Nicky van der Westhuizen (6/19/1948 - 10/25/1993)
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| Evangelist Nicky van der Westhuizen. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
Introduction
I believe that remembering the life and ministry of Nicky van der Westhuizen may serve to inspire those who consider the ministry of evangelism, alert them to avoid some pitfalls, and to exemplify God’s ability to restore fallen ministers.
Several men of God would have an influence in my life, most notably my uncle John Hitchcock, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke and another man of God – Nicky van der Westhuizen. With this writing I am attempting to share some memories of the life and ministry of this once great, yet almost forgotten evangelist.
Before I continue, let me share my initial connection with Brother Nicky. I do not know how it happened, but I received a newsletter of Nicky van der Westhuizen’s ministry when I was 13 years old. I read the newsletter with great interest, and saw pictures of miracles of healing that were happening in his ministry. I was amazed that such miracles still happened in modern times. And there was one line in the newsletter that struck deeper than anything else in the letter, and it was a challenge to set apart a day, and to seek the Lord with fasting and prayer. Although I was only 13 years old, I took up the challenge. I fasted for a full day, drinking water only. Of course, it felt like the longest day of my life! But at the end of the day I asked the Lord if I really should become a preacher. And for the first time in my life that I can remember, I heard the voice of the Lord. It was not an audible voice, but it was a very real voice that filled my mind and being. In the Afrikaans language He answered me that “Yes my son, I want you to become an evangelist”. That was 31 years ago and I have served the Lord as an evangelist for 23 years since after I completed Bible seminary. I am forever thankful that that newsletter made its way to an unsuspecting 13-year old kid. In addition to other influences in my life, I also am what I am today thanks directly to that newsletter that prompted me to seek the Lord.
Nicky van der Westhuizen was one of South Africa’s greatest evangelists. Large crowds would gather to hear him at his tent, and his preaching was nothing short of exemplary. But first, let’s go back to the beginning.
The Early Years
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| Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
I remember Brother Nicky saying that as a child he had fallen and was severely hurt, and that God had healed him. I don’t know much about his young adult years, but I remember him saying that at one point he truly gave his life to Christ, which set him ablaze for the Lord.
He made it a habit to pick up people and fill his car to capacity with souls to take them to church and tent revivals. One particular evangelist that he had followed was Evangelist Rassie Erasmus. Brother Erasmus had been known nationwide for his playing the concertina, after which he had received Christ and became a great tent revival evangelist.
Some Life Changing Events
Eventually Nicky van der Westhuizen became the pastor of the Pentecostal Protestant Church in Krugersdorp close to Johannesburg, South Africa. It was a little church, but they took well to Nicky’s passionate and fervent preaching. I remember Nicky telling of how they had to expand the sanctuary because of the crowds that had come to his services. I remember Nicky say that the church grew to about 1,000 in membership. Nicky also had become the youth director of his denomination.At about this time a few life changing events happened in Brother Nicky’s life. Firstly, he had attended a conference where Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke had preached. I believe it was at the Pentecostal Protestant Church’s Beulah Park Camp Conference Grounds. Nicky said that he prayed through that night after hearing Brother Reinhard preach, and this was one of the events that would propel him into a new phase of his ministry. The term “prayed through that night” (daardie nag deurgebid) may mean that he prayed through the whole night, but prayed through (deurgebid) should be understood in the context of the old Pentecostal term that does rather mean that you prayed until you knew that you knew that you have been heard.
The other event involves my own uncle John Hitchcock, who had been an evangelist at that time. John had been a severe stutterer, but would be virtually fluent every time he preached – a phenomenon that he credited to the anointing of the Spirit. He was also an accomplished pianist and singer. Pastor Nicky van der Westhuizen and John Hitchcock were introduced to each other at Beulah Park, the PPC Camp Conference facilities. Upon meeting John, Nicky opened his Bible and showed a flyer of John that had come into his possession and proceeded to say that God had told him to have John preach a revival ('n veldtog) at his church. John accepted the invitation and ministered at Nicky's Pentecostal Protestant Church in Krugersdorp. At some point in the meeting John turned to Nicky and gave him a word from the Lord, first quoting Isaiah 54:2 that Nicky should “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes…”
Nicky told me years later that my uncle John had also seen a vision at that time of a blue and white tent coming from heaven, and Nicky said that this was fulfilled in the Gospel Super Dome that Nicky evangelized in many years later. Nicky made special reference to my Uncle John’s prophetic accuracy.
