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I limp; the devil didn’t do it
Written by Peter Youngren on March 30, 2009My fall happened in a split second. In my last blog I commented on how spectacular the third night of our Kisumu Gospel Festival was. I couldn’t possibly describe all the glorious details of the testimonies of healings, salvation and freedom. There is one other small detail that I didn’t mention. At the end of the night I was engaged in a conversation with the Mayor of Kisumu, when Megen Thurber, head of our Media department, waved to let me know some people wanted to take our picture.
Earlier I had noticed that there was one area where the stage was weak. We had tried to keep the line of people wanting to testify away from this spot and I had avoided it as I preached. I didn’t realize that the Mayor and I were now standing on this very soft spot. We were looking into the camera when one of the bishops stepped into the same weak spot. Well, in one instant we all disappeared below the stage as it gave way (see video—I laugh now, but it was painful).
Almost six feet below were boards and steel pipes, all part of the stage structure, and my foot got caught as I found myself with a mother and child across my legs, the Mayor resting on my right shoulder, and other bodies on top of me. I rolled my ankle pretty good, and when they lifted me out of the hole I was a bit shaken. The people, of course, were looking at this in wonderment as the service was winding down.
Well, it’s not the end of the world that the Mayor of Kisumu and I are both limping a bit. If that’s all there was to it I wouldn’t even bother telling the story except, of course, that you may find it peculiar to see me vanish and my shocked expression afterwards.
What resulted was predictable: Christians started to say that the devil had done it. You know this strange idea in Charismatic religion that when we are anointed by God and seeing signs, wonders and miracles, then the devil has power to get back at us. Of course, this is a ridiculous idea, but it is not one unique to Africa. I hear it in America, Canada and Europe all the time. If the sound system is shrieking it’s the devil, if someone backs their car into a telephone pole it’s the devil, etc. etc. I get tired of even repeating these weird notions.
Here is how I started my sermon the next night: “You all saw the mayor of the city and myself disappear under the stage last night. I’ve heard the statements that the devil made this happen. But I can assure you he didn’t. The devil doesn’t have the power to make a stage collapse. If he worked on it for 1000 years he couldn’t do it. That kind of power is completely out of his reach. No, the devil didn’t do it. What did it was poor construction.” Well, the people erupted in applause and laughter. It’s amazing how merely stating the obvious brings such joy. The spell cast by the idea that the devil somehow mystically could orchestrate the collapse of our platform had been dispelled, and the people were free just to enjoy and laugh. The contractor who had built the stage was nowhere to be seen. I think he was afraid of the Mayor. We still love him, so he need not to worry about us.
That night leaving the Gospel Festival grounds, there was a real traffic jam. Bicycles, cars and, most of all, thousands of people tried to exit at the same time. I turned to my friend Bishop Jefferson who was riding with me in our car, “let’s talk to some people.” Coincidently, the moment I rolled down my window I saw a smiling man with his family. “I’m so happy,” he said. I asked him what happened. He said, “My daughter has been a deaf mute and last night Jesus healed her.” I called the girl over and, sure enough, she could hear everything and articulate words so well. He said, “We came back tonight just to praise God for what happened.” Here was a family and the daughter had never made her way to the platform to testify; one of many who I would never have heard of unless the traffic jam had slowed us down. You’ve heard the phrase, “only eternity will reveal all that happened.” I don’t know how many other families are just like this one—people to whom God’s love has been revealed, but we may never know about it until eternity. Thanks for your partnership! Let me hear your thoughts.
Peter
Dominic Cerisano
~ Toronto ON
Dear Pastor,
I am sincerely trying to not read too much into that video, and desperately trying to keep from laughing my silly head off.
But I really do feel overwhelming gratitude to the Lord that no one was seriously hurt. I pray you are feeling better.
Unless a seed falls to the ground ... ok I’ll stop there.
Classic!
Mike
Hi Peter
I don’t have a clue what your talking about. I’ve never heard any bizarre teaching from Christians (LoL). No Seriously , I feel like I’ve heard a million sermons. It would be interesting to know what percentage was actually biblical. Only God could answer that. I’d guess probably less than 5%. Keep preaching the grace message. I hope your leg is better.
P.S. What about a blog about “The Shack by William P. Young.” Just an idea.
God Bless
Carina Jensen
~ Kungsängen, Sweden
Wonderful!
Don Heinemann
~ Medicine Hat, AB
Yes Peter [col.2;15] says the devil was deafted at the cross.no more is to be said. deafted means deafted period. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR WORK.
