the Good News.
Holly MacRae
(Living Hope, IOM)
Following on from the School of Power Evangelism, I sent an invitation to our church gathering to a girl who had just moved here from Germany and who doesn’t speak much English. I met her for the first time at this gathering and she said that she could not believe the love in that room, the love she experienced, people praying for her, people dancing crazily for Jesus. And I had been asking myself why I had been learning German and felt like it was pointless, but it became clear to me when I was able to share the Gospel with her after the service. And she said, “You know what? There are just too many coincidences in my life to deny the existence of Jesus – I’m in!” So praise God, she is coming to church now and loving Jesus!
Kelly Stok
(Living Waters, Netherlands)
We were filled with the Spirit on our flight back to the Netherlands, and we were given the chance to testify to the young woman sitting next to us for the entire flight. And it was because we were full – the lesson I took away from this weekend is that it is so important that I am full of what Jesus has done for us, at every moment, so that I want nothing more than to testify. And also what Nadene said touched my heart: “The Good News is only good news when it gets there on time.”
Sina Oguntimehin
(Lighthouse, Thurrock, UK)
One of the main things I learned is that it’s not about how we feel – it’s a command and a call to go and spread the Good News about Christ. And it’s not something we’re trying to sell, not an offer at a shop, but the power is in the Good News. That it’s not about how I present it or if I feel like I carry it well or bring it across in a compelling way. It’s about trusting the Holy Spirit to do the work in them, just as He does a work in me as I share. It was encouraging to hear from the testimonies that even if you’re scared, you can step out and share and His grace is sufficient in our weakness. I have a fresh fire to see people come into God’s Kingdom! So grateful I got to be there.
Edd Graham
(Living Hope, IOM)
Something just unlocked for me this weekend, in seeing the reservoirs of joy in evangelism and seeing this not as something just to be endured, but as an adventure that God was calling us on that was full of fun, full of excitement and full of urgency – not a weighty, “Come on, you need to get on with it”, but that this is something that matters and is important, and there is joy waiting for you in it.
Julie Smyth
(Living Hope, IOM)
Testimony 1: One of the questions I had was how to evangelise to people in my workplace, which is the healthcare environment, where rules & regulations make it quite difficult. And you answered it perfectly by saying to just invite them outside of work! I hadn’t thought of that and it really was just so simple.
There is a gentleman at work who has been going through such a tough time and he needs Jesus in his life. So after the School, I invited him to spend the day with me and my Mum – we went shopping, to the beach, and he had lunch at our place where we were able to minister Jesus into his life. And at the end of the day, he said it was the best that he had felt in a long time and felt a real love in his heart. So I said to him why doesn’t he just come to church? Previously in my workplace he had always been quite closed off. And he said yes, he would love to come to church. And I thought wow, something as simple as ministering to someone outside of the workplace. Now I’m standing in belief and declaring that he will be a new salvation in Christ. The School ignited a fire and passion within me for the lost and given me back that boldness.
Testimony 2: This happened just before the School of Power Evangelism, but I want to share it to encourage us to keep praying for our unsaved loved ones and friends.
I have a good friend and I’d been planting seeds for several years, and he got sick and ended up in hospital. God stirred my heart and told me what to say, and in that moment he gave his life to the Lord. Praise God!
He ended up in the Liverpool hospital, so I continued ministering to him. He said it was like he had been woken up from a deep slumber. When the other patients asked him how he was so calm, he said God was with him and he was filled with His love. This then led the other patients to start seeking God! How cool.
One thing I took from this is that God can and will use us right where we are, no matter our circumstances, and will use what we have in our hands – we just need to be obedient to Him!
My friend was in hospital, waiting on a triple bypass, and God used him right where he was. What did he have in his hands? The love of Jesus.
Shirley Robertson
(Living Hope, IOM)
My takeaway is a determination to invite everyone I can. I no longer care about being rejected because I have a hope for everyone to be saved (because God tells us no one is too lost for His power to save) and God loves everyone, so they are worth me investing in too, and if my attempts to snatch people for Jesus only ever gets one person saved, then I thank God for that one who won’t be lost. I am brave for God. I believe what He says and I’m gonna open my mouth to invite and let God use me.
Kyle Porter
(Living Hope, IOM)
God spoke to me during the activation on the Friday night when I went up for prayer to receive the Holy Spirit because I was filled with doubt, and I fell to my knees and felt the Father’s heart and the life of sin that He had saved me from. I had always felt God’s power but never really knew His love. I wept and wept. Then, on the Saturday, I opened my hands and asked God to show me His love, and Tommy pulled me from the crowd and he hugged me, and as he held me, I felt the love of the Father right in that moment.