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| The blue and white Gospel Super Dome in Mabopane, South Africa |
It was these and most probably many other signals of the Spirit that prompted Nicky to resign his healthy church to separate himself to a time of fasting and prayer. Nicky said that little did he know that it would be nine months of separation before he was released into a new phase of revival and ministry.
During my research I discussed some of these events with my uncle John, and he reminded me of another supernatural event that had occurred during that time of transition. John was driving somewhere in the Johannesburg area, when he heard the Spirit tell him to go to Nicky van der Westhuizen's house immediately. I have personally witnessed such an impromptu command of the Spirit in my uncle John's life and seen its results, but that is a story for another time. So back to John being commanded to go to Nicky's house. The timing of the Lord had it that as soon as John arrived at Nicky's house, that he found the board of the Pentecostal Protestant Church about to enter into his house. John walked in with them. The board tried to convince Nicky to return to the PPC, to no avail. After the long meeting was over, only John and Nicky were left. Nicky asked John what he thought, and John told him that if God led him out of the denomination, then he had to obey God. (Both these brethren had a high regard for the PPC). Nicky told John that if John had not been with him that day that he might have returned to the PPC.
Nicky continued to seek God in fasting and prayer. My uncle John Hitchcock told me that they had prayed at night on John's little farm in Walkerville, and how that the Spirit fell on them during those precious times of seeking God. John distinctly remembers Nicky laying prostrate in the dirt in contrition before God. Years later I had asked John where the spot was where Nicky had laid, took some of the dirt from that spot and mailed it to Nicky as a reminder of those days.
Nicky said that as he sought God for the gifts of healing and miracles etc, that God told him that a medical doctor had to study for seven years first, and asked himself what kind of sacrifice he had made to heal the sick in prayer and for revival. This prompted Nicky to seek God even more fervently.
Nicky’s dedication to prayer reflects nothing less than an insatiable hunger after God. For example, at his instructions his wife would drive him out and drop him with only a large can of water at some godforsaken place in the Western Transvaal. There he would find a place under some thorn tree and begin to cry out to God. He would pray through the day and then continue to pray through that night. And when the sun came out the next day he would continue to pray to God. He said that it would only be later on in the late afternoon that he would sense that his that thirst for God began to be quenched (‘n versadiging begin kom). He did this several times.
Nicky also told of how God had sent people to his house supernaturally to join him in prayer. He said that he did not know them, nor did they know him, but that the Lord had told them to come to his house. He then told them that he was praying for revival.
The West Rand Revival
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen. Picture credit: Jacques van der Westhuizen |
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen in Reinhard Bonnke's 34,000 seater tent. Picture credit: Jacques van der Westhuizen |
Eventually the release from the Lord came, as God told him to “Go unto the great city of Roodepoort” and that God would bring revival there. Because Roodepoort was situated in the West Rand (western suburbs of the greater Johannesburg metroplex,) it was also referred to later as the revival on the West Rand. As time progressed during these nine months of separation, the group had grown to fifty three people, who joined him. He set up an old 400-seater tent in Roodepoort and began to hold revival services. He called the tent “die mooiste lelikste eendjie,” Afrikaans for the prettiest ugly duckling. Nicky fasted for 35 days, and said that the power of God became so strong and evident in the tent that nine deaf people were healed. The crowds became so large that they had to acquire a larger tent, seating 1,000 people. Within three months this tent also became too small for the crowds that showed up, and now a 2,000-seater tent was acquired. This tent was also outgrown soon, and eventually an even larger tent that could seat 4,000 people was acquired.
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| Picture Courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Picture Courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Picture Courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr |
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| Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr |
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| Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
Pentecostal Preaching
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| Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
Another powerful message that I heard in those early years was Nicky’s “Laat my volk trek sodat hulle My kan dien…” (Afrikaans for Let my people go, that they may serve Me…) In it he challenged people to get out of dead religion and dead churches and join themselves to where God was truly moving by His Spirit.
