DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Crusade 2025

Just as I made my way to my desk to record my experiences during the recent Dominican Republic Gospel Crusade, the Holy Spirit so clearly began to play in my mind the song, “Another One”, by Elevation Worship:

Miracle after miracle

Open door after open door

Here it comes, so get ready for another one

'Cause another one is on the way

Oh, rushing wind and living water

You're the God of signs and God of wonders

If You will it what can stop it

'Cause You're working it all for good

Yeah, You're working it all for good

Nothing could be more appropriate as I reflect on my week in the DR.

I must first acknowledge the team of amazing, anointed, and faithful sons and daughters in the Beloved:

• Cecil, Sheila, and Chance 
• Clayton, Ashley, and Jackie 
• Miss Bonnie
• Jonathan 
• Kenton
• Al
• Pastor Jesús
• Jerry and Tehah
• Pastor Ruddy, Penelope, and Jesenia
• Jaclyn

I am eternally humbled and grateful to have been given the privilege to stand side-by-side with each of them, witnessing God’s hand and Spirit performing “miracle after miracle.”

Psalm 118:27-29, “The LORD is God, shining upon us… Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

 Monday the 12th

Monday was a travel day, as we departed Greensboro at 7am, had a three-hour layover in Miami, and then arrived in the DR mid-afternoon. Upon arrival at the Cibao International Airport (Santiago), we were warmly greeted by our hosts, Pastor Jonathan and his wife, Michelle, and our primary host for the week, Uriel. We each were given a Panama-style hat!

Next, we were introduced to our driver for the week, Francis, whom we all fell in love with as the week passed, and we then embarked on a 90-minute bus ride to our home for the week, the Emotions Resort in Puerto Plata.

Our team member, Jonathan, shared the week’s first prophetic vision, a vision the LORD gave him as we descended into Santiago.

Jonathan’s vision was our jet flying into Santiago engulfed in flames, but much like the “burning bush,” not being consumed by the fire. Accompanying our plane, in fighter formation, was a “wedge” of angels. Jonathan described the vision (paraphrasing) as something like “the fire of God and His heavenly host landing in the DR, ushering in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:17 (Paul quoting Joel), “‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’”

Tuesday the 13th

Bright and early Tuesday morning, the team began its week of visiting High Schools in the Puerto Plata area, sharing testimonies, praying for both children and staff, and promoting the Gospel Crusade scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings, while also passing out raffle tickets to win one of four iPads to be given away Saturday night at the conclusion of the Crusade. 

Each High School, with the exception of one very small and rural school, was designed in a boxed-in, rectangular manner, two to three stories tall, with a courtyard feature on the ground floor. The upper floors each had balconies, giving the schools a very communal, open-air feel.

Tuesday afternoon at the second High School we visited, I experienced the first of many God-moments, as I walked into a classroom and immediately noticed the teacher using sign language to communicate with one of her students. Without hesitation (and absolutely being prompted by the Spirit), I made a beeline to the teacher, who I quickly realized barely spoke a word of English. However I somehow was able to get a response regarding which student was deaf, as she pointed toward a young, obviously very shy female student, who appeared to be embarrassed by the prospect that a strange man, a white man and foreigner, had singled her out. I walked straight to the girl. She was sitting on the second aisle closest to the left-side of the classroom, one desk away from the rear wall. I immediately laid my hands on her ears, lowered my head to her right side, and quietly prayed blessings and healing over her. There was no miraculous healing, but there was a sense of peace and remarkable joy that fell over me, almost as if the LORD was confirming that my actions pleased Him. I was blessed beyond measure, and something in my spirit ignited that very moment, as my confidence in Him and the impartation of His Holy Spirit began to reach a level I had yet to truly experience in my walk with the Lord Jesus.

Some time passed, and as the team gathered in the ground-level courtyard to prepare to depart, our interpreter, Uriel, who was standing next to me, noticed an adult on the second floor balcony summoning us. He quickly grabbed me, pointed upward, and told me we needed to return to a classroom. As we exited the second floor staircase landing and began to walk down the exterior corridor, we noticed it was the deaf girl, her teacher, and another young girl standing outside the classroom. And as we got closer, it was obvious the teacher was in tears. Uriel translated, telling me that the deaf student I had been led by the Spirit to pray for was feeling something very joyful in her spirit, but that there was another deaf female student in the classroom that I didn’t know about, and the student I had prayed over wanted this other girl to experience the same joy and hope. So, of course, I laid hands on her, then both of the girls, and then the teacher. The emotions were so sweet and overwhelming. This was the first time during the week - and my life - that I caught myself just staring at my hands, thanking God with an overwhelming disbelief that He would choose someone like me to impart His hope and joy through His Spirit and my hands into others.

