Ministry of the Word to Godda

As introduced by the Bishop in Dumka, we came to this city, Godda. After a long local bus drive through the dusty roads under the hot sun, we arrived at a school run by a couple with the heart of serving the local people. 

Despite the busy schedule of the family, they gave us a warm hospitality serving us sweets, snacks, and a mutton curry dinner. After the dinner, we were listening mostly to the testimonies of the sister and the brother. They have been through many things in their service to the Lord and to humanity. The Lord has been faithfully supplying them richly so that they could in turn be helping hand to many others in need, mostly in material help.

In fact, there were other guests too who they gave hospitality on the same day and night with us. In addition, on the day we arrived, they were busy helping the local Pators with all legal procedures, of an unknown dead body of a brother transporting back to Kerala. Yet, they still entertained us as their guests.

Though we did not have much time to fellowship, the next day, we somehow met the local Pastor and introduced the ministry literature. And finally, before we left, we also met him at his office and introduced the ministry. This being the case, we felt the burden to gift the Holy Bible Recovery Version and some selected ministry books to the family as seeds of the ministry sown into their family. 

May the Lord recover His testimony in Godda one day.

Ministry of the Word to Dumka

Dumka has been in my heart for many years now, at least a decade, when I first heard about it based on the fact that one sister was gained through our books distribution in Delhi, being from this place. Finally, I got to visit this city for the introduction and distribution of the ministry literature. 

We arrived the city by about midnight due to the train delay. Our host took care of us so well as we stayed for two days and two nights. Though we had no idea how to carry out the distribution, two full days we were busy meeting Pastors who came to visit us for the books. Instead of us going out to visit people under the hot sun with no transportation facility, the Lord brought people instead.

One Pastor after another, we were connected to different people. Our meeting with one Bishop was noteworthy. As we introduced the minister, we ended up spending over four hours in fellowship with him and his wife. They were so impressed by the depth of the truth and became very open to us. In fact, he further introduced and encouraged us to visit his relatives who are in two different districts. Therefore, two more new localities were added to our distribution list. It was truly the Lord’s sovereign hand behind the scene in all our meetings with dear fellow brothers in Christ. The timing, the place, and the openness, only the true and living God can do this. I reported the matter to the brothers with a message:

Update on the Ministry Journey

After West Bengal, we went to Dhanbad, Jamtala, Chittaranjan, and Dumka. One contact after another, the Lord led us to all these new places.

Step by step, the Lord led us to meet the key people for the introduction and distribution of the ministry literature. 

In Dumka, Br. P___'s family took care of us very well. Many Pastors came to visit us in their house to receive the ministry books. Seeking Christian leaders and Pastors were very impressed with the ministry literature and purchased the ministry books. We also had a time of fellowship with an elderly couple who have been instrumental in bringing many political leaders and their family to salvation, including ex-CM's family members. He was so excited by the truth we presented through the ministry literature and requested us for at least 3 days seminars on the truth with all the Pastors in Dumka. He offered his meeting hall and accommodation in his campus for all who would join.

The Lord led us further to a new area, Godda. Yesterday night, we had meeting with a couple who have been serving the Lord among the locals. The brother happens to be one of the ministers in the present Jharkhand government. 

Today and tomorrow, we plan to cover Madupur and Deogarh.

Please continue to pray for the Lord’s move in Jharkhand.

Lord, raise up Your testimony in Dumka!

Ministry of the Word to Dhanbad, Jamtala, and Chittaranjan

Though we knew no one in Dhanbad, the burden within drove us to plan a visit to this city. From Asansol, we got a contact, and followed the Lord’s leading one step at a time. In fact, our train ticket to Dhanbad was booked just the night before we travelled. 

In Dhanbad, a young Pastor gave us a warm Jharkhandi hospitality. He also placed for himself the entire set of Hindi ministry books. And through him, we got a new contact in Jamtala. 

The burden to visit Jamtala was conceived when I was planing for this trip. As I looked at the map, this city lies in between Dhanbad and Dumka. Therefore, I deemed it proper to set foot in this city for the introduction and distribution of the ministry literature. 

As we arrived Jamtala, we were directed to go to Chittaranjan. We had an enjoyable "toto" electric four wheeler motor ride and met two brothers there. We saw the "goodland." They took us for a home meeting where I shared the word in Hindi, basically, the mystery of human life. Then, we board a train to Dumka.

