Hamburg Experience

A Praise Report by Bomni Okonny

The Team

A three day crusade from the 8th to the 10th of February 2008 was organized by the Elim Pentecostal Church Hamburg. Rev. Sam Larbie, Evangelist Emma Asante and Sister Joyce Mensah were invited as guest ministers.

Rev Sam accompanied by his wife and a team of 10 members from the Elim Pentecostal Church Camberwell UK, attended the crusade.

Just Can’t Wait

Pastor Sam in his usual way started his ministration even before he arrived at the church in Hamburg. He ministered to the checking-in officer at Heathrow airport and also to 2 immigration officers at Hamburg airport of which one of them was healed of stomach pain. Pastor used every opportunity he had to minister the love of Jesus and healing to as many people as he possibly could.

On the first night of the crusade, Evangelist Emma started off the crusade with a powerful message of declaration. The Y2Praise team from Camberwell with Joyce Mensah leading then led the congregation in a powerful session of praise and worship. Pastor Sam was then introduced by Evangelist Emma Asante and he started off his message by saying, “Jesus is here and He is the Fountain of Hope”. He said that when Jesus shows up, hope becomes a reality. He also made reference to the story of how Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead after he had laid dead in the tomb for four days. The message was aimed at restoring hope to people.

Pastor Sam then called out for people that were sick in their body and needed prayers. A lady with pain in her leg was prayed for and she received her healing, also a lady with backache and stomach pain was also healed. One person gave her life to Christ and one person rededicated his life to Christ.

Singin’ Praises

On the second night of the sister Joyce and the Y2 Praise led the congregation to an awesome level of praise and worship and the presence of God came down, even the camera crew testified that they had never experienced anything like that before. It was awesome. I felt at that point God was preparing us for what he was going to do.

Double Miracle

The highlight for me that evening was the set of twins that gave their lives to Christ. One of them was healed on Friday of a pain in the leg and decided to invite her sister on Saturday. Her sister said she had been having constant headache for two years. She really looked gloomy. Pastor Sam then prayed with her and after the prayers she had a lovely smile on her face and said the headache had gone. What baffled me most was the fact that after she was prayed for, her countenance changed, she just had this lovely smile on her face. Evangelist Emma received a word of knowledge regarding her son she even mentioned his name and asked her to bring him to church the following day. This woman was astonished because Evangelist Emma had not known her prior to that meeting. Her twin sister was called forward and both of them gave their lives to Christ.

On Sunday the last day of the crusade, both of them came to church looking so happy, they were both dressed up so nicely and looked really beautiful and full of joy. The twin who was healed of the constant headache said she slept like a baby when she got home and did not experience the headache that had troubled her for two years; she also came to church with her teenage son. It was so amazing, even if it was for these two alone we went to Hamburg it was well worth it.

Good Counsel

A counselling session was organized on Saturday between 10am and 12.00pm in which Pastor Sam and his wife mummy Sophie ministered to people.

While the counselling the session was going on, the other members of the team had a powerful praise and worship session, we were all just worshipping God and we had a period of refreshing. One guy came in and said he heard us singing and decided to come in. I believe God touched his life.

Well Worth the Journey!

On the whole the experience was overwhelming; the people we met in church were very hospitable and receptive. Every minute we spent in Hamburg was worth it. We learnt a lot from the people there and we believe God used us to transform people’s lives and also give them a reason to keep serving him.

Elim Pentecostal Church, Hamburg Germany