Shepherding a Brother's Son

As the saints are praying for the full recovery of a brother's family into the church life, the Lord has answered those prayers by creating an opportunity for a brother's son to come into contact. At first, I was informed by a brother about the possibility of recommending this young brother to a brother we know who is in the construction field and an architect by profession. Initially, I was not clear if I should go ahead to introduce this young man to the architect. Last week, a brother called me and made the request more firm by also sending me the resume of his son. Besides, another brother also requested if I could do the introduction. However, I felt that I should meet the young brother first and have an informal orientation.

Therefore, last week we visited this brother's family and even had a one on one interaction with the young brother. Only then, I had the peace to go ahead. So, the following day, I called the architect brother and did the introduction. To my surprise, he was very willing to take this young intern and give him a first hand training from A to Z of turnkey project. I also called this young brother's father to confirm. Then, I called the young brother myself.

The next day, he first came to the meeting hall where I fellowshipped with him on four points on having a personal regular prayer life, Bible reading, fellowship with the church, and seeking the Lord’s will in every matter. I did so with a burden to shepherd him as I used to, to any young saints including my own chidren. Professional learning is just a channel for gaining the person for the Lord. I even encouraged him to learn whatever he could in his architectural field, and as the Lord lead so, he may one day design a meeting hall for the gathering of the saints. 

So, having prayed together, I drove him to the architect's office and introduced the two face to face. By the way, I alos got the opportunity to meet the architect brother after many years. Later, I was informed that the internship had a good start. I was even sent videos and a photo of the first project for this young brother to learn; the ground digging work for the foundation of the new building.

This is just a way the Lord opened the door for a young brother to be shepherded and perhaps, one day, be also gained for the church life fully.

Lord, gain this young brother who is a brother's son and also the architect brother for Your testimony in Gurugram. 

Shepherding: A Businessman's Son

A young brother who was introduced to our family and whose mother has been so burdend for the family salvation has been prayed for, for quite sometime now. Three weeks ago, I received a surprise invitation from his mother to visit the family. My wife and I did so, and we had a sweet time of fellowship and prayer. 

The family has been going through difficult times related to their businesses and finances. However, sister had the maturity to understand why the Lord allowed such an unexpected situation. It was all for the salvation of her whole family. No matter what happened, my burden was to shepherd the sister and her son. And that, through this, the whole family would be saved. I even dared to say that it was the Lord who led them through this difficult times for their own good.

A week later, her son sent me a message requesting me if I could visit him for fellowship and prayer. I immediately reckoned that as the Lord answering our prayers for the salvation of the whole household. As I visited him, we had a personal fellowship one on one when he opened up the entire situation his family has been going through. I listened through to every word he uttered. That was a cherishing to him and a shepherding to me. 

A word of comfort I could minister was letting him know that God is in control and that He allowed circumstances like these to gain him and his famly. My only main burden was to lead him to the Lord Jesus Christ, in prayer, through the word, in fellowship with the saints in the church. Then, we pray-read the verses n Philippians together and prayed.

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; And the peace of God, which surpasses every man’s understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, RecVer)

In fact, these were the same verses my wife and I used to shepherd his mother too. In this was, the Lord opened the door for shepherding this family in answer to the saints' prayers.

This week, I could visit him again and this time, we started reading the Holy Bible with the footnotes in the Recovery Version. We continued from what we left off last year and concluded Matthew chapter 1. Then, after echoing the burden mentioned in the study notes, we both prayed together. In this way, we plan to continue our shepherding fellowship regularly. 

In fact, he is the only son of a wealthy business man whose wife is a sister in the Lord. The family members are yet to be saved.

May the Lord show mercy to this young man to be in God's plan, and that the Lord would save his entire family for His testimony in Gurugram. 

Fellowship in Khariar Road

When the Lord wants to accomplish something, He just does it in His way with His people in His time. The visit to Khariar Road was never in our plan. However, as we received the news of the demise of our brother's father, we changed our plan and came to visit Khariar Road. 

After a long five hours drive, we just arrived in time to attend the funeral meeting. I was then informed that I should share the word. Immediately, I turned to the Lord for the word,  and the word was made clear.

Words of Comfort

But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are sleeping, that you would not grieve even as also the rest who have no hope. For *if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so also those who have fallen asleep through Jesus, God will bring with Him*. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep; Because the Lord Himself, with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are living, who are left remaining, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will be always with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, RecVer)

These words of comfort were spoken and prayer offered for the bereaved family. Then, we all went to the cemetry for the burial.

After this, a meeting was arranged again in the night where all the key Christian leaders were invited to attend. Though it was in the house of mourning, I turned it into the house of fellowship, ministering the word as the living Star led me to. For about an hour with Hindi translation, I ministered on God's Eternal Plan.

