Men of Faith

GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS WORLDS LARGEST CHURCH BUILDING: The Journey of God through Bishop David Oyedepo, his wife & the Church so far at Nigeria.
50,000-seat capacity auditorium with 50,000 members plus, the ‘Faith Tabernacle’, which is reputed to be the largest Church auditorium in the world. This was featured or also recorded by the Guinness Book of Records.Inside Sitting Capacity 50,000 Outside Overflow Capacity 250,000 plus.

David O. Oyedepo, affectionately called Papa by his followers (born September 27, 1954) is a Nigerian Christian author, Preacher and the founder and Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church World Wide also known as Winners Chapel and its affiliated International churches known as Winners Chapel International, with headquarters in Ogun State, Nigeria. He is also the senior pastor of the acclaimed Faith Tabernacle,a 50,000 seat church auditorium reputed to be the largest church auditorium in the world by the Guinness Book of Records. The Winners Chapel network of churches is present in over 300 cities in all states of Nigeria, as well as in over 63 cities in 32 African Nations, Dubai, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Oyedepo has been seen as one of pioneers of the Christian charismatic movement in Africa and has been referred to as one of the most powerful preachers in Nigeria.

Early life and history

On September 27, 1954 David Olaniyi Oyedepo was born in Omu Aran, Kwara into a religiously mixed family: his father,Ibrahim,was a Muslim healer and his mother,Dorcas,was a member of the Eternal Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (C&S), a branch of the Aladura movement in Nigeria. David was “born again” in 1969 through the influence of his teacher, one Ms. Betty Lasher, who took special interest in him during his high school days. He studied architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic and worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin before resigning to concentrate on missionary work. Oyedepo also gained a Ph.D in Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, United States of America.

According to him, he received a mandate from God through an 18 hour long vision in May 1981 to ‘liberate the world from all oppression of the devil through the preaching of the word of faith’. This is the inaugural vision that led to the founding of the LFCWW, first called Liberation Faith Hour Ministries, in 1981. Two years after, on 17 September 1983, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, ordained David and his wife, Florence Abiola Akano (now known as Faith Abiola Oyedepo) to become pastors also officially commissioned the newly started church of Oyedepo. Five years after, Oyedepo was ordained a Bishop.

Oyedepo’s church started in Kaduna, but moved to Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria in September 1989 to start a new branch of His Church, after receiving an instruction from God to reach out to the population in Lagos. This Church has gone on to become the International head quarters of His Church.Due to the increasing flow of people into His Church with crowds spilling over to adjacent roads, and on decks of uncompleted buildings nearby and people standing for hours to listen to His teachings, it became necessary to search for a larger place.This led to the building of the renowned Faith Tabernacle.

Place of worship

In 1998,Oyedepo set forth to build a new building to accommodate the increasing number of worshippers. This resulted in his Church’s acquisition of the initial 530-acre facility, known as Canaanland, which serves as the headquarters of His Church.It is the home of the 50,000-seat capacity auditorium, the ‘Faith Tabernacle’, which is reputed to be the largest Church auditorium in the world.This was a feat also recorded by the Guiness Book of Records.[9][10][11]
World largest church auditorium, Faith Tabernacle,December,2005

The speed of the construction of Faith Tabernacle was breath-taking, considering the size of the building. Construction of this gigantic project was completed within 12 months, which experts claim could only have been a miracle, because such a project should normally take a minimum of three years to complete. Reports also claimed that this building was built debt free.This 50,000-seat edifice was dedicated in September 18, 1999 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Canaanland is in Ota, a suburb of Lagos and is the 5,000 acre estate and campus, that houses The 50,000 church building, the church secretariat, the church’s youth chapel, a primary school called Kingdom heritage model school, a full boarding mission secondary school called Faith Academy, with over 1,500 students and the its University facilities which accommodates over 7,000 students, fully resident in ultra-modern hostel facilities, with fully equipped faculty buildings and numerous staff housing facilities.Canaanland campus also has for profit establishments operated by the church such as a bakery, a bottled water processing plant, a petrol station, various restaurants and shopping stores, several residential houses that provide for the over 2,000 church employees, and guest houses.Four banks are also present on this Estate, three of which are branches of external commercial banks and one which is a community and micro-finance Bank and operated by the Church.

