Jeffs testimony to the Glory of God

Jeff comes from a Catholic background but during this time did not live the life of a “Christian.” As a matter of fact he lived quite the opposite! A broken marriage left him 3 sons which made him feel guilty of not being a good father or husband. After serving 23 years in the British Army he finished his time in the rank of Warrant Officer and met his German wife Christa in Germany. He was going to settle down in the hotel business until a major accident with his back left him almost lame. For the next four years Christa had to help him to dress and undress, wash, and put him to bed. Jeff was hardly able to walk in this time and suffered terrible pains in his back and legs. Despite two operations in England and one in Germany, there was no healing and he was declared 50% disabled both by the British Army and the German Government.

Embarrassingly after 23 years service with the British Forces and being in command of many people, Jeff had to settle for a laborers job, and it was not long after this that through a friend he came to accept Jesus Christ in his life in 1990. That alone was quite comical as Jeff had threatened to beat this man up if he continued to speak to him about Jesus! But Christa saw so many changes in Jeff in such a short time that she knew God must have done something with him, and exactly one month later also came to know Jesus Christ in her life! Both Jeff & Christa were so thrilled with knowing the Lord, and you would only see them with a Bible in their hands avidly reading and reciting verses throughout the days ahead. What excited Jeff so much was that the Word of God spoke about healing and miracles and he knew therefore he would receive healing for his back.

For three months many people prayed for Jeff and although nothing happened his faith did not wane. One night in bed Jeff woke up to find himself being lifted up by an angel that said to him, “Soon you will receive your healing.” Jeff says, “I felt myself being lifted and the pain made me scream out, enough to wake Christa up. I knew an angel had spoken and lifted me up. Whether this was in a dream or actually happened I can honestly say I did not know. A few weeks later whilst at a meeting of an inauguration of a new church in Dusseldorf, Germany, Jeff listened to a guest speaker from West Africa, who asked the sick to come forward and receive their healing. As he could not walk very fast he was the last person to line up in the row. The speaker came directly to Jeff and said, “The Lord wants to heal your back today!” “I know,” replied Jeff, and as the evangelist touched Jeff’s head, he felt like a bolt of lightening had struck him. In front of 200 people, many of them pastors, Jeff was instantly healed in that second. Jeff was able to run around the church and bend his back forward and backwards. Tears of joy filled the air and people clapped and the glory was given to the Lord!

During this time both Jeff & Christa belonged to a Charismatic church in Dortmund, Germany, and often they would put up guest speakers in their home. They just wanted to be around people of God all the time. As young Christians their home group grew to over 20 people in a short time, and they wondered what God would do next with them. Jeff was not able to get any employment in Germany because of his injury and despite his full healing the Army continued to pay him his disablement pension as the German Government and the army could not accept miracles! They could not write the word “miracle” across his documents. God is good!

As Jeff could not get any employement, he went on his own on a trip to Romania, taking food and clothes in his car for the poor people in Constanza, Romania, on the Black Sea. He had been warned that it was dangerous to drive alone, but despite the worry he insisted on going. Whilst traveling across Romania he was chased by a van-load of bad men who were probably after his car and all the contents – and probably his life! Jeff tells the story of how he began to pray, “Lord you are in charge, send someone to help me!” Suddenly, in the middle of nowhere stood a policeman in the middle of the road with a young boy of about 6 or 7 years old. The van chasing Jeff turned around quickly and disappeared! The policeman did not say a word, but pointed to a map where he wanted to go. It was in the direction where Jeff was traveling, and without word being said, he gladly offered them both a lift and they got into the back of the car. This part of the journey was the worst as he had to travel over some dangerous mountains where there were many thieves, plus it was also dark. On arriving at the town 2 hours later, Jeff stopped the car to let them out. He turned around to speak to them, but they had disappeared! Jeff tells us, “My hair stood on end, as I knew they were angels that God had sent to protect me. I stayed overnight in an hotel before continuing my journey. The staff warned me that my car might get stolen, but I am sure God also put His angels around it!”

