Well, we certainly have been enjoying the mild weather on this trip. I joked with Josh that it almost feels wrong that we don’t have to suffer through the grueling heat as we usually do. The reason we can so early in the year is because from mid-February through mid March the students have exams, so its not a good time to conduct crusades because it needs to be quiet for their studies. Right after that, they move into a major election season through the end of April and they won’t allow any public demonstrations, which would include our crusades. So, rather than come in May when it is 120 degrees, we decided to come in early February. I can’t believe I haven’t come at this time before.
On Wednesday, we had a private ceremony with some pastors and leaders from an Indian Christian college in a church downtown. There were about 30 or so people in the room. The Indian government will only recognize marriages performed by a licensed minister within a certain diocese, so Caleb and Josh and a few other pastors have always had to pay a minister to come perform weddings as well as burials. They received certificates licensing them to do weddings and funerals at this meeting. Also, Cale and Josh both received degrees from INA Theological University. We were blessed to be able to witness the event.
In the evening, we had our first crusade in the slums. Its always a difficult thing to go into these areas a
nd see the living conditions that people endure every single day of their lives. As soon as you step out of the vehicle, you are greeted wit
h the strong, unmistakable smell of human waste, and you have to watch your step as you navigate through the streets because raw sewage runs freely through the road. As you look around and process the level of dire poverty, you see the bright, vibrant excitement of the children, contrasted by the long years of hard living written on the faces of the adults. It’s hard to look at all the beautiful children, so full of youth and enthusiasm, and know that they have a tough life ahead of them.
Thats why the gospel is so important to bring to these people. We get to walk into a situation where there is no hope and offer them the hope of an eternal life of blessing and pleasure beyond their wildest dreams. We offer them the chance to go from being the lowest, untouchable caste, to becoming a son or daughter of the most high God of the universe, with an inheritance that eclipses any earthly riches that they could imagine. Its difficult to express to you in words how badly these people need the transformation that comes from the power of the gospel. You recognize real soon that no amount of money could fix the problem of poverty. These people need to have their minds transformed. Only Jesus Christ can bring that sort of renewal and change in a life, and only Jesus Christ can offer salvation from sin and the promise of eternal life.
The stage was set at an intersection of the narrow roads, and there were rows of chairs lined up one of t
he streets. The stage was quickly surrounded by curious onlookers once the white people showed up, and soon after three young girls performed a dance on stage that really drew in a crowd. Then Bill Garrity shared briefly on the promise of heaven before Billy K deliver
ed the gospel to them. At the altar call, most of the crowd of 80 or so people stood to their feet, with their hands raised high towards the heavens and called upon the name of the Lord. Afterwards we encouraged them to join the local church and follow Jesus Christ with all of their hearts, and we laid hands on and prayed individually for each of them.
Its always a special blessing to go into an area where you haven’t been before, share the gospel with total strangers, and see the power of the gospel as people hear the truth of the word of God and embrace it.
We have a full plate of ministry on Wednesday, so expect a longer report tomorrow.
Thank you for your faithful prayers. We are watching the Lord do some amazing things.