Australian Evangelist tells of miracles in Asia and why it happens

Australian Evangelist Experiences Mighty Miracles in Asia

by Matt Starrs

Over the past 14 years I have been involved in Short Term Missions trips which have impacted 7 countries outside of Australia,
including - New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma). Another trip is planned for this September through the Local Assemblies of God in Mount Isa, where I currently fellowship.

Why Short Term Missions?

In First World Countries like Australia we have been blessed with economic, technological and industrial abundance. For the average Australian the concept of being in need is the absence of luxuries. It is no surprise therefore that most Australian Christians have never seen a creative miracle. Taking Australians on Short Term Mission Trips exposes them to the real world of suffering, famine, disease and opression that some of our third world neighbours endure every day of their lives. It alters their perception of the world in ways that expand their hearts with compassion for the needs, and faith for the Power of God to meet those needs.

Why Do Miracles Always Happen "Over There"?

The best way to understand this phenomena is to view it from different perspectives. From the perspective of the Short Term Missionary, they have stepped out in faith in a powerful way. God always blesses acts of faith that involve Christians laying aside their own comfort in order to assist others. Of course Jesus is the ultimate example of this, as outlined in Philipians Ch.2.
From the perspective of the one recieving the miracle, it is easier for them to reach out in faith when they do not know the humanity of the one that is ministering to them. When Jesus was in His home country he could do no great miracles because of their unbelief. They said "We know this guy - He's just one of us!" Jesus responded by saying that "a prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, among his own people". The inverse of this is also true. A prophet (or any of God's servants) are honoured outside of their own people, because there is no knowledge of their weakness' or humanity. It is easier for people to accept that perhaps God could use this one.

From God's perspective, His eyes are STILL running to and fro throughout the Earth, looking for some one that He may show Himself strong on their behalf. Miracles happen on Short Term Mission Trips because it is one of the rare occasions that we seek them.

Some Examples of Miracles

Every time I have travelled overseas on a Short Term Mission Trip there have been fantastic manifestations of Gods Power. These are some of my favorite stories.

Indonesia.

I went to Indonesia via Singapore in September 1988. When I arrived in Singapore I had no idea that I would end up in Indonesia. In fact I had no idea what was in store as I had arrived in the country with only $23 in my pocket, no credit cards, and no one that I knew in the entire country. I knew that I would be broke before I left, but God had spoken to me clearly that I was to go, and confirmed His word through a letter from Christian brother who could have known nothing of what the Lord had been saying to me.

After 24 hours in Singapore I was broke and hungry. It was then that God intervened. I had met a group of Christians that asked me why I was there. Well, about 2 hours later I was still preaching and a large crowd had gathered to hear this young Australian. It was then that God impressed on a man named Wong Kie Ming that he should take me home and look after me. Kie Ming and his wife irene Lim were the perfect hosts, and soon arranged for me to meet with an awesome man of God named Fred Seaward, who at that time was missions director for his son Ricks Church.

Fred added me to a team that was going to the Indonesian Island of Paula Batam with the Ghanaian evangelist Spencer Duncan. We conducted a week long crusade after which Spencer and the team returned to Singapore, but I was invited to stay and do some follow up work. The Crusade with Brother Duncan had produced some great healing miracles with deaf ears opened, cataracts vanishing from eyes, crippled limbs restored, etc. and this continued for another week after they left. In fact, such an impact was being made on the tiny island that the local authorities gave me 24 hours to leave the island or I would be arrested. As we left by boat for the next Island we were intercepted by the Indonesian Coast Guard. Apparently the threats that we were handed were serious.

The next Island we arrived at was Paula Bintan, and news of the mighty miracles we had been experiencing on Paula Batam had gone ahead of us. We went by taxi across the island to a small church building. On the way in the Taxi God spoke to my heart to learn a scripture out of Acts in Bahasa. The scripture was "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth ,rise up and walk" which roughly translates to "Dalam Nama Yesu Christo orang Nazaret, Bankit dan Berjalang"! When we got to the Church it was packed. People were standing all around the windows and doors trying to see inside. I preached a simple sermon about the Grace of God through Jesus Christ, and opened the altar for all of those requiring prayer for sickness or any other needs to come forward.

They did. Scores of them. Then a group of young men carried an old lady to the front of the crowd and sat her in a chair in front of me. I was told that she had not walked for over 10 years. Before I had a chance to deliberate I took her by the hand and pulled her out of her chair into mid air shouting "Dalam Nama Yesu Christo Orang Nazaret Bankit dan Berjalang"! For a moment in time the earth stood still as I realised what I had just done. There was no need to fear however, as the old lady hit the ground running, miraculously healed by the power of God. Her family members were all laughing and shouting with joy, tears streaming down their faces as they witnessed first hand the love and power of Jesus. Praise His Mighty Name!!!

Burma

In August of 1998 I was in the Far North Queensland Mountains fasting and praying for 2 weeks. During this time God spoke to me to train up a team to go to Chiang Mai in Thailand. The following february after several months of intensive training a group of ten men left for Thailand to work with displaced Karen refugees. We co-operated with a local indigenous ministry called Asian Tribal Ministries, headed up by Timothy Laklem.

Our itinerary was planned for us and we entered into a life changing experience as we were introduced to the plight of the Karen people, visiting and even staying overnight in refugee camps. On one occasion we visited a new camp that had only been there about 4 months. Most of the 3000 or so people there had never heard a solid gospel message. Ps. Timothy told us that the most that had been converted from their animist and Buddhist beliefs at one time before were about a dozen. On this occasion the Spirit of God moved upon the people and about 5oo were saved in one day. Today there is a Church of about 700 in that camp.

After we gave the call for salvation we ministered to the sick and infirmed. One man that I prayed for was practically blind. I held up my hand and said "How many fingers" but he could not even see my hand. I prayed and he said he could see better, but still could not count my fingers. I prayed again, determined that God had more for this man. He opened his eyes - "Three! Three!" he Shouted. My interpereter was even more excited than the man who had been healed. Our God can even give sight to the blind! Glory to Jesus!

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Encouraging Thoughts

Confirmed miracles Paraplegic healed!

Ministry Testimonies:
China revival
Healing in Romania

Sample Testimonies: FORMER:

Crack addict - Deena
Lesbian - Adelaide
Satanist - Candace
Occultist - Vincent
Witch - Katina
Street Kid - Mario
Catholic Priest - Richard

Testimony Categories

A Personal Challenge For You

The people of the world can be divided into two groups. The first group are those who can clearly point to the intervention of Jesus Christ in their lives. The second are those who cannot. If you are in this latter group PLEASE don't let another hour go past before you get right with God. He loves you and has a great plan for your life! But there must be change. If you are religious but can't point to a definite work of God in your life YOU NEED to get born again in the Bible way. To find out how to get right with God, click here now.

If however, you are in the first group and you have a testimony of Christ's working in your life, God wants you to share it. Read HERE about the power of your testimony. You can overcome Satan by the Word of your testimony, and help others to find faith in Christ.

Would you like to do this? If so, start writing your testimony as soon as you can, and THEN, e-mail your testimony to me here so we can publish it for you online. Post it on the testimonies bulletin board here. In this way you are helping to fulfil the Great Commission. Some testimonies on this site are reaching 10 or even 20 people per day. Our team wishes to help people share their testimonies through the internet. Let us together bring hope to those who don't know the reality of our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ.

Michael