Though the audience were mostly Christian leaders, deep within, the Lord’s leading was to minsiter this truth from Genesis 1:26, 2:7; Proverbs 20:27; Zechariah 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 1:1, 14, 12, 13; 19:34; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Romans 8:16; 12:1-2. After the Spirit's speaking through the word, the audience were deeply impressed. Many of the Christian Pastors fellowshipped with me after the meeting on how much light they received and how blessed they were with the word. I believe, it was for this purpose that the Lord bought us there. May the Lord continue to supply His chidren with His word.

Then, a brother invited us for a family visit to his house where we had coffee and prayers. The following day, another brother invited us for breakfast at his house. There too, we prayed for the family. Then, we ate early lunch, prayed for the saints in Khariar Road, and left for Raipur to catch our train to Delhi.

In such a short time, the Lord accomplished what He wanted to accomplish, in His time. We simply followed Him, changed our plan as needed, and enjoyed His blessing. 

As His speaking has been these days on following the living Star, so was His leading and our following His leading, His presence. What a blessing!

Fellowship in Bilaspur

As usual, after our visit to the Madku Masih Mela, we would visit and spend the Lord’s Day with the saints in the church in Bilaspur. As we were on the way from Bhatapara to Bilaspur, we prayed together for the Lord’s move in Chhattisgarh. Then, we pray-read the outline of the present holy word for morning revival on the instant and up-to-date revelation of the heavenly Christ. 

As we were on the way, we also received an information of the demise of the father of one of our serving brothers in Khariar Road Odisha. So, we fellowshipped and decided to attend the funeral service. For this, we had to cancel our trip back to Delhi, and eventually made a fesh tatkal booking the next day for Delhi.

In Bilaspur, as the brother gave us time to minister the word, one of us ministered from Romans 8. Then, I followed suit on following Christ the living Star from Matthew 2: 1-12.

Saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star at its rising and have come to worship Him. (Matthew 2:2, RecVer)

And after they heard the king, they went their way, and behold, the star which they saw at its rising led them until it came and stood over the place where the child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. (Matthew 2:9-10, RecVer)

And because they had been divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed by another way to their country. (Matthew 2:12, RecVer)

As the Lord, the living Star, led me, I ministered the need for the saints to seek the Lord in the word and in prayer to receive revelation concerning the word. I also warned the saints of dead Scriptural knowledge without any revelation or light like the Jews, the Scribes and the Pharisees, and the danger of falling into human concept like the magi from the East which can lead to the spiritual death of the innocent. I also shared my testimony of how the Lord led me in prayer and through the word to serve Him all the days of my life since 2003. While following the livng Star faithfully, it will always lead us to another way, a way other than our human way. Then, we partook of the bread together with the saints in Bilaspur, followed by lovefeast. Then, we left for Khariar Road through a hired vehicle that took us five hours drive.

Thank the Lord for His Star leading us step by step. May the Lord bless His testimony in Bilaspur 

Ministry of the Word to Bhatapara, Bethelpuram, and Madku Dweep

Nothing done by the Lord is ever a waste. More than a year ago, I attended a theological conference in Bengaluru with a heavy price spent financially. I thought that it was more of a waste as I did not get the responses I expected. However, there I met a brother who is an influential Christian leader. This time, while in Ranchi I called him as he is from there. Though he was out of station, he gave me a contact in Bhatapara, which opened the door for the Lord’s move in the city.

This contact is a doctor who runs a hospital along with his wife in Bhatapara. Both have consecrated there lives to serve the Lord in the medical field. As we met and introduced the ministry to them, they were filled with joy. Especially the wife was so encouraged by our visit and fellowship that she also poured out her heart's desire in sharing whatever the Lord has done in her life. She gave us a tour of her brand new house and the hospital, and eventually requested us to pray in her chamber, which we obliged to. Then, her husband introduced another doctor in the nearby locality, opening the door for the Lord’s move through the ministry there in Bethelpuram. 

In Bethelpuram, we met the doctor who is the superintendent for over a decade now. He also gave us a tour of the hospital, the history of the hospital, and all the works he has been doing. When his wife who is also a doctor, joined us in the fellowship, we introduced the ministry literature to them. They both were very impressed with the truth and placed order for the Recovery Version Bible. Then, they took us to their house where we had a fellowship with their son over coffee and snacks until late afternoon. Then, we eventually went to Madhku Dweep to attend the ongoing Masih Mela.

In Madku Dweep, a good number of seekers visited our stall and purchased the ministry literature. The following day, when I was there, brothers from Bhopal, Betul, Champa, Jhanjir etc., visited and fellowshiped with us. It was good time of brotherly reunion.

In Bhatapara too, we had a time of fellowship over lunch with the parent of the doctor couple we met. Though elderly they were, we still could spend a few hours together listening to their testimonies, mostly narrated by the sister. Through them, their relative in Gurugram was also introduced over the phone. 

In this way, the Lord opened new doors in two new localities. I even updated the brothers with the following message:

Update on the Ministry Literature Journey

The Lord opened new doors in Bhatapara where we introduced the ministry to a doctor couple who runs a hospital and in Bethelpuram where another doctor couple are supervising a leprosy mission hospital. These are in addition to the Masih Mela in Madku Dweep where many seeking believers came and received the ministry literature. Then, today we had a time of fellowship with a group of believers who have been taking the stand as "the church in Bilaspur." All these are in Chhattisgarh. 

