Revival Campaign in Tallinn

SPECIAL REPORT –

The Fire of the Holy Spirit in the Revival Campaign in Tallinn!

The results were outstanding – despite the fact that there are only 2,000 believers in Estonia, nearly 6000 came every night! And 2000 attended each day’s conference seminars. After the simple Gospel message, over 2000 came forward each night to repent, and there were really outstanding miracles of healing! On the Saturday evening the company who did our advertising came – they had said that we could not fill the hall by advertising a Christian service – but when they saw the crowds, they were amazed and said that not even famous Rock musicians could draw such a tremendous attendance. On the Sunday the Estonian State TV filmed the service, and broadcast it – free! In all we had 8 different TV crews filming the Conference!

For years people have said that the great crusades we are holding in Russia could not happen in Europe – God demonstrated in Estonia that He can, and will, if we go out in faith! Many who attended said that this was the first time that they had really heard the Gospel preached – the first time that real evangelism had been witnessed in Europe for 20 or even 30 years! We are expecting the miraculous power of God to bring a ‘spiritual awakening’ to this nation and the whole Baltic Region. The Conference has shaken and stirred Estonia – and I believe has begun a shaking in Europe, which we must follow through.

Thank you for joining me in strong intercessory prayer – I believe we saw the start of a spiritual breakthrough which will bring a Holy Ghost Revival to Tallinn! God answered!

The timing of this Crusade in Tallinn was critical: – we did not know when we received the invitation how the world would change. The whole of former Soviet Europe has come under threat from Russia since the attack on Georgia – those countries with direct borders to Russia are especially afraid – particularly Estonia and the Ukraine. Then the financial collapse came, the banks and the whole system being wiped out in those few desperate days. This has made the Gospel message more relevant, more necessary!

Following Tallinn we held a big conference and crusade in Perm October 2-6. We approached these meetings with some concern in view of the uncertain worldwide economic climate – my 12 month multiple entry religious visa was about to expire – at a time when the political relationships between Russia and Britain were deteriorating! But the deciding factor was Sunday 14 September when a Russian Boeing airliner crashed on the outskirts of Perm, 500 yards from the pastor’s house, killing all 88 passengers and crew. Russian people are very emotional and close-knit, even in a city as large as this. Everyone knew those who died. Pastor Eduard called me, “Please come. The people of Perm are devastated and in a great depression. They need the Gospel – don’t fail us!”

I went – the Lord worked amazing miracles to make this – the biggest such event in 15 years – a success. The morning seminar was attended by 3000 delegates from all over the Perm region, even more were present for the second seminar, and 6000 attended the evangelism in the evening with thousands repenting. 1700 New Testaments were handed out that first night. On Sunday 4500 attended the conference seminar, and again 6000 attended the evangelism. Relatives and friends of the crash victims were present in the meetings. One woman had a daughter who had been practicing as a doctor in Norway for 10 years and this was to be her first visit home. Nevertheless both the daughter who died, and the mother were believers; the mother said, “Evangelism is the most fitting tribute and memorial to the dead. Everyone needs Jesus!”

The results – from the evangelism, 1000 new converts came to the church on the following Sunday. To the sceptics this demonstrates that the day of mass evangelism is not over! People will still come to hear the Gospel and repent in their thousands. From the conference, Pastor Eduard is distributing the CDs of the preaching to pastors all over Russia – he says this is the most powerful preaching he has ever heard and he believes it will re-ignite the evangelistic fire all over Russia with an impact on the whole nation.

In addition, I went 250km by car, to hold a one night open-air crusade in Kudimkar. As we approached this northern city, the sunshine gave way to black skies and the rain poured down. But the organising pastor said, “You think the weather in Kudimkar is bad, but these people will come!” – And they did! There were people everywhere – standing in the square, sheltering under the buildings across the street, under the portico of the Culture Palace behind the platform, under umbrellas – up to 1000 standing in the rain! Teenagers, young couples, the old and the sick! – And no-one moved! But when I got up to speak, the rain stopped, crowds pressed forward and hundreds received Christ.

Our first Open Day on October 11 was an opportunity to not only meet you, but for you to meet all our staff – and see how we process our work quickly and efficiently. The Charity Commission website shows that we only spend 6.5% of our income on fund-raising – which is remarkable!

This time is critical not only for my ministry – but for you also. I need your support more now than ever – both in prayer and finance to fulfil the call in Russia – and to use the Tallinn Crusade as a launch pad into Europe itself. We must follow through the success of Tallinn and Perm. The most important thing to do at this time of crisis is to evangelise – most people find Christ in times of crisis.

We need to renew prayer for finance – I believe that the Lord will bless Christians in the crisis – and that God will not only deliver us – but cause others to see that God is meeting our needs when others around us are falling! Our financial needs continue: we need a further £250,000 to complete this years’ programme – before the end of the year I will be – first USA – then Bulgaria – then Israel!

We have a promise – from a God who KEEPS HIS WORD – and who never fails.

Your partner in evangelism,

David Hathaway

Evangelist