Article source: Divine Evangelism
Article featured in JOY! Magazine June 2026

Hope. We hear this word so often, however, amid an influx of news that leaves many burdened with anxiety, we put it in the back of our minds and hearts, and fear often runs rampant in our lives. But with Jesus, there is always Good News – the Good News of the Gospel, and we see it bringing an enduring hope into people’s lives, a living hope grounded in the certainty that He is sovereign and that we will one day dwell with Him in heavenly places. And because of this hope that we have in Him, it is as the psalmist wrote in Psalm 63:7, “Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.”

Hope through the Gospel
We have witnessed marvellous stories of impact and hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. As our Divine Evangelism team travels far and wide across southern Africa, we witness firsthand the Gospel of Jesus Christ that mends broken hearts, turns hearts of stone to hearts of flesh, heals disease and infirmities, transforms lives, and gives hope to the hopeless.

Moments from Lady Grey
Though worldly systems seem shaken, we have seen the Spirit of the Lord actively and powerfully working within communities. It is our honour to share some of the highlights that we have seen. Our sound engineer shares two significant moments from the Kwezi Naledi Gospel Crusade, held in Lady Grey:
“An elderly lady who used a crutch to assist her with walking came forward to dance during the praise and worship. While she was dancing, she realised that she was completely healed and threw her crutch onto the stage! After the service, she refused to take the crutch back and walked home unassisted and completely made well!”
“A witchdoctor came to one of the crusade nights and responded to the altar call, saying yes to Jesus! Later, she testified that at her home, Jesus had appeared to her and commanded her to stop practicing the ‘art of darkness’ and to follow Him only!”

Unity brings renewed hope
A lady from the area testified that after the crusade, local pastors are working together in unity. Yes, there is hope for our people. Yes, there is hope for our nation. Why do we say this? Because in the midst of turmoil caused by this world, hearts are still changed for His glory and we are given hope. This hope has a Name – Jesus, through the Holy Spirit.

A life changed in Bethal
Our equipment manager shares a defining moment from Bethal, Mpumalanga: “A lady, heavily burdened, wept as she gave her life to Jesus. The next day, she was the first one to come to the crusade, a different person, filled with joy! She testified that for years she had been tormented by voices in her head, but after she had given her life to Jesus, the voices were silent. While Evangelist Israel preached on the baptism of the Holy Spirit she had a mighty encounter with Him and started to speak in a heavenly language. The following day, she received a phone call with an opportunity for employment!” Hallelujah! How wonderful that He makes a way where there seems to be no way.


Transformation in Prieska and beyond
Our team recently travelled to the Northern Cape town of Prieska, where something truly powerful unfolded. A local resident shared the story of a young man entrenched in theft and drug use until everything changed. After being released from jail, he attended the Prieska Gospel Crusade and encountered the Holy Spirit in a life-altering way and was baptised in the Holy Spirit. In that moment, he made a wholehearted decision to follow Christ. Not long after the crusade, the transformation was undeniable. The young man declared that he was done with drugs for good and had chosen to walk with the Holy Spirit. A life once bound is now completely renewed.
Our crusade director recalls the Shangombo Gospel Crusade in Zambia: “When the Holy Spirit began to move and word spread about healing and deliverance, people walked for hours to reach the crusade grounds. Even after our team had left, people continued to gather for another three weeks and were ministered to by local pastors. The word that had gone out was that God’s presence visited Shangombo.”

Set free by the Holy Spirit
What excites Evangelist Israel most is witnessing people encounter the Holy Spirit and be transformed. A woman from the Eastern Cape, who had battled severe depression and reached the point where she wanted to commit suicide, found no relief despite seeking help in many places. Just when hope seemed lost, her help came from the Lord and she was wonderfully set free. Is there anything too hard for the Spirit of the living God?

A call to faithful living
As we hold onto this living hope that anchors us in Christ, we are compelled to ask: When Jesus returns, what will He find us doing? This question echoes the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, where a master entrusts his servants before departing. Two respond with faith and diligence, multiplying what they were given, while one, gripped by fear, hides his portion. In the same way, will we be found living in the confident hope we profess, or will fear cause us to shrink back?
Whether in business, education, social work, or ministry, may we be found faithful, stewarding every gift with boldness and hope. And when He returns, may He find us not overcome by fear, but steadfast in the living hope we have in Him.

This article appears in the June 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine. Read the digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za

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Date published: 20/05/2026
Feature image: Sourced from original article printed in JOY! Magazine June 2026

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