This entire month, we’ve had our sights set on our last three days of ministry. A church in Canada has sponsored a three-day crusade in Palacagüina to minister to the people here and in surrounding areas. The expected turnout is supposed to be somewhere around two thousand people.
Christopher and I began setting up projection and computer equipment on Friday afternoon as the stage crew set up their stage, speakers, and lights. I was really impressed with how big this thing was looking to be. The stage crew had everything ready to go around five o’clock and soon after that the band arrived. During sound check, we knew that this crusade was going to be loud and a massive production.
When the show started, we were all a little disappointed at the number of people at the basketball court. Jaime reassured us that the people would come when they heard the music. He was right, and soon after the band had started playing, several hundred people began to show up.
It was incredible. We packed the basketball court full of people. The music was loud and it was really good (even though most of us couldn’t understand what was being sung).
The church gave away three bikes each night to help draw people in. On the last night, it was estimated that over two thousand people were at the Crusade. It was incredible to see the people of Palacagüina worshipping God and being in community with one another.
During the program on the last night, right before the bike giveaway, the pastor did his final altar call. 26 people came to the front to accept Jesus. Jaime said that he estimated 40-50 people accepted Jesus during all three nights of the Crusade.
The Crusade was a huge success and I felt very good about us being able to be a part of it and help in any way that we could. It was powerful to see God move in the hearts of so many people over just a short period of time.
Today we leave for Granada to head to our Nicaragua debrief. It is hard saying goodbye to Jaime and the rest of the people we’ve gotten to know and love in Palacagüina. My hope is that we left them encouraged and feeling loved, knowing that God loves them no matter what!