1 Timothy 1:15–16, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience...”

On Tuesday evening we visited a church in an urban area of Puerto Plata named “El Shaddai.” And oh my goodness, we quickly learned that the Dominicans WORSHIP! The church was standing room only and the Spirit was MOVING!

As I was standing in the very back row, I noticed a young boy, maybe 10 years old, in the seat in front of me, standing with what appeared to likely be his mother. I keep hearing the Holy Spirit saying, “pastor,” over and over. After what seemed like 10 minutes of this, I was prompted by the Spirit to find a lady that spoke English, and I asked her to tell the mother of the boy that I believed the Spirit was prophesying through me that the boy would grow up to be a pastor. I wish I could explain the overwhelming joy this prophetic Word brought this mother. She immediately began to weep, grabbing him and embracing him so tightly, looking at me and just very gently mouthing “thank you” over and over. What a blessing that was poured into my heart!

1 Samuel 10:1, 6–7, “The Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy... You will be changed into a different person.”

Wednesday the 14th

We continued to visit local High Schools and all I longed to do was to get right in the midst of the students. You see, every morning the students lined up in a very orderly manner, I’m assuming with either their homeroom or first period class. Once 8am arrived, the school would raise the Dominican Flag, the only national flag in the world containing a Bible verse, John 8:31-32, the words of Jesus Himself…

…“If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

After the raising of their flag and the singing of their very lengthy but equally beautiful and moving national anthem, one of the administrators would speak a prayer over the students and the day. I found this time very moving! Anyway, as the students arrived and were lining up, I went right into the midst of them, trying to “fist-bump” as many of the male students as possible. Some would want to practice their English, which was such a joy, as their friends would smile and laugh.

This particular morning, however, I spotted a young male student that I immediately recognized. And when I say “recognized,” it was as if I had known him my entire life. I stared and stared from afar, then finally grabbed an interpreter. I asked the interpreter to ask him if he attends more than one school, as I thought maybe I had seen him Tuesday afternoon. He replied “no.” I then asked the interpreter to ask the student if he had ever seen me. He again replied “no.” I struggled for a few minutes trying to determine if maybe he favored a child I had coached in basketball or maybe a child that was a friend of one of my sons. I eventually asked Sheila, Chance’s mother, to take a picture of us both, as I felt prompted to have a keepsake of this puzzling experience:

The remainder of Wednesday  was more of the same, encouraging and blessing high school students.

Wednesday evening we went to a very, very busy urban area to pass out Crusade (“Cruzada”) fliers to Domincans walking and driving during the evening rush hour. The team must’ve passed out hundreds of fliers.

There was also a hospital less than one block from where we had settled. Ruddy, our team member and native Dominican, along with his wife and daughter, Penelope and Jesenia, decided to take a small team and attempt to gain access to the hospital (I overheard Ruddy saying he desired they go and pray for the sick). Some time passed, maybe half an hour, and our host, Uriel, asked me to go and gather those in the hospital, as the sun was beginning to set and I’m presuming Uriel was concerned about our safety. Well, as I approached the only entrance, the first thing I noticed was a soldier, a machine gun wielding soldier, literally guarding the entrance to the hospital. I thought to myself, “Holy Spirit, you’re gonna have to make me invisible!” I have no other explanation other than He did. The soldier never flinched or acknowledged me whatsoever. So in I walked, only to come to an immediate “T” leading out of the very tiny lobby. I quietly asked the Holy Spirit, “OK, which way? This is a very large hospital and without Your help, this is likely impossible” He said “right,” then “an immediate left at the first hallway”. I was led by Him to a courtyard area, and there the team was, praying over families and patients.

Isaiah 30:21, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

Thursday the 15th

We visited just one High School on this day. And once again, there He was! The school was having its annual Career Day, where students were showcasing their career goals and end-of-year projects, the overwhelming majority of which being team projects. I immediately came to a female student and her table of handmade bracelets. She very kindly wanted me to have one, so I chose one that is Carolina blue and white-beaded. What was miraculous to me was she then handed me another bracelet, saying “this is for your wife.” What’s remarkable to me is that my wife absolutely loves hearts, and she seemingly sees them everywhere, almost as if God “winks” to her through the revealing of hearts in her path. Needless to say, I was very touched and encouraged, knowing that God sees our marriage as precious, reminding me of His heart and love for us regardless of where in the world we might be, and even when apart. Truth be told, He knew I needed this renewed hope. Thank You, Father!

Throughout that morning, we visited classroom after classroom, project after project, praying for students. However, there was one moment that touched my heart in a very profound way. I met a group of young men, one of whom spoke very good English. He randomly told me that he’s a barber, then pointed to his four buddies, telling me he cuts and styles each of them - and they looked GREAT! I immediately grabbed both his hands, asked him to look me straight in the eyes, and then proceeded to speak a powerful blessing over him and his hands. Tears began to pour down his cheeks. The lesson the LORD taught me in this moment was that it’s actually natural to speak life and blessings over His children. It’s not difficult whatsoever, and the blessing is reciprocal! 

