Ministry of the Word in Guntur

Our days in Guntur started off with meeting a well known Christian leader who used to have a very negative opinion about the saints in the local church and the ministry. Since one of the elder brothers asked us to meet this "negative one," we just went by faith. I was praying inwardly as we walked to his home, that too, without prior appointment. But it turned out that as I introduced the Holy Bible Recovery Version he agreed to all the points I presented. He humbly acknowledged that he was old and did not have the strength to study further though he appreciated whatever I presented to him. Since he amened whatever I said with smiling face, I did not feel good to bring up any defending points to confront his "negative opnion" in the past about the ministry. I was not even sure if he was really negative towards the ministry except that a brother told us that he once was. We simply introduced the ministry books and requested him to pray which he did willingly and in fact, blessed us!

As another young seeking brother was introduced to me, I felt the burden within me to give my own testimony of how the Lord led me step by step to know the truth concerning Christ and the church and how He wisely graced me to take the way of the Lord’s recovery. Whatever I testified and fellowshipped touched this young brother so much that he immediately purchased the Holy Bible Recovery Version and wanted to purchase the books I mentioned to him that helped me very much. He also testifed that he was so supplied by the fellowship and that it was the Lord’s sovereign arrangement that I could meet him though he was to go other city for his ministry but somehow canceled it on that day. Deep within, I felt that the Lord would shepherd him through the ministry of the word and recover him for the Lord’s move in the South, especially Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. May the Lord shepherd him into the oneness and fellowship of the Body of Christ!

Likewise, we met some key Christian leaders from the inner life Christian groups and fellowshipped at length the truth concerning the church, the oneness of Body of Christ, and the overcomers. Many of them now have a better understanding of who we are and what the ministry of the word is.

Besides, I also fellowshipped with two families who invited us for lovefeast and especially with a full time serving brother in the literature service. I encouraged this brother to serve faithfully and also be in active coordination and function in the church life, not merely for his locality but also for the entire states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. I was glad that he immediately received the fellowshipped and that cleared many of his doubts concerning his function in the church life. He testifed that the fellowship was an answer to his prayers.

Finally, I had a time of fellowship with the family of a brother with whom I have been coordinating for the ministry literature distribution. They have been barren since marriage and have been praying for a child. To them, I fellowshipped on the life of Abraham and Sarah, and Hannah. I also  testified of what the Lord has done in our family life, blessing with three children simply by trusting in the Lord. I encouraged them to pray and trust in the Lord’s sovereignty. Whether He gives a child or not, we must still praise the Lord and love Him. For He knows what is best for His children. The husband of the family later told me how supplied his family were with the fellowship and prayer, especially his wife. May the Lord grace them what He deems best!

With this, the burden in Guntur was released for the time and we moved to our next city, Rajahmundry.