Churching: New York

The Lord arranged a day for us in New York City to meet with the brothers in the church in New York. As we arrived at the airport in the morning, three brothers came to pick us up by a Cadillac, the same make and model of car the president of the United States is using. The brothers took us for a drive to downtown Manhattan and to Kingston to visit a campsite, Rosendale.

On our two hours long drive, the brothers wanted us to share our testimonies. One by one we shared, it was a joyful ride in fellowship. I also shared my testimony of salvation, how I came in touch with the Lord's recovery, and how the Lord shepherded me into the church life, and how the Lord called me to serve Him fulltime. As I shared what all the Lord did in my life, especially, the experience in which my parent strongly objected to my serving the Lord fulltime, and that how in May 2003, I told my parent in faith, "Thank you for supporting me till today for my education. Now, since the Lord has called me, I am going to serve Him. From now on, I will not receive anything from you. The God whom I serve will supply all my needs. If He blesses me I will share the blessings with you." I further testified that even in the following years till today, the Lord honored the words I spoke by faith.

At that juncture, the leading brothers among the three could not contain himself but broke out in tears and started praying and thanking the Lord for His faithfulness. Then we all prayed together in the car until we reach our destination, Rosendale, in Kingston, the rural part of New York. 

Rosendale, a campsite of 232 acres with 32 houses, lake, mountains enveloped with evergreen trees, a lake teeming with fish, the lush green surrounding, and the playground are amazing. The testimony of the brothers who was instrumental in purchasing this land was even more thrilling- a life of prayer and faith; how the Lord led him step by step to meet the need of the church in New York and New Jersey; how the money to purchase this land for about 3 million dollars was met through the offering of the saints; how useful this campsite has become; how many saints have been laboring on this land and have been perfected in service; and how they prayed a "sniper" prayer to pray specifically and strategically. 

My personal experience can simply be explained in one word, "wonderful!" Thank God that the Lord took us there on a flight transit from San Francisco back to India via New York, from morning to evening, one whole day. It was not merely a city tour, but a day of brotherly fellowship. I was very much encouraged by the testimonies of the brothers and also the church in New York.