1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…”

That evening I was asked by Chance to accompany him and several others from our team to meet with a few local pastors for prayer and dinner, while the other members of our team were scheduled to visit another local church. As I approached the lobby for our departure time, I quickly realized we had one too many team members, meaning we couldn’t all fit in Pastor Jonathan’s vehicle. I then very clearly heard the quiet voice of the Spirit tell me to yield to the others and instead go to church with the larger team. And oh how I’m grateful for obedience…

As we arrived at church, we were greeted so graciously and led to our seats - the front two rows, right smack in the center. And guess who was seated front row center? Me! God had reserved a special seat for me. I’ve never experienced such worship as what occurred that night. One song in particular absolutely overwhelmed me in the Spirit - ”Hay Una Palabra” which translates to “There is a Word.” As I sat in that front row of a church that was absolutely standing room only, listening to the congregation - every single person (I’m speculating 300) - singing this song, it felt as if I was in the very presence of God’s throne room, overwhelmed with joy, listening to the multitude worship our Lord and our Father. The tears poured out, and I still joyfully weep by the memory.

Psalm 34:5–6, “Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.”

And lastly, our teammate, Clayton, delivered a POWERFUL sermon that evening, the congregation’s response to which was overwhelming. It’s amazing what the LORD can do through His children that simply say “yes.” I was so humbled once again to be a small piece of such an amazing team!

The Weekend Crusade

To put into perspective the beauty of the oceanside venue, an open-air amphitheater named “Anfiteatro de Puerto Plata at La Puntilla Park”, and the production quality of the two-night “Cruzada,” would quite candidly be impossible. So instead I’ll just provide pictures.

Friday night’s Crusade began, for me, miraculously. As the team and local pastors and artists prayed in the Spirit over Chance in the Green Room prior to the event, I was overwhelmed to tears by the presence of the Lord. I felt very compelled to take the time to be alone with Him, so I walked into the amphitheater to pray over the seats and stage (this was some 30 or so minutes prior to the Crusade’s 7pm start). As I finished and turned to walk back to the Green Room, there in front of me was Waner, the young man from the school we visited on Wednesday; the young man whom in my spirit I have seemingly known forever. In addition to Waner, stood two of his friends, all young males. In shock and disbelief, the only thing I knew to do was to take them to our team’s reserved seating area (front two rows, center stage) and ask them to wait there and sit with me for the Friday night event, for which they did, praise the Lord!

Other highlights from Friday night’s Crusade include:

• Indescribable worship! In fact, the same song, ”Hay Una Palabra,” from Thursday night’s church service was performed by a female artist named Coral La Luz - remember this name, as she is destined to serve the Kingdom in a MIGHTY way. I must admit, it was easily the most powerful worship performance I’ve ever experienced.
• Much to our shock and surprise, our guide, Uriel, was a lead singer for one of the featured bands, “12 Tribus” (12 Tribes). What an incredibly humble and talented brother. And during the midst of their performance, Uriel pointed to me and said, “Eric, I love you!” The Dominicans are an incredible people! I have truly fallen in love with them and their country.
• And of course, Chance, wearing a custom-made Dominican Republic baseball jersey, delivered a very powerful presentation of the Gospel, setting-up what was destined and ordained to be a Saturday night that would change the City of Puerto Plata forever and ever, amen!
• Other noteworthy highlights from Friday night include:
  • 100+ salvations! Praise the Lord!
  • The laying of hands by our entire team, and witnessing healing after healing, blessing after blessing, and the outpouring of hope, joy, love, and tears.
  • For me personally, the most powerful memory was laying my hands on the head of a four month-old baby boy in the arms of his weeping mother, the child suffering from epilepsy. This child and I locked eyes and I’ll never forget the intensity and beauty of his large, perfectly round, deep brown eyes. He didn’t blink whatsoever. He just looked deep into my eyes as if he understood every word that was being spoken, every blessing, every prayer for healing. As I removed my hand from the top of his head, he instantly straightened-up and for just a split-second his body trembled ever so slightly as if being touched by “electricity.” I have zero doubt and I believe in FAITH that this child was completely healed in Jesus’ name!
  • After this, I felt prompted by the Spirit to climb my way up and into the seating area of the amphitheater and lay my hands on and pray blessings over as many people in the crowd as possible, with a particular prompting to touch and bless a multitude of children. The next morning at the breakfast buffet at our hotel for the week, a young adult man named Orlando, an employee of the resort, approached me and thanked me for laying hands on his baby girl. We then took a quick “selfie” together while the Spirit reminded me to make sure Orlando knew that ONLY Jesus deserves the praise and glory and honor! 

