Greetings to you from my church family! Even though we live far from each other, we are always near through our prayers. Physically we are in all different places, but we are in the same body–the Body of Christ. Thank you for your prayers, love and support. Right now, I am teaching through the Gospel of John at all 5 house churches. I am preaching slowly and simply because 90% of the believers in the churches are illiterate. They never went to school, but they listen to the Word of God carefully and apply it in their life. Today, I am going to share some updates about the work God is doing through me. My English is not good, but I am thankful that Jana, Joni and Pastor 9* correct my newsletters of there spelling and grammar mistakes. Pastor 9* is a great example for everyone. He faced mental and physical persecution alone and no one stood with him.

A Pastor’s Daughter Committed Suicide

Almost 5 years ago, I met with a Pastor named Mani*. He is married and has 4 children of his own and has taken in 3 orphan children. He lives almost 200 miles away from my village in the same state where I live. He has been serving the Lord in unreached villages as we do. Before he became a Christian, he was a cook in a Christian Outreach Center in the capital. There he came to knows Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

A few years later, he decided to do ministry in his village. He left his job and came back to his village to preach the Gospel. He started to share the Good News in his village and God opened the heart of an organization to support him financially. The support was not enough to meet his family’s basic needs. I stayed in his home so many times. That is why I know him very well. He invited me many times to teach the Word of God in his church fellowship. He loved to hear the Word of God taught verse by verse and his church members did also. His financial situation was not good, but he was doing ministry faithfully. 

Suddenly, the government banned his supporter organization and they were no longer able to support him. He borrowed money to buy a cow as a way to earn income. But, a few months latter the cow died. He again borrowed money from another friend to start a part time business. But, the business also failed. He again borrowed more money to feed all of his 7 kids.

By this time, he was in a lot of debt.  The people who lent money to him came after him, demanding their money back. Before this pandemic, he had decided to go to the South to search for a job. But he could not go because the lock-down was imposed in the country. 

When the lockdown was lifted, he did go to the South, and got a job. Back here, at his home, his wife and children were alone and they did not have food. His wife started to work in a neighbor’s home. While she was gone to work, the children would start fighting with each. When the mom would come back from work, her son would falsely accuse his sister for beating him. But in my state, parents always favor their sons. So the mom would scold her 13 year old daughter. 

One day the same thing happened, and the mom scolded her daughter and went back to work. While the daughter was alone at home and her brothers and sisters were playing outside, she hung herself and died. When her brothers and sisters saw her hanging they started crying. Neighbors came and took her down and called the mother and also called the police. But, a Hindu priest saved the Mom from the police case. Then the Hindu priests pressured the mother to cremate the dead body and she had to, because they saved her from police. The father, who had gone to the South for work, arrived home after a 4 day journey. I am in touch with the pastor and encouraging him on the phone. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue Preaching the Word of God In the House Churches!

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth
understanding unto the simple.” Psalm 119:130

In a certain village we have been holding worship services every Thursday for the past 7 years. We meet in a believer’s house whose family is strong in their faith in Christ. The family is facing much persecutions by the community and their neighbors, but they stay strong by the grace of God. Their 18 year old son (who is sitting by me in the photo) is paralyzed from birth. 

Their neighbors say to them, “Why is Jesus not healing your son?” 
They always answer them, “Jesus is the Savior of our sin, healing is not important for us”. 

They always share the Good News with their neighbors and friends. I regularly preach there verse by verse and chapter by chapter. The family is very hospitable. They make fires for us and make us tea and sometimes lunch. This is my very favorite house church. They love to hear the Word of God and they obey the Word of God. Thank God for saving these lives!

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to
fulfill the word of God;”

Colossians 1:25

God’s Word is really so powerful to change the lives of people–even those that are not literate. They had never heard the name of Jesus Christ, but they are hearing. In this village, we are coming to hold house church every week on Tuesday for the last 4 years. They are all illiterate. More than 100 families live in this village. 10 ladies and 3 boys have committed their lives to Jesus. Lots of kids are suffering from malnutrition. I give biscuits to these village kids, their smiles make my day.

Prayer requests:

1. Please pray for Pastor Mani’s family–that they would be strong in their faith in Christ.
2. Please continue to pray for our safety from all kinds of persecution and road accidents. Last month, me and my Dad got in three accidents. My hand was injured and my dad’s back was injured, but God helped us recover quickly.
3. Please pray for my church family to be strong in their faith and in the Word of God.
4. Please pray for my church family. Over 50 percent went out of state in search of jobs. After the lock-down, they lost their jobs and a flood destroyed their rice crops. Pray that they will find work.
5. Please continue to pray for my church to be painted. We have not painted it for the last 8 years. Pray that God would help us have the funds to paint it before Christmas.

Thank you so much for your prayers, support and partnership in the Gospel!

God bless you all!

Pastor 11*
*Names have been changed or omitted for security reasons.