Raipur: Ministry of the Word Literature Journey

The fellowship we had in Raipur was more of a shepherding for the saints who have been meeting as the church there. We only had one night of fellowship as two other brothers were there for two days already. What impressed me most was the seeking heart of the saints, especially the sisters, and their longing to fellowship with the fellow members of the Body of Christ.

It was already late night when we arrived at the meeting hall. The first thing we did was feasting with the saints as it was dinner time. After dinner, the saints did not want to go home, rather they all wanted to stay back and have more fellowship. They all decided to stay in the meeting hall for the night for the sake of fellowship. When the saints gathered after dinner for fellowship, a brother started off with the burden on the church life using a picture of Mary-Martha-Lazarus in the gospel of  John 11. The saints in Raipur are in the ratio of 1:2 of brothers and sisters as in the case with Lazarus: Mary and Martha. This was such an encouragement to them as the sisters have been worrying about the lack of brothers for the church-life.

The spiritual significance of these three persons are noteworthy. Mary, a lover of the Lord who sat at the Lord's feet to listen to the Lord and fellowship with Him on the word; Martha, a lover of the Lord in practical services, and Lazarus, a lover of the Lord who was a testimony of the resurrection. This comprises the church-life in a practical way. All three characteristics are important and all these three components must be in the church-life. Loving the Lord like Mary, serving the Lord like Martha, and be a testimony of the Lord's resurrection like Lazarus.

Then I followed my brother's burden by bringing out Romans 16 on the greetings of Paul to the church in Rome, where he addressed a good number of sisters as they played important role in the ministry. 

I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church which is in Cenchrea, Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, Greet Mary, one who has labored much for you.  Romans 16:1,3,6

Acts 12:12 mentioned the prayer at the house of sister Mary.

And when he became aware of this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where there was a considerable number assembled together and praying.

This signifies the sister's function in taking the lead in the practical church-life, not taking the lead in the church's administration which is ordained by God for the brothers. The sisters have to function in all practical matters, else the church-life will be poor and unhealthy. One of the key points is the sisters' gathering together to pray for the saints, the brothers, and many other practical matters, and avoid any busy-bodies or gossips. 

In all these practical fellowships, the sisters in Raipur were very encouraged as they all testified of the new light they received through the fellowship. May the Lord continue to grace them to go on in the church-life. And may the Lord also gain more brothers for the church-life in Raipur!