The Miracle Ministry
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| Courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
Let me share a couple of miracles that I have personally heard of or seen. I once asked Nicky which miracle had been the greatest miracle he had seen. He could not really tell, but told about a lady who had been an invalid that was raised up.
I also remember listening to a tape in which he performed an exorcism. In the beginning spirits would come out of the woman with grunts and moans. Some of these spirits identified themselves as “lust” or “anger”. It didn’t really sound too convincing on the tape, but I kept on listening.
Eventually the “chief demon” in the woman was identified after the lesser demons had been cast out. The blood of Jesus was pled over the congregation as they continued the exorcism. If I had any doubt whether or not this was a real demon, those doubts were dispelled when I heard this woman speak with a man’s voice, as it said “I won’t leave her! I won’t leave her!” This voice was clearly that of a man, and it was hard to believe that this voice came from a woman who just a few minutes ago had a soft, gentle and shy type voice. Then the thing roared with a roar that is difficult to explain, as it came out of her. The woman was completely set free and testified the next Sunday of what the Lord had done for her. Again, she now spoke with that soft and kind, intelligent voice, and you could tell that she was free.
I forget where I heard it, but I was told by somebody that some South African Satanists that had converted to Christ revealed that Nicky was considered to be their greatest enemy. I am not sure if that meant their greatest enemy on the Rand, or in South Africa, but this information is somewhat indicative of the impact that his ministry was making.
I will share another couple of miracles I had personally witnessed later on in his last and largest Gospel tent, and also at the latter end of his life.
But first, may I take a moment to share one of my own healings. Nicky was holding a crusade in my friend’s dad’s church. Oh, the preaching was powerful. Eventually he asked the sick to come forward. I was one of them, because I had a problem in my hearing. What had happened was that I had been hit on the ear by a surfer while swimming in the ocean a few months before. I was so stunned that I went back to our chalet while the rest of my family stayed at the beach. When I blew my nose, I actually heard a whistling sound coming from my right ear. I understood later that it was probably a hole in the ear drum. And from that day onwards, louder sounds would sound like a “buzz” in my ear, much like a bad, blown speaker would when cranked up too loud. This went on for months. Now getting back to the Nicky’s healing meeting: I will skip over the format of the service to where he laid hands one by one, somewhat forcefully as he moved down the healing line. I was not expecting him, but suddenly his hand hit my forehead. I was somewhat startled, but also fell out under the power of God. After some time the meeting was ended, and my friend and I drove back to our dormitory about an hour away. Being youths we loved loud, contemporary Christian music, and when my friend turned up the volume, it suddenly dawned on me that there was no buzzing in my ear! I asked him to turn it up louder, and there was no defect whatsoever. This happened about 25 years ago, and my ear is still healed. Last year I visited an ear doctor for the first time in my life for something unrelated. The doctor told me that there was a scar on my ear drum, and I knew exactly what it was from. Though there is still a scar, my hearing is still completely healed.
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| Photo Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
The IFCC
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| Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
One significant event was when the IFCC gathered to hold an special communion service. Several leaders would represent their people group, and Nicky represented the Afrikaners.
The Golden Years
Around that time Nicky held a crusade in the Good Hope Center in Cape Town. The crowds packed it out to capacity as thousands of souls came to receive from God. This crusade was truly a great moment in his ministry. He also reported great crusades in Belgium and Mauritius, while still continuing meetings in his church in the large tent. When Morris Cerullo ministered for him more than 5,000 people packed out his tent. On another occasion Brother Nicky’s photographer took a picture of a cloud that had hovered over his tent. It was hailed as a supernatural sign from God, since it was on an otherwise a cloudless night.
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| Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Good Hope Center. Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Good Hope Center. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Good Hope Center. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Good Hope Center. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Unidentified location. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Unidentified location. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Unidentified location. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
Then Brother Nicky’s ministry went to even higher heights. It was in December 1987 that he prayed for God’s leading towards the next phase of his ministry. He handed over the reins of his church to his well able associate, and moved into full time traveling ministry. He received a vision of a large Gospel tent that would seat 25,000 people, which he called the Gospel Super Dome. I read that South African believers who caught the vision donated sacrificially and with these funds a huge sound system was purchased. If I am not mistaken, I think it was Kenneth Copeland Ministries that paid for the tent. In a relatively short time the tent was completed, and a Prayer crusade was held in Boksburg. It did not take long for the media to pounce on him, calling it some money making venture. But Nicky’s answer was that this was impossible, for he was reaching out to the poorest of the poor. A few months later, on November 9th, 1988 the one and only crusade in it was held in Mabopane – a black township outside of Pretoria. The crusade was dubbed “Jesus in Mabopane”. Great excitement filled the Christian community as Nicky had his Gospel Super Dome set up there. The first meeting was held on a Sunday afternoon, and I was there. There were thousands of people out there. I read later that 35,000 people attended the meeting, although the tent could only seat 25,000.