Whilst in Constanza, Romania, Jeff had a wonderful time, and met a pastor named George. He was so grateful for all the gifts he has brought with him. The pastor invited Jeff to come to church with him that afternoon. The church was full of people singing with accordions, and you could feel the presence of God everywhere. Jeff asked Pastor George, “What are you preaching about?” George replied, “I am not preaching, you are!” “But I have never preached in my life. I am just a baby Christian,” said Jeff. But Jeff preached and saw miracles before his eyes. The Lord gave him the gift to preach and also heal the sick. An elderly lady who had a short leg all her life saw it grow out before her eyes. One man with cancer of the brain was completely healed and others too received healing. We give God all the glory!

On return to his church in Germany, Jeff shared all that had happened. He felt they did not believe him, so a few months later he took a group of 20 people with him, hired a large hall and also a Christian music group and returned to Constanza. The nights were tremendous with over 2000 people attending. The group prayed for all the sick and saw demons leaving some of the gypsies and others healed. Jeff returned a couple of times helping to establish a very lively church. Two prophesies were given to Jeff by two different people from Romania. Jeff heard that he would soon be working with dark-skinned children! This is a testimony to show that God can use young Christians in anything. He will quicken your spirit if you are willing and hungry.

In November 1992 a visiting missionary from Guatemala invited Jeff to go to Guatemala for five weeks. As Jeff had no work, he wanted to hear what God was saying to him, so in January 1993 he flew over to Central America. Jeff was put to work among 5000 children in a feeding programme and because he could not speak Spanish, he just wept when he saw these little children with big eyes and laughing faces. Up to this date Jeff was not able to work with children as he did not particularly like this work, but God turned his heart completely around. Little did Jeff know that the directors of this missions organization had been praying for a long time to break into Germany for sponsors for their feeding programme, but they had no interpreters or administration people. Christa is an fully trained Interpreter and Jeff is a fully trained administrator!  God has an uncanny way of speaking to people and a few days later Jeff clearly heard God tell him that He wanted the family in Guatemala!

Jeff was ready immediately but told God that He needed to speak with Christa before he got home. Well, God will never let you down and He done exactly that! Normally it takes up to 2 years to raise funds before going on the mission field, but Jeff & Christa took exactly 9 months, when the vision was birthed. The other miracle is that Jeff only knew his own church and told the Lord He would have to find the people for him. That was not too great a problem for God! On landing in Guatemala, Christa said, “This is our new home!” For Jeff that was further confirmation that they were both in the will of God.

The first year in Guatemala, Jeff and Christa sometimes worked till midnight changing the whole administration of the Child sponsorship programme.   More staff were taken on to help and soon not only had they learned the language, but had got to know the country and people very well.    They never once felt homesick. This was their home.

Five years later, God had put such a strong passion in Jeffs heart for evangelism that he felt it was time to start their own ministry, and Final Harvest Ministries was birthed!   Jeff & Christa moved to a small town where they helped to start a small home group with a young pastor and his wife.    Church services were held in his tent which had been permanently erected in their back garden.   Nine months later as the church had grown so quickly, they moved into a rented building.   Within two years the church had grown to over 200 and Jeff felt the tug from the Lord to leave and help start a new church.   This church has since grown to over 300.

Jeff & Christa are currently in Ciudad Vieja (The Old City) next to Antigua, Guatemala. Again this 2nd church started with a very small group who had no building but just a roof made from corrugated iron and 4 poles to hold it up. It was not unusual to see chickens or dogs coming into the services! Jeff says, “We welcomed the animals in the beginning as we had so few people!  We eventually moved from there into better accommodation, but the new building had no windows!”    Soon Jeff used to be the only one who danced in the church, until one night the Holy Spirit visited the church and then the power of God fell on the people. The people danced and danced and danced until they fell on the floor with exhaustion. The heat in this building was like a sauna! Many of the people were filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and it was sometimes midnight before the service finished.

