As I began exploring ministry opportunities after reaching Hyderabad, India, I visited a few slum area churches(a group of new believers that gather once a week) to speak at their gospel meeting. A pastor that I had been connected to through a contact at Crisis Rescue International began setting up meetings with small church plants in slums that he had been a part of setting up through preaching the gospel and showing the Jesus Film.
The day of our first gospel meeting, Pastor Francis told me that I would need to be prepared to share a word. At that time I had no idea if we were meeting believers, non-believers...if it would be in a church building, hotel, etc. I just said ok, and began searching my heart and mind for what I might say in a variety of different settings...and to different audience types. I came up with a few scripture verses that went along with the different messages, but honestly I knew that I would be of no affect without God and the power of the Holy Spirit guiding me in what to say. So, a few minutes before he came to pick me up, I just began praying God would give me whatever I needed to say at the exact time that I would need to say it.
When we arrived at our first meeting, we walked down a few small dirt streets, past homes that were more like tents. There were many children there to greet me, saying "Praise the Lord!" They set up a mic and speakers, and laid a mat down for the children to sit. There were a few adult bystanders, but very few that actually seemed a part of the "church" that was gathering at this place. They did a few worship songs in Telugu, the local language here, and then he basically handed the mic to me. In all of my preparation, I did not assume a child audience. I began by telling them where I was from, that I had come all this way to meet my brothers and sisters in India. I told a little about my story, and the discovery of a life in Christ, and all the benefits and rewards that come with that. I worked in the basic gospel of Christ at some point, realizing they may have only heard it one or two times. I spoke to them about God's love for them...that He knows every single hair on their head...and their eyes lit up to imagine that! I spoke about heaven and how we are only here for a short time. I felt as though I had already entered heaven as I watched one little girl sit in wonder and awe as Pastor Francis translated the words. I spoke to them about the joy we get only from God's presence through worship, prayer, and fellowship, and about keeping their eyes on eternity, and the reward in heaven. I further shared with them my intent to live out my faith in India by following James 1:27-"The only religion pure and faultless before God our father is to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
So...this strange thing happened when I was finished, and they(the children) began bringing me orphans and widows, and I guess I was supposed to do something for them...?? duh...
And the thing is...I was already helping a struggling orphanage, and at the very moment I wasn't exactly ready for a new project, and it felt a little strange that they were doing this. I kept thinking...what are they expecting me to do right this moment? I can hand them some money, but it will be gone at some point, so I told someone to take down their names and then I prayed for them. We told them we would pray about how to help them. The second time this happened, I felt a little more prepared, and I began asking a lot of questions about the two orphan boys they brought up to me, and then I asked to visit their home where they lived with their two older brothers. When we arrived, I asked the brother that was there how he felt about taking care of them and basically his ability to take care of them. He said something to the degree of...okay, by God's grace. I asked him if he would be interested in sending them to a hostel or orphanage if we could find a place for them, and he said yes, as long as they could visit them. He told me about two other sisters they had already placed in a girls home. Both parents and a sister had died within the last year and a half.
So, I prayed about it a couple days, and had discussed with Daniel(who travels with me and joins me in visiting the orphanage) that we would call around to see where there might be openings, and find out the cost of sponsoring them. I had also mentioned that we could check with Kamalamma, the place we had been visiting regularly, to see if they could take them in. And so the next time we went, he asked her, she said yes, and it was just a matter of arranging a time to go back out to the boys' slum to talk to the brothers about it.
In the meantime, Pastor Francis had set up more gospel meetings...but at some point I felt very convicted to be faithful to the needs I had already been presented with and to be true to what I was "preaching" to these people, before meeting yet another group of people that needed help. So, we cancelled the meeting, and made a trip to visit the boys. At this point, the family knew we were serious, because we came back, so all kinds of relatives showed up in the home and that's when we got a better picture of what was going on. Basically, Harinad and Aravind(6 &7) were not in school, and were pretty much just roaming around the slum every day. One aunt got very emotional, and asked if we were taking them right then. We said we are not forcing them to make any decision, but that last time we were there the one brother expressed he would allow them to go to a hostel or orphanage where they could get an education. They then decided to send the 20 year old uncle, who according to him is the only one who really cares about the kids and makes sure they are fed, etc. One of the men that helps Pastor Francis lead worship at these church plants, named Gopal, said a prayer before we left, and when we walked out he was very teary and told me what a blessing it has been to do ministry with Francis and myself, and how great God's grace was for this night, and how so many people had come through this slum to preach, but not one of them has actually done anything to help these people. He was very thankful, and it was very touching to me to know God had used me to increase this man's faith. There is such power in the gospel and in God's word, that it is actually very easy to have the motivation to go around preaching all over and seeing people come to Christ...but it takes walking in a real relationship with God for the Holy Spirit to help us along the way to live out the words, and it is also rewarding, but you aren't on a mic or on a stage when you are being the hands and feet of Christ...and it takes both the word of God and love in action to come close to allowing Him to use us to display His love to the world...
