Before I get into my main topic today I need to update some items from the other sites and correct some information I gave you yesterday. First, the cobra story; the event happened but the characters were wrong. A mother with two small children was bitten and killed, not a child. The children are now orphans, their father had left the family.
The second item is at another site where tragedy struck. Seems that another village was having some visits from a radical Hindu group that were attending but not really disturbing the meetings. That is until yesterday. A severe motorcycle accident occurred near the meeting site and one young man was killed and the other was critically injured and in a coma. The radical Hindus blamed the tragedy on the Christians and their meeting and they forced the meeting to shut down. The team is attempting to move to a nearby village to resume the meetings. It will not be the same though, the audience will change.
Now, for my good news; this morning I was taken to a local Seventh-day Adventist church and 4 women from my village bused in to be baptized. There are at least six more that are requesting baptism but could not come today. My translator arraigned it so I could do the baptisms.
The pastor of the church where we did the baptisms told me that the village I was working was considered the hardest village in the area and their church has been sending a team to work there every Sabbath for 2 years trying to get conversions. The local church was willing to give up and felt this village should not be part of the meetings. With a smile on his face the pastor said that our God is tougher than that village! Can you say Amen?
I did nothing except show up. That’s all God asks of us. I didn’t convert a soul; they couldn’t understand a word I said. But they saw Jesus in me as I walked in their village, played with their children, sat in their hovels of homes and prayed with them. As I have said before: “evangelism is the easiest thing in the world but most difficult sacrifice you will ever make.”
In the picture above you see from left to right: my Bible worker, Ammani, Leelavathi, (Kevin), Ambiga, Panavarnam, Pastor Prince, and Kannatha. There are stories for each.
Leelavathi has been attending the church in Maduria for about a year and takes a one hour bus ride to and from her village to attend. Although unbaptized till today, she has helping Ammani the local Bible worker. Leelavathi is always trying to feed me or give me something to drink and is always disappointed when Pastor Prince tells her I have a weak stomach. Yesterday she gave me the package of crackers and today after the baptism she gave me some fruit.
The beautiful young 23 year old mother of an infant child Ambiga is married to a man that abuses her and threatens her if she comes to the meetings. She is there every day and was the second one to make her stand for baptism. When she came up out of the water her face was beaming and I almost thought I saw her eyes well up with tears. She made her decision against severe stress and pressure from her family. But in the end, Jesus was more important to her than anything. What a testimony of great faith!
Kannatha is a young 28 year old widow with 4 children. She works in the rice fields each day and her oldest child helps to support the family but it isn’t much and they’re barely getting by. She is courageous in her stand for Christ.
Panjavarnam has not attended a single meeting that I know of but she sits at home in secret and listens to the blaring speakers on her front door step. Unfortunately, her difficult life has caused her to be aged beyond her 42 years. I visited her home yesterday and was surprised to hear she wanted baptism since I had not seen her before. This message is going forth with power in ways we cannot measure by human standards. God is faithful and will not suffer any to be lost.
As I spoke to them before that baptism, I told them that it was customary in my country to hug a person after I baptized them. But this is a horrible disgrace for a man, not your husband, to hug a woman ever. I told them that I didn’t want to bring disgrace on them but I was going to hug them in my heart. They all smiled at me. Oh how I wanted to bear hug each of them like I did Robbyn and George.
One more thing, I gave each of them 100 rupees for bus fare and a meal on their way home (about $2.50 USD). This is more than a week’s income for them in the village. Think about that the next time you go to spend on something frivolous like a candy bar or soda! Ambiga had never spoken a word to me in the six days I’ve been here. After I gave them that gift, she said in clear English “Thank you Pastor Kevin!” I think my tear ducts are almost dried up from over use.
I was told by Pastor Prince that there are 6 more that have committed to baptism but could not come today. We haven’t set a date for when we will baptize them but it will be soon. All this is taking place and we haven’t reached the half-way point of the meetings!
The conference President of the South East Asian division told us that a church will be built in a village if there are at least 10 members there. Just like the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, if there is at least 10 Lord, will you spare the city? There should be 10 and we will have a church built in our village. They will begin to search for land immediately and will attempt to at least show me the land and let me get a picture before I leave.
As I contemplate my day and this whole experience it is hard not to tear up. God has used this cracked pot to reap a harvest of something I did not plant nor water. And, my harvesting was done through a translator in a barn yard. God’s ways are not man’s ways. God sees what we cannot or will not and He works where we know little of.
Matthew 9:37, 38 says: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
God is looking for a few more harvesters; won’t you join the blessing and enter into His service? I told you a couple of times that I expected this trip to change me. I hope it is permanent. I pray for the same holy boldness back home that is growing in my here. How about you? Is reading this blog opening your eyes? Are you hearing the voice of God over the loud speakers of the internet? Are you one of the unseen multitudes that haven’t come out of the shadows and taken a stand to serve the King?
