Best for Pori

Going in my wheel chair was quite a challenge as I did not know how I was going to preach or do street work in this way but I found that God gives grace for everything. Like always we worked together as a team, Gayle did some of the morning seminars, Heike led the parallel prayer and Stefan and Susanna were there for the administration. The entire team were praying for the people at the meetings as well. Having Stephen and Matthew (Gayle’s husband and son) there was also an added blessing as that is not always possible for the entire Claxton family to travel together due to Matthew being at school.

Church Participation

The Local church did an outstanding job with organising the entire event with over 60% of the church members being involved.
We could not have had better weather too and with that young and old were out on the streets fulfilling the “great commission”, telling people about “a God that really cares!” At least 3,000 roses were distributed, 2,000 magazines and thousands of balloons were given out as part of the outreach. Soon people flocked to the café for free coffee and cake not to mention the place where people were receiving a free massage and the gospel simultaneously. The young people washed car windows and I jokingly said in the last meeting, “Pori cars have never had such clean windows in all its history!” Yes, Pori was confronted with the love of Jesus, both through the excellent music groups on a stage at the pedestrian zone where people simply stopped to listen or through the many friendly faces in their bright t-shirts sharing the message of the love of God.

God Cares for the Young

At “Best for Pori“ the children’s work was exceptionally powerful and effective. I can truly say that the children’s outreach was one of the highlights of the entire event. Only heaven knows how many children’s lives will be forever impacted through these children’s meetings in the park as well as during the night crusade.

Seminars and Crusade

The morning seminars were well attended with at least 150 people each morning and the evening meetings ranged from between 600 – 800 each night. At first I did not know how I would manage in the wheel chair but God made a way and I found it easier than I thought it would be. I told someone, “Even the angels held their breath when those men pushed me up and down that ramp onto that high stage in my wheel chair”. God’s word never returns without fruit and I wept when I saw how the people flocked to the front for salvation. Many waited patiently at the end of the meetings until late at night for their turn for prayer for healing. To them the laying on of hands was of extreme importance. That took time but I did not mind, we were there for the people and Jesus touched them one by one. Just today I heard of a man that was completely healed of tumours in the colon with pictures from his doctor before and after prayer and there were so many more touched by God in different ways.

We could never thank everybody enough that worked with such commitment, be it the councillors, intercessors, sound men or the ladies cooking in the kitchen for all the people eating together before the afternoon outreach. The pastor said, “the barrier between our church doorstep and the city is now broken because of this event”. It was an honour for Voice in the City to work with the leadership of the Pentecostal church in Pori.

Thank you dear friends for praying for my health and for “Best for Pori”; you are sharing in the harvest!