The city of Caracas has been shocked into a realization of the reality of life and death by a mighty manifestation of the power of God! The rest of Venezuela is being stirred!
Through the cooperation of the sixteen Pentecostal churches in the Caracas area a seven-week “Faith Campaign” was conducted in Caracas’ bullfight arena, “El Nuevo Circo.” This arena seats 15,000 and has standing room for 10,000 more.
The evangelist, Eugenio Jimenez of New York, had a powerful ministry in Colombia in 1959. Although he was obliged six times by the Colombian government to leave the country, he so ably defended his cause that the senate of Colombia granted him a “salvo-conducto” which gave him complete liberty to preach.
Brother Jimenez’ coming to Caracas had been well prepared by prayer and publicity. A prayer campaign was organized in the Catia church the first of January and continued every night for several months. An “around the clock” prayer chain was formed and continued until the end of the campaign. Over 320,000 handbills were distributed in all parts of the city and radio announcements were made. The newspapers at first refused to give publicity but later granted space to the campaign.
From the very first meeting, in answer to Brother Jimenez’ prayer, God began to work miracles of healing. Every night many sick and afflicted people, whose needs were desperate, were brought to the arena for prayer. Demon-possessed persons, mentally retarded children, alcoholics, tuberculosis cases, people with goiters, tumors, and cancers, the blind and deaf came for deliverance. Some came in Cadillacs; others were carried on the backs of concerned friends. But as time came for the evangelist to pray for those who were afflicted a sense of expectation settled upon the audience. The question that arose in every heart was: “What new thing will God do tonight? What miracle of healing will the Divine Surgeon perform?” The very atmosphere was charged with faith.
When one listens to Brother Jimenez pray, one knows that he is in contact with the living God. The evangelist did not call a healing line. He simply stood and prayed. But what a prayer! It reached through to heaven, for it was prayed in the name of Jesus. As people stood with their hands on the afflicted part of their body, and with faith-filled hearts reaching toward heaven, they were healed, for the “the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”
Chief among the first remarkable healings was that of Lorenzo Bolivar. Paralyzed as the result of a fall from a building, this man had spent the past eight years in a wheel chair. He took God at His word, and in answer to prayer he agonizingly raised himself from the wheel chair and started to walk. He has been walking ever since! That sparked the revival! (see article)
Brother Bolivar had long been a familiar figure in the streets of Caracas. Everybody knew him. The newspapers, which before his healing had ignored the campaign, made a detailed investigation and verified the truth of the case of Bolivar. From then on the crowds swelled to 25,000 nightly with about 10,000 standing in the center of the arena. Thus it continued for seven weeks through both rain and burning sunshine.
During one service the people stood in a pouring rain – some of them in three to four inches of water – as the evangelist brought the message.
Night after night God performed miracles of healing. The blind received their sigh; the deaf were made to hear and the dumb to speak. Alcoholics were delivered; cancers and tumors disappeared.
I saw a woman throw down a crutch and begin to walk. A man got up from a wheel chair and walked, awkwardly at first, but soon he was running. Leg braces, no longer needed, were removed. Many very young children were healed. Almighty God confirmed the message of His servant with signs following.
God’s saving power was stressed in every service and it was not unusual for a thousand hands to be raised when the invitation was given to accept Christ. According to reports which have been turned in, several thousand people accepted Christ as Savior and hundreds were healed during the campaign.
All who had been healed were asked to bring to the closing service a placard on which was written their testimony. For example: “I was blind but now I can see.” At testimony time those who held placards were asked to raise them. The entire arena became a sea of waving placards bearing testimony to the wonderful works of God, and shouts of rejoicing over God’s wonderful work swelled to heaven in a great volume of praise. Hundreds who had been healed gave verbal testimony of their healing. Many had been to their doctors and had brought to the service written reports confirming their healing.
We were sorry to see the campaign in Caracas draw to a close. But Brother Jimenez, joined by his brother Raimundo, and a young man named David Garcia, are carrying the campaign to other cities. An outstanding ten-day revival was conducted in Valencia, a well-known Roman Catholic stronghold, with the same results as were accomplished in Caracas. As a direct result of the Valencia campaign four new halls are being opened.
Two meetings are now in progress, one in Barquisimeto and another in Maracaibo. The governor at first refused to grant permission to hold the meetings in Maracaibo but clearance finally came through.
In Caracas we are faced with the problem of taking care of the new converts. From individual written reports we have over 2,000 names of persons benefited during the campaign and there are many who did not report. The spirit of faith prevails and the harvest is still being gathered. Churches are filled and people continue to be healed in almost every service. In order to take care of this ingathering more church halls, more workers, more literature, and more funds are needed.
We are now considering opening a new evangelistic center in the heart of Caracas, and we propose to open at least four more halls at different points throughout the city to help meet the needs of these new converts. We ask you to stand with us in prayer and support in order that the work which God has begun shall continue.
November 19, 1961
See also:
Lorenzo Bolivar