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Howard & Leslie Ferris
Check the latest crusade plans for Pakistan
Personal
How it started – Howard was raised with three sisters in Portland, Oregon. He was saved at the age of 17 (1970) in a multi-racial church that was both evangelistic and charismatic called Maranatha known for reaching out to a counterculture of “hippies”. Howard felt the presence of God for the first time in that church and knew it was something he didn’t have. He was saved and involved in the church through college and was part of a community outreach to the lost that instilled a heart for evangelism that has never left him.
When it came time to choose a career, opportunities were closed to “missionaries” in places like China, but those same countries were open to “secular” workers. Howard reasoned that a civil engineer might be allowed to work in nearly any country and got his degree.
Howard met Leslie in 1972. They were both in a play called Shekinah that was used as an outreach tool with a cast that was entirely Christians. Howard is a typical engineer; analytical, strategic, practical, introverted, thoughtful, and cautious. Leslie is an outgoing sanguine that provides the perfect balance. While Howard weighs his words carefully, Leslie talks through her thought process. She’s naturally the life of the party and the most exciting half of the marriage.
In 1977 Howard and Leslie got involved in a church that emphasized shepherding and discipleship that put them in spiritual limbo for five years. There was no evangelism and the church ministry was inwardly focused on its Christian members. Howard lost sight of his purpose, dropped out of church, and nearly lost his marriage. It was through the intercession of a committed friend that his relationship with God was restored.
In 1987 Howard took his first missions trip to India through a man that ministered with John Osteen. He saw several hundred Hindus saved and the Holy Spirit fell on them with no invitation. Howard’s evangelism heart was officially rekindled.
Personal Passion – Howard’s first love is to take the gospel where it has never been preached. There is usually a reason the door has been closed (Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or communist influence and the dangers/persecutions they present). He sees the largest response to the gospel and the greatest miracles in the most difficult parts of the world where most of the unbelievers reside.
Howard’s second passion is to train others to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons in the context of evangelism. He sees the anointing for miraculous signs and wonders on the message of the gospel instead of the messenger. In February of 2006 Howard and Leslie took 10 people of all ages to Costa Rica to gain evangelistic experience doing miracles and preaching. They all assumed they couldn’t do anything and yet every one of them came home with an exciting story of how God used them to do a miracle in someone else’s life.
Personal Benefit – Every trip has shown amazing salvations and miracles and it leaves Howard with a clear sense of, “this is what I was meant to do.” His recent trip to Pakistan in August 2006 resulted in 30,000 salvations. To rewind the story it started about a year ago. Howard was giving a presentation to a Full Gospel Businessmen’s group about a prior trip to India. After the meeting a woman came up and suggested he contact a pastor from Pakistan. Howard wrote it off because the women seemed a little “flakey.” The same lady found Howard’s email and gave it to the Pakistani pastor who in turn emailed Howard and asked him to come. Howard explained that he had no ministry or church of his own. He and Leslie fund their own trips and use vacation time to make them. Howard also insisted that he preach to unsaved Muslims instead of just ministering in churches. The Pastor agreed; that was exactly what they wanted. Howard had about $5000 budgeted for the trip and found out from the pastor who was making the arrangements that it would cost about $12,000. Howard then called Leslie to cancel the plane reservation, but she persuaded him that it was God’s plan and they left with about 2/3 of the needed money. By the time they got home the trip was covered through an offering from a friend.
Howard was told that Muslims didn’t receive the gospel very readily. The first meeting was attended by 7000 Muslims and Howard gave a simple gospel message and was fearful no one would respond. Amazingly, 6900 rose to their feet to receive Jesus and the miracles that followed that service and every other were simply amazing. As a result of the first trip to Pakistan in September 2005, 24,000 were saved, most of them Muslim.
Value to Others – Howard’s ministry is a great example of what anyone can do if they are willing to take the initiative. Howard went to Honduras with his son in 1997 for crusade training by Jerry O’Dell, TL Osborne’s former crusade director. They didn’t have an opportunity to speak during the crusades so Howard, his son and a translator went out to the country, knocked on doors, and shared the gospel. If there were prayer needs in the family they would also pray for them. They saw several miracles on this unofficial excursion. In one case a paralyzed man was healed and ran around shouting with excitement.
Business Upside – Howard’s job provides a stable income platform to go on ministry trips and fund them himself. Given the success of his recent trips, he may have to resign or retire to keep up.
Business downside – Howard and Leslie have used their vacation time and personal finances to conduct their trips to date. This limits the amount of people they can reach with the Gospel through mass evangelism.
Vision for the Kingdom – At his current age Howard has wondered if he should be slowing down and deferring to younger people instead of speeding up. The impact of 54,000 salvations in Pakistan is so significant that the nation could be impacted by this open door of ministry. Pakistan borders India, China, and Afghanistan. And it represents a hub that the Lord will use to reach all the Muslim nations. The Pakistani pastors Howard works with share the same vision to expand the Kingdom into the surrounding nations. Howard & Leslie have dedicated the remainder of their lives to reaching those who have never heard the gospel one time.
On a more personal note, Leslie’s been sharing some of the speaking load at the crusades and God has used the dynamic of her naturally outgoing personality to bless people. It is unusual that an American Woman could address a large audience of Moslem Men, but the Ferris’ have found that the Power of the Gospel Message breaks through every religious, cultural and gender barrier.