Christian ministry

The teachings of Oyedepo has put him in the category of what is commonly called the Word of Faith Movement. He has referred to principal exponents of the Faith Movement such as Kenneth Copeland, Gloria Copeland,the late Kenneth Hagin, T.L Osborn, Smith WigglesWorth as well as renowned Nigerian preachers Enoch Adeboye and the late Benson Idahosa as mentors.

The teachings of Oyedepo are grouped under a range of topics called ’12 pillars of faith’, which include: Faith, The Word, Prosperity, the Holy Spirit, Praise, Consecration, the Supernatural, Wisdom, Prayer, Success, Vision and Healing. The Overall focus of His teachings centre around Faith in God’s, Prosperity and Miracles.He teaches that faith in the word of God is the key to a life of God’s blessings and security of the works of the devil.He teachings on prosperity are aimed at empowering people to live free from poverty, particularly the African continent. He describes his own teaching on prosperity as “covenant software for programming yourself into victories and triumphs.” His Church (Winners Chapel) also operates a Bible training programme known as Word of Faith Bible Institute for members and non-members alike to develop knowledge of Christian principles and to develop leaders and future pastors.This institute is run in major branches of the Church.

Oyedepo who operates like the “Chief Executive Officer” of a conglomerate,is the President of David Oyedepo Ministries International (DOMI). DOMI is the umbrella organisation comprising Living Faith Church World Wide (a global network of churches), World Mission Agency (WMA); the global missionary arm of the church’s operations, Dominion Publishing House; the publishing arm of the church, Covenant University, and the Social Development Missions projects (made up of hospitals, maternity homes, schools, etc.

Oyedepo is also a strong critic of corruption in Africa as a whole and poor leadership in government.
Preaching style
Criticisms and controversy

Oyedepo has received much criticism from many in the Christian community as focusing on prosperity.

Educational endeavours

Oyedepo’s socio-economic endeavours include founding educational institutions based on Christian principles for primary, secondary and tertiary stages of formal Education to empower the young generation,develop the human capacity and improve the educational system in Nigeria and Africa. This has led to the establishment of kingdom heritage model schools in different cities in Nigeria for primary education, Faith Academy; a missionary full boarding secondary school and Covenant University.Covenant University was opened to students on October 21, 2002 and was adjudged to be the best private university in Nigeria as of 2005.

Book publishing

Oyedepo’s church also operates its own publishing house,called Dominion Publishing House(DPH), commissioned in December 5, 1992 which has published over 60 christian, inspirational and motivational books, mini books, magazines and other resources.Some of His Best Selling books include:

* Pillars of Destiny
* Exploits in Ministry
* Walking in Dominion
* Possessing your possession
* Exploits of Faith
* Anointing for exploits
* Walking in the Newness of life
* Maximise destiny
* Commanding the supernatural
* Winning invisible battles
* Success Strategies
* Success systems
* Towards Excellency in life and Ministry
* Excellency of Wisdom
* Breaking Financial Hardship
* The Release of Power
* Excellency of Wisdom
* Born to Win

Family life

In 1982 he married Florence Abiola Akano (now known as Faith). They have four children together (David Jr, Isaac, Love and Joys). David Jr and Isaac Oyedepo were ordained as Pastors in May 2007 by Kenneth Copeland.[29] David Jr was appointed resident pastor of the London Branch of His Church in 2007, he married Kemi Olude (now known as Kemi Oyedepo) in July 2008 and they have one daughter, Blessing. Isaac was appointed resident pastor of the branch in New York in 2009

