An unprecedented crowd was recorded at the Suame roundabout, venue for this year’s Christ for all Nations (CfAN) gospel crusade held in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, last weekend.

By day three of the four-day event yesterday, the official figure stood at 700,000.

Eyewitnesses, however, disputed the figure, asserting that the official counting took into account only the crowd on the 24-acre land, and that it did not include people who watched from roof and treetops as well as the streets. By their estimation, about two million people might have turned up for the crusade.

The people poured in from all parts of the city, joined by those bussed from parts of the Brong-Ahafo and the Central Regions. Even though popular German evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke, could not make the trip, the people were spiritually filled with what they had in his successor, American evangelist Daniel Kolenda.

Evangelist Kolenda, current president of CfAN – since Bonnke’s official retirement last year after 40 years of globe-trotting with the gospel – asked people with immoral lives to change their ways.

On day three, he specifically directed his message to people in positions of trust, including accountants and politicians.

Using the biblical story of Zacheus, who used his position as tax collector to defraud taxpayers, Evangelist Kolenda asked for a change of heart by corrupt officials, cheats and fraudsters, saying that like Zacheus, it was not too late to turn to God for forgiveness.

“No sin is too small or too big to be forgiven,” he noted, adding: “All that God is interested in is a broken heart and contrite spirit. He is waiting for us to turn over our lives to him. We are heavily laden with sin. By ourselves we are unable to muster the will-power to stop sinning. Don’t struggle: just turn to God and trust him to forgive and clean you up.”

Thousands of attendees responded to the call. Having said what is known in Christian circles as the “Sinners Prayer”, they were counseled and invited to go to churches of their choice.

Hundreds of people also responded to the invitation to bring from their homes any items taken from occult sources intended for protection against physical and spiritual attacks, quick-fix solutions to wealth, fame and marriage. These items were dumped into two large barrels and set ablaze.

Many cripples and the lame who had arrived in wheel-chairs, pushed by relations or came walking with the aid of crutches; several blind men and women, who had come with their guides, walked back unaided – having been healed. The deaf, many of who had previously sat unmoved by the noises around them, were seen a few hours later, either singing or chatting excitedly. They had been healed miraculously.

Rev John Kwesi Darku, the Ghanaian Africa Director for CfAN, who moderated the programme, asked the people to place their confidence in God and work hard.

He, as well as other pastors, led the people to pray for Ghana, Africa and Asanteman.

In attendance were heads of churches and para-church organizations in the city, including the Anglican Primate for West Africa, Most Rev Professor Daniel Yinka Sarfo and the Bishop of the Kumasi Methodist Archdiocese, Very Rev Professor Safo Kantanka; Rev Dr. Kwabena Darko of Darko Farms fame, pastor of Oasis of Love Church and Mrs. Dorothy Danso, president of Aglow International.