Missions 2009 Update #8

I jumped on the back of Bhushan’s motorcycle for the 70 km ride out to the village of Balireddypalem. It was hot. Very hot. Three people died in the general area from heatstroke that day.

We left the arid inland cities and headed for the coast. We wove between tractors, bull-carts, and behemoth old busses. We had to wait while a herd of goats swarmed around us then moved on. There were green rice paddies, coconut palms, shrimp ponds, and sugarcane fields.

When we arrived, the harvest festival was underway and shrill off-key singers blared from a loudspeaker. Worshipers sat outside on tarps under a party canopy. The women wore saris in electric colors with their shawls pulled over their heads in reverence. The men wore western shirts and eastern wraps at their waists.

Bhushan served as interpreter and we preached from James chapter 1 about not wasting our trials but using them to bring us closer to Jesus. We were both dripping in sweat and the people were having difficulty staying awake. In the pre-monsoon heat, Indian life pretty much shuts down. We kept the message short and ate a meal cooked over outdoor fires.

Two cots were placed under a tree and that is where Bhushan and I ate and rested for the afternoon. We stayed in the village to preach another session in the evening. It was a joy to observe village life for a day.

Once most of the onlookers got bored with staring at the white visitor, the normal routines continued. Old people slept on mats, children made up silly games, chickens and dogs took refuge under our cots. There is no privacy in rural India and it was not unusual to open my napping eyes to find adorable children giggling over me, or three old women waiting to see if I would do anything strange.

That evening the breeze stopped and the heat clamped its jaws onto us. We sat on the stage and watched as the singing crowd doubled, then doubled again. There were 200 present and my familiar old doubts pressed in.

I prayed, “Lord, I can’t think in this heat. I am nothing that I should presume to speak to these people. I don’t know what I’m going to say. Why did I come here? God, I need a miracle.”

There was no energy for superfluous words and we went right to the point. We used white-toothed, beaming-eyed children to act out the parable of the prodigal son. The crowd laughed as we made the son and his father re-unite in a slow motion running hug. All the magic tricks worked except for a hidden rope that slipped down my pant-leg and out the cuff.

The Indians dressed in their festival finery and decorative tea lights strung about created a wondrous atmosphere. The girls wore jasmine flowers in their hair and the boys were freshly washed and reveled in rhythmic clapping. Everybody was ready to embrace whatever entertainment was offered, no matter how unprofessional it may have been. We added the always-dynamic message of the gospel of peace and had a spectacular evening.

The Holy Spirit empowered our words and there was no doubt that, in spite of cultural and linguistic barriers, the goods of how to return to God were delivered. The tribal Hindus who slipped into the fringes of the crowd learned of man’s common sin problem and how to remedy the crisis.

I have come to appreciate how Indian evangelists handle altar calls. They simply tell the people that if they want Jesus, come talk to them after the meeting. This removes the emotional hype as well as the western preoccupation with numbers and verifiable human results. It leaves room for the Holy Spirit to do his work and reduces shallow decisions.

A humble man came and bowed before me and offered a bunch of foot-long green vegetables called drumsticks. It was his way of saying thank you. My doubts from before the meeting evaporated and I realized once again that I have the best job in the world. It is my privilege to tell others the most incredible news anyone could hear.

Keep your money Satan, keep your comforts; nothing you offer can touch what I have.

Be blessed,

JDC--

Missions 2009 Update #7

Friends, Below is a link to a few photos and a video in India. I am preaching most every day and having a great time in spite of the temperatures. It is 119 (46c) in the sun and 100 (38c) in the shade. I stay mostly in the shade. The Christians are beautiful; even when they are mourning. Rufus and I preached at a funeral two days ago. The old man was a believer so it was a delight to proclaim the gospel and send him on to real life. I also had the opportunity to tell of the offer for eternal forgiveness in the courtyard of a Hindu shrine. There were two sessions and in the evening many non-Christians joined the laughter as I attempted my gospel magic tricks. We all had a good time and those seven years old or younger were actually impressed. We had a wonderful meal together and belted out worship music with a large Indian percussion section. In another village, Vavilla, during the worship music, a woman named Sevarapu writhed on the floor in a believable likeness of the snakes so frequently worshiped here. After the meeting they brought her for healing and, thanks to the power in Jesus’ name, she left in her right mind, a lovely new follower of Christ. The children were the highlight that night. They participated with enthusiasm as we used them in skits to demonstrate the parable of the four soils and how we can be rescued by Jesus. Laughter is a universal language. During the worship time, the children fell face downward and praised God, especially the adorable five-year-old girl in the center of the picture. God’s love overflowed from these precious ones. We are experiencing the fulfillment of: Isa 66:18 –Isa 66:21 NIV “And I, because of their actions and their imaginations, am about to come and gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see my glory. “I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the LORD. “They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the LORD in ceremonially clean vessels. And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

Missions 2009 Update #6

Kerala

 

I flew to Cochin city of Kerala State in India to investigate potential sites for starting an orphanage to rescue child prostitutes. Some months ago God put the word Kerala on my heart. That is not much guidance so I doubted that I was using resources correctly by going to a place when I had so little understanding of my purpose or contacts. However, every time I prayed about it I would come back to convicting Bible verses like:

 

Jas 1:27 NIV

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

Lk 12:48 NIV

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

 

Mt 25:40 NIV

The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

 

So with a strong conviction to help the most abused of the world’s precious children, I went to Kerala on faith.