In just one day, all these localities were visited. One after the other, step by step, for the first time, we tread our foot on these "goodlands." 

Every place on which the sole of your foot treads I have given to you, as I promised Moses. Joshua 1:3, RecVer

Ministry of the Word to Asansol, Maithon, Durgapur, Jamuria, and Sripur, West Bengal

The thought of visiting this city was ignited by a brother known to me being posted in this city. I had visited this place twice, this time, after some consideration, we decided to visit this city again for the ministry. A local Pastor was very helpful in making all the arrangements during our visit to this part of West Bengal. He was instrumental in receiving the minsitry books for distribution and in making all the practical arrangements. The entire state was in a campaign mode for the state assembly election. Still, we spent two days to visit whoever we could, for the introduction and distribution of the ministry literature. 

We arrived on 18th April, Saturday night and were lodged in a hotel in middle of the busy market. On the following Lord’s Day, the Pastor invited us to minister the word to the congregation he has been shepherding. Some two hundred believers, mostly, sisters were so seeking to worship the Lord in songs and prayers. They were all simple sisters from the lower section of the society. Its seems like most of their family members are yet to be saved. 

We ministered on the two gifts God gave to His children; the Holy Spirit and the word of God, the Bible. Using relevant Bible verses, we expounding the truth concerning the last Adam becoming the life-giving Spirit. 

So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45, RecVer

We helped all the saints to enjoy the Spirit that they have received  by showing them and leading them to call upon the name of the Lord, "O Probhu Jesu!"

We also helped them to know the significance of the word of God. Using John 6, we led them to read the verses on Christ being the Bread; the bread sent from heaven, the living bread, the true bread, the bread of life, and the bread of God. Such a bread is for eating.

As the living Father has sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me. John 6:57, RecVer

As the living Father has sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me.nJohn 6:57, RecVer

In the afternoon, we visited Maithon and introduced the ministry to two key Pastors. Then, a lighted hearted moment of relaxation at Maithon Dam

The following day, we visited Durgapur, Jamuria, and Sripur and met the key brother in these cities. To whoever we introduced the ministry, they received it with much hunger. One Pastor even placed an order for five whole sets for the distribution in his evangelistic campaign.

Then, finally, we had hours of fellowship with a group of seeking believers who invited us for lovefeast lunch. We ministered the word to them on life and love. Having received the divine life, God as love also infused Himself into His believers as love with which they can love Him in return. In this way, the believers can love the Lord, love the word, and love the presence of God in spending time with God in prayers, and live a normal Christian life foe the Lord’s testimony. 

With these, we have released our burden in West Bengal. We left the city for our next destination, Jharkhand, on 21st, Tuesday, teo days before the election. 

Lord, bless Your move in West Bengal and raise up Your testimony in all these localities. 

Ministry Journey: God’s Sovereignty

And Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them on the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might go by day and by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night departed from before the people. Exodus 13:21-RecVeecVer

The ministry literature journey was planned a month ago for the distribution in Jharkhand as we discovered that the land is still open for the Lord’s move.  After all the prayers, planning and fellowship, I booked a flight ticket from Hyderabad to Ranchi. Almost two weeks after booking the flight tickets, I was informed by my co-working brother that I had booked the flight from the "wrong airport". Instead of booking from Hyderabad to Ranchi, I had booked it from Delhi to Ranchi. I was pretty sure when I made the booking. In fact, this was the first error in my flight bookings for these many years. Immediately, I reconsidered the "mistake" and discoverd that the Lord had a better plan. 

First, if we had gone as planned to Ranchi, the brother who was to lead us was not ready at all. Especially with the vehicle and also with the places and contacts to visit. 

Second, one of my old college juniors was recently promoted and transfered to Asansol, so I thought it would be worth visiting him on our way to Dumka. With this, it was not wise to travel on road all the way from Ranchi to Dumka via Asansol. 

Third, there was a brother who I met first when I first visited Asansol. So, the burden to revisit him arose. 

Fifth, the flight to Ranchi from Hyderabad skyrocketed and I found it futile to pay such a price. 

Sixth, I discovered that we could fly to Durgapur, and from there, go to Asansol. 

Seventh, in fellowship, all these worked out to be perfect. 

Therefore, there was an adjustment to our plan.