Impact of Releasing Kings – Howard has always carried a sense that someday the church would recognize his ministry and support him with his missionary works. He hoped that one day he would be in full-time ministry. It has never happened and reading Releasing Kings helped Howard to realize the resources of Heaven come to Kings directly; not through the church. He’s been “set free” in his own heart to pursue crusades and is no longer waiting for the church to send him to see thousands of Muslims saved… complete with signs following. I now see that the Kings are those who will impact nations like Pakistan for Christ.
How Can Howard Help You – Howard is just started to share his experience and anointing in a class called, “Miracles, Healing, and the Gospel of Christ” that is being conducted in his own church. We’ll monitor that activity and see if it doesn’t take on the flavor of conferences for like-minded Kings with a similar vision to go into the entire world and really make a difference.
Follow-up - It's wise to ask, "What kind of follow-up did these new believers get. Both crusades have been sponsored by local pastors accompanied by training seminars to plant house churches. Hamilton Filmalter played a significant role in the pastoral training with help from a House2House - Tony and Felicity Vail. Hamilton ministered in John's church several times - It's a small world.
Pakistan Trip Report Click to see the brochure about the trip The Lord protected us during our time there and other than one meeting cancelled because of rain; we had enormous success in attracting Muslims to the crusade where many of them accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. Each night, the Lord confirmed the word preached with miracles and healings proving that our Jesus is Alive.
The Local Newspaper with front page coverage and Headlines reading "Ever-Supreme Two-Days Historical Healing Crusade In Shanti Nagar Village, Khaniwaal" wrote an excellent article with pictures of many who received Miracles. The Crusade was attended by many Government Officials including the Minister Of Minority Affairs of Punjab (similar in rank to a US Senator), the Mayor, Police Chief and others. Here are some quotes from the newspaper article covering the Crusade:
"Healing Crusade was started with the Spiritual songs sung by the Choir. Evangelist Mr. Howard delivered the life-giving Holy Word of the Lord and prayed for the recovery, healing and salvation of the people. During his message, he emphasized on the Who so ever will call upon the name of the Lord will receive the gift of salvation as Jesus is the only way to salvation of mankind. The Spirit moved Miraculously during the prayer by the Man of God and on the first day of the Healing Crusade approximately more than 10,000 people repented and accepted Lord Jesus the ultimate redeemer in their lives. Pastor Anwar Fazal and evangelist Howard prayed for the recovery from sickness and health problems of the crowd. For instance few testimonies are remarkable when Mariam got healed of abdomen trouble and a 7 year old girl who was dumb (mute) by birth and she started talking loudly. A young girl who was captured by the evil spirit got salvation. In the first day many people got healed form many diseases like breast cancer, many kinds of heart disease, Hepatitis and disabilities since birth were cured and this news was spread all over the suburbs of Khanewalll district and the next day organizers had to arrange 100 busses, 30 extra, to accommodate additional people. To get the miracle of their life, people started gathering since afternoon. Last day of Healing crusade people were uncontrollable they were seen on roofs, trees and on the walls. The whole city was encircled with a great sound of Halleluiah. More than 55,000 participated in the historical healing crusade and approximately 20,000-25,000 turned their lives towards God".
The Christian Pastors who helped set up the crusades were very encouraged by the public preaching of the gospel. (Shanti Nagar had been the location where in 1997 thousands of militant Muslims burned the homes of 1500 Christians to the ground and burned 13 church buildings). Although some of those attending were Christians, the majority were Moslems and many thousands received Christ. This trip was the first time my wife Leslie preached a portion of the gospel at each meeting, the Pakistani's liked her saying she was a "Fiery Preacher".
We had a one day crusade in Pattoki where several thousand received the Lord before we returned to LaHore. In LaHore we preached at the Sunday morning service where about 2000 assembled outdoors and many were saved. We also held two outdoor meetings in LaHore with about 2000 and 20,000 attended respectively. At a Wednesday night meeting, a Woman brought her son who had been taken to the hospital but the Doctors said there was nothing they could do for him and that he would die. The Lord graciously healed her son and she testified the next week of how God brought her son back to life. She returned to the hospital and the Doctor said that he could not believe what had happened. (Of course we know that all things are possible to him that believes). The Lord once again drew thousands to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that same night and confirmed the word with other miracles.
You may have heard of the Bomb Explosion set off in LaHore on Tuesday August 26. We had walked next to the location of the explosion a few hours before the bomb exploded and were in our Hotel room about 70 yards away when it detonated. We knew what had happened as the Hotel room shook and the sound was deafening. We went to prayer for those who were injured by the blast. The next day we discovered through a phone call from the states, that Trista a young women we know had a dream and in the dream there was an explosion and she saw many people running. She woke up and called her friend Tim and they began praying for Leslie and me. After checking the time differences, they began praying for us just one hour before the bomb exploded outside our Hotel room. I was so encouraged that God knows what Satan has planned and He protects his children. It also emphasized to me the need for prayer for those on the front lines. Whether you are the one who "Goes" or the one who "Sends" through your financial support and prayer, we all have a part to play in the "Ministry of Reconciliation" which is the prime focus of the Church. Because of your prayer and financial support, your church will share in the results of this ministry which the Lord will reward you on that day. Leslie and I thank you from the bottom of our heart for all your prayers and support, may we together continue to reach the unreached populations of the world with the Gospel.
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