Pastor Kevin
The second item is at another site where tragedy struck. Seems that another village was having some visits from a radical Hindu group that were attending but not really disturbing the meetings. That is until yesterday. A severe motorcycle accident occurred near the meeting site and one young man was killed and the other was critically injured and in a coma. The radical Hindus blamed the tragedy on the Christians and their meeting and they forced the meeting to shut down. The team is attempting to move to a nearby village to resume the meetings. It will not be the same though, the audience will change.
Now, for my good news; this morning I was taken to a local Seventh-day Adventist church and 4 women from my village bused in to be baptized. There are at least six more that are requesting baptism but could not come today. My translator arraigned it so I could do the baptisms.
The pastor of the church where we did the baptisms told me that the village I was working was considered the hardest village in the area and their church has been sending a team to work there every Sabbath for 2 years trying to get conversions. The local church was willing to give up and felt this village should not be part of the meetings. With a smile on his face the pastor said that our God is tougher than that village! Can you say Amen?
I did nothing except show up. That’s all God asks of us. I didn’t convert a soul; they couldn’t understand a word I said. But they saw Jesus in me as I walked in their village, played with their children, sat in their hovels of homes and prayed with them. As I have said before: “evangelism is the easiest thing in the world but most difficult sacrifice you will ever make.”
In the picture above you see from left to right: my Bible worker, Ammani, Leelavathi, (Kevin), Ambiga, Panavarnam, Pastor Prince, and Kannatha. There are stories for each.
Leelavathi has been attending the church in Maduria for about a year and takes a one hour bus ride to and from her village to attend. Although unbaptized till today, she has helping Ammani the local Bible worker. Leelavathi is always trying to feed me or give me something to drink and is always disappointed when Pastor Prince tells her I have a weak stomach. Yesterday she gave me the package of crackers and today after the baptism she gave me some fruit.
The beautiful young 23 year old mother of an infant child Ambiga is married to a man that abuses her and threatens her if she comes to the meetings. She is there every day and was the second one to make her stand for baptism. When she came up out of the water her face was beaming and I almost thought I saw her eyes well up with tears. She made her decision against severe stress and pressure from her family. But in the end, Jesus was more important to her than anything. What a testimony of great faith!
Kannatha is a young 28 year old widow with 4 children. She works in the rice fields each day and her oldest child helps to support the family but it isn’t much and they’re barely getting by. She is courageous in her stand for Christ.
Panjavarnam has not attended a single meeting that I know of but she sits at home in secret and listens to the blaring speakers on her front door step. Unfortunately, her difficult life has caused her to be aged beyond her 42 years. I visited her home yesterday and was surprised to hear she wanted baptism since I had not seen her before. This message is going forth with power in ways we cannot measure by human standards. God is faithful and will not suffer any to be lost.
As I spoke to them before that baptism, I told them that it was customary in my country to hug a person after I baptized them. But this is a horrible disgrace for a man, not your husband, to hug a woman ever. I told them that I didn’t want to bring disgrace on them but I was going to hug them in my heart. They all smiled at me. Oh how I wanted to bear hug each of them like I did Robbyn and George.
One more thing, I gave each of them 100 rupees for bus fare and a meal on their way home (about $2.50 USD). This is more than a week’s income for them in the village. Think about that the next time you go to spend on something frivolous like a candy bar or soda! Ambiga had never spoken a word to me in the six days I’ve been here. After I gave them that gift, she said in clear English “Thank you Pastor Kevin!” I think my tear ducts are almost dried up from over use.
I was told by Pastor Prince that there are 6 more that have committed to baptism but could not come today. We haven’t set a date for when we will baptize them but it will be soon. All this is taking place and we haven’t reached the half-way point of the meetings!
The conference President of the South East Asian division told us that a church will be built in a village if there are at least 10 members there. Just like the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, if there is at least 10 Lord, will you spare the city? There should be 10 and we will have a church built in our village. They will begin to search for land immediately and will attempt to at least show me the land and let me get a picture before I leave.
As I contemplate my day and this whole experience it is hard not to tear up. God has used this cracked pot to reap a harvest of something I did not plant nor water. And, my harvesting was done through a translator in a barn yard. God’s ways are not man’s ways. God sees what we cannot or will not and He works where we know little of.
Matthew 9:37, 38 says: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
God is looking for a few more harvesters; won’t you join the blessing and enter into His service? I told you a couple of times that I expected this trip to change me. I hope it is permanent. I pray for the same holy boldness back home that is growing in my here. How about you? Is reading this blog opening your eyes? Are you hearing the voice of God over the loud speakers of the internet? Are you one of the unseen multitudes that haven’t come out of the shadows and taken a stand to serve the King?
Pastor Kevin
1 comment:
AMEN!!! God is good:) Thank you for the update.
Also Jon and I are impressed to sponsor a child's education. Please just let us know what we need to do to make this happen.
Our prayers continue for you, your "co-workers" and the many people of India. Stay strong!!
Lisa & Jon
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