Ministry of the Word to Koraput, Odisha

The first time we visited Odisha was in 2014 when we met seekers in Khariar Road, Koraput, and Jeypore. During that visit, one brother who had previously received the Rhema books was gained to translate the ministry books (Rhema Sets) into Odia and another brother volunteered to distribute the ministry books and became a distributor for a couple of years. After nine years, the ministry books in Odia was finally printed. These Odia booklets along with English ministry books were used for introducing the ministry to the Christian leaders and seekers in some select cities of Odisha. It was done so in coordination with the brothers in churches in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.  

Koraput 

The Lord us to introduce the ministry books and the Holy Bible Recovery Version to a seeking brother who happens to be a Bishop, President of Christian Pastors Association, and TV Preacher in Oriya. He first received the books by Watchman Nee in 1993. In 2015 he had a radical turn in his spiritual life, and since then he has been reading the ministry writings at www.ministrybooks.org, especially the Life-study of Romans and Philippians. He also listens to the Life-study Radio programs at www.lsmradio.com. Until we met him on 2nd Nov 2023 he thought he was the only one reading and enjoying the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee in India. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Living Stream Ministry for making the ministry materials available online. He also introduces and promotes the writings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee to other believers. Though he was a Bishop and a well known Christian leader and preacher in Christianity, he testified that we were the only people with whom he could enjoy a genuine brotherly fellowship with the flow of life. As he has been reconsidering his way of serving the Lord, the Lord led us to him at the right time. He openly confessed that he needed a change and frankly asked how he could take the way of the Lord’s recovery. In fact, the following week he visited the churches in Gurugram and New Delhi and fellowshipped with the brothers there. He testified that he was so joyful and richly supplied by the brothers’ fellowship, learned many new things, and requested for more fellowship in the coming days.

After the introduction of the ministry books and the Holy Bible Recovery Version to him, he was very impressed by the depth of the truth and he purchased the ministry books of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee and also promoted the Holy Bible Recovery Version to all who can read English in his congregation after the Lord’s Day meeting. He also received 12 boxes of free Oriya booklets from Rhema Literature Distributor for a further introduction and distribution among many Oriya speaking Christians in Koraput district.

The Lord opened the door for the ministering of the truth to the seeking believers in Koraput. The high peak truth of God’s economy was ministered during a time of fellowship with the key serving ones of the group. The speaking Spirit could freely speak the truth as they all were so hungry for the word of God. In hunger and thirst for the word of God, they opened their mouth wide and the Lord fed and filled them!

The Lord has opened a wide door for the distribution and spread of the ministry literature through this brother who himself has been shepherded by the ministry books. On the Lord’s day we ministered the word of God to the congregation of believers on the line of God's full salvation with testimonies of the experiences of God's sanctifying and transforming in a believers life. After the meeting, the leading brother introduced the Holy Bible Recovery Version and 25 of the believers who can read English placed order for the Bible! One believer was in tears as he saw for the first time brother Watchman Nee’s book in Odia language!

We were also taken to a nearby town Semiliguda where we were given the opportunity to minister the truth and distribute the ministry books to seekers, one evening.

A week later, this key brother came for a

church visit to Gurugram and New Delhi on the 12 November 2023. We had a wonderful time of fellowship with the brothers and he practically saw the church life he has read about in the ministry books. Even as I drove him to Delhi and back to Gurugram, I also fellowshipped with him many practical ways of living out the church life and narrated the  testimonies of a good number of brothers and sisters how they came to the church life. He was very much impressed by all the fellowships and testimonies. He told me that he would look forward to more fellowship in the future. And he would pray how the Lord would lead him to take further necessary step for the recovery of the Lord's testimony in his locality.

Lord, recover Your testimony in Koraput soon!