I will never forget the power in which Evangelist Nicky van der Westhuizen had ministered. If memory serves me right, I believe he titled his message “With God nothing is impossible”. He preached as only he could. The atmosphere seemed to be charged with the Spirit. Suddenly Nicky pointed to the crowd and said Look, someone walking without their stick! And, look, there’s another one, etc. I remember feeling that nothing was indeed impossible with God. It felt to me that nothing could be too farfetched to believe God for. And then it happened. Nicky asked a few strong men to bring a completely lame man unto the platform. They carried him up there and Nicky began to pray for him. He commanded him to rise up and walk, in the Name of Jesus. And he did! The crowd roared with praise as the man walked across the platform.
This crusade was arguably the height of Nicky’s ministry. This was the last time he set up that huge tent. He continued his traveling ministry and also carried a large wooden cross into several areas of South Africa, to spread the message of forgiveness from sin through the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
During this time I attended a couple of meetings he was holding in an Apostoliese Geloof Sending (Apostolic Faith Mission Church) in Pretoria. He preached as powerful as ever. What I remember very vividly about one of those services is how he prayed for the sick after the service. Although he was not bringing the sick on the platform as he usually did, he still tirelessly prayed for the sick in the altar. I stood right there by him, kind of unofficially assisting where I could in the altar. One after the other the sick were instantly healed after prayer. I specifically remember two or three deaf ears opening. He made no public announcement about it. They just rejoiced together and then he would move on to the next person requesting prayer. I think there were probably about 300 people in attendance, and I remember about 40 people accepting the Lord as their Savior, or rededicating their lives to Christ. They were invited to another room, where Evangelist Nicky van der Westhuizen exhorted them with some pointers regarding their new life in Christ.
Forgive me for diverting from the main topic for a couple of paragraphs, but it is still relative and we will be right back on track.
What happened to that tent? Another ministry bought it and used it a couple of times to hold prayer-for-revival meetings. Eventually the steel structure on which the acres of tent canvas rested was sold to Pastor Ronnie Barnard’s Woord en Lewe Kerk (Word and Life Church) in Boksburg, South Africa. They built a huge and beautiful mega church facility with it. The canvas was sowed into the ministry of a great black evangelist – Annanias Ralekholela by name. He had the tent redesigned to be set up much easier and used it extensively. I had the joy of speaking in it at least once. Unfortunately his truck caught fire one day and the tent disappeared in a huge cloud of black smoke. Brother Ralekholela currently has a portion of Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke’s tent, which he is still using every single week in De Deur, South Africa. The old tent is still working for Jesus!
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| Gospel Super Dome, Mabopane. Photo courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Gospel Super Dome, Mabopane. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Left to right: Peter Pretorius, Theo Wolmarans, Ray McCauley, Ed Roebert, Fred Roberts, Unidentified, Elijah Maswanganyi. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr. |
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| Inside the Gospel Super Dome in Mabopane |
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| Nicky ministering inside the Gospel Super Dome in Mabopane, South Africa. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen. |
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| Inside the Gospel Super Dome in Mabopane, South Africa. Picture courtesy Nicky van der Westhuizen |
Nicky’s Financial and Marital Situation
Why did Nicky sell the tent? Frankly, I think it was for financial considerations. It was no small feat to set up that huge giant of canvas and steel, and I don’t think Nicky had the money to set up this tent frequently. I would like to point out something about Brother Nicky’s finances. In those years the newspapers ever so often came up with some sensational story about leaders in the Charismatic revival, in which they were often depicted as ravening money wolves.Before I touch on Brother Nicky’s financial situation, let me share a quick side story: I had a family member who lived not too far from one of these major Charismatic churches. He was also an atheist. He had never gone to that church, because he believed they were just after people’s money. He continued to tell stories of how people would throw their gold rings and jewelry onto the platform, and so he related the rumors he had heard. I coerced him to go to the church with us one Sunday morning. And contrary to what he expected, there was none of that going on. The only critique he could come up with was about that guy on the one side of the platform who danced around during the music time. But then he said something that stunned me and made a lasting impression in my mind. Although he had been an atheist, he said that for the first time in his life he thought that there might really be a God. This is a learned man who had been an atheist all of his life. It was not rational engagement that brought him to this awakening to the possible reality of God. It was something else. I believe it was the overwhelming sense of love and power, the anointing and the Presence of the Lord. That church was clearly misrepresented by a hostile media.