Evangelist Afzal Masih

Many many greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus.dear sister when you will invite me i will try to come to your country
I was born in a Christian family.I was born in a village where there was major population of muslims.I studied from a muslims school in Punjab Pakistan.Since my childhood I knew Jesus.It was that’s why because my parents and my maternal grandfather advised us to go church daily.
It was dangerous that even though I knew Jesus but I hadnot strong relation with Him.My family belonged to Church of Pakistan mean protestant.My life was just obligatorty as muslims have.We went to church and offered our prayers as an obligation.In my life there was not spiritual joyness,just a formality.When I passed my matriculation examination in the age of 16 in 1996,I came to Karachi.
Here in Karachi my elder brother Pastor Pervaiz M Asif invited me to come to Karachi and continue my education.
During my study,I went to church everyday but had not close relation with God and His son Jesus.I attended church and was a member of church choir.One day Pastor was delivering a sermon about forgiveness of sins.Pastor gave and explained many precious points about Jesus as a Savior and Eternal life.
I was so much ashamed that time about my life that what I am and what did Jesus do for us?These questions made to understand better about Jesus.now I have been serving the Lord Jesus in Pakistan.I studied from OTS Pakistan of Bible studies.im Diploma Holder in Bible studies.We have two churches in Pakistan but only one church building.I have been intending to preach among muslims.Here there are many muslims converted to christianity.

In Lord jesus
Evangelist Afzal Masih

Our church website is..www.sgcpk.org
Email address……..afzalbhatti777@yahoo

A.DAVID PAUL

SpiritualGraphics.com

Hello,Dear friend greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus, I am very happy to be on the CHRISTIAN COM to mirror the situation’s of the ministry in India, I am David Paul from India. We are four children to our father I am the second son and I am30 . when I was very young my parents thought that I was a very healthy boy and they did not vaccinated me so I was effected by polio when I was three years old, now I cant walk and i need two persons help to move from one place to another. but no problem God is using me in music ministry and worship, my father is lecturer In a college he came from a very poor back ground he accepted the Lord as his personal savior so he went into the villages where he was born on every week ends and started the ministry where the people are bonded with the witch crafted and black magic,and they worshiped 33million Idols and possessed by the evil spirits.and slowly he started the church planting and now 28 churches and 30 pastors are working in that 40 villages. And he passed away in 2000. We use to have an orphanage but it was closed due to lack of funding the children are going to the child labor because in this area people are very bad in there economy, every year we use to conduct the annual meetings this year 20 were baptized we are praying for more people, God is doing wonderful things in this area, At this period my self and my brother is taking care of this ministry. Coming to the pastors my father when he was retired he got some benefits we put them in the bank the interest we give to every pastors. Each pastor will get 4$ per month which is very difficult to survive but the pastors are doing there best for the Lord,my father has a great heart for the poor all the money except for his family needs he used in the Lords work.as a lecturer he had only two pairs of clothes that is white colored for many years. and a lot of work is in pending,like, we are praying to built new churches in the place were there people worship the idols,and we want to open the orphanage for the very poor orphans,and also for the widows,and as i said this area wont have any rains properly so these people wont have proper works for there lively hood so we are planning to start some small scale industries like suing centers development of there cultivation,and cattle,etc, dear brother’s and sisters if you have a heart to come to India we welcome with a great heart.if God led you can visit my ministry.from your loving brother in Christ
A.DAVID PAUL
E-MAIL- davidforhim@gmail.com

Cindy Jacobs – Jenderal Peperangan Rohani

By candrawijaya

Cindy Jacobs adalah puteri seorang pendeta gereja Southern Baptist. Ia dibesarkan di Texas dengan penghargaan yang tinggi akan hal-hal kerohanian. Ia pertama kali mendengar panggilan Allah pada tahun 1960 ketika berusia 9 tahun, saat menghadiri camp gereja. Ia naik ke sebuah bukit karang di hutan belakang kapel dan berdoa di sana. Ada hal khusus yang Allah inginkan untuk dilakukan oleh Cindy, demikian pesan Allah baginya.

Mimpi-mimpi tentang neraka pun mulai ia alami ketika berusia 12 tahun. Malam demi malam ia terbangun dengan penuh keringat dingin. Ia melihat orang-orang menderita siksaan kekal, dan hal ini mendorongnya memohon pada Allah agar memakai hidupnya untuk memenangkan orang-orang terhilang.

Setelah lulus kuliah, Cindy mengajar musik di sekolah umum. Pada tahun 1973 ia menikah dengan Mike dan hidup sebagai ibu rumah tangga biasa dengan dua anaknya. Di sela kesibukannya Cindy aktif memimpin koor gereja, bermain piano, memimpin ibadah Minggu pagi dan mengajar pemahaman Alkitab di gereja. Walaupun begitu, Cindy selalu merasa bahwa pelayanannya seharusnya menjangkau lebih jauh lagi dari sekedar di rumah dan gereja lokal. Bertahun-tahun telah berlalu, sepertinya Allah telah melupakan perjumpaan mereka di bukit karang di tengah hutan dulu.

