Fellowships in Goa

The visit to Goa this time was very unique. Though it was for the ministry literature distribution, it was also truly for the shepherding of the saints. Some saints were in need of fellowship and shepherding as they had been through difficult situations, mostly in their family lives, and some in their marriage lives. Though we had no intention for this kind of shepherding fellowship, the Lord arranged the situation in such a way that we spent every night visiting a family with special fellowship according to their needs.

In the first two nights and the last night of the distribution week, we fellowshipped with two families on the need to enjoy the Lord daily through prayer and the word for the Lord’s strong testimony and intensified move in the local church. I also shared my testimony of how the Lord led me in many practical aspects of my life and service. I believe the saints were supplied through the fellowship as they responded to the fellowship in a very positive way. One key point was, we also prayed together strongly for His move in Goa.

On the third night, we met a brother and his family who had lost his wife a few years ago. As there was a situation in the church involving this brother which was made known to me, I fellowshipped with his family on oneness and the prerequisite to maintain the oneness in the church using Ephesians 4:1-3 and the need to exercise our spirit to come to the Lord in prayer and in the word, and also to be in the fellowship of the saints as practical as possible. The family, especially his son, received the fellowship very well. I believe the Lord will fully restore this brother's soul and recover his full function for His testimony.

On the fourth night, the Lord led us to another couple whom I had met some fifteen years ago. They used to be regular for the church meetings; however, due to distance and health reasons, they have not been meeting with the saints for some time now. Besides, they also went through a strained relationship. To them, as the Lord led, I fellowshipped in love as their brother in the Lord, the need to recover and revive their personal and corporate time with the Lord. As they are elderly saints now, I encouraged them to pick up the ministry of prayer, which is their reasonable service at their age. In that way, the Lord can preserve their usefulness in the Body. Then, we all prayed together. 

On the third and sixth nights, we had a time of fellowship with our host's family. This brother used to serve full-time, and now,  in a way of taking up a job, he and his wife still serve. To me, it was a period of going through a long-dark tunnel to learn to live by faith. As I fellowshiped with the couple, I encouraged them to take care of their daily enjoyment of the Lord personally in prayer and in the word, and also as husband and wife. Though they shared about the difficulties they have been passing through, I encouraged them to reckon it as a "life training" the Lord graced them as a preparation for their future service and usefulness to the Lord and His Body. Of course, I also testified of how the Lord trained my wife and me in many practical aspects of our married life; living by faith, trusting in Him for all practical matters, especially the divine love, oneness, and fellowship we exercised. Then, we all prayed together. 

Every night, the Lord led me to fellowship with different families according to their needs. This was one reason why the Lord led me to Goa this time. Daytime for ministry literature distribution and nighttime for family fellowships. 

May the Lord bless all the families He led me to fellowship and all the Christian leaders we met for the ministry literature introduction and distribution.