The same was true regarding Evangelist Nicky van der Westhuizen. By reading newspapers one would have thought that he was some cult leader with access to vast stashes of cash. I must say that I do not have any inside information about Brother Nicky's financial status, so I must rely on my own perception and am open to be corrected in this regard. It is my opinion that Nicky was never a rich man. Although Brother Nicky would at times preach and teach that God would supply in all His people’s needs, and although the Lord clearly did some great financial miracles for him and for his ministry (such as when his tent was paid for and when that huge sound system was purchased for his ministry,) I do not think he was ever well off.
I had driven by his house once, and it was just a normal, middle class type residence. I also spoke to someone who worked for his ministry, who told me about some of the trials Nicky had gone through, including that there was never enough money to fulfill his vision. I have no insider information, nor have I ever desired any such information, but of what I could tell it appears to me that Brother Nicky was never a rich man.
I will share another example of his financial situation in a moment, but this brings us to one of the saddest seasons of Brother Nicky’s life, and it was the collapse of his marriage. It appears that the stress of the ministry began to put undue pressure on his marriage. Yet he insisted that all was well with his marriage. He would say things like that even though he is away from home six months out of the year, that he and his wife were “die mees verliefste paartjie in hierdie kerk” (the most in love couple in this church). He also relayed a story of how his wife nagged him about things such as that he was never home and that he only slept at home. But, with what he considered to be a divinely inspired idea, all that was dealt with a single swipe – something like a second honeymoon. The couple flew down to Durban, spent a few days there, and all was well. But all was not well. Marriages are not designed to work this way, and traveling ministries should learn from the mistakes of others. In the traveling ministry there may be times of extended periods of separation, but to spend that much time away from home on a consistent basis is just nonsense.
Perhaps it was a divine appointment. I was vacationing with my parents on the Kwa Zulu Natal coast. I went for a stroll up the beach, and up there I saw him sitting – Nicky’s full time intercessor. I went up to him to make sure it was him, and it was. He too felt that it was a divine appointment, and he invited me to his room for prayer. He first sternly admonished me that what he was about to share with me was strictly confidential and asked me not to share it with anyone else. I honored this request until the shocking news became public a few months later. The intercessor told me that things were not going well in Nicky’s marriage. After talking a while, we prayed fervently for Nicky and his wife. I wish I could say our prayers were answered, but a newspaper article a few months later proved the opposite.
“Pastoor Nicky gaan skei” (Pastor Nicky to divorce) was the title. With sadness I read the article, and noticed what Nicky called the reason for his divorce: With all the traveling and ministry Nicky and his wife “het bymekaar verby geleef” (lived past each other). The marriage broke up, and Nicky was remarried not too long afterwards – another shock. And Nicky disappeared from the scene. If he was preaching around, it must have been under the radar. For income, I heard that he sold insurance. It was a sad situation for a man who once had been one of South Africa’s top evangelists.
Repentance and Restoration
Probably three or four years passed before I saw him again. I heard that he had started a little church in the Johannesburg area. In spite of Nicky’s mistakes I still loved him. I heard that he was holding services in a little building in the Johannesburg area.
In the meantime I became an ordained pastor with the denomination I had been licensed with. But I also felt that I wanted Nicky to pray over me. So I called his office, and to my surprise I got him on the phone! Nicky told me that he would be glad to pray over me. He said that he had just begun a fast and that they were holding special extended meetings in their little building. If I came to one of the services he would pray over me and anoint me with oil. So I made it out to one of the meetings.