Ketika Cindy berusia 30-an tahun, suatu hal aneh tiba-tiba terjadi. Setiap malam pada jam yang sama, Cindy selalu terbangun dan tidak bisa tidur lagi. Hal itu berlangsung selama 2 minggu, sehingga dia memutuskan bahwa pasti ada alasan mengapa dia bangun pada jam tersebut. Ternyata Allah sedang menunjukkan padanya cara berdoa. Cindy lalu mulai berdoa bagi keluarga dan teman-temannya, disebutkannya nama siapa saja yang terlintas dalam pikirannya saat itu.

Di suatu malam ia terdorong untuk berdoa bagi seorang pendeta di gerejanya. Dia membisikkan suatu doa sederhana, “Tuhan, dia membutuhkan kesembuhan, dan dia merasa kesepian serta ketakutan. Hibur dia Bapa, sembuhkan dia, dan beritahu bahwa dia tidak sendirian.” Dia lalu menambah permintaannya, “Bapa, saya benar-benar ingin mendapat peneguhan dari Engkau bahwa doa-doa saya ada gunanya.” Sebelum ia terbaring kembali untuk tidur, Cindy memperhatikan waktu itu jam 3:10 dini hari.

Pada kebaktian keesokan harinya, pendeta itu menjumpai Cindy. Katanya, “Tidak banyak orang yang tahu hal ini. Saya menderita kanker. Semalam saya terbangun dan merasa kesakitan. Saya merasa kesepian dan berteriak di hadapan Allah. Tuhan tidak adakah seorang yang memperhatikan saya? Pada saat itu Allah berkata pada saya, ‘Cindy Jacobs terjaga, dan dia berdoa untukmu.’ Waktu itu sekitar jam 3:10,” kata pendeta itu.

Peneguhan itu cukup bagi Cindy untuk tetap berdoa di tengah malam dan ia makin diteguhkan ketika tahu bahwa pendeta itu telah disembuhkan. Ia berdoa lebih tekun lagi dan ia merasakan doa-doanya selalu mengenai sasaran. Kabar segera tersiar, bahwa jika orang butuh sesuatu, mereka perlu datang ke Cindy Jacobs. Gereja dan Women’s Aglow Chapter mulai memintanya berbicara tentang doa syafaat. Dia menggali Firman Allah untuk menemukan cara bagaimana mengajar orang berdoa. Allah pun meningkatkan pelajarannya dengan mempertemukan Cindy dengan pemimpin-pemimpin doa seperti C. Peter Wagner, Joy Dawson, Dick Eastman dan BJ. Whilhite. Perjumpaannya dengan orang-orang ini membangkitkan semangatnya untuk dipakai Allah lebih dahsyat lagi.

Tapi konflik di dalam diri Cindy mulai timbul berkenaan dengan pelayanannya. Cindy merasakan Tuhan memimpinnya untuk pergi ke negara lain, namun banyak orang yang memberitahukannya untuk tetap tinggal di rumah sebagai ibu rumah tangga membesarkan kedua anaknya. Selama dua tahun ia bergumul tentang hal ini hingga akhirnya Allah membukakan semuanya bagi dirinya dan juga Mike, suaminya. Mereka berdua lalu terjun sepenuhnya ke ladang misi dan di tahun 1985 Cindy bersama Mike mendirikan Generals of Intercession (GI) yang melayani bidang doa syafaat atau doa peperangan rohani.

Cindy percaya bahwa gereja tidak efektif memenangkan bangsanya bagi Kristus karena orang Kristen kurang memahami strategi doa gaya militer. Seperti C. Peter Wagner dan orang-orang lain yang sadar akan pentingnya peperangan rohani, Cindy menghimbau umat percaya di seluruh dunia untuk memerangi kuasa kegelapan dengan doa yang terarah. Dia menantang orang Kristen untuk memerangi “roh-roh teritorial”. Bukunya yang diterbitkan pada tahun 1991 berjudul “Possesing the Gates of the Enemy” dianggap sebagai buku manual untuk doa peperangan rohani di mana-mana.

