Do not be seized with alarm...

	Communiqué - August 1996
		Do not be seized with alarm... The Lord warns us in His Word that we live in perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1). It is, however, not necessary for us to go through these trying times on our own because God says that He will never leave us or forsake us. The Lord encourages us to press in and persevere in faith by reminding us of the following; Luke 12:32; "Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!" Rom 14:17; "(After all) the kingdom of God is not a matter of (getting the) food and drink (one likes), but instead it is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Luke 13:18; "...What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed..." Matt 17:20; "...For truly I say to you, if you have faith (that is living) like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." Acts 14:22; "...stand firm in the faith, ...it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." We would like to share with you our testimony of God's goodness to us during a recent crisis that we experienced as a family. We wrote it especially for inclusion in a Christian newspaper shortly after we were attacked in our home. Testimony of Jan, Annika and Children Thursday 22 August 1996, arrived with the usual early morning sounds of the Van Rooyen family preparing for the activities of the day. Everyone seemed to be happy and at ease, unaware of the life-threatening danger lurking just a few hours away. The previous evening was one of enjoyable fellowship at "homecell" where Jan usually leads praise and worship. One or two remarks were made during this time that there seemed to be a "dragging" or "heaviness" in the spirit, but it was decided that this was due to the fact that quite a number of the cell-members were either ill or under some kind of spiritual attack. As Thursday progressed, the "burden" seemed to remain, and Jan & Annika agreed that it was for the needs of the people attending the evening "School of the Spirit" in Gallo Manor, Johannesburg. Accordingly they continued to pray and intercede as they went about their daily routine. School of the Spirit At 18:50 Thursday evening, Jan and Annika wished their children (Dennis, Bobby and Kara) a good night, and they left on their way to minister. As they were driving they continued to pray both with the understanding and with tongues, trusting God for breakthroughs in peoples lives. The evening proceeded faultlessly, with the Holy Spirit in mighty manifestation, touching men and women in many different ways. A few of those attending mentioned that the anointing present was even more special than usual. During this time, however, Annika sensed an urgency in her spirit to return home, but she thought to wait for Jan until he was through ministering to those present. Arriving at home (11:10pm), Jan parked their vehicle in the garage, and proceeded to unload his guitar, etc. Everything appeared to be normal until both Jan and Annika walked out of the garage. Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, five men armed with handguns and other weapons surrounded them and escorted them into their home. Annika rebuked them in the Name of Jesus, and one man responded by hitting her over the head with a Taurus .357 Revolver. The wound started bleeding profusely. Once inside their home, Jan and Annika were ordered to sit down. Their ankles and wrists were bound very tightly and they were told to keep quiet otherwise they would be killed. Annika enquired concerning the whereabouts of the three children, and they were brought into the family room (already bound for over an hour), and they were told to sit on the floor next to her. The Interrogation begins... Interrogation started immediately with Jan receiving many blows against the head. The children were threatened with death if Jan did not tell of the whereabouts of the "weapons cache" and the "safe full of money". Alternately Jan, Annika or the children were threatened with death if they did not give the information required. During this time other members of the gang ransacked the house from top to bottom. Even some of the walls were broken down, apparently to see if there was a hidden safe. At certain times the family was left alone for two to three minute periods and it was during these times that the family prayed together in tongues and shared some of their concerns. Jan remarked that he was amazed at the fact that he felt no hatred or anger towards the men, but only the love and compassion of God. During one such interval the children explained that at about 10:00pm the men came towards the house firing shots. Dennis who was outside at the time, ran inside and dialed the number of the South African Police Flying Squad. As the operator answered, the telephone cord was pulled from the wall by one of the attackers who had come into the house and the connection was lost. The three children proceeded to tell how they were then tied up and made to sit in one of the bedrooms while the band of men awaited Jan & Annika's return. Interrogation continues... As the interrogation and questioning continued, the leader of the gang realised that the Van Rooyens were not going to give any information. He intensified his approach by torturing Jan with a steam-iron set on the hottest temperature. Jan was burnt on the legs and face but was not able to give the information required because he did not (and still does not) own weapons or a safe "full of money". During this time the Holy Spirit prompted Jan several times to speak out forgiveness to the men, saying that Jesus loves them and that even if he and his family were killed he would still love them. The family continued to pray and trust God as the ransacking and fear tactics continued. At about 30 minutes past midnight the Holy Spirit stepped in... The attackers started to apologise for what they had done. One man cleaned up Annika's wound with tissue- paper and explained that the team had decided not to kill the family. Blankets were brought and placed around the four sitting on the floor. A man started to clean up some of the mess that had been made. Some of the children's bonds were loosened. God started breaking through in victory!!! At 01:15am the men packed the Van Rooyen's vehicle with as much as it could be loaded with and left. Annika was one of the first to be freed and she was able to reconnect the telephone and dialed the number of the Flying Squad. The family then prayed together for their attackers that no harm would come to them and that their souls will be saved. They also made a commitment to go and preach the Gospel to them in prison once they were caught. The Police investigate Later on police-officers started arriving to begin with their investigations. At a certain stage Jan was told that the family car was pulled off the road approximately fifteen kilometres away. The reason given for it being found so quickly was due to the fact that when the first radio-call went out, a patrol vehicle was driving directly behind it, and they proceeded to open fire on the car. More than forty-five rounds were fired by the police but not one person was killed (one officer said that with that many rounds of ammunition being fired all of the men in the car should have been killed). Jan and Annika's prayer was answered.... The news about the attack spread very quickly and many people telephoned and visited the Van Rooyen family offering their assistance. Members of their homecell at New Life Church as well as the Church leadership immediately rallied around them supporting them with prayer as well as meeting their physical needs. At the same time Jan was able to speak to those investigating the case concerning visitation of their attackers in prison once they had been captured. Again their prayer was answered by permission being granted. Testimony time During the days following, Jan and Annika related their story over and over to believers and unbelievers alike. Hardened policemen were just shaking their heads saying that they had never heard of criminals apologising for their crimes in this way. Newspaper reporters commented repeatedly that they were amazed at how "unaffected" the Van Rooyens were by the whole affair. Jan and Annika were able to testify of the Love and Grace of the Lord Jesus to these people and many of them admitted that this miracle could only have taken place because God was involved. Today Jan, Annika and the children are more on fire than ever before. They have experienced the Presence of the fourth Man in the fiery furnace. They know that they know that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He cares as they continue to share the Good News to all who cross their path. Yours in His Love and Anointing *Jan van Rooyen* Click HERE to download as an eBook Previous Page \| Top of Page



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