Saturday, June 29, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
::A New Hope::
This past week has by far, been the most stretching, strenuous and exciting week in India thus far.
Craig and I made our way to a district about a 3~4 hour train ride up north to visit some villages.
Through NGO (non-government-association) work, many wells have been dug for believers in rural villages where clean water is hard to come by. It was great to see how providing for the physical need of water (sometimes for an entire village) empowered believers to share about the living water with there neighbors. Partnering with nationals as our translators, we traveled 1000 kilometers over the course of three days, splitting into groups and sowing gospel seed in un-reached villages. Craig, I and two other national partners spent the majority of our time walking through villages sharing with everyone/anyone who was willing to listen. A few times that consisted of sitting down amongst a crowd, playing a tune on the guitar and then sharing the gospel message with un-believers. I have to say, that it is nerve-wrecking at times, just putting yourself out-there, but every single time we stepped out in faith, the Lord gave us the words to say and the boldness to do so.
I was encouraged today when reading the book of Acts by the account of when Peter and John were threatened by the Sanhedrin and told not to preach in the name of Jesus. After many threats they were release and they gathered with fellow believers and prayed:
I have never seen anything quite like these villages in my life. They are agriculture based areas where people often have no electricity, where animals roam freely (monkeys, cows, wart-hogs, goats and giant snakes), where the roads are dirt and the houses are made of dried mud/bamboo and jute. By GOD's grace we were able to engage in many conversations where the entirety of the gospel was shared with Muslims and Hindu's. Along with the verbal message of hope, we distributed many tracks that further explained what it means to follow Jesus. Once we were even invited into a re-habilitation center for drug addicts to share about Jesus. GOD is moving, but there are still many who reject the gospel or just don't know it. Pray for the people of India. For the believers here to be bold and for the lost to turn from their idols and follow the One True GOD.
Craig and I made our way to a district about a 3~4 hour train ride up north to visit some villages.
Through NGO (non-government-association) work, many wells have been dug for believers in rural villages where clean water is hard to come by. It was great to see how providing for the physical need of water (sometimes for an entire village) empowered believers to share about the living water with there neighbors. Partnering with nationals as our translators, we traveled 1000 kilometers over the course of three days, splitting into groups and sowing gospel seed in un-reached villages. Craig, I and two other national partners spent the majority of our time walking through villages sharing with everyone/anyone who was willing to listen. A few times that consisted of sitting down amongst a crowd, playing a tune on the guitar and then sharing the gospel message with un-believers. I have to say, that it is nerve-wrecking at times, just putting yourself out-there, but every single time we stepped out in faith, the Lord gave us the words to say and the boldness to do so.
I was encouraged today when reading the book of Acts by the account of when Peter and John were threatened by the Sanhedrin and told not to preach in the name of Jesus. After many threats they were release and they gathered with fellow believers and prayed:
"Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of GOD boldly"(Acts 4:30~31)Christ love compels us to share the gospel with the lost. And it is this same Christ who gives us the boldness and strength to do so. Many are willing to listen but few are willing to follow. Pray that their eyes will be opened and that they will accept the good news that Christ offers them.
I have never seen anything quite like these villages in my life. They are agriculture based areas where people often have no electricity, where animals roam freely (monkeys, cows, wart-hogs, goats and giant snakes), where the roads are dirt and the houses are made of dried mud/bamboo and jute. By GOD's grace we were able to engage in many conversations where the entirety of the gospel was shared with Muslims and Hindu's. Along with the verbal message of hope, we distributed many tracks that further explained what it means to follow Jesus. Once we were even invited into a re-habilitation center for drug addicts to share about Jesus. GOD is moving, but there are still many who reject the gospel or just don't know it. Pray for the people of India. For the believers here to be bold and for the lost to turn from their idols and follow the One True GOD.
Monday, June 17, 2013
::Praise::
Today has by far been the most fruitful and encouraging day since we have been here in India.
Craig, I and a national partner were able to go in the market place and proclaim the truth of the gospel with many Muslim and Hindu brothers. We were feeling discouraged and tired this morning, but our spirits are lifted. We have five contacts (phone numbers) of people who want to know more about Jesus! GOD is faithful. Please continue to pray for a bold spirit!
