Australia
By Delron Shirley
Several years ago, I published an article entitled “Missionaries on Vacation” in which I told the
story of
how a fishing trip in Mexico turned into a trip for fishing
for men. In the article, I asked
the question, “What do missionaries who spend
their lives going to foreign countries to tell people about Jesus do when they are on vacation?” The answer was, “Go to foreign countries and tell
people about Jesus.” Since that time, I don’t think that we’ve
been on a vacation that didn’t turn
into a divine appointment
either to win someone to the Lord or minister
in healing. We’ve even seen people slain in the Spirit right on the
public beach!
Well, it happened again -- this time in Australia. After saving frequent flier miles for years, we finally had enough for free tickets to our dream vacation in Australia. We spent two wonderful weeks riding camels in the Outback, snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, feeding kangaroos, worshiping at Hillsongs church, and enjoying all the other experiences unique to Down Under. Our visit was nearing its conclusion and we still hadn’t made our divine connection -- that is until our last evening in the country.
While visiting Sydney, we spent some time with the Australian Every Home for Christ national director who, knowing of our work in Nepal, mentioned that he would like for us to meet a young Nepali man he had befriended. When we met Deepla, he shared that he had been having some serious problems with depression, fear, sleeplessness, and terrifying dreams. He had tried Hindu prayers, Buddhist amulets, medication, and even a stay in psychiatric hospital -- but was no better. Realizing that his problem was demonic, Peggy and I began to question him about his relationship with Nepali religions and with Christ.
He hold us that his sister is a baptized Christian and that she had shared a lot with him and that he read his Bible every night even though he didn’t understand a lot. Eventually, He began to accept our message that Jesus is the only true God and that he needed to renounce all other religions to receive Christ as his personal savior.
After praying the salvation prayer with him, we began to address the spirit tormenting him. He then fell over under the power of the Holy Spirit and was “out” for several minutes. When he eventually came to, he said that he had never experienced anything like that before and that he knew that he was free from the demonic control that had been working in him!
Jeremy climbing Ayres Rock Kangaroo Crossing
Peggy and the Kangaroo Sunrise in Sydney