New Homes for the Church Life

The sister who came on the 1st of January for a get-together meeting and who also opened her home for fellowship, Bible study, and prayer has been enjoying the fellowship in her house. Since the very first week of this month, the meeting at her home goes on weekly. The home visit was sweet and the fellowship on the word of God grows stronger. Each time we meet, we pursued together a shepherding material and the Lord used each week's portion to meet the timely need of the family. More than being coincidental, it was the Lord's sovereignty. This family was the family introduce to me almost a year ago by another seeking sister. Our fellowship began simply by a home visit and ministering the word of God. The hunger and thirst they had for the word brought us all together. Though the family has not yet joined the church meeting on Lord's day, they have been already foretasting the church life. The Lord will shepherd them into His flock one day.

Another family who has been in contact for many years with many ups and downs in their family life and in their relationship with some brothers and sisters has also opend up their home for a regular Life-study pursuing meeting. This year, a new schedule has been added in the church schedule. Last week we had our first meeting, pursuing the Life-study of the gospel of John. Our burden is for the saints to have a corporate pursuing of the ministry as the church and also for the family to be shepherded into the normal church life. We believe in the work of the Holy Spirit and in the power of the word of God. What we cannot, the Lord will accomplish through the gradual shepherding and ministering of the word of God. This family too has not yet joined the church meeting on the Lord's day. The Lord will shepherd them into His flock one day.

Though our burden is that the Lord would gain many families for the church life, He is shepherding us to shepherd the new ones, family by family, week by week, month by month, year by year, and gain solid materials for the building up of the church. All these years, I have been learning the lesson of shepherding. If people have to be gained solidly for the church life, solid foundation on the word of God must be laid first. For anything precious, there is always a price to pay. For anything of life, there is a need for growth and time involved. Crowds may throng, and crowds may leave, but the ones established in the faith and in the truth can never. Multitude crowded the Lord Jesus when He fed them and did works of wonders and miracles, but only eleven followed Him till the end. Though we need numbers, numbers don't come by waving a magic wand; it needs prayer, labor, and genuine shepherding care. I believe that this is the best part of a learning process in serving the Lord and His church. I pray that I learn this lesson thoroughly well.

Through these new homes opened up for home meeting, the Lord's shepherding will perfect all of us for the normal church life in Gurugram.