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INDONESIA, Mongolia, Nigeria and Kenya are some of the
countries evangelist Peter Youngren has recently visited.
He has many more to traverse this year, before he takes
a break in December. Pakistan, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the U.S. and Canada
are on his busy itinerary.
This month’s ‘Grace Encounters’ in
B.C., sponsored by his World Impact Ministries (WIM), are designed to equip
him – prayer-wise and financially – to take the gospel to
cities across Asia, Africa and Europe.
On a visit to Kamloops in April, Youngren spoke to a
modest crowd of some 70 people about the ministry’s activities.
He made a significant announcement about a new TV outreach, and urged those
present to get involved.
Overseas, his Celebration festivals have spread the
message of spiritual and physical healings across religious boundaries.
“The gospel is presented uncompromisingly, but in an attitude of
friendship. The fundamental doctrines of Christ are shared in a way that
can be understood cross-culturally,” said the Canadian evangelist.
WIM was founded in 1976. The festivals have drawn
crowds of at least 20,000; an estimated 600,000 people attended one
service. Recently, the ministry has worked in predominantly Muslim
countries – where, surprisingly, political leaders have
welcomed the team’s outreaches.
Returning to Kamloops after a hiatus of two decades,
the preacher recalled an amusing incident from his last visit, involving
the evident healing of a local race horse.
The animal’s trainer asked Youngren to pray for
the horse, which had a damaged knee. Not only did the horse get better, but
it also went on to win a race not long afterward. The incident came to the
attention of secular media; one headline read: “Healed horse
wins.”
With tongue in cheek, Youngren assured his hearers that
he hadn’t “developed a theology of horses – but our God
is a good God.”
Kathleen and Van Dyke Nyarko of Kamloops have
supported WIM for four years. Van Dyke toldBCCN that Youngren “loves people of other religions,
is friendly to them – but speaks the truth about Jesus as the
Saviour.”
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Kathleen, an ex-missionary to Ghana, concurred.
“Peter makes Christ preeminent over all, and delivers the message
straight. He looks to the Lord for finances and does not give big pressure.
We are glad we can be a part of the work of God.
“Two years ago, when Kenya was falling apart
politically, God used Peter to restore the country. Along with leaders from
other regional countries, Peter met the Kenyan politicians and prayed with
them.”
Heather Wilson, a first-time attendee at a Youngren
gathering, said the evangelist “presented himself well, had a
sense of humour, and exalted Jesus. I liked him saying ‘Jesus
has done it all; his grace covers everything.’ I liked his vision of
expanded TV coverage from Canada to the rest of the world.”
Nevertheless, she noted, “there was also too much hype.”
In Kamloops, Youngren made an announcement about his
hope of owning a TV station. “The Star Choice channel covers almost
30 percent Christian viewership. A final hearing was held on March 30, with
no negative intervention”
Youngren added: “Christian TV has taken a beating
. . . It’s time for programming that keeps Jesus in the
centre.”
– Narayan Mitra
May 2009
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