Today morning, we received an information of the demise of the father of our brother Anil Sahu in Khariar Road. So, we cancelled our trip back to Delhi and detoured to Khariar Road, Odisha, to be with the saints there today evening and tomorrow morning. Then, from there, we will be back to Delhi via Raipur on Wednesday. 

Thank you for all your prayers!

Ministry of the Word to Ranchi, Khunti, Chaibasa, and Chakradharpur

After the first Lord’s Day meeting was established in Hulhundu in Ranchi, we were to leave for Ranchi main city for the distribution. It was then that Lord gave me the burden to call up a brother who could be of help in the distribution. As I did so, he responded and joined us for the two days distribution in Ranchi. 

This brother was known to me some ten years ago when I first visited Jharkhand. He was our translator in a Christian meeting. Since then, he has been gained by the truth concerning Christ and the church.

In Ranchi, on the first day, we attended a Pastors' conference and introduced the ministry literature. Then, we had a time for fellowship with a brother who is an evangelist serving in the city. Then, we visited the two main Christian bookstores and they both placed order for the minsitry literature. 

On the secondth day, we had a time of fellowship and Recovery Version introduction to one of the key Christian leader. Then, with some Reverends of the mainline group, one of them was the managers of another Christian bookstore. Then, we had a time of fellowship with our local brother and his daughter over lunch, and later, with his relatives. Finally, we left for Khunti. 

For the following two more days we were in Khunti in our local brother's house. From there, one day we visited Chaibasa where we met the key Christian leaders of mainline groups, then on our way back, we met the main leader in Chakradharpur. The following day, we had a time of fellowship and ministry literature introduction to a brother who is a retired Engineer. We spent the whole day fellowshipping over coffee and lunch, and visiting his fields and gardens. Then, we were taken to visit a sightseeing spot called Rani Falls. After all these, we concluded the ministry journey in Jharkhand and left for Chattisgarh from Hatia by train.

In addition to the ministry literature distribution, the Lord brought us to Khunti to fellowship with a brother and his wife. On the secondth night of our stay in their home, we had a time of family fellowship where we allowed bith other to open up fully. Then, we fellowshiped with them the biblical view concerning husband and wife and emphasised the need to be in oneness by exercising the spirit to live Christ and partake Christ as the tree of life. We exhorted them to take the way of forgiving and forgetting the things of the past. We also gave our own testimony of our marriage life and the way we took; the way of prayer personally and prayer as couple.

In this way, I believe the Lord’s purpose in visiting Jharkhand, especially the brother's family, was accomplished.

May the Lord bless His move in Jharkhand!

Life Lesson: On Time

Officialy, there are many things that go unnoticed. However, when the need arises the Lord uses people to remind me of what needs to be done. Two good examples that I experienced recently are, the renewal of our company's IEC and export related documentation matter, and my USA visa renewal.

Since last December, a brother in UAE initiated the talk on exporting the ministry books and Bibles for the saints in the churches in the Middle East. Once we were ready for exporting, a shipment forwarder hired by the consignee led us to look into many documentation matters. While preparing for export, I realised that the company's IEC needed renewal which I did immediately online and also updated all the directors' details in the government website. And after updating all legal documentation, the freight forwarder informed me that they will not be handling our export matter as the exporting job was given to a courier company. Then, I realised that the Lord allowed this to remind me of updating all the company's official matter. He just used who all needed to be used to accomplish this matter.

Ten years ago, I had applied for my USA Visa for my attending the seminannual trainings in Anaheim California. Trusting the Lord, I prayerfully applied and got it. With that, I had visited the States three times within the ten years of the visa validity, all for attending seminannual trainings and fellowship. And for some reasons, I had no intention to renew it again though it is expiring in March this year. However, one night during the fellowship and training in Bengaluru, this thought of USA Visa renewal came to my mind. The next day, as I mentioned it to a brother, he encouraged me to do so and sent me two links for the process as he also did his visa renewal.

Once I got back to office from the ministry literature journey, and when I got the time, I did a thorough study on USA visa renewal process. The Lord even led me when I needed to get my hair cut and take USA visa passport size photo. He even led me to use one particular day for the online filling of DS-106 form and then apply for renewal online. As I did so, to my surprise, the date for submission of my passport was also readily available the next day, though I intent to wait further. Then without waiting further, I opted for the next day and submitted it before I began another eleven days ministry journey. 

The Lord led me step by step, on time. Even when I had no intention to do it, He knew I must do it. So, He led me to do it right away. I was amazed at how the Lord led me in doing things that I was not aware of, or had no intention to do it. He knew what needed to be done and when it should be done. I simply followed Him, and the things were done well on time. What a life lesson of doing things on time!

This is an experience of the living God moving and operating in me and in all that concerns me. O, what a living and moving God I have, who led me to do things in time! Praise Him!