2025 – YEAR IN REVIEW
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2025 – YEAR IN REVIEW
Dear Friends,
As the outpourings of the Holy Spirit expand worldwide, God is revealing to Empower underlying patterns and lessons of how God is moving to draw lost souls to Himself. What I share below are just some of the most outstanding insights He has blessed us with over this past year.
The large cities of the world (e.g. Bangkok, Beijing, Delhi, Saigon, etc.) are highly resistant to a substantial move of the Holy Spirit and are comparable to the spiritual dryness we are experiencing in western countries. Increasingly urban areas are mesmerized by overwhelming ungodly fixations as described in 1 John 2:16. (E.g. “Lust of the flesh” = craving for sexual gratification; “Lust of the eyes” = coveting material possessions and visual attractions; “Pride of life” = boasting of one’s accomplishments, status, resources, and knowledge.) Therefore, Empower partners primarily with national evangelistic/church planting networks in rural areas that are becoming eagerly responsive to the Gospel.
The Bible (i.e. Scripture in all forms) remains the #1 desperate request of national believers, seeking unbelievers, and church planters. Running #2 would be pastoral training, and #3 is assistance with evangelistic outreaches.
In India, the caste system is cracking, especially when believers in the north of India (which is experiencing a massive and historic outpouring of the Spirit) are gathering together for worship, teaching, and fellowship with one another. During mass gatherings of believers, thousands from all castes, are sitting next to each other, eating and drinking from common sources, and are experiencing a “oneness” in the Spirit.
Dreams and visions where Jesus is present, are becoming more and more prevalent. This approach attracts the attention of those who are extremely skeptical of the Gospel with Jesus being the Son of God. There is also a scattering of similar manifestations globally in other religious groupings, but not nearly as frequently as in Islamic majority regions.
Miracles — such as physical healings and deliverance from demonic oppression — are becoming increasingly commonplace. They serve as powerful door-openers to faith, affirming that Jesus is the only living, loving, approachable, and active God who deeply cares for those who follow Him.
The Gospel continues to penetrate and transform those held under the spiritual framework of animism (belief in spiritual forces residing in natural objects, places, and creatures) and the secular, atheistic ideology of communism — both of which are proving hollow and dispiriting to those in their grip.
Predominantly in rural, third-world social environments, people live in closely-knit village type settings, where community is rigidly embraced and individualism and privacy are shunned. This is why when a person is morally and spiritually transformed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, or when someone is obviously physically healed or delivered from satanic control by Jesus, everyone in the village is aware that a supernatural miracle has taken place in their midst. And almost invariably, the unbelieving friends and relatives ask, “Who did this to you?” and, “Where can we find this Jesus?” This response falls in line totally with Jesus’ healing and delivering people as we read in the four gospels. This is but one example found in Mark 1:21 – 28 (NET):
Then they went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people there were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, not like the experts in the law. Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him: “Silence! Come out of him!” After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. They were all amazed so that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.” So the news about him spread quickly throughout all the region around Galilee.
Throughout the gospels, the pattern is consistent. And the same blueprint is in use today from country to country, as the Gospel is preached with boldness and conviction:
1. A miracle occurs.
2. Witnesses ask questions:
a. Who did this?
b. What kind of authority is this?
c. Where did this power come from?
3. Jesus’ identity is clarified, debated and proclaimed.
4. People accept Christ as Lord and Savior.
Thank you — because you are making a difference in the world today — and for eternity! How?? By equipping and empowering national believers to share the hope found only in Jesus, with their friends, families, and countries. And all indications point to 2026 being an even greater growth-year for the Kingdom of God.