(He was somewhat kidding...I think...but one pastor here was telling me how amazing it was to go to unreached villages and slums, preach the gospel, and see all of them come to Christ. He said, if I am feeling down, I don't even need to pray to God, I just go and preach the gospel and I feel great...) :-/
I have since decided to decline new speaking opportunities to focus on the needs God has shown me thus far, and he has spoken to me very clearly on being faithful with the little. I believe every situation or need that we are aware of, every ministry we are told about...God is trusting us with that information, and we should act in some way. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much..." Luke 16:10
We then left with the uncle to visit the orphanage. You could tell when we got to Kamalamma's that he was very happy about the place. There was a warmth there that night as a large church group had come to bring food for the kids. I asked him what he thought about the place, and by the smile on his face I knew he felt very good about it. At some point I felt he was a little emotional, and I can only imagine the thought of giving up his two little nephews, whom he had loved and cared for since their parents death. The orphanage was quite some distance from where they stay, and I knew it would be difficult for him to visit.
The boys are very happy there, and it has been amazing to see the transformation in them. It seems the other kids have really taken them in with open arms, and there is a special attachment with Krupa as she doesn't go to school, and they had spend quite a bit of time with her in the first few days before they started school. It is really cute to see how sweet and gentle they are with her. It is hard not to love her, but you never know how kids will treat someone with disabilities.
We recently attended the orphanage's annual Christmas celebration, and Harinad, who is somewhat difficult to get close to...who will barely come close enough for you to shake his hand when you arrive, etc....ended up on my lap, seeming a little uncomfortable at first, but moved closer and closer back as we watched the performances. At one point he was clapping and singing, and then it seemed like all of a sudden he laid his head back on my shoulder and was silent. I realized he had fallen asleep, and as the weight of his body fell into mine and was finally fully surrendered to my embrace, I felt the Holy Spirit very strongly in that moment, and felt moved to just prayed for him as he slept. I knew he had been distant due to the trauma in his life, and it almost brought me to tears thinking about this little broken heart that lost both his parents and a sister within a year and a half, and having to leave what was left of his family for a better life :( There was so much noise, and kids kept coming by looking a little surprised he was sleeping, but what I felt is that somehow he just needed true "rest," and through God's love pouring out of me, he could somehow relax enough get it in my arms that night...
I was really fighting back the tears to feel this love pouring out from the Holy Spirit into his little spirit as I prayed...thinking I had lost a daughter to be used in this moment, I had given up comforts, family, and Christmas traditions at home to be with these kids and especially this precious one for this very Christmas celebration. And for the first time, it was more clear than it had ever been why God had allowed Evie to die. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God." 2 Corin. 1:3,4.
Links:
Christmas Celebration Slideshow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T7RoB3vILM
Harinad Singing :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydcXP8M3R8I
The day of our first gospel meeting, Pastor Francis told me that I would need to be prepared to share a word. At that time I had no idea if we were meeting believers, non-believers...if it would be in a church building, hotel, etc. I just said ok, and began searching my heart and mind for what I might say in a variety of different settings...and to different audience types. I came up with a few scripture verses that went along with the different messages, but honestly I knew that I would be of no affect without God and the power of the Holy Spirit guiding me in what to say. So, a few minutes before he came to pick me up, I just began praying God would give me whatever I needed to say at the exact time that I would need to say it.
When we arrived at our first meeting, we walked down a few small dirt streets, past homes that were more like tents. There were many children there to greet me, saying "Praise the Lord!" They set up a mic and speakers, and laid a mat down for the children to sit. There were a few adult bystanders, but very few that actually seemed a part of the "church" that was gathering at this place. They did a few worship songs in Telugu, the local language here, and then he basically handed the mic to me. In all of my preparation, I did not assume a child audience. I began by telling them where I was from, that I had come all this way to meet my brothers and sisters in India. I told a little about my story, and the discovery of a life in Christ, and all the benefits and rewards that come with that. I worked in the basic gospel of Christ at some point, realizing they may have only heard it one or two times. I spoke to them about God's love for them...that He knows every single hair on their head...and their eyes lit up to imagine that! I spoke about heaven and how we are only here for a short time. I felt as though I had already entered heaven as I watched one little girl sit in wonder and awe as Pastor Francis translated the words. I spoke to them about the joy we get only from God's presence through worship, prayer, and fellowship, and about keeping their eyes on eternity, and the reward in heaven. I further shared with them my intent to live out my faith in India by following James 1:27-"The only religion pure and faultless before God our father is to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
So...this strange thing happened when I was finished, and they(the children) began bringing me orphans and widows, and I guess I was supposed to do something for them...?? duh...
And the thing is...I was already helping a struggling orphanage, and at the very moment I wasn't exactly ready for a new project, and it felt a little strange that they were doing this. I kept thinking...what are they expecting me to do right this moment? I can hand them some money, but it will be gone at some point, so I told someone to take down their names and then I prayed for them. We told them we would pray about how to help them. The second time this happened, I felt a little more prepared, and I began asking a lot of questions about the two orphan boys they brought up to me, and then I asked to visit their home where they lived with their two older brothers. When we arrived, I asked the brother that was there how he felt about taking care of them and basically his ability to take care of them. He said something to the degree of...okay, by God's grace. I asked him if he would be interested in sending them to a hostel or orphanage if we could find a place for them, and he said yes, as long as they could visit them. He told me about two other sisters they had already placed in a girls home. Both parents and a sister had died within the last year and a half.