Grace and peace
Craig, I and a national partner were able to go in the market place and proclaim the truth of the gospel with many Muslim and Hindu brothers. We were feeling discouraged and tired this morning, but our spirits are lifted. We have five contacts (phone numbers) of people who want to know more about Jesus! GOD is faithful. Please continue to pray for a bold spirit!
Grace and peace
Sunday, June 16, 2013
::Piercing the Darkness::
We have just completed our first week in the land of India. In all my travels I cannot say that I have experienced anything quite like this place. It is a land rich with culture, tradition, and beauty. The traffic is unlike anything I have ever seen! The food is delightful, the History is mesmerizing and the heat is stifling.
In the midst of the positives there lies a sad reality that presses on us as we roam the streets. Many of the people here worship gods fashioned by their own hands and created in their own minds. The words of the prophet Isaiah are quite sobering as we see it played out before our eyes daily. Of wood he says, "It is a mans fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it" (Isaiah 44:15) Despite this, God is truly at work in this place. There have been thousands upon thousands of house churches birthed over the years, but there is still much work to be done. Hailing as the worlds second largest population, India is still largely unreached. Many people falsely believe that every path is a path to God whether it be Hindu, Christian or Islam. They are longing for peace and truth and yet the enemy has blinded their hearts. They sacrifice goats to false gods in vain, hoping that their sins will be forgiven.
Please pray that their eyes will be opened. That they will believe in and follow the One True GOD. That the Lord will guide our conversations and our paths. That we might be bold to share the Truth of the Gospel. That we would have wisdom to discern truth.
I will try to post more regularly. The days have been long, but we are excited to see how GOD moves. He is ALWAYS at work.
In the midst of the positives there lies a sad reality that presses on us as we roam the streets. Many of the people here worship gods fashioned by their own hands and created in their own minds. The words of the prophet Isaiah are quite sobering as we see it played out before our eyes daily. Of wood he says, "It is a mans fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it" (Isaiah 44:15) Despite this, God is truly at work in this place. There have been thousands upon thousands of house churches birthed over the years, but there is still much work to be done. Hailing as the worlds second largest population, India is still largely unreached. Many people falsely believe that every path is a path to God whether it be Hindu, Christian or Islam. They are longing for peace and truth and yet the enemy has blinded their hearts. They sacrifice goats to false gods in vain, hoping that their sins will be forgiven.
Please pray that their eyes will be opened. That they will believe in and follow the One True GOD. That the Lord will guide our conversations and our paths. That we might be bold to share the Truth of the Gospel. That we would have wisdom to discern truth.
I will try to post more regularly. The days have been long, but we are excited to see how GOD moves. He is ALWAYS at work.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
::Our plans/GOD's plans::
I guess sometimes walking with the Lord could be likened to hiking in high mountain ranges. A sun shiny day can change into the fiercest scariest storm you've ever walked through in a matter of minutes when you're in high elevations...It amazes me how often we are so certain of our plans and then GOD suddenly directs our steps another way. I am learning to live as James teaches us to live from a more and more experiential perspective as the months role by this year. It is okay to have plans, but we are to always make them knowing that it is only "if the Lord wills" that we will go here or there and do this or that. Shortly after 1800$ was fraudulently taken from my account, my partner Craig had both his passport and visa stolen. These kind of sudden and abrupt events can very easily knock you off your feet! In the course of these happenings however, the strong assurance that GOD is completely in control has been guiding and encouraging us. It is just as it says in Proverbs 16:9, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
Thankfully I was able to be re-funded for the stolen funds and Craig is in the process of getting a visa again. We have Postponed the departure date to June 7th as opposed to the original date of June 3rd.
GOD has been with us in all these changes and we trust and believe that He has a specific plan in all of this! Please join us in prayer for our hearts to be guided by His love and truth in all we do and also for those we will be sharing the love of Christ with this summer to come to know Him and love Him.
We will be frequently updating this blog with updates, prayer requests, video's and pictures so stay connected~ May the Lord bless you all this summer in all your adventures
titus&craig
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)