DAWN Fridayfax 1998 #33

That didn't stop Wells. He decided that if he couldn't spread his faith in Jesus formally, then he would do it informally! He announced that he would hold services for anyone interested in the foyer of the halls of residence. Two students showed up, both Africans. Wells preached to these two as though they were the entire university. Other students passing by stopped to laugh about the "crazy Africans".

However, the 'crazy Africans' continued every week, and prayed for a breakthrough. With time, other students started turning up to ask for advice and prayer. Wells was simply so contagiously happy, and had something about him which other students also wanted. He prayed for the students, and God changed their lives. The number of students attending the services soon grew: on one day, 28 decided to become Christians, with another 34 soon afterwards. After 3 months, 150 students were attending the services.

"The reality of the conversions was shown in the students' changed lives," says Wells. "I never preached against drink, drugs or particular hair styles, but when the students repented and became Christians, they spontaneously changed their clothes and adventurous hairstyles, removed punk rings from their noses, lips and ears, let their shorn hair grow or cut off their unkempt locks. The school director invited Wells for another meeting, and admitted that he had made a mistake in previously forbidding a Christian presence at the university. He offered to change the university's charter, and as a result, there was a church of 400 saved students at the end of the year. One of the first converts, an ex-Buddhist, is now in a high position in the Thai government.

Before his return to Africa, Wells made sure that the university employed a full-time pastor for the church, which still exists today. Wells is now working in Malawi again, and is part of a national saturation church planting project.

Source: Dr. Johan Combrinck, AFNET, fax (+1)-408-249-3777; 2265 El Camino real, Suite 4, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA.

Another 16-year-old was attended the seminar in August 98. When I asked him if he had come to the seminar with his father, he told me that his pastor had sent him, because he helps teach in the church. This is quite common in rural areas, where the young generation can often read better than their elders. As children grow up, the church elders make them teachers and pastors. A 15-year-old also attended the seminar, because he also taught from the Bible and wanted to learn more. He listened very attentively and did not miss a single word. In many respects, he was more hungry than the adults. I was surprised to see that he never became bored or left the room for a break."

Source: David Quispirroca Guzman, e-mail: dqppcr@correo.dnet.com.pe

Source: David Quispirroca Guzman, e-mail: dqppcr@correo.dnet.com.pe

"It is very touching to see Dutchmen washing the feet of normal Indonesians after all the terrible greed and pride," said an amazed onlooker. Joe Ozawa came from Japan to ask for forgiveness for the atrocities committed by the Japanese. The Japanese colonialism was in some respects even worse than the Dutch, including rape by the advancing troops. Forgiveness and reconciliation was also expressed between Chinese and Indonesians, who have viewed each other with suspicion for decades, as well as reconciliation between evangelicals and charismatics, who forgave each other and expressed their desire for unity.

A Muslim girl unexpectedly went forward and spoke of how it hurt to feel bitterness and hate in her heart towards the Christian Chinese. She wept and prayed that the Muslims and Christians could live in harmony together. Many attendees sensed this to be a symbol for the future relations between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia.

Source: Joel News