Ministry of the Word Literature Journey to North India, Chhatisgarh & Odisha

Report: The Ministry of the Word Literature Journey

Raipur and Bilaspur, Chhatisgarh and Khariar-Road, Bagbahara, Kuskela, Titilagarh- Odisha, 5-13 February 2020

And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor. And she said to her, Go, my daughter. So she went. And she came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to glean in a portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family. Ruth 2:2-3

Gleaning from the Fields

Bilaspur, a city that embraces a yearly "Christian Mela" for years has been our field to glean from. For, a multitude of believers throng this week-long religiously painted exhibition mingled with festive mood. There, the ministry of the word has its perfect display, to the joy of the minute remnant of the lovers and seekers of the Lord. It was through this, that at least two groups of seekers have been contacted and are being shepherded, who, at their own revelation and initiative declared themselves as "the church in Raipur" and "the church in Bilaspur." Therefore, our visit this time was to fellowship and shepherd these remnants, and indeed it was a gleaning from the fields.

"The Church in Bilaspur," Chhattisgarh 

In 2017, a couple of brothers received the ministry books through the Christian Mela, and since then, they have been studying the ministry books. Though they read The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee long before, The All-inclusive Christ, The Economy of God, The Glorious Church, The Breaking of the Outerman and the Release of the Spirit, and few other books have greatly shepherded them. In fact, they took the stand on the local ground of the church and called themselves, “the church in Bilaspur” and are inviting us for more fellowship. 

As we paid a late-night visit to these seeking believers at the leading brother's home one evening, the Lord blessed our fellowship on the one new man so much so that they invited us to meet and fellowship with them on the following Lord's day. Though it was not in our plan, we fellowshipped and decided that two brothers stay back to heed to their request and the rest proceed to the next city, Raipur, as planned. 

On the Lord's, we enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship and a rich ministry of the word on the one new man again in a more detail way. The believers truly enjoyed the fellowship and blending where testimonies were shared and more ministry books were introduced, which even led the leading brother to buy the Holy Bible, Recovery Version. After hours of fellowship and lovefeast, we departed with joy even as they invited us to visit them again soon. May the Lord thrust out His workers to harvest and glean from this field. 

"The Church in Raipur," Chhatisgarh

This group of saints who are now meeting as the “church in Raipur” was also discovered through the Christian Mela at Bilaspur in 2017. Since they received the ministry books they have been shepherded so much by the book by brother Witness Lee, The Economy of God. Since then, there has been frequent traffic with other nearby local churches, especially the church in New Delhi and Gurugram. 

Our visit this time was mostly for shepherding, fellowshipping, and blending with the saints for two days. In an organic way, we taught them hymns singing, ministered the word, and clarified some of their doubts and queries. This was also their timely need after the key brother went to be with the Lord last December. May the Lord continue to shepherd and strengthen the church in Raipur. 

"The Church in Khariar-Road," Odisha

In 2014, a brother searching for ‘free Christian books’ in Google found the Rhema books. Since then, he has been reading and enjoying the ministry books along with another two brothers. They were first visited when one of them requested for the Holy Bible, Recovery Version. Since then, they have been daily enjoying the HWMR, Recovery Version, Life-studies, and other ministry books. They also have been meeting regularly on the Lord's day without breaking the bread and reckon themselves as the "church in Khariar-Road," waiting for the right time to break the bread. May the Lord continue to shepherd them and gain their whole families for the Lord's testimony.

One evening, a mainline Christian group opened their meeting hall for the introduction of the ministry books and also to minister the word. The believers, though rooted in their traditional practices, were enthralled by the riches we presented. In fact, we "broke" their religious way of worship in their "worship center" by leading them to sing hymn in a living way, leading them to call upon the Lord's name out loud over and over again, and ministering the word as an "un-ordained minister." The result was, the Pastor himself and the key members were very happy for the living words and testified of their enjoyment. 

Bagbahara, Odisha

A group of seeking believers who received the ministry books a few years ago are being shepherded by the brothers from Khariar-Road. A seeking pastor had arranged a meeting where we ministered the word on The Mystery of Human Life, Calling Upon the Lord's Name, and Pray-reading the Word of God, much to their delight as we showed them the way to enjoy the Lord. May the Lord strengthen the shepherding through the books and through our brothers for His testimony. 

Kuskela, Odisha

A brother, also a Pastor of an independent group, had received the 7 Rhema books and a Recovery Version Bible have been enjoying the ministry all by himself for years. He testified that his whole concept of a Christian life changed after reading the ministry books. He invited us to visit him and the congregation he is shepherding. He was so excited to meet us in person and overjoyed to share his testimony.

May the Lord continue to shepherd him and recover him with all the sheep he is shepherding. 

Titilagarh, Odisha

We met three Pastors, one of whom has already read and enjoyed The Economy of God and The Glorious Church. After we ministered the word using all the four books in Rhema set, these brothers were very interested to pursue the ministry further. In fact, one of them was interested to translate the ministry books into Oriya. May the Lord gain these brothers and the one who has a burden for Oriya translation. 

May the Lord richly bless the sowing of the divine seeds through the ministry of the word.