2000 A Breakthrough Year! By Richard Shakarian

157 Nations
5,000 chapters
Hundreds of Conferences and Events
5 Million People Attend

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Dear Friend,

2000 has seen the greatest advance in God’s Kingdom in the history of the Fellowship. This has been a year of great harvest. Yet at the same time, many of our members have suffered in war, famine and economic hardships.

To you who have suffered, remember, there is a harvest on the other side of the boat! When the disciples caught nothing and the nets were empty Jesus said, "Cast on the other side of the boat." Their obedience brought a boat sinking, net breaking, harvest of financial blessing. (Big fish)!

Yes, there is another side of the boat! And God’s will is to lead us all to His promised land of blessing.

How did God lead us to the incredible path of harvest, which is resulting in hundreds of thousands coming to Christ, in Nation after Nation?

Two years ago, in the middle of an incredible outpouring of salvation upon Africa, it became apparent that the men and women of the FGBMFI were at that time reaching about 1 million people a year for Christ. At that time, a real hunger entered my heart. I began to ask God to make us 10 times better.

God’s leading is wonderful, because it was then that I began to receive prophecies and even visions for certain nations.

The result is that now we are reaching about 2 million new people a year for Christ and on our way to 10 million!!!

It would be impossible to recap the year 2000 for all 157 FGBMFI nations. So I will give only some highlights.

Nigeria: Under the direction of a newly elected Christian President, Olesegun Obasanjo, God is blessing the nation. Our FGBMFI President, Arc Bunmi Adedeji, has been especially used by God to organize the men in such a way that the number of the men and ladies members and chapters has increased 25%. The National Convention was held in a stadium seating 30,000 people, just so they could get our members and their families together. His Excellency President Obasanjo gave us a wonderful breakfast at his mansion when we were in Nigeria.

Democratic Republic of Congo– Under the most difficult conditions imaginable, directed by Dr. Malenso our Fellowship has grown at an astounding rate to almost 30,000 members. Their witness throughout the nation is bringing incredible numbers to Christ.

Ghana– Ghana has suffered economically because of the excess of government and the collapse of their currency. Yet in the midst of adversity the Fire of God is burning brighter thanks to the leadership of our dear brother, Kwabena Darko and Joseph Kwaw.

Nicaragua– Under the direction of our new Central American Regional Vice President Humberto Arguello, the initial Fire Team from last year has continued to go forward with even greater momentum than before. Now in this little land at least 300,000 people have come to Christ in the last 18 months. It is also interesting to note that Daniel Ortega the leader of the Marxist Sandinistas and former President, sent me a special birthday greeting on October 23 congratulating me, "on the great work of God that is being done, and expressing his desire to meet and talk again of God’s ways of helping us."

Honduras– Under the direction of FGBMFI President Dr. Carlos Pinel, the Fire Teams in the month of May reached almost 400,000 people. In one week we prayed for 385,000 people! It was during this incredible week that God gave me the anointed signal of the red flag. Since May the nation has been so impacted that the National Congress voted that the first 10 minutes of every school day the students will have a reading from the Bible! The Congress feels that this will bring ethics and morality back to the nation.

At the end of October in recognition of the outstanding contribution to the nation by the FGBMFI– Congress voted and later presented to me at a State Dinner a Special Commendation and Gold Medal. This is the highest honor Congress can bestow; this is the first time this has been given to anyone who is not a President of a nation or Congress. Yes, the world is beginning to recognize that the power of Christ’s love working through men is the greatest power of all.

El Salvador– Recently in a weekend Fire Team outreach under the direction of President Dr. Mauricio Lousel, and Jaime Sol, about 60,000 people prayed to commit their lives to God.

Guatemala– Under the direction of President Luis Alberto Mazariegos, just completed a national Convention where more than 5,000 people attended, at the Hyatt Hotel.

Costa Rica– Under the direction of FGBMFI President Francisco Fallas, completed its national Convention in a stadium of 7,000 people.

Moscow, Russia– Under the leadership of Bob Bignold and the airlift teams people came from 62 cities of the old Soviet Union. Many new chapters were started as Fire Teams spread throughout the nation.

USA– As I prayed about America, God gave me a vision of the fire of the Holy Spirit beginning at the very center of the nation, at the very southern most point. Then the fire came up the middle, and out to the two coasts.

We have just completed the first Fire Team outreach in Brownsville, Texas. Under the direction of Bob Clark, several Texas Directors and our USA Executive Vice President Jim Priddy, 300 Fire Team volunteers went to work. 11,800 people prayed to commit their life to Christ! On the final Saturday we had a great event in which 20,000 bags of food were given to families in need. That’s four huge truck trailer loads of food.

The city television stations and press excitedly told everyone of this great event where Christian businessmen had got off their big white horse and down into the ditch to lift up the fallen. Yes, on the front-page of the newspaper and on television the secular press communicated the saving and uplifting power of Jesus Christ through out Fire Team members!

Japan– Under the direction of Ken Tsukamoto, celebrated a very successful 10^th annual national Japanese convention.

Indonesia– Under adverse conditions our President, Herman Mantiri, is leading our Fellowship forward. In 2001 I will be speaking to the Indonesian National Convention.

The World Convention– Our apologies to those who were turned away because of lack of space at our final banquet. Because of Daniel Ortega accepting my invitation to attend our World Convention and the protesters and attitude of the hotel we were blessed with television coverage in 17 nations of the Latin world as well as Miami and New York. Day after day the message of the Sandanistas who are now soldiers of Christ was printed in the newspaper and broadcast on television. Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar encouraged our men to prosper as God intends and the President of the Congress and Chief of Staff of the Honduran armed Forces gave outstanding testimonies. If you missed the incredibly joyous occasion, be sure and attend next year’s World Convention.

Your gifts have lifted our vision and our abilities. We have gone from one million to two million receiving Christ and together, yes, we can go to 10 million!

Vangie and I take this opportunity to wish the best for you and your family. You are always in our prayers and we love you very much,

Richard Shakarian International President

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