We are to give our final sessions this morning to the men from the Friends Missionary Prayer Band. It has been good to see the responses of these sacrificial and godly men to the expository preaching of the word of God. If this week had been our only sphere of ministry, then coming to India would still have been worthwhile.
My stomach has been really uncomfortable for the last couple of days, and unfortunately I had to shorten my final session of the day in order to allow some time for recuperation. Poor old Merv had to preach 4 times to finish the material they wanted him to cover, and to fill in for my incapacity. He's not a bad old stick, and his messages from Exodus have been really helpful to the men here. Pity he has such a manky Southern accent (sorry Merv)! I rejoice that we have been used in some way in equipping these brothers for the work of ministry.
They have many prayer needs for which all of us can engage with God. This mission trip has been far more than three intense weeks of prayer and preaching - it has been a doorway to ongoing missionary concern for the growing, yet persecuted church of Jesus Christ. These brothers and sisters will be in the glory! They are part of that myriad throng of the redeemed in the presence of the Lamb! What privilege to stand with them in the battle.
Difficult news came throught today for the folk at Kachhwa. An article in one of India's national magazines was published two days ago exposing Kachhwa Christian Hospital as missionaries not medics, and naming Dr Raju and his colleagues in Uttar Pradesh Missions as subversive influences in the state. Their photographs and personal details were splashed all over the press. They now have to wait for the inevitable backlash as the local Hindi press gets a hold of the story - it places them in real danger as they seek to be salt and light in their community. They fear for the violence that may ensue, but have been thrown again onto their only refuge - God.
Leaving here will be strange. I had such mixed feelings about travelling down here. I was almost hallucinating with the tedium of 27 hours on a train, was deeply discouraged at the antics of folk that should have known better in Ludhiana, and I was a little suspicious of what we would meet when we arrived. My fears have been replaced by an appreciation of what God is doing in this incredible place. I hope that our links will continue.
Posted by pencils at February 3, 2004 07:24 PM | TrackBack