We believe that Missions and Outreach is at the heart of the Gospel. This is where evangelism, church planting, and discipleship takes place. It is not always how much seed one sows that proves important but rather how much fruit remains.
SPIRITWIND does not endeavor to start new ministries, organizations, fellowships, or denominations; but rather seeks to identify those who are already effective in their specific, God-given calling and network them in collaborative efforts, jointly to impact the nation. SPIRITWIND provides financial support, aids in organization, motivation, structure and leadership development, resources, as well as personal involvement. We do not see the need to re-invent the wheel!
Missions
SPIRITWIND effects much of its missions through Judea Harvest—a grassroots evangelism and church-planting ministry, which mobilizes the local church to accept responsibility for its own community (its own Judea).
Building hard-structure churches takes too long; therefore, trademark blue-and-white tents are utilized to gather and retain the Harvest, plant churches, and effectively disciple new believers. Since the tents can successfully endure up to seven years of weather and handling, it allows for more permanent hard structures to follow later.
The demand for tents for this purpose became so great that a tent factory had to be established to manufacture tents for the Gospel! SPIRITWIND played an active role in this vision, and raised and provided all the funds for the initial endeavor.
To date, there are nearly 2,000 tents in the field with approximately 180,000 people attending church in them every day of every week somewhere in South Africa. In many cases, some of these tents are used as HIV/AIDS clinics during the day. Ongoing seminar-style teachings, such as God’s Answer for Aids (by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson), are also presented at many of these locations.
Outreach
An Impact Crusade is SPIRITWIND's response to taking design-specific crusades to the next level. In Africa, these kinds of evangelism crusades—as compared to a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach—remain a very effective means to reach large numbers of people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a short period of time.
Each crusade is conducted in cooperation with as many local churches, fraternal associations, fellowships, and organizations as possible. This is important for organization, community involvement, worker-support, and especially follow-up and discipleship.
The effectiveness of these crusades is enhanced by (1) in-depth, pre-crusade training seminars within the cooperating local churches (which builds and sets in place the net for post-crusade follow-up and discipleship); and (2) experienced pastors and teachers from around the world presenting dynamic leadership training and development for the local pastors. These teachings take place before, during, and after each crusade. This secures their buy-in and ensures that they will mobilize their own people. Each attendee receives multiple teaching resources. A network of cooperation (for continuing leadership development) grows from these relationships.
To date, many thousands of people have made (recorded) first-time commitments to Jesus Christ! Scores of others have been healed, miracles have taken place, and many have been powerfully delivered from demon possession. Great numbers testify of restoration in their homes, marriages, and personal lives. Local pastors continually report positive growth within their congregations, while many other churches have been planted as a direct result of the crusades.
Dr. John Bosman preaches at most of these crusades and also involves other anointed local and international evangelists and teachers.