So often when we are leaving a city the people say, "We will never be the same." This time, as Joyce and I left the country, we were saying, "We will never be the same." Never have we experience such love, appreciation and caring as we did from the wonderful people of Zambia!

We were invited to Zambia by President Frederick Chiluba, and had the privilege of attending the opening session of Parliament. When President Chiluba arrived to address the Parliament, he was honored by a full military band, a horse brigade, a twenty-one cannon salute and two flyovers by the Air Force.

We were seated as guest of honor in the diplomatic section and were surrounded by the ambassadors of many nations. The ambassador of Communist China was seated just in front of us, and many Islamic ambassadors were near by. President Chiluba ended his two and one half hour speech with words that we feel we can all pray over our own nation, and our own endeavors.

"Destiny has ordained us the rare privilege and opportunity to change and transform Zambia into a dynamic, prosperous and stable country. We have within us the means, ability and indeed the will to achieve this goal. Let us join hands, rise to the supreme sacrifice and make this goal a reality. We are a nation with hope, hope firmly anchored in our unfailing and invisible God of tremendous exploits.

Although the challenges we face may look insurmountable, I believe with God on our side, victory is certain. Let me therefore dedicate ourselves and all that we hold dear to the almighty God and ask from the platform of this Eminent House for the Holy Spirit to take more of us and to take more of Him, by Him so that this House can carry out its noble mission successfully and to the glory of God. Through Him our thoughts, ambitions and plans can be articulated and implemented with infallible accuracy. For the message of the Bible is clear. The Lord said, "As the Father has sent me, so send I you. And whatever you bind here on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever is loosened here shall be loosened in heaven.

Let the Holy Spirit therefore guide us in wisdom to love others and make us channels of peace, so that we do things as Christ would have done them and ask that in moments of decision making He will give us sufficient inner grace to choose what Christ would have chosen. Let us then go out and fulfill our noble mission."

President Chiluba then began to shout. "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise You Jesus! Praise the Lord!"

It was so exciting to be there and witness his testimony for the Lord. It was so thrilling to hear many in the parliament respond in praises themselves!

When President Chiluba took office nine years ago, his first official act was to declare Zambia a Christian nation. He was introduced to our ministry through our books, manuals and video tapes which he says has revolutionized his life and the lives of many in his nation. As a result we have become very close friends and have had frequent telephone conversations.

When Joyce and my plane arrived in Zambia, we were each given two dozen beautiful red long-stemmed roses. There was a delegation of pastors and bishops, a welcoming committee, and a choir singing praises to God. The press and television people were there to interview us and this gave us an immediate opportunity to minister to the whole nation in a prophetic word and prayer.

While we were in the capital city of Lusaka we stayed in the State Lodge with people waiting on our every need. They fixed full meals three times a day. We were assigned a full time security man, the Chief Protocol Officer and a full time car and driver. We have never been treated so royally.

The Deputy Minister of Christian and Religious Affairs, a true Spirit-filled man of God who also has a Bible School in Lusaka traveled with us to all the meetings. We spent four days in northern Zambia traveling by motorcade with the Presidential State House Flag flying from the Deputy Minister’s car and on some occasions even had a police escort. Everywhere we went the police at the intersections and at check points snapped to attention and saluted.

As we entered three cities, we were taken to meet the mayor and asked to pray for him and for his city. We were taken to the office of the Permanent Secretary (Governor) of the Northern province, and were so humbled when he knelt on his knees and asked us to lay hands on him and pray for him and to pray for God’s blessing on his Province. Most of these leaders were also in our meetings.

In the first Sunday morning service, Joyce was praising the Lord and asked Him why she was in Zambia. What was His purpose? He spoke to her about joining with the ministers and people of Zambia in praying for their country. It was awesome to feel the power of the Holy Spirit being released in each meeting.

So much more was being done in the realm of the Spirit then what we could see.

On two occasions we had hours of fellowship with President Chiluba in the Presidential office. At his request, we laid hands on him and God gave us prophetic words of direction for him and his nation. During these times of intimate fellowship, we praised and worshipped God together and had wonderful times of prayer both "in the spirit and with our understanding."

In frequent telephone conversations upon our return, President Chiluba has said, "You and Joyce have lit fires of revival that are sweeping across our nation." For all of this we give God the glory and ask that you join with us in praying for President Chiluba and the nation of Zambia.