Wednesday, May 8, 2024

A Good Time in Sunday School

It might not look like your typical Sunday School class, but in the villages "Sunday School" is conducted wherever they can find the most convenient spot. Apparently, 10 year Moses knows how to get the attention of the girls, his hat most likely coming from Brother Bhaskara Rao, who comes to the village a couple of times a month to lead them. Please continue to pray for the Sunday School ministry, for children to have open and receptive hearts, for their relatives and other villagers to also have open hearts to give their lives to Christ JESUS.

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Night Meeting During Youth Camp

A guest speaker from another state is speaking, with Bro. Prasanth translating into the local language of Telugu. The young people who were staying in the churches for the 3 day youth camp (they didn't go back and forth to their homes) are in this night meeting, along with many other believers from nearby. Pray for our young people during these summer holidays, that they will not simply be roaming here and there with bad friendships, but will draw near unto the Lord.

Monday, May 6, 2024

3 Day Youth Camp

May is normally the hottest month of the year in southern India, and summer holidays for most of the children is from the latter part of April until the 2nd week of June (about 7 weeks total). So this short time is a good opportunity to have some extra meetings and excursions with the children we are working with. There was a 3-day youth camp (all ages, but more focusing on those from about 12 and older) in one of the local churches from April 29th thru May 1st with a guest speaker from another state. Maybe half or less of these children are ones we sponsor for their education and see regularly; the others we see periodically or they are local children near to the church. Some of the children stayed at the church continually during the 3 days, the boys in one church and the girls in another. We praise GOD that the meetings went well, and surely hearts were touched by His grace!
 

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Suma's 16th Birthday!

Suma is here with her mother on her 16th birthday on April 27th. She's a nice and calm girl, one of 5 children in her home (3 girls and 2 boys). It's beautiful to see them smile, as they have gone through much brokenness since their Daddy unexpectedly had a heart attack and passed on Christmas Eve in '23. We thank GOD for extra funds that came in late 2023, which is helping us give extra for this family. RHM (your donations) is now sponsoring all 5 of the children's education, and helping them financially each month. The mother is now teaching in a private school also. Please pray for Suma and her family.
 

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

STEADFAST!

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58
 
We are very thankful for brothers and sisters in the Lord who are "steadfast" in faithful continuance of the Lord's work with the widows, elderly, families and children, even though they don't always see the immediate growth or fruit of their labors. They are sowing in FAITH, trusting in the Lord to bring about good results within many hearts. Below is Brother Marthababu teaching some children in one of the local churches. About this number of children (not always the same children) come to sing, pray and hear the Word of GOD each week that he comes to this neighborhood. Please pray for the Lord's blessing upon the children's ministry, both in the spiritual and financial realms.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

The Great Commission, One Family at a Time

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Mark 16:15
 
The above Words of Christ just before His ascension are often referred to as "The Great Commission", the Lord Himself telling His apostles, and ultimately His Church, to go into all the world, preach, and make disciples "of all the nations". Preaching can often take place on a larger scale, but making disciples is often one life, one family at a time. Around June 2021 we met the family below. They had almost nothing, and knew almost nothing about JESUS. They had some knowledge about "God", but very little. They would tell you themselves that they were not truly saved or born again believers. Martha (2nd from the right) and her mother (left) have repented and been baptized, Mary (right) is learning well, and all the family is faithful to attend our weekly services on Sunday evenings. Prem (young man) and his wife Chandrika next to him knew very little about the Lord, but are growing in their knowledge of Christ. Prem also helps us with transportation for our children and families to meetings, as he is an auto rickshaw driver. RHM donations are helping Martha and Mary with their nursing college education. Please pray for this precious family.