Today, having completed the planned distribution trip, looking back, I realised that God was sovereign over all things. Even the mistake I made in wrong flight booking tuned out to be the Lord’s hand behind the scene to bring us to West Bengal just before the state assembly election. 

What a wise God we have! What a sovereign God He is! Invisible yet visible through circumstances, He worked all things for our good to cooperate with Him for His move in West Bengal and also for Jharkhand.

We simply follow the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. Ultimately, we are doing the Lord’s work, according to His plan and according to His way.

National Brothers Fellowship: Hyderabad

For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ. Ephesians 4:12, RecVer

After twenty years of face to face fellowship with a senior and matured brother in the church life, this time I again attended a time of fellowship with the same brother though online. A few months ago, things have changed drastically in our country and he could not physically come to be with us. Nevertheless, we made use of the online facilty available. Thanks to the technology used properly for the Lord’s move.

For five and a half days, we had sessions after sessions felleoshipping on the word of God in Ephesians 4. Word by word, phrase by phrase, and verse by verse, the Lord unveiled His heart's desire concerning the building up of His Body, the church, through the necessary dealings and proper humanity in diligently keeping the oneness the Lord so desired snd prayed for, through His Spirit who Has been given to us already. Though this portion of the Bible is one of the most difficult prophesy to fulfill, it is being fulfilled at the present time with the help of the ministry of the word through the minister of the age. Though Satan's futile attempts seemed to disrupt the oneness of the Body, the Lord nevertheless is gradually building His church, His Body. For His prophesy will always come to pass.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18, RecVer

Many brothers also contributed to the fellowship in a way of sharing what they have learnt from the Lord. Some testifed of their experiences based on what were fellowshiped, some asked questions, some echoed the sharings, and some confirmed through the word the burden the Lord released through the fellowship. 

Despite the busy schedule, five sessions everyday, I still could enjoy my time with the Lord in prayer and my daily reading of the Bible during the breaks. I also got to fellowship some important matters with the brothers related to the literature service and our serving ones, along with the present burden for the Recovery Version translation project. 

This gathering at the national level was a wonderful time of blending and fellowship for the Lord’s testimony in His recovery and for His going on in this country. 

Praise the Lord for the fellowship in the Body! Praise the Lord for His move in our country!

Marital Fellowships

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24, RecVer

And said, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall be one flesh”? So then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has yoked together, let man not separate. Matthew 19:5-6, RecVer

And the two shall be one flesh. So then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has yoked together, let man not separate. Mark 10:8-9, RecVer

For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. Ephesians 5:31, RecVer

Marriage is ordained by God. The biblical truth is, a couple wedded in holy matrimony according to God’s ordination is one flesh. This phrase "one flesh" sums up every marital issue. If this eternal truth is understood and practiced by all Christians, all marital issues would be no issue at all. It is practically impossible for two individuals to be one flesh. However, the Bible calls it "one flesh." God is right. The sooner a married couple realised this truth and keep it, the better it is for their marriage life. Otherwise, marital issues are spontaneous natural issues of two different individuals.

Like it or not, a brother came to fellowship about the issues he have been facing in his marriage life about two weeks ago. Another brother and I had to listen to all his "complaints" against his spouse of a little over a year old marriage. Immediately, I knew where they both went wrong. But I restricted myself not to say too much to him as I knew it would not help him much. I would rather say what I needed to say when we could meet together again with his wife. Though in the fellowship many suggestions and opinions were "discussed" rather than "fellowshiped," I prayed for the couple to turn to the Lord inwardly, and I just lent my ears to hear whatever was told in the meeting.

Almost a week later, we met again in a restaurant, this time with the wife present. Over the lunch lovefeast, I testified of the blessings I received from the Lord in my marriage life. On the human side, I prayed for years since I got saved for the Lord’s perfect will in my marriage life. When the Lord answered my prayers, I got married and since then, I have been praying together with my wife, fellowshipping with her for all important matters, making everything common including our bank accounts, hiding nothing from one another, showing love and respect to one another, etc. I dared not advise anybody what they should do, but I simply gave testimony of my marriage life according to God’s blessings.

Another brother with me too shared some experiences of his and had some practical fellowship on marriage life. Then, we all prayed together.

I believe, that lovefeast fellowship was the Lord’s way of shepherding this young couple and perfecting them in their marriage life.

I trust the God who ordained their marriage will also preserve and prosper the married couple. 

Lord, bless the couple and all the married brothers and sisters for Your testimony.