Pengalamannya yang luar biasa bersama Allah menjadikan Cindy memiliki banyak kisah peperangan rohani, dan ia suka bagikan kepada teman-temannya untuk menguatkan dan mendorong mereka untuk lebih bersemangat.

• Pada tahun 1990 dia berbicara di dua seminar di kota Resistencia, Argentina. Pendeta lokal menunjukkan apa yang mereka rasakan sebagai roh-roh jahat yang menguasai kota itu termasuk San La Muerte, roh kematian yang disembah oleh penduduk setempat. Setelah waktu pertobatan, pemimpin Kristen lokal mengusir roh-roh jahat itu. Menurut penginjil Argentina Edgardo Silvoso, kota yang berpenduduk 400.000 itu sukar sekali dijangkau sampai waktu itu. Tetapi setelah roh-roh jahat itu diusir, keanggotaan gereja meningkat dua kali lipat, 18 jemaat baru didirikan dan walikotanya menerima Kristus
• Di tahun yang sama, Cindy menubuatkan dalam pertemuan doa di kota Argentina, Mar del Plata bahwa meja judi di salah satu kasino terbesar di kota itu akan dilemparkan ke jalan. Dia juga menyatakan bahwa kasino itu akan menjadi tempat ibadah. Suatu pernyataan yang kelihatannya terlalu mengada-ada. Tapi, tepat 51 hari setelah didoakan oleh pendoa syafaat lokal, kedua nubuatan itu terjadi. Api merusak bagian kasino dan pemiliknya secara harafiah melemparkan meja judi ke jalan.
• Pada tahun 1991, sekelompok pendoa syafaat di Brasilia mengincar kubu roh jahat ‘Karnaval’, setelah Cindy memberikan nubuatan bahwa Allah akan memakai arak-arakan “Berbaris Bagi Yesus” untuk menghentikan festival kegelapan itu. Para pendoa syafaat percaya bahwa ‘Karnaval’ adalah tenaga penggerak di balik pemberontakan yang terjadi di jalan-jalan di Brasilia. Menurut sumber Cindy di Brasilia, paling sedikit lima perayaan ‘Karnaval’ akhirnya ditutup pada tahun 1993.
• Tahun 1993 Cindy memimpin doa pendobrakan di Jepang, dimana masyarakat Kristennya sedikit dan terpecah-pecah. Pemimpin rohani setempat berkata bahwa peristiwa itu penting artinya karena umat percaya baik karismatik maupun bukan bertobat karena terpisah satu sama lain. Beberapa bulan kemudian ketika diadakan KKR secara nasional yang pertama di Jepang, ribuan orang mengaku percaya kepada Kristus.

Cindy Jacobs tidak merasa takut dengan peranannya karena ia menguasai strategi peperangan rohani dan dia tahu bahwa ia akan menang. Di samping itu, dia percaya Allah memakai bejana yang lemah untuk menghasilkan hal yang besar bagi kerajaan Allah. Dan semuanya itu meneguhkan jenderal wanita ini untuk terus berperang bagi Kristus.

Sumber : http://www.sumbercerita.com

Philip Yancey

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Philip Yancey earned graduate degrees in Communications and English from Wheaton College Graduate School and the University of Chicago. He joined the staff of Campus Life Magazine in 1971, and worked there as Editor and then Publisher. He looks on those years with gratitude, because teenagers are demanding readers, and writing for them taught him a lasting principle: The reader is in control!

In 1978 Philip Yancey became a full-time writer, initially working as a journalist for such varied publications as Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, National Wildlife, Christian Century and The Reformed Journal. For many years he wrote a monthly column for Christianity Today magazine, which he still serves as Editor at Large.

His twenty books include Where Is God When It Hurts, The Student Bible, and Disappointment with God. These books have won thirteen Gold Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and have sold more than fifteen million copies. (Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, In His Image, and The Gift of Pain were co-authored with Dr. Paul Brand.) Christian bookstore managers selected The Jesus I Never Knew as the 1996 Book of the Year, and What’s So Amazing About Grace? won the same award in 1998. His most recent books are Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?, A Skeptic’s Guide to Faith, Reaching for the Invisible God, and Soul Survivor. In 2009 a daily reader compiled from all his books was published: Grace Notes.

