Mission Trip to Andhra Pradesh 10-18 Jan 13

 We began the first trip of the year with a visit to AP. The team comprised the following: 

• Rama and Jeya
• James Ng and Marilyn Ng 
• Pst John Daniel (10-12 Jan) 
• Suresh from Trivendrum (11-13 Jan)

The objectives were as follows:

a.     One day seminar for church planters and Rural Area Evangelism Leaders

b.     Combined gradation of church planters

c.      Visit to Mudfort slum

d.     Sunday morning service at Rasoolpura church

e     Visit church planters

We departed Singapore on 10 Jan and arrived Hyderabad on 11 Jan at about 1.30AM. Pst Nehemiah was at the airport to receive us. By the time we checked into our hotel it was almost 2.30AM.

About 100 workers attended the sessions in the morning of 11 Jan 13. The speakers included Pst John Daniel, Bro James, Bro Suresh and me. It was a great time of learning and sharing the Word. Somehow the Holy Spirit blended our messages together to a central theme of “Being a fruitful Worker”. We were also pleasantly surprised when the pastors celebrated our 27^th wedding anniversary which also falls on 11 Jan. My wife and I truly praise God for His faithfulness in our lives and for allowing us to serve Him in the field.

A total of 26 students graduated from the three training centres in AP, less the one in Kurnool. Many prominent guests attend the ceremony, held in Rasoolpura. It was joy to see these graduates, rearing to go out to plant churches in the villages.

  

 It was indeed an eye opener for our visitors as they surveyed the appalling conditions in the slum. About 50 children gathered that evening. The youths from Rasoolpura led in songs and Jeya shared the story of the Good Samaritan with the kids.  

On 13 Jan we had a wonderful time at Rasoolpura. Bro James and Bro Suresh shared the word. More than 200 people attended the morning service. It was good to see how the members were getting involved in the church ministries and particularly in evangelism

That evening we took a train to Anathapur. The journey was 7 hrs and it was a first experience for James and Marilyn on the Indian trains. We arrived at our destination about 2.00AM.

On 14 Jan morning, we visited the work by Pst Giri a 5th Batch graduate from the Great Commission Training Center (GCTC). Pst Giri is 24 years old. We visited his work in three villages. People gathered in homes for the services and the number is growing. We give 3 water baptisms in a canal in Kothapally Village. We were humbled to see how the people loved the Lord and worshiped Him in simplicity. That afternoon we were treated to a special lunch in the field under the shade of trees. What an experience.

Later in the evening we visited another church planter, Pst Savrappa who is from the 6th Batch, GCTC. It was a long travel on undulating sand tracks, deep into the interior. If not for the head lights of the vehicle, it was pitching dark. Later in the evening we conducted a gospel meeting in a village called Bochupally, which was attended by more than 150 people. Many song items were put up by the children in the village. I shared a gospel message and many accepted the Lord. Praise God.

On 15 Jan we visited the work by another church planter. Pst Samuel is from the 3^rd batch, GCTC. We visited three villages and shared the Word with the people who were gathered in the homes. That night we had a gospel meeting in Thadipathri. In this village the members had put up a temporary shed for worship. They raised their own funds for the shed. We were delighted to see how these young church planters are trusting God and raising their own funds for the building projects. In fact they have already laid a foundation for a permanent building. 

That evening more than 200 people had gathered from the meeting and there were many new people. Again I shared the gospel message and many made a decision for the Lord.

On 16 Jan, we visited the work by Pst Das in Kurnool. It was a two hr drive from Anathapur. Pst Das and his friend Samson have pioneered work in eight villages. They have raised money on their own to build two new churches in the nearby villages. It was really heart warming. Our church planters are “not just receiving but giving”. That night we had a meeting in the village where PEC had built a church for Pst Das in Nalapuram. More than 300 people had gathered for the meeting and their church was too small for them. Bro James shared the message and many responded to the gospel.

That night with a satisfied and a full heart of thanksgiving we made a four hour drive back to Hyderabad. We met all our objectives. We are satisfied with what we have seen. The work is growing and the church planters are working very hard in the field. More importantly, the church planters are learning to trust God and rasie local funds rather than from a outside source. The support given by PEC and its sponsors was not in vain. Praise God.