There were probably about 50 people in attendance. Nicky did pray for me, and as a recipient of the prayer I can say that I truly felt that I had been thoroughly ministered to in those two or three minutes. Anointing me with oil, he prayed a powerful prayer over me, and I could feel some physical force as he laid his hands on me. I do not think I fell under the power of God, but I was dazzled by the power of his prayer.
Nicky preached that night. I don’t remember the topic. But there was something was different about him and in the way he ministered, and don’t mean that in a negative way. He appeared to be deeply compassionate. He also reflected a sweet, meek attitude. I thought about it later and related this compassion and meekness to perhaps the few years of humiliation and brokenness he had experienced after his divorce and absence from high level, public ministry.
I learnt that Nicky and his little flock were holding early morning prayer meetings in the church, so I joined them the next morning. Nicky came in a little later and after some small talk after the prayer meeting, Nicky said that he had to go pray for someone.
Brother Nicky had been haunted by a persistent request to pray for someone’s mother who was in an old age home about two hours’ drive away. Nicky confessed that he first tried to avoid it, firstly due to business in schedule, and secondly that he just avoided old age homes altogether. But the persistent lady won, and all Nicky needed was a car to get there. It dawned on me: He did not have a car. I know he had never been rich, but I do know that he once owned a luxury car. And now he did not even have a car. I pounced on the opportunity: I would take him wherever he wanted to go. And so I spent a day with him, a day that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
For two hours we talked about the things of God. There was a definite aura of humility about him. As we drove to this old age home, Nicky told me some very valuable information, which I believe would be an encouragement to others who had been blessed by his ministry. He told me that God had delivered him “...van my hoogmoed, trots en arrogansie” (…from my haughtiness, pride and arrogance). This is a very loaded statement. It shows me that he admitted to his mistakes and repented of them.
He also told me that during a time of seeking God, he asked God what he could do to be used by Him in a mighty way again. He said that God laid three things on him: (1) Fast for 40 days, (2) pray for 6 hours a day during those 40 days, and (3) shave off all his hair as a sign of dedication to God.
Those of us who remember Brother Nicky will also remember his long hair. He wore long hair during a time when it was a taboo for Pentecostals. At the height of his life and ministry he also had it permed (permanently curled). I think much of his identity laid in that mane of hair! But he did it – he had all his hair cut off to the skin. He also changed his name (unofficially) from Nicky to “Nikey” (from the Greek word “nikei,” meaning overcomer, conqueror and victor). I don’t think it ever caught on.
Eventually we reached the old age home. The helpful nurses took us to where the lady was. When we discussed this later we all agreed that she was probably about 80% deaf and about 90% blind. From the Afrikaans Bible brother Nicky shared with her from Psalm 103:1-3: “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases”.
She began to cry, and he then exhorted her not to become sad, but that she should believe the Lord. She regained her composure, and he prayed for her. It reminds me of when Paul “saw that he had faith to be healed…” (Acts 4:9). And Nicky did not just pray a prayer of comfort. He truly prayed with faith and power. He put his thumbs on her eyes and prayed for her sight. He commanded them to open, in the Name of Jesus. The he prayed for her ears. He put both fingers in her ears, bound the deaf spirit and commanded it to leave. He prayed all of that in the Name of Jesus.
Suddenly the lady’s face reflected surprise and joy. “Ek hoor nou so duidelik” she said, emphasizing duidelik (I hear so clearly now)! She said it again a couple of times in almost disbelief. And then she said “En nou sien ek ook mooi!” (And now I see clearly also)! We rejoiced together and praised the Lord. There were no crowds watching and no video cameras recording this event. There was no offering taken. It was pure and undefiled religion – ministering to an old widow.
When we opened the door, we realized there was indeed a crowd – the three of four nurses in almost an eavesdropping position! They knew the lady’s situation and were amazed. Then they took Nicky to this other lady who needed prayer, and then to another. Nicky almost lost control that day, and I think if he remained longer I would not have been surprised if he would have cleaned that place out by the healing power of God. But Nicky said he had to go. He literally insisted that he had to leave. It was raining outside, and I remember him running to the car with his Bible covering his shaven head.