The Yanceys lived in downtown Chicago for many years before moving to a very different environment in Colorado. They enjoy hiking, wildlife, and all the other delights of the Rocky Mountains.

Rev. Gilbert Lumoindong

Rev. Gilbert Lumoindong, STh. was born in Jakarta, December 26, 1966. He has totally surrendered his life to God since he was 10 years old, after a magical moment when he recovered from neural pain. When he was teenager (17 years old), he started to preach and participated actively in Christian youth and students services.

The call to serve God was strongly determined when he went to the Institute of Theology and Education Indonesia (ITKI) in Jakarta and completed his study and got his diploma. With God’s precious blessings and gift, he is talented to speak about God’s words persistently and clearly which made him accepted in every social level and background and eventually lead them back to God’s way through His Miraculous Mighty Touch.

Until this moment, he feels that he is not called yet to proceed the mission of shepherding due to he has personal burden to serve inter-denominationally, particularly to serve through mass media. This son of God married his beloved wife who become his faithful partner and companion, Rev. Reinda Lumoindong, STh. and has one son, Garren Reivener Lumoindong, and one daughter, Gavrilla Reichella Lumoindong.

Educational Background

 The Institute of Theology and Educational Indonesia, Jakarta.

1984-1990 : Mission of Students

1990 : Completion of Theological Education in ITKI.

1991-1997 : Host of Religious Program (Christian) in TV Station RCTI, Jakarta.

1992-1997 : Chairman of Gospel Overseas Studio (GO Studio), Jakarta

1993-1997 : Chairman of Jala Nafiri Foundation, Jakarta

1996-1999 : Host of Religious Program (Christian) in 40 radio station in all over Indonesia.

1996-now : Host of program “To Listen Properly” in Pelita Kasih radio station, Jakarta. Host of program “His Mighty Touch” in Sport FM radio station, Jakarta.

1997-now : Establishing ‘Kemenangan Iman’ (the Victory of Faith) foundation in Jakarta.

1998-2000 : Host of “His Mighty Touch” for Australian TV Station

1998-now : Chairman of GL Ministry (Gilbert Lumoindong Ministry) Host of Religious Program (Christian) in TV Station, SCTV Jakarta.

1999-now : Lecturer to school of Biblical Leadership (SKA) of GL Ministry.

Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle

First Audition – Britain’s Got Talent

Comments

This is the begining. We hope it never ends!! Lady Susan is soooooo talented.

Selimron     14th Sep 2009

Here’s where Susan’s magic spell on us began.  She was just adorable.  Cute sense of humor,fablous singing, and so much courage.  Susan you were the star and the real winner of BGT. 2SusanBFans     1st Sep 2009

Sedikit Informasi mengenai beliau.

Dia gemuk,berusia 48 tahun,kikuk,dan cara berdandannya pas-pasan.Ketika lahir,sempat kehabisan oksigen dan ini membuat perkembangan otaknya sedikit abnormal.Saat sekolah,ia sedikit terbelakang dan sering menjadi bahan ejekan  teman-temannya.Susan serius menekuni hobinya bernyanyi,dia belajar pada seorang guru vokal,Fred O`Neil.

Susan rajin datang ke teater untuk menonton para penyanyi profesional.14 tahun silam Susan pernah ikut audisi “My Kind of People“,tetapi ia begitu grogi sehingga gagal.Susan sudah pernah rekaman album “Cry Me a River“ untuk peringatan pergantian milenium di kampung halamannya.

Ibunya terus mendorong agar Susan ikut kompetisi menyanyi nasional,tetapi Susan merasa tidak siap.Pentas pertama setelah ibunya meninggal pada tahun 2007,adalah di depan Simon Cowell,di Britain`s Got Talent.Pentas itu membuat Susan diundang ke Oprah Show.

“Jika ia pergi ke Oprah,saya pikir besar peluang Susan Boyle memiliki album no 1 di Amerika.”ujar Simon Cowell.

