“But when he Jesus saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. —Matthew 9:36–37 ”
The line of people waiting to see the doctors ran all the way down the street. The sun beat down on them, making them sweat in the 90-degree heat, but they didn’t care. They wanted help. One weary woman gripped the ticket—numbered 394—that would allow her into the medical clinic when it was her turn.
When she saw Dr. Jose Coto emerge from the medical tent, she flagged him down to ask, “How many people will you see today?” Dr. Coto smiled, and with compassion answered her with “todo”—the Spanish word for all.Just as Jesus never turned anyone away who came to Him for a miracle, this medical clinic wouldn’t turn anyone away, either. The woman sighed in relief. And a little bit of Jesus came alive to her in that moment.
This past April, Richard Roberts, his daughter Jordan, associate evangelist Adrian Compton, and a team of doctors, nurses, and others visited Nicaragua to share the message that God still saves, heals, and delivers people today, just as He did in Bible days. Their mission: to bring the living Jesus to people of all ages, social positions, and economic conditions. One of 40 nations that God has called Richard Roberts to reach, Nicaragua is the largest Central American
country, roughly the size of New York.
With coastal beaches, tropical lowlands, mountainous highlands, and volcanic regions, Nicaragua is a country of great beauty. But it is also a country of great need. Over 46 percent of Nicaragua’s nearly 5.9 million people are underemployed. They have jobs, but often cannot work enough hours or earn enough pay to support themselves. Approximately 32 percent cannot read or write. The country is subject to earthquakes, one of which destroyed the center of Managua, the capital city, in 1972. Many Nicaraguans also face serious infectious diseases, such as typhoid fever, HIV, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, and parasitic infections.
The needs of Nicaragua are great, but the Bible says God is a great God, and He’s more than able to meet any need! And that’s exactly what the Oral Roberts Ministries shared with the people of Nicaragua God’s transforming, healing power for their spirits, souls, and bodies.
Touching People in All Walks of Life Members of 200 local churches participated in the outreach. They fasted and prayed 24 days in preparation for Richard’s nighttime healing rallies. When the 40-foot flatbed truck loaded with food provided by Hunger Needs a Voice arrived, they helped unload the boxes. They organized the doctors’ supplies of antibiotics, parasite treatments, antifungal creams, and pain medications.
They provided translators and arranged follow-up ministry for those who attended the healing rallies. Additionally, God opened doors of opportunity to share His love with people in all walks of life. Managua’s mayor former three-time world boxing champion and Olympic flag-bearer Alexis Argüello invited Richard to pray for the city’s needs. During their time of fellowship, the mayor named Richard an honorary citizen of Managua.
Later that day, Richard visited Nemagon, a community of displaced farmers living in dilapidated tents in a city park. There, some of the poorest inhabitants of Managua gratefully received the medical care they needed so badly. Richard encouraged them in the Lord, saying, “This medical care and food is our gift to your community. We love you! We have been praying for you and expecting
miracles for you.”
Medical Clinics Caring for People’s Physical Needs For four days straight, ORM’s team of twelve doctors and nurses from the United States and El Salvador examined and cared for people who normally can’t afford healthcare. Over the course of the outreach, at least 1,500 people received medical assistance, prescriptions, vitamins, and food. One million meals were provided by Hunger Needs a Voice enough for many people to have food to take home for their families.
Large crowds lined up for the clinics in Boaco (located in the mountains north of Managua), the tent city of Nemagon in the center of Managua, and La Chureca, Managua’s trash dump. The team also made house calls to ten Managuan orphanages to treat children of all ages.
In Boaco, the clinic was continued a day longer than planned to accommodate the large numbers of people seeking help. Many had traveled great distances because they were desperate to see a doctor. At Nemagon, the line of individuals waiting to see a doctor stretched down the street and around the corner. But no matter how big the crowds got, everyone who came received care.
The patients included people of all ages, with all sorts of needs. Many older adults had faced years of back pain, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, hernias, diabetes, and other illnesses. Some parents simply wanted a check-up for their children.
Other patients were families suffering from parasite infections which huge numbers of people suffer from due to contaminated water and poor sanitary conditions. If left untreated, parasite infections can lead to organ damage and other problems, even death.
