Seminar in the City |
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Ron and I left for India on February 22 and returned March 3rd. I wanted to give you a trip report before things go too busy here. The Lord was very gracious in allowing me to go back again after having my trip last November interrupted by the threat of persecution. The one thing I did not get to do on that trip was teach and interact with our pastors and members of Word of Grace Fellowship. They are so hungry and have little in the way of training and encouragement. I felt it was very important to go back as soon as possible. While I was praying about returning I happened upon the story in John chapters 10:34-42 and 11:1-10 where Jesus had to flee an area because the Pharisees were going to stone Him. While waiting in the wilderness region near the Jordan word came that Lazarus desperately needed Him. Jesus decided to go back to the same area where He had just been threatened. The Disciples said, “Don’t you realize they just tried to kill you there and you want to go back there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” What I heard in these verses was that we were the guys in light and we were not to back down from the darkness. If anyone stops working, it should be those who represent the darkness. I felt that I was to go back and work in the light. As it turned out, the building we rented for our seminar could not have been more in the open. It was a government building right on a busy main street. We worshiped and taught in a place were there were other many people staying and coming and going. The plan was to bus in a one hundred and ten people (not counting children) from the jungle area to the capital city where we have arranged for a building where everyone can eat, sleep, and worship together. The logistics of this are a bit over-whelming. Had I thought it through much further, we probably would not have done it. As you can imagine, nothing works smoothly in India and the idea that we could get everyone on over-crowed busses and travel overnight into the capital city and then move them to a building they had never seen before in an over-crowed area was a stretch. We needed everyone to get in at the same time so we could maximize our time together. They spent the night on the bus and everyone made it in ahead of schedule. We were able to teach from Sunday evening until Thursday morning. Faith Tabernacle in Lockport, New York, graciously underwrote the travel expense and paid for the rental of the building. Ron led the people in to some wonderful times of sharing, interaction, and prayer. Boy, did we have some awesome times of prayer together! Their hearts are so open and tender towards the Lord. I would cry just watching and listening to them weep before the Lord. A number of times all we could do was lay on the ground and bless the Lord. During our first session together we asked how many had ever been to the city before. For most of them this was time they had been out of the jungle. Only a few of the men had been to the capital city before. These tribal people were quite a spectacle even for the Indians who saw them. I heard different ones marveling that there were tribal people in the building. People would often stop and stare at the native’s distinctive dress and the women’s faces, which are coved with tattoos, and their noses and ears are pierced many times with unusual jewelry. They are unique to us, but I did not realize how unique they were to other people in India. On the first day we went to have a meal together and there was a television on in the dining area. It was just an old black and white, but it was the first one they had ever seen. We watched them as the watched. One of the women interpreted some of the commercials for the rest. It was one of those moments that I wished I knew their language so I could hear their comments. It was fascinating to watch them respond to the broadcast, yet somehow it was sad because innocence was being lost. From that time on whenever there was a break we could see them gathered around the television. Ron had purchased the Jesus Film in their language and showed it one evening. He also showed videos he had taken from a previous trip. He also showed them footage taken during the week, which brought much laughter at each other’s expense. They especially like the shots of someone eating. We are satisfied that is will be a week they will always remember. God was so good to us in every respect. He kept us safe and we were able to work in the light unhindered. Our native partners did not tell us until we were ready to board our plan back to Bombay that members of the radical Hindu party had come to our building and asking many questions about us and what we were doing there. I am glad I did not know before them, as it would have added to the pressure.
Our goal for the fall, Lord willing, is for Ron to return with a team in
November, and I will go back in January to hold another seminar. We left
money for them to begin construction on a new complex in our base village,
which will be used a church and convention center. It will have classrooms
for the orphans and offices for those who will be doing relief ministry in
this area. We also paid for electricity to be brought in from the main
road to the village, which will benefit everyone who lives there. We are hoping to bring two of our main Indian partners, Gabriel and Tarun, to New York this June. They will attend the World Pentecostal Congress in California and then come to be with us for a few weeks. If you would like to help cover the cost of flying them here, or would like to have them in your church, just let me know. This will be their first trip to America. Finally, we felt that we had a lot of prayer support for this time of ministry. Thank you all who stood with us in this way. Personally, I felt that the Lord met me in such a special way that it has changed my life. Thank you for praying for me. |
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2003 Copyright. This material is the creative property of Penn Clark |