Jeff Beacham is contending for revival even as he battles esophageal cancer. Since 2001 the apostolic preacher has spearheaded an awakening campaign in the Northeast region of the U.S. under the banner of Firepower Ministries International, and he doesn’t intend to let a disease stop him now.
“Twice I’ve been given a death sentence from doctors concerning my struggle,” says the Aussie preacher, who is now based in Toms River, N.J. “But, I’m still here, so somebody was wrong.”
Arriving stateside 14 years ago, Beacham walked away from a flourishing ministry with Sydney Christian Life Centre, now part of Hillsong Church. Beacham, his wife and five children landed with only a few suitcases, meager possessions and some furniture.
“God showed me a vision of a great wheel of reawakening rolling into the Northeast of America,” he says of this new work. “There were four giant spokes connecting the outer rim to the inner hub. On each of the spokes was a word beginning with the letter ‘P.’”
Beacham believes one spoke was for prayer, meant to capture the attention of God; one for purpose,attained from hearing God’s heart; another for power, which enables the outworking of God’s purposes; and a fourth for passion, meant to move people from apathy to activity. Beacham says everything revolved around the inner hub, on which was the word unity, which counteracts the spirit of independence.
“As I watched the wheel turn, the teeth on the outer rim, representing many ministries, were plowing up the hard, dry ground of the Northeast of America, preparing it for new seed and for the rains soon to come,” he says.
Beacham has tirelessly pursued this vision, ministering almost every week in churches up and down the East Coast, and networking with leading pastors and Christian organizations.
“Revival starts in the churches and not in the culture,” he says. “We need to bring new life into the church. I’m not here to tell you what to do but to give a different perspective.”
Beacham seeks to repay the fruits of revival sparked in Australia by an American evangelist in the 1920s. “America sowed missions to Australia and other countries and is now reaping missionaries from Africa, Asia and Latin America,” he says. “I am part of that group.”
Beacham has been active in the Christ Covenant Coalition, a community of leaders and several hundred Pentecostal and charismatic churches in New York City, co-founded by Bishop Joseph Mattera. “We wanted to gather influential pastors to get the church out of the closet and involve it in public affairs, culture, education and entertainment,” Beacham says.
In another role, Beacham dedicated one year to coordinate the New Jersey leadership team for the September 2012 America for Jesus (AFJ) event in Philadelphia. “The purpose of that solemn assembly was to pray for our nation and call America back to God,” he reflects. “If God brought me to America just for that event, it would have been enough.”
Observing Beacham’s AFJ activities, John Blanchard, national coordinator and executive pastor of Rock Church International in Virginia, says, “He is an outstanding leader with a great vision for America. He is a top general in the kingdom.”
Mentoring pastors is another of Beacham’s missions. “Jeff has been a great encourager in my ministry,” says Joseph Santos, pastor of Gospel Tabernacle Assembly of God, North Bergen, N.J. “He preaches here two to three times annually and helped propel our church into giving more to missions. He is still going stronger than ever.”
Beacham fights his medical condition like a warrior—Outback Crocodile Dundee-style. “Over the last 18 months I’ve been having integrative treatments to help keep my immune system strong to stop the advance, if not eradicate the cancer,” he says. “I’m not denying it; I’m defying it—but trusting God, no matter what!”