 

Dani and I had visited Kerala in 2007 and we used a Christian travel agent based in Cochin. I emailed my friend Sudha, who is from the opposite coast of India, and asked for the contact information. Sudha sent me the name Jimmy Joseph, but there was no email and the phone number was disconnected. Through an on-line search I found a new phone number and Jimmy was willing to help me but confused as to who our mutual friends were. He did not know any of the names I gave him. Exactly how we got connected remains a mystery.

 

It turns out Jimmy is a God-hungry evangelical Catholic. Sadly, I am not sure either of us would have trusted the other’s denominational labels to forge a relationship if we had known them at the outset. God had to trick us to work together.

 

I explained to Jimmy my reason for coming to Kerala and he was concerned on two fronts. First he feared I would become a target for the many unscrupulous operators looking to make money on clueless Americans. Second, Jimmy wondered if I was another of the many who use orphanage work for sexual exploitation or for making money from donors. I am told the majority of orphanages are in business to make money or bring self-glory.

 

Jimmy kept my reasons for being in Kerala a secret from all, even his boss, so he could prevent thieves from knowing a target was near. He began showing me around existing good orphanages so I could see how they operated. In Jimmy’s circles, he knew mostly Catholic orphanages. As he and I spent time together we began to see into one another’s heart. I saw that Jimmy was a man of unusual integrity and zeal for Jesus. As I prayed over his friends and connected with his spiritual mentors who serve as priests, he knew my intentions were likewise genuine.

 

Next we launched into three days of looking for potential properties, with or without structures, and for purchase or lease. It was grueling work as we drove up and down the coast during the year’s highest heat and looked at nearly 20 potentials.

 

I was getting disappointed as common sense and the Lord’s voice did not line up on any of the properties. All we saw were overpriced, swampy, littered, smelly lots in the slums. Anything nice was way out of our price range. Because of the popular tourist destinations in the famed backwaters and beach areas, the real-estate values are higher than the USA.

 

By noon on my forth day in Kerala, we had nothing and the realtor said, “That is the last one.”

 

We were headed back to the hotel and I was thinking, We need to look up in the mountains away from the tourist areas. We don’t have time to do anything further on this trip. I will use the Internet at the hotel to look for potentials in the mountains. But I can’t say anything to Jimmy because he has worked so hard and now I can’t suddenly change my parameters. If this project happens it will have to wait until another trip.

 

Then I prayed, “Lord I really don’t understand because I am more sure of your call to work in Kerala then when I came, but you have said nothing to my heart about any of these properties.”

 

Jimmy interrupted my silent prayer, “I think we need to look in the mountains. I have not said anything, but my family owns a small property in an area that only received roads two years ago. The original British road slid away 50 years ago and the tourist resorts developed near the new road built in another place. This land is one of the last unspoiled places and perfect for damaged children to heal. There are clean rivers, wild elephants, and electricity has been put in but not yet energized.”

 

I was eager to see it so Jimmy asked me to stay another day. “Sorry Jimmy, I cannot do it. I have other ministry appointments in Chennai and Nellore. It is today, or it will have to wait for a future trip.”

 

Jimmy went to work on his cell phone to see if the family was amiable to the project and willing to let me see the property. The key relative was Uncle George. It turned out George had been away for all the days we were looking in the backwaters and had just landed at the airport. He was 17 kilometers ahead of us and headed to the mountain property himself.

 

Over the phone Jimmy explained my ministry and interest in helping children. He told George of the blessings we had already received from the priests and Catholic leaders. George was favorable to meeting me. He abandoned his taxi and waited at the roadside. We picked him up and all headed up the mountains together.

 

During the four-hour trip, we went into mist-cloaked mountains covered in palms, mahoganies, and rubber tree and tea plantations. Wild flowers and waterfalls became frequent as we rose above the jungle heat. The paved road ended and we transferred to a Mahindra (Indian Jeep). After driving through a river that had boys laughing and swimming in a deep pool, the truck bounced up to the family property.

 

Now I had an internal struggle. The general area was perfect, but the property was too steep and small for much use. I realized I was being too picky and bringing my western expectations into the decision.

 

I prayed, “Okay Lord, you clearly have your hand on these circumstances, so with your help I will accept this property and make it work.”