Friday’s Crusade was a profound blessing and confirmation of the impact we can have on humanity when walking in the Spirit. I am certain that each heart of our team was eternally changed and turned toward the Kingdom of God. Amen.

The team spent the day Saturday resting, sharing our testimonies and the many blessings experienced Friday night, and asking and praying for a fresh and renewed impartation of the Holy Spirit in preparation for what we all knew was going to be a transformational night to come.

I don’t know where to even start…

The Saturday Crusade miraculously began for me the very same way as Friday’s, as I again walked into the amphitheater to pray over the seats and stage before the scheduled 7pm start. And as I finished and turned to walk back to the Green Room, there in front of me yet again was Waner, the young man from the school we visited on Wednesday; the young man whom in my spirit I have seemingly known forever. And once again, Waner stood with the same two friends. And once again, I escorted them to our team’s reserved seating area, where for the second night in a row they heard a powerful presentation of the Gospel and witnessed the outpouring of His Spirit.

Chance very prophetically preached - completely without using his prepared notes on his ever-present iPad - on the ending of Joel chapter 2:28-32, a section which is commonly referred to as “The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit.”

Joel 2:28-32, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth… And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

After Chance’s first altar call (a call to salvation), I noticed he was clearly and overwhelmingly being FILLED and LED by the Holy Spirit. He then made the almost impossible proclamation that he intended to “lay hands on every single person in the amphitheater”, some 5000+ people. I was in the altar area, stage-left, and I immediately thought, “we’re going to be here all night!” Chance then, without referencing the verse, spoke a prophetic Word from the same chapter of Joel, verse 23, proclaiming, “I believe the LORD is going to pour out His Spirit onto every single person here!”

Joel 2:23, “...for He has given the early rain for your vindication; He has poured down for you abundant rain…”

And immediately - and I mean the absolute split-second that Chance spoke the word “rain” - the skies opened-up and the LORD brought rain, a very gentle yet powerful outpouring of His Spirit that completely fell on the 5000+ of His sons and daughters. We witnessed with our very eyes the Father of Glory touching everyone present.

Miracle after miracle

Open door after open door

Here it comes, so get ready for another one

'Cause another one is on the way

Oh, rushing wind and living water

You're the God of signs and God of wonders

If You will it what can stop it

'Cause You're working it all for good

Yeah, You're working it all for good 

I will never be able to articulate what happened to each of us, other than to say our lives and hearts have forever been transformed. We witnessed a blind man’s eye opened. We witnessed canes being thrown down. We witnessed those with body pains and ailments touching their toes. We witnessed blessing upon blessing being poured into God’s children. As I laid my hands on the multitude, the only prayer I could speak was the same as Peter, a prayer that my teammate Jonathan had reminded me of earlier in the day.

Acts 3:6, “But Peter said, ‘I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you!’”

And as I sought those to pray over, the Spirit, over and over, commanded that I remove my shoes.

Exodus 3:5, “...take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

A confession that needs to be made is I’ve never been comfortable leading someone to the Lord Jesus, leading someone to salvation in Christ. Instead, I much, much prefer to disciple new Believers. And this is where His story for my week truly begins.

As the night of miracles unfolded, I found myself in the altar area just right of center-stage, staring in somewhat disbelief at what the LORD was doing in and through Chance. I had completely turned away from the crowd to face Chance and the stage. As I was prompted to turn back towards the crowd, standing directly in front of me, three feet away, was Waner, that same young man from the school, the same young man that had shown up to both nights of the Crusade with his two friends. With tears pouring down my face, he simply said to me, “I want to ask Jesus into my heart.” So for the first time in my life, I led someone to Lord. And since neither of us spoke the other’s language, I’m unsure exactly how it all occurred. I do know I heard him in English. Below is Waner’s picture after his salvation experience, as he tracked me down once the event had ended.

There’s more! After Waner’s salvation, the two other young male friends of his that had sat with me both nights stepped towards me, each desiring salvation. So once again, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I somehow led them to the Lord Jesus. 

I then looked up and one of the local church volunteers (there were 70+ local churches partnering with us) pointed to a line of young men, I’m presuming all from the local High Schools, all young boys that I possibly had encountered in some way. And the volunteer said, “they only want you to pray for them.” So I just stood there in overwhelming disbelief and astonishment and joy, laying hands on these young men of God and praying blessing after blessing after blessing.

Even as I type this, I don’t even remotely understand how the God and Creator of all things would choose someone like me, the chief of sinners, to pour His Spirit through me and into anyone on the face of this planet. I don’t deserve the blessing I have received. His mercy is indescribable and immeasurable. A night I can never forget. A night that has forever changed the trajectory of my life. Thank You, Jesus!

Oh, there is one other miraculous sign and wonder to share. We were told Sunday morning that the only place in the Dominican Republic that it rained Saturday evening was the Anfiteatro de Puerto Plata at La Puntilla Park, the site of the Crusade.