"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15)

NEWSLETTER September/October 2005 VOLUME FIFTEEN
INDEPENDENT CHURCH IN INDIA PO BOX 238 FREDERICKSBURG, PA 17026
website: www.indchurch.org email:info@indchurch.org

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Reaching the Lost In India

THE THIRD DAY -The next day was Sunday. We awoke early and readied ourselves for church. The first church we went to was the Vadipatti church, which meets in a small hut next to where the orphanage is being built. When we arrived the saints were already singing praises to God. Although I couldn't understand a word of their songs, I felt the presence of the Spirit of the Lord as soon as we entered the building. A tambourine is their "praise band" - and they alternated between singing and praying. When they worship, it is in spirit and in truth. When they pray, it is with tears of joy and shouts of thanksgiving. Most of the people were at one time steeped in idol worship and sacrifices. Now they have been set free by the blood of Jesus. Their worship and adoration of Him shows how grateful they are for His salvation.

One of the believer's at the Vadipatti church who has been delivered out of idol worship is praising the Lord.

I delivered a brief message of hope, trying to convey that the church in America did care about their suffering and that we would be praying for them and supporting them. I'm not sure if I was trying to convince them, or myself. I found myself thinking about our churches of luxury in America. We would never dream of sitting on the floor as the people in Vadipatti. We get upset if we are visiting a church with hard, wooden benches. We also feel we need all sorts of instruments to worship God. Instruments are wonderful, but God wants us to worship from our hearts!! Yes, God has blessed the church in America greatly. But we are committing a serious sin by thinking that we deserve this blessing more than others. Our greatest blessing will be when we finally open our eyes to the sufferings of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world, and start sharing our possessions with them. We have so much to give. How dare we keep it all for ourselves!

We left the Vadipatti service before it was ended to go to the church in Dindigul. There also the presence of God was very evident. I was then asked to give the message and again I tried to give a message of hope to the people. I especially spoke to the young people, challenging them to live the life that God has called them to. I told them it would not be easy to live for Jesus, especially in India. And that they would have to take up their cross every day and carry it. But oh, so great would their reward be in heaven! There were many tears shed at the Dindigul church. And of course following the service, people came one at a time for prayer and laying on of hands. We spent close to an hour praying for each and every one. It was exhausting but thrilling to be part of such a great movement of God
A child worshipping the Lord with her whole heart at the Dindigal church.