For those who can’t afford regular healthcare, the medical clinics made possible by our Partners were desperately needed. And those who benefited were so thankful for the help that came from Oral Roberts Ministries. “Our doctors treat people medically, and then they pray the prayer of faith over them, believing that nothing is too big for God,” Richard said. “That’s what this outreach is all about.”
Healing Rallies Caring for People’s Spiritual Needs
“God has His eye on Nicaragua!” Richard shouted joyfully to the crowd of thousands that had gathered for his outdoor Healing Rally in Boaco. The people listened intently, hanging on every word and eager for a touch from God. “When we drove in tonight,”
Jordan noted, “I could feel that God was being lifted up here.” All throughout the crowd, hands were raised in praise. The great turnout impressed the mayor, who said it was the most people he’d ever seen gathered in the stadium at one time. In that atmosphere of worship and expectation, Richard began to preach. “God is not against you. He’s for you,” he said. “He wants you to do well. He wants you to be well. God wants you to have life…abundant life…everlasting life.”
Richard encouraged everyone to look to God and simply believe God for miracles, telling them, “What God did in Bible days, He still does today. God still saves, He still heals, and He still delivers.” Then the Lord began to give Richard many words of knowledge about the healing work that God was doing… straightening crooked arms and crippled legs, removing tumors and glaucoma, restoring ears and eyes, and much more. “God said He will especially be healing children tonight,” Richard declared.
Soon, people came to tell what God had just done for them. Among them was a young mother with her child. (See photo D.) Earlier that day, she had brought her two-year-old daughter, who could barely walk due to a severe problem with flat fleet, to the medical clinic. The mother told the doctors that her child would sometimes fall as she tried to walk. But God had a miracle in mind for this child.
As Richard was praying, the mother noticed her daughter was walking normally. She said that she felt a curved place in her daughter’s feet where it had been flat before. So she brought her up to the platform to be reexamined by the ORM team. Dr. Terence Carey, Dr. Gary Lee, and Dr. Jose Coto discovered an obvious miracle the little girl’s feet had developed arches!
Among others who came to testify of being healed was a middle-aged woman who had visited the clinic that day in great pain due to a hernia…which miraculously vanished during Richard’s prayer. In addition, two men who had been crippled with broken backs came out of their wheelchairs. They both testified it was the first time they had walked since their accidents. Leaving their wheelchairs behind, they strode across the platform, praising God.
The Greatest Miracle of All…Salvation! After Boaco, Richard traveled back to Managua for a two-day healing rally. Both nights, thousands of people gathered in the Plaza de la Revolución to enjoy worship from local Christian musicians, recording artist Ruth Mixter, and the ORM worship team, led by Jordan Roberts and Adrian Compton.
The Plaza the site of the Sandinista revolution of thirty years ago now became the site of miracles…and of a new kind of revolution, one that’s born of God in people’s hearts. As Richard aptly described it, “I have changed the name of this plaza to the Plaza of Faith!” Richard explained to the crowd that faith is simply believing God. “Great faith is something that comes from the inside,” he told them. “You already have faith, because the Bible says God gave it to you. The question is: What will you do with your faith? Will you believe God for your miracle tonight?”
Many people testified of exactly that saying they had believed God and received miracles. One man, who makes his living as a vendor during Plaza events, came up to the platform carrying his supply of cotton candy. He had come to the rally to work that night, but God had more in store for him. Jumping for joy, he said that while he was selling food, he was healed of a tumor on his back.
The testimonies continued to pour out! A baby girl’s foot straightened out…A blind woman had her sight restored…A young deaf boy could suddenly hear…A woman felt depression lift off her when Richard prayed…And there were many others who experienced God’s healing power. But as Richard himself pointed out to the crowd, “The greatest miracle of all is salvation!” When he invited people to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, many streamed down front to pray.
By the end of the healing rallies in Boaco and Managua, thousands of people had committed to live for Christ, and since that time, reports have come in that many churches have been filled with hundreds of new members. It was a glorious sight to see so many hands raised in response to God’s love the high point of a wonderful time spent ministering to the people of Nicaragua. “Tonight this is a plaza of faith a place of victory!” Richard declared.
By the end of the week, God’s power was made evident as thousands of people were saved, healed, delivered, and encouraged. One million meals were distributed to hungry Nicaraguans through ORM’s outreach, made possible by the support of our Partners. The people of Nicaragua met the living Jesus the One who is good, faithful, and true and as a result, they will never be the same!