Ministry of the Word Literature Journey: HP

On the invitation of a brother and in sweet fellowship, I joined the brothers who are on a literature journey, a revisit of the seekers discovered through the distribution journey. Initially, I was very hesitant as my schedule was so tight. After the international training, I need to travel to the North East for some specific fellowship, and in between, I need to join the brothers in their revisit of the seekers. After much consideration and fellowship, I was confirmed within that I should join. Therefore, I joined the brothers.

In Manali, the Lord did a special work of clarifying the confusion brought into the minds of the seekers by some believers who have heard about the accusation against the ministry and the ministers of the age some forty years ago. The misaiming and defaming of the ministry in America in the late 70s were dug out by some negative ones to even prevent the seekers from coming closer and further to the truth. Yet, this brother with a positive attitude and open heart brought forth the matter for clarification. One night at dinner time, we went through the history of such attacks and clarified to him in detail. Besides, I also sent some useful links on the confirmation and affirmation of the ministry. Besides the defense of the truth, we also help the seekers to dive into the riches of the ministry, especially in the pursuit of the life-studies of the Bible, through online reading and by listening to the life-study radio broadcast. This visit was like an inoculation visit for the sake of the seeking believers. 

One evening we had a meeting on the need for and the way to grow in life for the building up of the Body of Christ in Ephesians 4. May the Lord recover these seekers for His testimony in Manali!

In Kullu, a sister and her son with a brother who has now started to serve in the Hindi translation met with us. We had a sweet time fellowship over lunch. The Lord has been preparing these seekers for His testimony in Kullu. The leading of the Lord in me was not so much to ministry to them as I used to do in the previous two visits. But this time, I had to listen more to what they had to say. I listened to all that they have to say concerning their burden and struggle, and of course, the Lord's provision in hard times. Listening to them intently was the way I could shepherd them this time. I could better understand their real situation now.  Deep within, I even wanted to render some financial help, but I restrained myself, for now, to not give a wrong impression. I then decided to fellowship with other brothers first and later, necessary help can be rendered in a proper and hidden way. I gifted the mother and son, a set of Shepherding Materials 6 volumes, The Normal Christian Church Life, and The Orthodoxy of the Church. I also invited them to come for training someday. May the Lord continue to preserve them for his testimony in Kullu!

In Mandi, a brother whom I met two years ago came to fellowship with us with his wife. This time, the Lord's leading in me was to listen to them, whatever they have to say. From my side, I only presented them as a gift, two books-The Normal Christian Church Life, and The Orthodoxy of the Church. 

From the time we met at the bus-stand till they left, the brother was narrating to me how much he has been blessed by the ministry books which he brought from us two years ago. He testified that his spiritual life has been revolutionized and that he began to grow much more after reading the ministry books. Now he is so much burden for these books to be made available to the seekers and the churches in North India, especially, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. He even promised that once his current assignment with the Bible distribution is over, he would love to serve with us in the shepherding of the new believers and raising up new local churches. My only response was listening to him intently and amening to whatever the Lord spoke through him. I was so comforted within that through the ministry books, the Lord is going to raise up many new local churches, even this one in Mandi!

The ministry of the word is for all! My responsibility is to sow the seeds of the ministry as widely as possible. In time, the Lord will manifest the fruits of the sowing today. Therefore, wherever I go, I sow the ministry "seeds". And the Lord will cause the growth for His increase, for His testimony!