After many days of continuous torrents, the sky was mysteriously clear and brilliant in Petaling Jaya throughout the two days of the Celebration 2000 evangelistic event. Puzzled by the sudden withdrawal of rain from the skies, many speculated that the rainy spell had passed and sunny days were back again. But then, the rains fell again. And right on the day after the event! Surely, the Lord of the skies had heard the saints’ pleas for good weather for those two important days so that many would be encouraged to go to Juara Stadium to hear the Gospel from Australian evangelist Dr Bill Newman.
So, thanks to the Lord’s intervention, some 2800 people turned up during the two nights to hear the message of salvation and enjoy the musical feast of inspiring instrumental presentation, joyous but contemplative worship, and powerful solo vocal performances by two ladies, soprano Cecilia Yip and contemporary Christian singer Vani Francis.
Cecilia, a third runner-up at the 7th International Opera competition in Italy in 1994, got the audience hanging on to the edge of their seats with her glass-breaking rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’. Her vocal prowess was truly amazing. Vani also sang forcefully and easily endeared herself with the crowd as she shared freely before each of her two songs.
Each night, before the meeting proper began, the crowd was treated to an instrumental feast presented by a combined music team from First Baptist Church and Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church. The team was graced by the presence of Jordan, reputed to be the best lead guitarist in the country, and Yeoh Pei Sze, a professional violinist who also lectures music at a local university. Undoubtedly, it was the graceful violinist who stole the hearts of all with her heart-stirring performance of songs such as ‘Give thanks’, ‘It only takes a spark,’ and ‘What a friend we have in Jesus.’
Following the instrumental and solo presentations, Aust-ralian contemporary Christian singer Darin Browne led in a time of joyous worship and also sang a few of his compositions. Darin was careful not to ‘wear out’ the crowd with a long worship session while, at the same time, ensuring that it met its purpose of preparing hearts for the message.
By the time Dr Newman took to the stage, the crowd was ready to listen. Dr Newman proved to be a master communicator as he spoke passionately about the brevity and fragility of life in simple, clear terms that touched the hearts of many. At the altar call later, many went forward, some to receive the gift of salvation and others to re-commit their lives to God. To the soft strains of the song ‘The power of Your love’ Dr Newman then led the pensive respondents in the prayer of faith.
As the counsellors ministered to the respondents, the remaining crowd trickled out of the hall into the clear, dry night.
(Celebration 2000, held on November 25 and 26, was organised by NECF Malaysia in partnership with local churches.) |
