Introduction
This revival took place among the Aboriginal peoples located on Mornington Island, as well as at other locations in north Queensland Australia.
Conditions Prior to the Revival
Throughout the region the aboriginal people were in despair, experiencing few opportunities for employment, which led to hopelessness. This condition resulted in many sins, including drunkenness, sniffing fuel, violence of various sorts, and cohabitation.
Preparing for Revival
Iranale Tadulala, a Fijian pastor who had been serving on Mornington Island since 1994, had experienced discouragement, as there were only 10 people attending the church services at the Uniting Church. Then, with multiple encounters with God, wherein the Lord spoke to him about the coming revival, Tadulala’s faith was renewed.
► During 1997, Tadulala indicated that an angel visited him, informing him of a revival that was to take place on Mornington Island. The angel also told Tadulala that he was to facilitate the revival, and that the task would not be easy.
► Tadulala also reported that on another occasion there was an eagle that landed on his arm. He prayed and asked God what He was trying to say with that occurrence, and he sensed the Lord telling him that “You need to fly like an eagle with strong wings to get higher and very close to me.”
► At another time, on day 14 of a 21-day fast, Tadulala had a vision, in which he saw himself preaching to people in the region, which resulted in an awakening. He then made a banner communicating that vision and assembled people to faithfully pray for that vision to become a reality.
The challenges Tadulala faced during this time were severe. It began in January 1999, with racial tensions against him and his family. There were rocks thrown through windows of his home, but Tadulala remained faithful, telling the Lord, “I will stay until you tell me to leave.”
In May, Tadulala sensed the Lord telling him to invite a team to come and conduct evangelistic meetings beginning on Tuesday, July 27, 1999.
The team that assembled to conduct this ministry were:
► Iranale Tadulala from Mornington Island
► David Coppard from Townsville
► Apenisa Rabai from Palm Island
► Saimoni Davui from Weipa
► Richard Roughsey from Mornington Island
► Jesse Padayache from Brisbane
Most of these individuals had been used by God during February and May of that year on Palm Island, where a significant revival atmosphere blanketed the island.
Extraordinary Prayer
To prepare for what God was going to do on Mornington Island, Tadulala and a group of intercessors commenced a 40-day fast, from June 1 till July 10, with a prayer meeting every night at 8:00 pm.
An acquaintance of Tadulala visited him on day 28 of that fast and felt a powerful conviction of the Holy Spirit, which he recognized as coming from Tadulala’s commitment. That individual reported that Tadulala was close to tears all the time.
During his fast, Tadulala sensed that there was a similarity between Mornington Island and the city of Pergamum, as listed in Revelation 2:12-17. Evil was so prevalent on the island that it was similar to Satan having his throne there, like what is recorded in Revelation 2:13. There was also an awareness of spiritual bondage that was hovering over the 1,200 residents of the island, dating back to when the first missionary was martyred there in 1917 (Robert Hall).
Robert Hall (right), with school children on Mornington Island
Noting that martyrdom was also part of the Revelation 2:13 reference, in the ancient city of Pergamum, Tadulala sensed he needed to go to the site of the martyrdom that occurred 82 years earlier and pray there 7 days to lift any spiritual barrier that may still be in place.
Jesse Padayache
Meetings on Palm Island
In February and May of 1999, Jesse Padayache was the main speaker at revival meetings on Palm Island. During these meetings there were many that were converted and set free from an assortment of sinful addictions. The change in lifestyles led to increased prosperity for the area, as the people were no longer spending money on alcohol, but were making purchases to meet their family’s needs.
Encouraged by the reports of the revival that was occurring on Palm Island, with many saved, healed, and delivered from evil spirits, the intercessors at Mornington Island were energized to remain faithful in prayer.
Meetings on Mornington Island
The team that had been ministering on Palm Island had been invited to come to Mornington Island and hold meetings for six days, beginning on Tuesday, July 27,1999.
On the first night, over 100 people responded, and by the end of the 6 days, around 300 were recorded as having been converted. By September, that number had reached 500. This was in a church where, prior to the meetings, only 10 people were in regular attendance.
Jesse & Cookie Padayache
The meetings were dramatic, with many powerful encounters occurring, demonstrating the power of Jesus over the powers of Satan.
► Many demons were cast out.
► Many healings occurred (deaf, blind, crippled, back pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, tumors, etc.)
► Many were delivered from alcohol addiction.
► The sale of alcohol plummeted.
► Deaf and mute were healed.
► There was deliverance from gambling addictions.
► Reconciliation occurred between former enemies.
► Reconciliation occurred between blacks and whites.
► The women’s shelter was empty, as it wasn’t needed any more.
► Entire households were saved.
► There were 500 from this community of 1,200 that were saved.
► Many who had previously been living together got married.
► The church was packed, with many standing outside listening.
► The mayor and deputy mayor committed their lives to the Lord.
► Great joy filled the community resulting in many changes.
Meetings in Weipa, Aurukun, and Marpoon
From August 19-24, a team made up of some of the same ministers conducted meetings in Weipa, Aurukun, and Marpoon, experiencing similar results as what had occurred at Mornington Island.
Jesse Padayache, noted as being the main speaker, traveled to several other locations during this season, experiencing similar results.
► Miraculous healings
► Demons cast out.
When a demon was cast out of a white woman in Weipa, the news spread fast, as it was previously believed that only aboriginals had demons. This news brought many more to the services, multiplying the salvations, deliverances, and healings.
Revival Comes at a Price
Not only is there the time commitment required to pray for revival, but many of the leaders in the revival had severe attacks as Satan attempted to stop the revival’s progress. This led to establishing intercessors to pray specifically for all the ministers and their families, as the majority of the attacks were right against them.
► Some families had to leave due to violence coming against them.
► There was an attempted rape of a 12-year-old daughter.
► Thieves began breaking into homes when leaders were at the meetings.
► All the pastor’s wives, except one, had major medical problems or surgery.
► There were many disappearances, mishaps, and tragedies.
► The financial burden to keep the revival moving forward was large.
Mornington Island Uniting Church
Revival Continued
During the months of October and November, more meetings were conducted in Aurukun and Weipa, keeping the revival moving ahead.
Lessons Learned in this Revival
► As with all revivals, with the large influx of souls and the reviving of backslidden believers, the demand for discipleship and teaching was a major burden.
► The need for the ministry of deliverance from demonic activity was widely acknowledged. The number of demonic attacks and hindrances was ongoing. It was recognized that the amount of prayer required to break through the barrier to revival would have to be constant, to prevent barriers from coming back up again.
Source
► Aboriginal Revival in Queensland by Ron French
► Revival Journal by Geoff Waugh
► Missionary Murdered by The Week Newspaper
Return to List of Revival Stories
Chet & Phyllis Swearingen
(260) 920-8248
romans1015@outlook.com
Beautiful Feet
P.O. Box 915
Auburn, IN 46706