“We have now moved into a much larger building that houses 500 people,” says Jeff, “but the only problem is that we are growing so fast that this too will also be too small”. This was built through the help of funds from their supporters and also the locals themselves. It was not unusual to see someone donate a radio or even a TV for the church building. Even rings and watched were put in the collection box! “We have tried to hold 2 services, but they all come to both the services!” exclaimed Jeff with a smile. ” But the Lord has not finished with the vision. The Father has shown both Pastor Fredy and me that we will have a building for 2,000, and that the funds will come in without asking! My faith is strong enough to believe the Lord for this,” says Jeff. Faith is powerful in this church, and they have seen many miracles and healings, and always give the glory to God. “He must increase, and we must decrease” remark Jeff and Christa.

The past three years have been a difficult time for Jeff, as he had another accident with his back which resulted in nine operations plus a bad infection! But during this time he has still managed to preach the Word, heal the sick, and be happy! “How can I be unhappy when I know where I am going when I die? The devil is a loser all the time. He has already been defeated!” declares Jeff. “Many trials have come against my family. Our house has been broken into 5 times and many things stolen, and both cars have also been broken into 5 times! That does not bother me. Thats the reason we are here, to share the wonderful news with such people. God never told us it would be a holiday!”

Guatemala is 42% Born-Again Christians, so one wonders why the crime rate is so high. “Well, just think if there were no Christians here what it would be like!  Christa and I are here till Guatemala is 100% Christian,” says Jeff.   The whole country is corrupt from many in the Government, down to the police and gangs.   Death is a common sight, where drug gangs shoot each other every night. As many as 20 gang members can die in one night. Sadly innocent people get killed as well. The BBC recorded an hours programme on Guatemala called, The Killers Paradise. The police cannot handle such high numbers and are probably glad that they are shooting each other.

Foreigners come to this land for child prostitution. Children, both boys and girls, as young as eight or nine years old sell their bodies to these perverted pedophiles. Many of them have been kicked out of their houses at this young and tender age. Their parents are drug addicts and have no work. “Drug addiction is big here in Guatemala,” says Jeff. “When youngsters cannot get work, there is nothing else to do but to take drugs – and there is plenty that comes from Columbia, as well as what is grown illegally here,” continues Jeff.

But God sent Jeff & Christa to be a light to the people and they have now ministered for nearly 14 years in giving their lives to serve God and the people. Missionary life is not that easy and they need constant prayer for their safety and also financial help. Jeff says, “Over 80% of missionaries from all over the world return home prematurely and not able to fulfill their vision because of lack of funds. There have been times when our faith has been put to the test with finances. What do you do when you see a family without food? What do you do when you see their house made of sugar cane and mud floors? Children running around without shoes, cutting their feet and infection setting in. Children dying of simple colds? Mothers whose husbands have died suddenly, leaving them with 8 to 10 children? Children working the fields for $1 a day and for 9 hours a day? What do you do? We give what we have, and then rely on the Lord to put us on peoples hearts, and then some funds come in. Jeff continues, “Some people ask us how much we need each month. I reply by saying that there is no minimum sum. Whatever comes in we can use!”   There are many times I go and cry to the Lord when I see the suffering of these people.   He gives us strength when we feel there is no hope.

There is a price to pay for coming on the mission field. Not being able to see your children grow up. Not being able to see your grandchildren. Sickness from the unhygienic food eaten. Missing your friends, your local church, and sometimes being misunderstood by the locals. But Jeff and Christa know that it is the place that God wants them to be.

Please keep them in daily prayer and maybe even financially support them with $10 a month. If one hundred people could do that, it would bring in $1000. If God puts it on your heart to give more then let their be praises in heaven! Much could be done with these funds.  ” We could badly do with  $20,000 to complete ourt projects,” remarks Jeff, and we trust the Lord will change people’s hearts to fully understand just how blessed they are and how little these people have.  Please help us!”

God bless you all

Jeff

Categories: Testimony
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