India!

I have not posted anything new here for awhile, but wanted to update you on Tim and Kevin’s travels.  Please read his email below and also the post below this on Orissa State:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Kevin and I have sought a way that we could convey to you the powerful work of God we are seeing firsthand, but words cannot do it justice. It is beyond description to see young men and women shared from God’s Word the value of their walk with Christ, and their roles within the family and the church. Our teaching continues to be reduced greatly as we see the Holy Spirit working though His indigenous people teaching the Word of God. The leaders here say they have NEVER seen anything like this, me neither. Right before our eyes we are seeing the Word, like a “hammer breaking a rock,” break their perceived concepts of family and church as it relates to church planting. I am realizing more and more that our task is more about undoing than doing. Anyway, enough of this, I want to share with you an urgent prayer request.

Our brothers and sisters in Orissa State, India are experiencing great persecution. The past several years they have experienced persecution but as the Gospel and Word spreads like in Acts, the persecution intensifies. A couple of days ago, terrorist kill a prominent Hindu leader and then blamed it on the Christians. The past coupl e of days they have carried his body through the villages to incite the Hindus against the Christians. We were receiving hourly reports until noon yesterday when they cut all communications off. The police have been rendered helpless in this matter. The newspapers have been censored for obvious reasons. Yesterday morning’s paper had a small and brief article on the situation.

This is the last report that we had yesterday at noon.  All the church buildings have been destroyed. They then started destroying the homes of Christians burning their grass huts and blowing up the mortar homes with dynamite. One child had been burned to death, with many other believers being burned. The last report from an Orissa pastor here at our meeting, who cannot go back home, one pastor killed, and a priest was tied to a tree and most church leaders had fled to the mountains and jungles to hide. This pastor’s wife and sons are back in Orissa State and he is really hurting.

The good news, this will only work to spread and expand His Church. Last year a pastor in Nepal shared with Dale and me how they had burned their church building and homes about ten years ago. As a result, they scattered and one local church of about 60 people became over 30 churches of va rious sizes and locations. I would like to tell the Hindus and BJP authori ties, if they want to destroy the church and her power, treat it like we do in USA. (Sorry, I could not resist saying this.)

Our hearts ache for our brothers and sisters. So, we weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Please pray for their protection, wisdom, joy and comfort, and of course, pray for their persecutors. India, with more unreached people groups than the whole world combined, probably remains the last frontier for the gospel but God is and Will BUILD His Church. Amen!

In Grace,

Tim and Kevin