Janganlah pandang parasnya atau perawakan yang tinggi……….tetapi TUHAN melihat hati.(1 Samuel 16:7)

 Tuhan telah menaruh di dalam diri kita talenta yang bisa digali dan dikembangkan,seperti yang dilakukan oleh Susan Boyle dan Daud.Bagaimanpun kondisi fisik kita,kita berharga di mata Tuhan berkaryalah lewat talenta itu.

“DON’T JuDge a Book By its COVER.”

John Adisubrata

TENTANG PENULIS …

John Adisubrata lahir di kota Surabaya. Sekarang ia bermukim di kota Brisbane, Australia.Pada suatu siang hari di bulan Maret 1997 kehidupannya telah diubahkan oleh Tuhan secara ajaib dan drastis sekali, melalui acara Kebaktian Kebangunan Rohani yang dibawakan oleh dua grup pemusik Indonesia: The True Worshippers dan VOG (Voice of Galilee), ketika mereka datang berkunjung dan melayani di kotanya. Kesaksian itu dikisahkan kembali olehnya di dalam artikel bersambung, yang berjudul: Semuanya Adalah Kasih Karunia.Semenjak saat itu ia menyerahkan seluruh hidupnya kepada Tuhan, dan berjanji akan menjadi saksi-Nya di manapun ia berada.

Latar belakang pendidikannya adalah arsitek jurusan artistik yang diselesaikannya di RWTH (Rheinisch Westfaelische Technische Hochschule) Aachen, Jerman. Sesudah pindah dan menjadi penduduk benua Kangguru, ia juga sempat menamatkan pendidikannya di QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Brisbane sebagai seorang pengajar di bidang seni rupa dan bahasa Indonesia.

Sebagai seorang cartoonist, pelukis, pengarang buku-buku komik dan cerpen di masa lalunya, ia menerima tantangan dari Roh Kudus untuk memakai karunia-karunia tersebut guna memproklamirkan Injil dan kasih Tuhan Yesus Kristus kepada umat-Nya yang lain, melalui artikel-artikel, kesaksian-kesaksian atau buku-buku yang sudah dibebankan di dalam hatinya.