As we drove back to his church he fell asleep for about two minutes. He woke up and explained that ministering in that way would drain him easily. We arrived back at his church and he gave me R20.00. I would not take it, because I felt I had served the Lord by taking Nicky around that day. But he said that he was not paying me for gas, rather he was sowing it into my ministry. He also shared plans with me that he was going to hold a crusade in George in the Western Cape of South Africa and invited me to join him. On the one hand I wish I accepted the invitation, and on the other hand perhaps the Lord kept me from accepting it, because He had other plans for me. That was the last time I saw Nicky. Writing about these things awakens deep emotions in me.
I had no doubt that Nicky van der Westhuizen was right with God. Nicky was wrong when he neglected his first marriage. Nicky was wrong when he divorced his wife. Nicky was wrong to marry the other woman. And as per his own confession he had become haughty, prideful and arrogant. But Nicky was also humbled. And Nicky confessed his sin and he repented. Yes he remained married to the other woman. They had a daughter, and a marriage with a child cannot just easily be undone. Under normal circumstances and by the standards of most Pentecostal denominations he was no longer unfit for ministry. But Nicky had a passion for God and a love for souls. Perhaps God allowed the last year of his life to be crowned with one of the most glorious times of his ministry, so that we may acknowledge that God’s forgiveness reaches further than we can imagine. And that God can use a broken vessel. Let me share the end of his story:
The Final Great Phase
Evangelist Nicky van der Westhuizen, with very limited financial funds, attempted to hold a crusade in George in the Western Cape. He reached out to the so-called Colored population of South Africa. A large hall was rented, and video footage of this event reveals a very skinny Nicky, as he had lost a lot of weight during his forty day fast. Yet Nicky preached with much power, and miracles happened – too numerous to mention. The crowds became so large that they had to move to a local stadium. It was reported that 7,000 people attended one of the meetings.From there they moved to Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape. The crowds came in great numbers, and this time 14,000 people were reported to have attended a single service. Nicky also held many meetings in local churches. He was well loved, respected and admired. It appeared that God had restored him.
A couple of incidents are worthwhile mentioning here – the one of a miracle healing and the other concerns the claim of a supernatural apparition of the Lord.
First, the miracle: As was his habit, Nicky ministered to many sick by the laying on of his hands. One after the other they were healed. And then there was this one lame man. Nicky prayed for him fervently, and commanded the man to stand up and walk. Clamors of praise and joy erupted when he did. Nicky confessed later that his own faith almost failed him during that prayer, and was relieved when the man was actually miraculously healed.
Now about the supernatural apparition of the Lord: As Nicky was ministering to the sick on the platform in the crusade, suddenly a startled man cried out “Daar’s die Here! Daar’s die Here!” (There’s the Lord! There’s the Lord!) No one else could see Him, but this man claimed that he did. He was asked to tell the people what he saw. Trembling, he said that he saw the Lord standing on the platform. Chills run down the back of my spine as I write about this, and a longing to see my Master overwhelms me. The way that this man talked about it may indicate that he really saw something. Nicky silenced the crowd and prayed a word of thanks to God for that supernatural manifestation of His Presence.
Nicky’s Death
I will now end this story with Nicky’s death. Nicky had been holding revival meetings, and they left shortly after the service. In the car were Nicky, his wife and baby, and an associate evangelist – Danie Slabbert. Suddenly the lights of an oncoming car flashed before them. The only survivors were Danie and the baby who had been sitting in the back of the car. Danie told me that when the oncoming car come towards them and a head on collision was inevitable, that both Nicky and his wife shouted “Jesus”! And with the Name of their Lord and Savior on their lips they entered eternity.Why did the angels of God not prevent this accident? The answer we may never know, because God has certainly saved many from automobile accidents before. It is not fair to say that God judged him. It was like a dagger in my soul when a fellow South African preacher in almost an arrogant tone boldly stated that “God killed him”. If this is true, then we should also question the tragic deaths of other great servants of God, such as Keith Green and David Wilkerson. Yes Nicky had erred, but he also repented from it, and I can say for certainty that I sensed a deep humility and love for God in him during the time I was fortunate enough to spend with him.
