California: A state where COVID-19 has run rampant, with nearly 3 million recorded cases to date.
California: A state where Gov. Gavin Newsom has done his best to shut down churches and worship indoors and out while supporting those who gathered in the streets to riot.
California: A state touched by the life-changing power of the gospel and overflowing with the Holy Spirit’s power.
Evangelist Mario Murillo of Mario Murillo Ministries scheduled a three-day Living Proof tent revival in Bakersfield, California, last week, only to have God upend his plans because, as his team posted on Facebook, “God is on the move and YOUR PRAYERS are making an impact!”
Originally our Revival meetings were just going to be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. But we have decided to EXTEND THEM…
Posted by Mario Murillo Ministry on Thursday, January 14, 2021
“Tonight, God took His revenge on Satan in Bakersfield, California. This city is now the place where lies go to die,” Murillo writes in a recent blog post, noting the despair that has blanketed this city and pointing to the unity of the various churches and ministries who united to invite and work with his team: Wendell Vinson of Canyon Hills Assemblies of God, Manuel Carrizales of Stay Focused ministry, and Frank Saldana and his team from Inner City Action.
Murillo says he preached a “direct Gospel message,” warning the crowd that serving Christ meant full surrender. But instead of his straightforward approach keeping people away from the altar, Murillo says, “It ignited an even greater hunger for them to be saved. The line of those wanting to be saved stretched all the way outside the tent.”
Each night, Murillo’s team followed the evangelistic ministry with what he calls “miracle ministry” where, he writes, “Signs and Wonders seem to dart from one place to another, until there was rejoicing. The joy of sickness being healed was felt all over the tent.”
The fervor for the gospel did not wane as the meetings extended. A Facebook video from Thursday night, Jan. 14, shows hundreds coming forward to make decisions for Christ:
Now that this crusade has ended, Murillo is calling the church to more. In a Jan. 16 blog post, he shares his passion for revival: “My cry is that when the doors of Spirit-filled churches reopen, they will leave Sesame Street and run back to Azusa Street,” calling believers to “rage against limp-wristed preaching, fog machines, romantic lighting, and that atmosphere that’s about as life giving as the waiting room at a DMV.”
As Murillo writes, “O God, let it be!” {eoa}
