The motto of Smith Wigglesworth, a man with no education, no degrees in theology, couldn’t read or write until his twenties, no Hebrew or Greek translations, no 50 translations of the Bible, no TV preachers or volumes of books on every subject under the sun…but the man saw thousands healed, thousands saved, 14 people raised from the dead…and touched the world!
Wigglesworth is man who possibly influenced the church in Australia more than any other preacher (with possible exception of Billy Graham).
Wigglesworth said “Only Believe.” Jesus said, “All things are possible to him that believes.” Hmm… notice that’s not addressed to the preachers, but to EVERYONE who chooses to believe!
Since researching and writing my book “The Apostle of Faith Down-Under” the life and faith of Smith Wigglesworth has positively challenged me to rise to another level.
Recently I ministered in a church of around 150 people and saw six people respond to the salvation call and around 30-35 people come forward for healing—all in a response to the challenge of “Only Believe.”
My challenge to you is to also start this New Year taking Jesus (and Wigglesworth) at their word and “only believe.”
Forget the failures and problems of the past, this is a new day, a new year—if an uneducated plumber from Bradford in the UK can experience the Lord move in such a powerful way, so can you and I.
God is no respecter of persons; let’s stop looking to someone else to touch God for us – the prophet, the pastor, the TV evangelist – and take God at His word.
Jan and I pray you have an awesome New Year—Only Believe!
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Col Stringer is the son of a professional hunter, born in the rugged desert country of Australia. During his life in the Northern Territory Col was awarded the Mariner Fishing Writer of the Year award (Australia) (1979), won a Swedish Gold Medal for a world record shark capture, and was featured in two outdoor documentary films for Australian and American television. Col also successfully hosted his own outdoor and fishing television program for four years and has written 10 books on fishing, hunting and wildlife. His book about a true story of a giant rogue crocodile has become a best seller. His business ‘Fishing and Outdoor World’ was hugely successful, leading to improvement in wildlife safari and wildlife photography.
Col and Jan Stringer pastored in Darwin before being invited to the USA (1979) travelling and speaking. He then pastored a church in California, returning to Australia in 1982. They took over a struggling church that blossomed into the largest church in the state of the Northern Territory. The church, under the Stringer’s leadership, hosted such internationally known ministries as Kenneth Copeland, Dr Jerry Savelle, singer Cliff Richards. Several struggling business people have become multi-millionaires using principles gained from the Stringer’s Bible teachings on goals, dreams, overcoming against the odds etc.