 

We met Jimmy’s family in their humble trailside house and then had to leave on account of the coming nighttime. On the way down, Uncle George asked me, through the interpreter, what I though about the property.

 

I was silent a while then gave him my true concerns. Right off he said, “There is no reason you have to use our property. I know of another place close to ours that is more lever, bigger, and in site of the river.”

 

He even knew the price to buy the other land and it was well within our budget.

 

It was now too dark to go back, but George went on, “Use our place temporarily and move to something more suitable when you can. I will help you find the right one.”

 

The results of this trip are:

 

·      New friends in Christ; some of whom can serve as board members for the orphanage trust.

·      A viable, healthy, and rare location.

·      God’s clear provision for continuing the project.

 

I arrived at the hotel at midnight and got up at 2:30am for the flight to Chennai. Outside I am exhausted, inside I am energized.

 

 

 

 

Missions 2009 Update #5

Dear friends:

There is a change in plans. Dani’s MS is acting up and so she is flying back to the US with Steve and Denise. She will be with our son and daughter for mother’s Day and spend time with family.

I will travel on to India and spend five weeks in ministry in three locations. India has been making the headlines with record-breaking temperatures reaching 112, so it is a good thing Dani will avoid that stress.

As we close out China, let me touch on a few recent highlights.

· The pastors held another monthly prayer meeting last week and 20 were present, including two churches that had not previously attended. I felt led to stay away, but heard great reports of the continuing love, unity, and bold plans for the future.

· After our conference of two weeks ago, my Korean co-speaker, Pastor Chong, traveled to another city in northern China for a pastor’s conference. Over 70 pastors came together and there was a great anointing from the Holy Spirit. There were healings and one man paralyzed since childhood stood and marched about praising God.

These miracles are ancillary to the bigger miracle of first-time unity between underground churches and the move of revival. God is clearly at work in China.

· Dani and I had the privilege of counseling several who are seeking the truth of Jesus. One was an Indian medical student we will call Meeata. She was raised Hindu but last year she was told about Christ and began to investigate his legitimacy.

“Every time I try to read the Bible or pray, I have nightmares of snakes coming to kill me. I expected peace from Jesus, not turmoil, so I stopped following him.”

We read 1Cor 10:20 to Meeata which says:

“No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”

Then we explained how the Hindu gods are really demons and they do not want her to follow Jesus so they are trying to scare her away with dreams.

For Meeata’s entire life she has been told that the Hindu gods are good for her, so it means a major change for her to realize they are demons. In the end she agreed to pray to Jesus for 40 days and ask him to reveal himself in some special way. She eagerly agreed and wept freely as we prayed over her.

She seems close to a decision, so please pray for Meeata. God knows her real name.

· Another special girl was Ann. After I preached last week from James 5:16 about the importance of confessing sins to a fellow believer, Ann made an appointment with Dani to unburden her soul. Ann knew she was already forgiven by the blood of Jesus, however, she longed to get out from under the power of her secret.

After counseling with Dani, Anne said, “When I was baptized one year ago, I only did it to please my boyfriend. Should I be re-baptized?”

After her false baptism Anne later received Christ but knew she had not been truly obedient during her baptism.

I explained, “When you first trusted Christ, God saw the change in your heart and that day became your spiritual birthday. Getting baptized again will be much like what happens with a couple elopes but later decides to hold a formal wedding ceremony before friends and relatives.

“You made a private decision, now you are ready to go public and announce to all that you are united to Jesus.”

I asked two elders of Anne’s home church to exercise their anointed authority by helping with the baptism.

I said, “We now baptize you in the name of the Father…”

One of the elders said, “and the Son…”

The final elder said, “and the Holy Spirit.”

Then there was a bit of crowding and confusion as we all three helped to pushed Anne under the water in a neighbor’s bathtub. The girl would not fit in the tub so she had to scrunch her legs against her chest while an elder bent her head sideways so she could go under the water with barely an inch of water washing over her face.

I had to hold in my laughter to maintain the solemnity of the moment.

Anne came up beaming, knowing she had made the right decision.

For India, please pray:

· For guidance on how we can help child prostitutes.

· For wisdom to minister in the face of many needs to the right people at the right times.

· That I might serve from a position of repentance and dependence on Christ.

Blessings and Joy,

JDC--

Missions 2009 Update #4

Much Loved Friends,

Over the weekend we have been busy preaching in two cities and God is blessing much. On Sunday we had four baptisms in a portable contraption that allows the sacrament to be completed in private quarters.

We had to blur the faces of these new additions to God’s amazing family; however, in the eyes of Jesus, each face is crystal clear and much loved.

On Sunday, Dani was home with a bad cold. Steve and Denise went to a different underground church and brought two unbelievers they have been praying for and witnessing to since they arrived in China. Last night these two also accepted Christ.

Lot’s of fun going on this side of the planet.

Joy and more joy,

D & D