Philip Mantofa

Philip Mantofa

Philip Mantofa lahir di Surabaya pada tanggal 27 September 1974, dia merupakan anak ke dua dari tiga bersaudara. Semuanya laki-laki. Waktu kecil Philip sering step dan kejang-kejang. Dalam kekalutan ibunya berkata kepada Tuhan :”Tuhan, jangan diambil! Anak ini saya berikan kepadaMu! Jaga dia, Tuhan!” Setelah agak besar, Philip masih mengalami kesulitan untuk berjalan. Oleh Dokter disarankan untuk memakai sepatu dari besi yang biasa digunakan untuk anak yang cacat karena polio. Hal ini membuatnya menjadi minder dan tidak mau keluar rumah. Papa Philip walaupun bukan orang Kristen, tetapi mengijinkan Philip mengikuti sekolah minggu di gereja.Waktu Philip akan masuk SD, orang tuanya menyekolahkan ke Taiwan. Hal ini untuk sekalian perawatan kesehatannya. Bersama dengan kakaknya Maxixe, Philip sekolah di Ho Bu Guo Xiao, Taipei, Taiwan. Kenakalannya menjadi-jadi saat mulai sekolah di Taiwan. Philip gampang sekali emosi, marah dan berkelahi dengan teman-temannya. Tak lama kemudian mereka pulang ke Indonesia dan bersekolah di SDK St. Aloysius, Kepanjen Surabaya. Tiap hari Philip berkelahi dan itu terus berulang sampai ia masuk SMP. Suatu saat pernah ada kakak kelasnya yang tidak terima dan mengajak seorang tentara untuk membunuh Philip. Dengan berbagai pertimbangan orang tuanya menyekolahkannya ke Singapura.   Di Singapura, ia terlibat dalam okultisme, dari mempelajari buku yang dibeli di Singapura. Saat sekolah ia mengalami pelecehan seks oleh pembimbing / guru lesnya. Hal itu menambah kepahitan dalam hidupnya. Selain itu Philip sering berkelahi dengan anak-anak di lingkungannya.   Kedua orang tua Philip kemudian menyekolahkannya ke Kanada bersama kedua saudaranya. Dibawah bimbingan Pdt Sonny, Gereja “Emmanuel Indonesian Christian Fellowship”, semua roh-roh jahat dilepaskan.   Hal itu tidak berlangsung secara mudah, tetapi membutuhkan kesabaran dan ketekunan. Philip dibaptis di gereja itu dan mulai dibentuk karakternya oleh Tuhan.Ketika memutuskan untuk kuliah di Sekolah Theologia, dia takut mengutarakan keinginannya itu kepada ayahnya.   Karena ayahnya belum mengenal Tuhan.Selama 3 hari ia mengurung diri di kamar. Ia berdoa, stress! Saat ia mengatakan ke ayahnya, diluar dugaan ayahnya cuma menjawab pendek “Oke, bagus, Lip! Papa dukung!” Philip menyelesaikan studinya di Columbia Bible College Canada, dan diwisuda pada 20 April 1996. Semua itu dilaluinya dengan tidak mudah. Ia sempat praktek di Ungaran Jawa Tengah pada tahun 1994. Philip harus adaptasi dengan lingkungan yang ada.   Tetapi semuanya itu dijalani dengan suka cita.Saat ia ulang tahun, papanya bermaksud membelikan mobil Mercedes. Tapi ia menolak, alasannya, anak-anak rohaninya banyak yang masih jalan kaki atau naik angkutan umum, mana mungkin dia sebagai bapak rohani naik Mercedes. Philip menikah dengan Irine dan memiliki seorang anak perempuan bernama Vanessa. Irine menceritakan perkenalan dengan Philip. Sebagai istri hamba Tuhan, ia menyadari kalau harus berbagi dengan Tuhan. Pelayanan Philip berhasil karena cintanya dengan Tuhan. Ia selalu membaca Firman dan berdoa setiap hari. Pada saat penyembahan dilakukan lawatan Tuhan hadir, sehingga membuat orang-orang disekelilingnya menangis. Padahal penyembahan yang dilakukan sama dengan yang orang lain lakukan. Pada suatu retreat tahun 2003, ketika dalam suasana penyembahan, tiba-tiba Siane (penulis buku), dapat melihat adanya kabut tipis dua lapis turun dan naik secara teratur di sekeliling tubuhnya.   Dan ketika acara tersebut berakhir, hampir seluruh area altar dipenuhi oleh kabut tipis itu. Bapak Ongky, bagian multimedia, mengisahkan saat akan mengarahkan gambar ke Philip, gambarnya menjadi kabur. Sedangkan bila kamera diarahkan ke peserta retreat, gambar yang dihasilkan tampak terang dan jelas. Di dalam acara Festival Kuasa Allah, banyak mujizat dan kesembuhan terjadi. Seorang bapak yang lumpuh berkata seperti dialiri air yang sejuk dan bapak itu bisa langsung melompat berdiri. Juga seorang ibu yang lumpuh kaki kanannya dan harus berjalan dengan tongkat.   Ia merasa sesuatu yang panas menjamahnya dan ia bisa berjalan tanpa menggunakan tongkatnya. Halleluya. Mengenai imannya, ada cerita yang mengesankan. Waktu KKR di Salatiga. Semua orang sudah siap di lapangan ketika hujan deras tiba-tiba membuyarkan acara.   Semua orang semburat mencari tempat berteduh termasuk pemimpin pujiannya. Padahal KKR harus dimulai. Waktu itu Pak Philip maju dan mengambil mic. Ia menaikkan satu pujian dan menyanyikannya berulang-ulang. Melihat itu, semua orang mau tidak mau maju ke panggung. Kemudian apa yang terjadi setelah itu ?   Hujan itu cuma bertahan sekitar 10 hingga 15 menit. Setelah itu berhenti.Begitu berhenti Philip langsung memberikan micnya kepada song leader sambil berbisik ditelinganya. “Lain kali kalau menghadapi situasi seperti ini gunakan imanmu.”Melalui Pdt Philip, banyak anak muda terpanggil, menjadi pekerja pelayanana full timer. Sumber : Before 30 Website gereja mawar sharon : www.gms.or.id                                                    http://terangdunia.com