Nicky’s funeral service was held at the Christian Family Church close to Johannesburg, where Theo Wolmarans is the pastor. Pastors Rudy Hoffman, Gerald Kennedy, Gustav du Toit, Avon Browning, Koopman and Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr paid special homage to him. I especially remember Pastor Avon Browning likened Nicky’s ministry to the ark that had to go 2,000 cubits ahead of the Jewish people so that they could see where it was going, and that in the same way Nicky’s ministry had had that same pioneering spirit. I forget if it was Sollie Abrahams or Pastor Koopman who said it, but it was good: “I wonder if anybody will be able to say I’ll take any amen that I can get in this place”. Pastor Theo Wolmarans concluded the meeting with prayer.
At Nicky’s grave prayer after prayer was offered to God. Several brethren operated in the gift of prophecy, declaring things such as revival that would still come to South Africa. When all was said and done, Pastor Rudi Hoffman asked all present if we could let him go in peace and all agreed. I clearly remember Nicky’s young 17-year old son Jacques pray the final prayer. What a powerful prayer that was. When all had left, I still stood there. I wanted to be the last to leave. Some other man was there too. I don’t know who he was, but we eventually looked at each other said let’s go, and we left. Nicky was with Jesus.
Fruits of Nicky van der Westhuizen’s ministry are still evident today. Untold numbers of people were inspired by his ministry. He was not the only influence on my life, but certainly a major one. Danie Slabbert healed up perfectly from injuries sustained in the car crash, and continues to light revival fires with his Glory Invasions all over South Africa. Jacques van der Westhuizen and Nicky van der Westhuizen Jr both pastor great churches and are both humble and powerful servants of God – following in the steps of their father. Jacques and Nicky Jr both have the greatest respect and admiration for their father and his legacy. They also hold crusades and revival services around the world. And there are many others. I too cherish what God had imparted into my ministry.
I think the Scripture used on Nicky’s funeral bulletin speaks volumes:
Ek het die goeie stryd gestry; Ek het die wedloop voleindig; Ek het die geloof behou (2 Tim 4:7)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7 – KJV).
I conclude this article by reminding our readers that although it is indeed wonderful to have role models and mentors in our Christian walk, they should always serve to point us to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. They should also help us to model Christ Himself, not man. We are to become like the Son of God by our covalent union with Him (See www.manifestingchristinyou.blogspot.com).
Article by Dr. Joel Hitchcock, Evangelist
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen & Joël Hitchcock |
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen, Joel Hitchcock, Andre Heunis |
More photos
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen at Rhema, Randburg |
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| A model of the church that was built with the Gospel Super Dome's steel structure. Picture courtesy Woord en Lewe Church, Boksburg. |
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| The Church built with the Gospel Super Dome steel structure. Picture courtesy Woord en Lewe Church, Boksburg |
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen in the Gospel Super Dome |
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen ministering to the sick |
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen crusade in the Good Hope Center, Cape Town |
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen crusade in Mauritius |
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| The Gospel Super Dome in Mabopane, South Africa |
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| Gospel Super Dome |
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen ministering to the sick in his tent church in Roodepoort, South Africa |
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen laying hands on the sick |
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| The Gospel Super Dome |
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen begrafnisbrief |
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| Nicky van der Westhuizen begrafnisbrief 2 |
www.joelhitchcock.com // www.joelhitchcock.blogspot.com // www.manifestingchristinyou.blogspot.com // www.miraclesforthemultitudes.blogspot.com // www.healingevangelist.blogspot.com // www.endtimerevivalandgreatawakening.blogspot.com // evangelistreinhardbonnke.blogspot.com // nickyvanderwesthuizen.blogspot.com
Copyright since 1999:
All rights reserved under international copyright law.
Permission to duplicate is hereby granted as long as the complete quote does not exceed more than 1,000 words and that due credit is given to the source.
For the website of the church led by Pastor Joel and Heidi Hitchcock in Georgetown DE, which is an exciting Pentecostal, Charismatic, Word of Faith, Cross-of-Christ preaching church in Sussex County, Delaware, go to www.rivercity.co ...
Permission to duplicate is hereby granted as long as the complete quote does not exceed more than 1,000 words and that due credit is given to the source.
For the website of the church led by Pastor Joel and Heidi Hitchcock in Georgetown DE, which is an exciting Pentecostal, Charismatic, Word of Faith, Cross-of-Christ preaching church in Sussex County, Delaware, go to www.rivercity.co ...
