Pastor Geoff & Ava Stafford Ministries Reports 2005

 

The Staffords in Indonesia and Singapore
March 11 – April 15, 2005

With much anticipation of God revealing His glory, Geoff and Ava Stafford flew into Jakarta for 4 momentous weeks of teaching in Bible colleges and church ministry in Indonesia and a week in Singapore. Through much humor and group involvement, Ps Geoff implanted the Word of God that brought healing and deliverance. As Proverbs says ‘A merry heart does good, like medicine.’
At Rhema Bible College in Bekasi the joy of Jesus penetrated every teaching session on Genesis and John. Many truths were punctuated by their wholehearted vibrant ‘YES” with thumbs up. Ps Geoff’s claim to fame as Pak Yes lives on!

The final day was for celebration with the students ably acting out several stories from John. What a cheer went up when the blind man was healed and disapproving boos when the Pharisees questioned the man’s parents! The concluding prayer line was awesome as each student received a prophetic word from both Ps Geoff and Ava. The Holy Spirit was at work as tears flowed, hugs abounded and lives changed.

Following lively and joyful worship on Sunday at two otherI branch churches in Cikarang and Cempaka Putih, Ps Geoff’s ‘move among the people’ style kept everyone alert. What joy when two young ladies were set free through deliverance in the morning service and in the evening another young lady’s fearful closed heart was opened by Jesus love as Ava reached her arms out to hug her.

 

The next Sunday services were a 4-hour drive south east of Jakarta in the mountain city of Bandung where the second morning service was packed. Ps Geoff’s message on actively giving oneself to God, the leaders and each other was aptly illustrated by enjoyable involvement of the congregation. The Spirit convicted as one new visitor sobbed at the altar crying to know God personally while others were set free.

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After ministry Ps Geoff really enjoyed his favorite reward – Indonesian fish. During the trip he ate fish 8 nights in a row!

Ministry at Jogjakata was full of variety. With a city worship team we traveled out to a lovely village of Wates for the Good Friday service. People soon filled the outside chairs and inside the Protestant church. Ps Geoff’s evangelistic message was massaged with humour as he acted out the Garden of Eden story of the Fall while appealing to lives affected by sorrow, curses and shame. Responding to the Cross as the answer, the people streamed to the altar for prayer.

Easter Sunday services were celebrated in 200 strong Bethany Pentecostal Church in Magelang where Ps Geoff preached about resurrection life. Holy Spirit imparted His life to about 50 people at each altar call with one man falling down in the Spirit after prayer for the same anointing to preach and teach.

During the week Ps Geoff brought the Genesis stories to life to the Bible college students. We also rejoiced with Ps Andrew for God’s gift of much larger premises of three floors in a centrally located brand new building and use of mountain villa for prayer and ministry retreats.

Weekend ministry was in Klaten just outside Jogjakarta at an AOG church in the morning and outdoors at a protestant church in the evening. Just on twilight, Ps Geoff was preaching on the importance of building your life on the Rock Jesus. Just as he emphasized that a life built on man’s shifting ideas will collapse, the tropical rains arrived suddenly. Everyone hurried into the church building where Geoff resumed the message with much joviality yet conviction. We much appreciated the warm welcome and banquet that followed the service.

On Monday we were back in Klaten for the Full Gospel Businessman’s breakfast speaking to businessmen and pastors and in the evening Ava spoke to the National Prayer Conference ladies group about the effectiveness of prayer from a heart secure in Jesus.

Ministry in Jogja finished on a high note as Ps Geoff shared with about 45 pastors and leaders on ‘Who is the most important person in your church?’.

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