Selu Mdlalose
(Living Hope, IOM)
I was really encouraged and particularly challenged by the reminder that the Holy Spirit prepares not only the bearer but the receiver of the Gospel, whether one-on-one or when preaching it on a Sunday in church. We were also challenged to be intentional about praying and acting on it with friends and people we want to see come to the faith. So I will be following up with a person on my long-time list. It’s the Great Commission, not the Great Option, so let’s keep burning.
Claudia König
(Living Hope, IOM)
One of my main takeaways was that Jesus ‘commanded’ all of us to share the Gospel – that it’s not an optional extra or only something for those who feel called to evangelise. And I’ve been very encouraged by the many ways mentioned over the weekend of how God can use us to reach different people. It has led me to encourage Christian friends from less evangelical churches to also share as they feel led by the Holy Spirit. Some may feel that it is only for the Billy Grahams of this world, without realising that when they send a daily devotional to a non-believing family member or friend, they are also in some way sharing the Gospel. I’ve also told several people (including my 3 sisters) Pal’s story to make them see how important one encouraging Word from God can be in a certain situation; it can be the difference between life and death!
Corine Berger
(Living Waters, Netherlands)
After the School, my sister-in-law came to visit and asked many questions about water baptism, baptism in the Holy Spirit and how she could clean up her “walls” (clutter), and we prayed together, confessed sins and can testify to how God wants to use us to bring about change in the world we live in. Through His church!
Michelle Ateere
(Living Hope, IOM)
I’m so grateful that my friend encouraged me to go. It allowed me to see that evangelism is not just one person’s responsibility; not your elders, your deacons, the evangelist, but rather everybody’s responsibility, and it just opened my eyes to the grace & mercy of God that He has put on us. He has given us the courage to go out there and speak about His Word, to speak to colleagues, friends, family. It’s literally just taking someone out for coffee and speaking about God. Actions are one thing, but it’s also talking about the love of God and encouraging people to experience Jesus. And then, once you’ve done that, to also follow up on it, not to just leave it. If you didn’t go this time, please do go next time!
Neil & Kirsty Thompson
(Living Hope, IOM)
Neil: My biggest take-home was that the last thing Jesus asked us to do was to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them and teaching them to obey everything He said. It was such a good reminder that this should be my number one priority as a disciple of Jesus. He has asked me to do this – it is His only plan and there is no Plan B – and I owe it to Him and everyone I come into contact with to at least share the Gospel with them and let the Holy Spirit do His transformational work. What a great weekend!
Kirsty: One thing that practically impacted me was the reminder that there really is power in the gospel – it is the power unto salvation and that I don’t have to, in any way, peddle the message because it has a supernatural power of its own. And when it comes to the business of soul-winning, I’m not alone – I have the Holy Spirit in me, and He is the one anyway who prepares the receiver to hear the Word, prepares hearts, convicts, reveals Jesus. He does all the heavy lifting, I just have to open my mouth and be obedient in doing what He asks me to do by telling others the Good News.
Cheryl Alford
(Living Hope, IOM)
The Lord dropped into my heart that the Holy Spirit will be my helper and partner, and will give me the courage to win souls for him, and that He will be with the receiver of the Good News. I thought about my colleagues when Tommy said, “You are not alive unless you believe that He is alive.” That was my takeaway phrase from the weekend. I had a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit and was so encouraged to run hard for Jesus and to keep on praying and believing for the people for whom I have been praying for a long time. He is able and worthy of it all.
Dawn Kelly
(Lighthouse, Thurrock, UK)
What stood out for me were the activations. They just lifted everyone’s faith with the knowledge the Holy Spirit is backing us up. The testimonies from everyone who taught/shared were also such an encouragement. It was a refresher course that opened up the appetites of the listeners. We were left feeling so enriched and empowered to go, from the testimonies and with the Good News! God is just looking for faith to rise up and for us to speak and He will do the rest.
Euan MacRae
(Living Hope, IOM)
One highlight for me was to see friends of my children come to church for the first time, having been invited during an activation at the School of Power Evangelism. It wasn’t just that they came, it was the pure joy I saw in Holly and Conor in seeing their friends come along – I see the heart and compassion of Jesus in this! Beautiful.