In Christs love. Don H
Donald MacLean
~ Canada
Words can not describe the way your reports make me feel. To hear of the wonderful works of God just thrills me through and through and creates in me a desire to give more so you can go to others in this world who need to hear the truth about God’s love for them.
I must say there have been times when I looked for a hole in the stage like the one you found as I sat and listened to what was being done and said in some churches lol So glad you were not injured and you told then it was not the devil. As I painted one day my can blew over the pastor at that time assured me it was the devil —- glad I knew it was the wind.
Ingvei
~ Port Colborne
Oh I am so grateful to the Lord that I have been praying for you. My heart just sunk when I saw you falling. I am so thankful to our Lord Jesus that you are safe.
I will continue to prayer for all of you.
Dorothea LeBlanc
~ Halifax, NS Canada
It’s so refreshing to hear someone tell it like it is!
But I can assure you he didn’t. The devil doesn’t have the power to make a stage collapse. If he worked on it for 1000 years he couldn’t do it. That kind of power is completely out of his reach. No, the devil didn’t do it. What did it was poor construction.
Segun Onayinka
~ Nigeria
Pastor Peter,
What a beautiful exhortation. Thanks its helps a lot to know that Luke10:18-19 isnt fiction but faction. Satan fell..we trample upon him and his works, nothung shall by ANY MEANS hurt us.
Thank you sir, more power to u
Ruth
~ Toronto
Thanks so much for clarifying that misconception. That breaks the power of fear!
Elizabeth
~ East Java, Indonesia
Give Thanks to the Lord..because with that situation you bring them laugh, happy and Joy.
...in this world filled with weakness, unstable, etc..etc
But God do the best thing for your minister Pastor Peter..God bring His love from you to them and make them very exited..
Praise to Him ...GBU
Gotto Sarnoh
~ Burnaby, BC
Thanks be to God that everybody get saved, it was not the devil it was poor constrution because i know the devil can never go near you when preaching the word of God. Just take everything like that and take care of yourself. Love you!
Georgi Petrov Ushavkov
~ Ontario
Go forward, Peter. Don’t stop. God takes care about you. God bless you.
Lynn Jayes
~ Alberta
It is so rehreshing to dismantle a belief that gives the devil too much credit. It is very freeing to me.
Thank You -LYNN
Sumbul
~ Karachi, Pakistan.
Hello Pastor!..Sorry as i am about the poor construction of the stage as i see in the video, and for the pain you have in your leg, i still praise the Lord for revealing through you about the Power controls to the people. I very much believe in the practical aspects of many mishaps. Surely the people have learnt not to chase such notions that give rise to false and fake beliefs despite being hypothetical in some cases. Anyways Pastor your courage in The Lord is great and shall be greatened more and more. It is wonderful that your glory is vested in His Glory and your Power is vested in His Power. You are more concerned about his Glory than your own and so He knows how to lift you up. Brother keep up the good work you are doing for the Lord for no man could reward you for your deeds other than The Mighty Lord!!
ps, Kamugisha Francis.
~ Kampala- Uganda.
Dear Servant of God, i greet you in the name of our lord Jesus christ thanks for the great job your doing in the Lord kingdom, when you see promperts falling down its becourse the Devil is fighting, when raises always God lifts the standards, i have seen in my ministry, we are under shelter church. You know i believe becouse your are my friend i have been sending you our prayer request.
Yours in service, Kamugisha Francis.
Martin
~ Toronto
You know what Pastor? I’m sorry about the fall but I’m glad it provided the opportunity for you to testify it had nothing to do with the devil. I’m originally from Kenya and I can tell you there is a general tendency among believers where every set back or negative occurrence is attributed to the devil. This unfortunately keeps many from taking responsibility for their own actions and taking the steps needed to correct a situation. The laughter your response evoked is exactly what the doctor ordered! An honest acceptance rather than the devil chasing prayers that would usually accompany such an event.
Brandi Michielsen
~ London, Ontario - Canada
All praise and thanksgiving unto our Lord and Savior! for even in the poor construction of the platform, God gave you the ablity to break through a barrier of false teachings of demonic power over them, that these people have lived under / feared / been held captive to - for too long.
