You know about this with your overseas work. But just recently God has laid Haiti on our hearts. And when I went down there this last time, I mean I come back with even more of a burden. It’s hard to believe that so close to the United States of America there’s a country that is absolutely devastated because of poverty. And I’ve come back with a new vision to continue to present this cause wherever I go. We’re helping build a hospital there in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian Community Hospital. I’m sure you would appreciate that. And probably my inspiration in helping to raise funds for that hospital comes from here, from this ministry right here.
SPRR RICHARD ROBERTS What do you mean by that?
SPKM DINO KARTSONAKIS Well, I’ve known you for years, Richard, and your dad. And I’ve been very influenced by this ministry. I was healed in your dad’s miracle service years ago at the St. Nicholas Arena in New York City. Very few people know this. And it’s had an impact on my life. And now that I watch you and I know God’s using you and of course having been involved with Katherine Kuhlman and the faith healing ministries, even though I’m not actively involved with you folk, you know, in TV and on the road, my heart is with you. And I know the ups and downs of this kind of ministry. But I know beyond all of this that people are being helped, not only physically but spiritually.
And seeing this hospital going up and having my own family being treated in this hospital, I know what it’s doing. And this has again influenced my ministry. Again, I’m not just a piano player but I feel that I’ve got something more to present to the world as far as the healing power of Jesus Christ. There have been times perhaps when I play the piano, you know, that people have felt the healing power just flow through their body. And I pray for that because I pray for the Holy Spirit to play through me.
SPRR RICHARD ROBERTS Well, but many times you say that before you play a song. I’ve seen you in concert where you have given a word of testimony before a song and I’ve heard you say to people, “You may be born again. You may receive Christ while this song is being played. You may receive a healing in your body while this song is being played.” You know, God can heal in many different ways. He can heal; He’s healed many times through lots of people singing.
SPKM DINO KARTSONAKIS He healed through David.
SPRR RICHARD ROBERTS Certainly.
SPKM DINO KARTSONAKIS When he played the harp. You know, I think of that, he was an instrumentalist. But the key to that is the power of the Holy Spirit that flows through us to others. And the Haitian people need to feel that power. You know, what’s so wonderful is that they’ve been exposed to so many other things, other religions. But there are many Christians that are going down there now that are presenting Jesus Christ. One of the greatest, I believe the greatest experiences I’ve had playing the piano was when just recently I was in this huge room with 500 little Haitian children, have never even heard, seen a piano. And on the island they found an upright broken-down piano from the casino there. And that was the only one that’s on the island.
So they bring it out to this village and place it in this huge school room. And here are 500 little Haitian kids surrounding me and I’m playing and they’re sitting there like awed, they’d never heard these sounds before. And then when I was through they were reaching out to touch me and to hold on to me. And my wife Cheryl was there and they were just reaching out just to and if that doesn’t do anything to you. These are little children that are, that do not have food to be fed. I mean, the poverty is incredible, and to be able to go down there and not just share my talent, but also be able to take a piece of bread and just hand it to them and say, “This is for you, representing the Christians of the United States of America.”