EL SALVADOR’S HOUR

“This was a trip to remember.” That’s how Richard Roberts described his recent ministry trip to El Salvador. The trip began with an invitation from Antonio Saca, president of El Salvador. And from the moment Richard stepped off the plane, he was hard at work, spreading the Gospel. His feet had barely hit the ground when he was whisked away to TV and radio stations and from there to a national press conference.

“We started off in an absolute whirlwind,” said Roberts. “I was interviewed on two major Christian stations in the country. Then we went on national radio. Seems like we just ran from one place to another.”

During the television appearances, the Lord gave Richard several words of knowl­edge regarding specific miracles that were happening as he spoke. Excitement was in the air at each station as Richard saturated the airwaves with the Good News of the Gospel. In fact, when he spoke about bringing food to the hungry, one local pastor drove to the radio station to thank Richard personally. Tears rolled down the pastor’s cheeks as he explained how serious the physical needs of his people were and expressed his gratitude for all the ministry was doing.

All the love and aid that was given to El Salvador was given as a seed. “I came to give myself to the nation,” Roberts said. “I paid my own way here. I’ll pay my own way home. I came with my Bible, and I’ll go home with my Bible.”

Touching Pastors with Prayer

Much of El Salvador is a paradise—ancient palm trees, lush vegetation, mountains peeking through clouds, crystal blue waters. But when you take a closer look, the great needs of the people are all too apparent. Still recovering from 12 years of civil war, many people don’t have enough to eat. They don’t have clean water, proper sanitation, or access to healthcare. The Oral Roberts Ministries team came prepared to give aid and encouragement to this beautiful country with its precious people.

With help of our faithful Partners, Richard and his daughter Jordan brought food, doctors, medicine, and the life-changing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jordan, Director of Hunger Needs a Voice®, the humanitarian outreach of the ministry, took 500,000 meals to hungry El Salvadoran families. Along with team leader Adrian Compton, Jordan also visited two orphanages and brought gifts of washing machines, pillows, and sheets to orphans in need.

Before the crusades began, Richard met with local pastors. The meeting was packed; 450 pastors were expected, but 750 came, hungry for the power of God. Richard shared with these men and women of God some of the spiritual wisdom that had been imparted to him through his father Oral Roberts. As the ser­vice ended, Richard personally prayed for each pastor.

Setting the Stage for Miracles

God is such a good God, and He showed Himself alive in El Salvador each night of the healing rally. The ORM team worked side-by-side with local pastors and prayer counselors. Dove Award Nominated Spanish Language of the Year Artist Julisa ministered in song before the healing rallies began. Jordan Roberts and the ORM singers also blessed the crowds of about ten thousand people each night with praise songs sung in Spanish.

Richard set the stage for the rallies when on the first night he echoed the words of the Apostle Paul, “I did not come with the enticing words of men, but I came in power and with demonstration of the mighty acts of God” (I Corinthi­ans 2:4). And the people weren’t disappointed. God showed His power each night through miracles, signs, and wonders.

Changing Lives Forever

Seeing a miracle firsthand can change your life forever. Af­ter each night’s message, people rushed to the stage to tes­tify to God’s miracle-working power.

A little girl of about eight who had never spoken uttered her first word. Another girl with a deformed ear heard for the first time. Even Dr. Jose Coto, El Salvadoran physician and head of the medical outreach teams, was amazed as two of his patients came to share their healing miracles:

A woman with a “dead” retina could see. A man with a serious shoulder problem could raise up his arm.

People were drawn to the miracle power of God, and thou­sands came forward when Richard gave the invitation to receive Jesus Christ as Savior. In fact, one broken young man came down and wept near the altar even before the invitation was given.

Making a Difference

The impact Richard, Jordan, Oral Roberts Ministries and its Partners made on El Salvador is clear; Rich­ard Roberts has already been invited to return. Adrian Compton, ORM team leader, noted that a frequent comment he heard among the pastors, leaders, and radio and TV personnel in El Salvador was, ‘This ministry has come with a heart of love for our people.’”

Not only has Richard received invitations to return to El Salvador, but he’s also received invitations from the Evan­gelical Alliance in Nicaragua and from pastors in Guate­mala who heard about what happened in El Salvador.

Every person who sowed a seed of finances or prayer helped with this El Salvador trip. It could not have hap­pened without the generous gifts of our Partners. Ac­cording to Proverbs 28:27, the person who gives to the poor will suffer no lack. God will multiply the seeds sown back to him or her good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. There are people whose lives have been changed forever through ORM’s out­reach to El Salvador. “I know that I will never be the same again,” said Richard. “Our team members will never be the same, and I believe El Salvador will never be the same.”