We all learn from mistakes made, and I hope the Mayor is not too harsh towards the construction worker, for his haste in putting the platform together and not seeing that the support beams were re-enforced. In his lack / oversight of securing the stage, people where re-enforced and moreso empowered with the truth of our living Messiah, by the words you spoke to them the following night. We are so thankful that only minor injuries occurred, as it could have been much more tragic…but the firewall of our Heavenly Father’s angels were encamped around you all. Praise God!!!!
With the mother and child having a softer landing on top of you, I can only imagine the shock you were all in, when it happened. Once the physical condition of everyone was checked out - with no serious injuries - it is then that we can chuckle and say ‘Ummmmh, that wasn’t so bad after all.’ There’s a reason for all things occuring, under the blood of the Son of God, and you holding this little nugget of information on your journal report from the other day sure brightened up my day of dealing with computer studies / research. As the saying goes…‘If it doesn’t kill us, it will make us stronger’, and this report reminded me of numerous falls I’ve had, with worse results that my Chiropractor had to deal with, to put me back on the mend. To add to that ‘Even if it does kill us, out of body we are escorted into the presence of our Abba Father {Revelations 19:1-9}, for eternity.’
Hope the Mayor & your twisted ankle[s] mend quickly.
Lyan
~ Toronto
Pastor Peter,
I would like to thank the good Lord for keeping you safe and bringing you back in one good piece….Hope you are feeling much better now..I felt so sad when I watched that video at church, (with my eyes half closed), but for just a while, then the Lord confirmed it that,” Not a single bone of his will be broken.” I was then filled with joy, for I know how hard you work and you have been obedient to take the gospel of grace, The Lord will surely uphold you and protect you from any harm. I am sure this video is going to bring glory to His name, it already has. The Kenyans will surely improve their construction skills next time. We love you and we are praying for you.
Blessings to you now and ever more!
Teresa Jones
~ Indiana
The story of the man with the deaf mute was so powerful. I am so glad that you weren’t hurt in the fall, and I was filled with tears of joy for the man and his daughter wanting to Glorify God for her healing. I pray that more people would thank God instead of damning him for their ill fates. Thank you for sharing and God bless.
Dominic Cerisano
~ Toronto ON
Dear Pastor,
Before this happened, I asked for some video of the Lord’s works in Kenya (see previous post)
The Lord uses evil for good. The hebrew word for evil means dark and obscured. The flaw under the stage that caused the accident qualifies as an evil.
How many other flaws were lurking in the darkness under that stage, waiting for the carpenter’s hand? The entire structure could have collapsed causing very serious injuries and even loss of life.
I am absolutely certain that these have all been addressed, given the stature of the victims in this video.
When calamaties befall me, I always thank the Lord. I know the outcome will always be good. I know he sees the full picture and is managing the distaster even before it happens.
But for the Lord’s grace, things could always be worse.
Madeleine
~ Sweden
Hahaha I just have to laugh! In Sweden they still belive in a big devil and a small God. My sister was healed in her knee after you prayed for her. So don´t woory about a thing, God will fix you in no time! The devil is under my feet as he should be!!! And I think he is under yours to!
Blessings! Madeleine
benjamin ishiaka
~ Zaria, Nigeria
i am very pleased to hear all this testimonies and i wish i was there with you to be a part of my Father’s work. Any way i am in Zaria trying my best though not good enough and so i covet your prayers to be steadfast and to understand the reason, purpose and work that Jesus has called or given to me . Always remember in Him you live, move and have your being. Bye
Jemma
~ Post falls Idaho
In your blog, you stated how, just stating the plain and simple obvious truth can set people free to laugh and have joy in there soul, Christians way to often are giving the enemy power in there mind, and make everything so spiritual! It drives me crazy! I have come to learn that the power the enemy has is the power we give him when we speak about him and let him control our thoughts! Thank you for bringing the truth!!!
p.s sorry about your fall!
and i cant wait to see you in P.F
Talpur
~ Islamabad, Pakistan
You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbee and your success is very much an inspiration for me. The first page doesn’t need to be just a dream anymore.Very interesting comments. I had some experiences getting some frecuencies fro china i guess but i never keep up with my search. Good suggestions though!
Lynda
~ Duncan, Vancouver Island, B.C.
I just watched the video of the collapsed stage. Since no one was seriously hurt I want to comment———
Looked to me like the devil did it (lol). It looked too smooth.
I am sorry it happened but if you can laugh now—it is a story to tell you grandchildren.
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Joey B
~ Ontario
Holy cow! Good thing nobody got seriously hurt - wow. Someone must have been praying very hard to prevent those injuries. God is good.