Blog

Today, Friday, was the final day of the conference. It was all a wonderful experience. I closed out the final session, followed by the taking of communion. It is all a very dignified exercise. Every year following the communion time, there is a song and then virtually every person in attendance gives a hug to everyone else, you know, the one-side-then-the-other type of hug. It is a joyous time for all. Afterward, when we many of us are out on the lawn area, we are in demand for pictures with so many of the pastors. It is a lot of fun! There were a couple of sobering times today. One of them concerned one of the HMU pastors. Last year, one of the pastors was killed while riding his motorcycle, as a car ran into him. Today his brother and son were called forward for prayer and to present a financial gift to them, collected from the churches in Delhi.

So, I head for home tomorrow (Saturday). I am praying for a safe trip home and am looking forward to being back home! I have included a photo or two of the events of the day. One shows me with  8 of the guys from the Punjab State. There is one of me with Saji with 3 young men from a state in the northeast corner of India. Then one of me with my friend Pastor Sam from Delhi.

 

Thank you again for your love, support, and prayers!!

 

David

Yesterday (Wednesday) I participated in a graduation ceremony for the Calvary School of Harvest. There were 11 graduates, and it was about a 2-hour ceremony filled with pomp and circumstance and speeches and music and more. The grads had gone though a 1 or 2 year program at the school in Punjab, up near the border of Pakistan. It was a privilege to participate, and to give a 7-minute “Mission Charge” to them, as well as hand out gifts after they received their diplomas. Here are some pics of the grads being prayed for and of me with some of them following the ceremony.

 

Also following the ceremony, I met with the HMU leaders and we discussed the establishment of a Pastor’s Training School for India. They believe it is necessary and they want to see it happen. We will keep in touch over the next several months about what we need to do. In principle, initially it would most likely be a mobile school, having week-long sessions for pastors in various parts of India. We would rent a facility that would not only allow us classroom space, but would also house 30-50 pastors at a time. Pastor Cherion, the National Director of HMU, will be sending me information regarding costs. Pastor Thomas, who was a seminary professor for many years, will be in touch regarding curriculum. I think that I am going to need to see about raising funds for this. It is a bit daunting but if it is supposed to happen, we’ll see it happen. And I do think that the costs will be reasonable. We thought about 2-4 sessions per year at first. We are prayerfully considering it all. Here is a photo of me with Dr. Varghese Matthew (Saji) and Thomas. Here is also a photo of the current curriculum for their Bible school 2 year program. We will take a number of these classes and form a curriculum for the pastor’s school.

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OK, thanks for reading. Feel free to comment! Please pray with me about this possible venture. I was reminded that in 2007 I was with them when they laid a foundation stone for the Bible School building in Punjab, having no money to build it. They did it in faith, believing that God would provide. Now, 10 years later, it is a beautiful building(s) and we are amazed at what God has done. I feel the same about the pastor’s school. Last night it was as if we laid a cornerstone!!

 

Blessings,

David

 

Yesterday (Tuesday) was the first full day of the conference. It is held outside of a city called Gurgaon, not far from Delhi. Pastors from all over the north of India are here. The auditorium yesterday was as full as I have ever seen it! I was glad to teach and to talk with some of the leaders. Today I will be participating in a graduation ceremony from the Harvest Bible College in the Punjab state. I will also be meeting with the principal leaders of HMU in order to strategize about establishing a Pastor’s Training Center here in India. The prospect of such a school is very exciting!

I have included a photo of me with Saji, the director of HMU, and a pic of me teaching, with the translator next to me.

Thanks again for the prayers! Keep them up!

 

David