Ministry of the Word to Bidar and Aurad

Thus says Jehovah, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel, I am Jehovah your God, Who teaches you to do that which is profitable, Who leads you in the way that you should go. (Isaiah 48:17, RecVer)

Come out from Babylon; Flee from the Chaldeans; With a voice of shouting declare; Let them hear this, Send it out unto the end of the earth; Say, Jehovah has redeemed His servant Jacob. (Isaiah 48:20, RecVer)

Having heard about Bidar many years ago, it has been in my heart that one day I could visit this district for the ministry literature distribution. This time, the Lord made it possible. After flying from Delhi to Hyderabad and an early morning train from Secunderabad to Bidar, I finally got to visit this district. The plan this time was to cover the northern parts of Karnataka, and with this trip, to cover the entire state of Karnataka, at least the districts and main cities and towns. I was given warm hospitality in a brother's house.

On our first visit to a group of Methodist's serving ones, the key leader did not welcome us and sternly refused to even hear us out. As a brother was talking to him for a time of fellowship to introduce the ministry literature, I was actually reading my Bible. Interestingly, the verses I read from Isaiah 48:17, 20 just confirmed my brother's whispering to my ears that the leader refused to hear us out. Jehovah was teaching me to do what was profitable and "come out of Babylon." Immediately, I realised we had to leave. There was no point trying to forcibly present the ministry to those who were not willing to receive. So, we left immediately without wasting any time. 

Then, we got an urgent appointment from a Pastor who was about to leave for another city. In fact, the Lord led us out of the first closed door to move on to the next open door, at the right time, lest we miss both. Since the Pastor was getting ready to leave, I immediately introduced the ministry books one by one, starting from the Holy Bible Recovery Version. Within a few minutes of presenting the ministry, the Pastor and his wife decided to purchase all the ministry books in Kannada, the New Testament in Kannada, and also the Holy Bible Recovery Version in English. Later, we also presented the ministry literature to a group of Christians in another location. While other Pastors in town were not available to meet, I had a time of fellowship with the brothers who were accompanying me this time for the distribution. The Lord also arranged the situation in such a way that I got time for rest, as I did not sleep enough the previous night due to my travel.

In Aurad, the following day, we met at a meeting hall of a Pastor where eight different Pastors of different Christian groups came together to pay heed to us. I simply followed the Spirit's leading inwardly, and began with the importance of the word of God in our Christian life, using 2 Timothy 3:16, and the need to understand the Scriptures with someone's help, as in the case of an Ethiopian eunuch with Philip in Acts 8. And then, I introduced the Recovery Version Bible and the ministry books using Matthew 1:1, 6, and the corresponding footnotes on "the son of David" and “David begot Solomon of her who had been the wife of Uriah" The Lord anointed the speaking and opened up the Scriptures to the Pastors as I also emphasised the need for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17, 18) and the opening of the word (Psalms 119: 130).

The result was, every one of them was richly supplied with the word of God, and each one of them purchased the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada and the seven title books in Kannada. This was the work of the Lord sowing Himself as the seed through the ministry of the word. One day, the Lord will recover His remnants to bear His testimony in Aurad.

By the way, as we were traveling by car, I had a time of fellowship with a brother on the four pillars needed to live a healthy Christian life for the church life: the need for daily morning revival, daily reading of the Bible, daily prayer, and daily practical church life. In this way, the days in Bidar were well spent. 

May the Lord raise up His testimony in Bidar and Aurad soon!