A WORD FROM THE SENIOR MINISTER
Grapevine 100th Edition SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STORY SO FAR
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elcome to the 100th edition of Grapevine magazine. Over the past 99 issues, we have chronicled the story of the amazing way God has faithfully developed His work of ministering through ECC and its members to build His church, both at home in the local vicinities and abroad, with signs and wonders following the preaching His Word.
The other testimony was the touch of God upon a couple whose marriage was in trouble. The wife wrote: “During the morning service, I felt the almighty presence of God upon me. I could not stop crying and went forward for prayer. I asked the Lord for my marriage to be restored. I went home in faith, trusting God and allowing Him to be Lord of everything in my life.”
Copies of Grapevine go out to many places at home and to other countries, as a witness and testimony to the power of Christ to save and change people’s lives; to heal sick bodies in miraculous ways, and to answer every kind of prayer in our lives today. The Bible tells us that ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8).
The husband wrote: “I attended the evening service at ECC on the same day as [my wife]. I was at this time brokenhearted and, although I felt aware of my own wrongful actions, I was confused and fearful. I did not know what to do in order for things in my marriage to be right again. As the anointing of God fell upon God’s people, I felt the need to repent and ask forgiveness for everything I had done wrong. As I allowed the Holy Spirit to fill me, I felt a presence around me, and then I felt Jesus put His arm around me and say: ‘Do not worry, I am in control.’ At that point all my fears and problems seemed to disappear. I felt calm and peaceful. The Lord revealed to me how He wanted me to put Him first, before my wife. He also showed me I was repeating old life patterns, and that His way (God’s way) is the best way. The chains of bondage have broken in Jesus’ Name. I am now free, and God has changed me and made me a better husband. Thank You, Jesus!”
Although we now print 1,500 copies bi-monthly, with 32 pages in full colour, originally the magazine began, in winter 2000, much more modestly: as 12 pages in two colours (one of which was black). It was given the name ‘Grapevine’, as it was intended to convey to the ECC congregation and beyond, with its biblically symbolic title, news of all that was going on both inside and outside the church, of things natural and supernatural. So it has included the accounts of the day-today activities in ECC, with numerous baptisms, weddings, dedications, activities of the members, and all the things that make up church life.
Grapevine begins So, on the natural side, our first issue recorded the wedding of Felix and Esther Iyekekpolor, who are still active in ECC but now with two daughters - one of whom is at university. On the supernatural side were two testimonies - the first of hundreds that would follow in each subsequent edition. One concerned a supernatural healing of a woman who had had one leg shorter than the other for many years, and had to have all the heels for her right foot specially made up by 5/8ths of an inch, so she could walk evenly. But, when her leg grew out, she needed to have 12 pairs of her shoes changed back to normal, as her legs were now the same length!
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GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 100 • OCT/NOV 2019
Since these first testimonies, there have been countless healings, answers to prayer, lives changed and restored… too many to be captured in the magazine, but a snapshot of them are recorded in each of the editions to date.
Amazing testimonies, plus launch of the 24/7 Prayer Centre Our 4th edition, in Spring 2002, recorded the dramatic testimony of one of ECC’s members at the time, Christopher Hyman, who wrote how his life was changed by his escape from the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. He was having a meeting at the awful moment the hijacked planes were deliberately flown into the Towers, eventually causing the buildings to collapse, with the loss of thousands of lives.