So, I prayed about it a couple days, and had discussed with Daniel(who travels with me and joins me in visiting the orphanage) that we would call around to see where there might be openings, and find out the cost of sponsoring them. I had also mentioned that we could check with Kamalamma, the place we had been visiting regularly, to see if they could take them in. And so the next time we went, he asked her, she said yes, and it was just a matter of arranging a time to go back out to the boys' slum to talk to the brothers about it.
In the meantime, Pastor Francis had set up more gospel meetings...but at some point I felt very convicted to be faithful to the needs I had already been presented with and to be true to what I was "preaching" to these people, before meeting yet another group of people that needed help. So, we cancelled the meeting, and made a trip to visit the boys. At this point, the family knew we were serious, because we came back, so all kinds of relatives showed up in the home and that's when we got a better picture of what was going on. Basically, Harinad and Aravind(6 &7) were not in school, and were pretty much just roaming around the slum every day. One aunt got very emotional, and asked if we were taking them right then. We said we are not forcing them to make any decision, but that last time we were there the one brother expressed he would allow them to go to a hostel or orphanage where they could get an education. They then decided to send the 20 year old uncle, who according to him is the only one who really cares about the kids and makes sure they are fed, etc. One of the men that helps Pastor Francis lead worship at these church plants, named Gopal, said a prayer before we left, and when we walked out he was very teary and told me what a blessing it has been to do ministry with Francis and myself, and how great God's grace was for this night, and how so many people had come through this slum to preach, but not one of them has actually done anything to help these people. He was very thankful, and it was very touching to me to know God had used me to increase this man's faith. There is such power in the gospel and in God's word, that it is actually very easy to have the motivation to go around preaching all over and seeing people come to Christ...but it takes walking in a real relationship with God for the Holy Spirit to help us along the way to live out the words, and it is also rewarding, but you aren't on a mic or on a stage when you are being the hands and feet of Christ...and it takes both the word of God and love in action to come close to allowing Him to use us to display His love to the world...
(He was somewhat kidding...I think...but one pastor here was telling me how amazing it was to go to unreached villages and slums, preach the gospel, and see all of them come to Christ. He said, if I am feeling down, I don't even need to pray to God, I just go and preach the gospel and I feel great...) :-/
I have since decided to decline new speaking opportunities to focus on the needs God has shown me thus far, and he has spoken to me very clearly on being faithful with the little. I believe every situation or need that we are aware of, every ministry we are told about...God is trusting us with that information, and we should act in some way. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much..." Luke 16:10
We then left with the uncle to visit the orphanage. You could tell when we got to Kamalamma's that he was very happy about the place. There was a warmth there that night as a large church group had come to bring food for the kids. I asked him what he thought about the place, and by the smile on his face I knew he felt very good about it. At some point I felt he was a little emotional, and I can only imagine the thought of giving up his two little nephews, whom he had loved and cared for since their parents death. The orphanage was quite some distance from where they stay, and I knew it would be difficult for him to visit.
The boys are very happy there, and it has been amazing to see the transformation in them. It seems the other kids have really taken them in with open arms, and there is a special attachment with Krupa as she doesn't go to school, and they had spend quite a bit of time with her in the first few days before they started school. It is really cute to see how sweet and gentle they are with her. It is hard not to love her, but you never know how kids will treat someone with disabilities.
We recently attended the orphanage's annual Christmas celebration, and Harinad, who is somewhat difficult to get close to...who will barely come close enough for you to shake his hand when you arrive, etc....ended up on my lap, seeming a little uncomfortable at first, but moved closer and closer back as we watched the performances. At one point he was clapping and singing, and then it seemed like all of a sudden he laid his head back on my shoulder and was silent. I realized he had fallen asleep, and as the weight of his body fell into mine and was finally fully surrendered to my embrace, I felt the Holy Spirit very strongly in that moment, and felt moved to just prayed for him as he slept. I knew he had been distant due to the trauma in his life, and it almost brought me to tears thinking about this little broken heart that lost both his parents and a sister within a year and a half, and having to leave what was left of his family for a better life :( There was so much noise, and kids kept coming by looking a little surprised he was sleeping, but what I felt is that somehow he just needed true "rest," and through God's love pouring out of me, he could somehow relax enough get it in my arms that night...
I was really fighting back the tears to feel this love pouring out from the Holy Spirit into his little spirit as I prayed...thinking I had lost a daughter to be used in this moment, I had given up comforts, family, and Christmas traditions at home to be with these kids and especially this precious one for this very Christmas celebration. And for the first time, it was more clear than it had ever been why God had allowed Evie to die. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God." 2 Corin. 1:3,4.
Links:
Christmas Celebration Slideshow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T7RoB3vILM
Harinad Singing :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydcXP8M3R8I
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