Blog

The 3-day conference outside Delhi has ended. Once again, what a privilege to be a part of such a significant event! It was my pleasure and honor to teach at about 5 or 6 sessions. It was also great to see so many familiar faces and spend time hearing about what is happening in their cities throughout the north of India. A couple of highlights from the final day were:

Hearing that HMU now has a ministry to the blind, in the state of Maharashtra. This is something new for them and I am glad to hear that they have ventured into this needful area of service.

Hearing from the wife of Pastor Sanjay, the leader who passed away last year. I have attached a photo of her and her daughter.

Being given the very first copy of a Pastor’s Handbook published by HMU, explaining to the young pastors how to conduct weddings, funerals, baptisms, and much more. (I wish I had had access to one of these as a young pastor!)

Talking to a 60 year-old pastor whom I have known since I began coming to India. He is ready to step out and begin something new, after leading his church for 18 years. He was thrilled to hear of the transitions going on in my life, so he wanted to speak with me and pray with me. He is very excited about what the future holds for him as he moves ahead in his life.

Seeing all the women who pray for all the pastors of HMU and for the conference. They know all the names of all the pastors, the names of their wives and children, and have devoted themselves to constantly praying. What an honor to see them!

I have also attached a photo of the graduation participants and the group who attended the conference.

Tomorrow, I fly to Kathmandu, Nepal.

Today is called Holi in India, and this is where everyone puts dry paint on each other. I can hear the music outside and see the multi-colored faces. Pretty crazy!

 

Thanks for all the prayers! 

I arrived in Delhi on Tuesday morning at about 3 AM, got to bed at 4 AM, and awoke 2 hours later. After breakfast, I was then transported to the conference site where I saw lots of familiar faces. This year, HMU, the organization with which I work, was unable to bring many of the pastors from distant areas due to the lack of finances. Nevertheless, the venue was packed and we had a wonderful day of worship and teaching and interaction I taught the morning session and another one after lunch. In attendance were the wife and college-aged daughter of Pastor Sanjay, one of the primary directors of HMU. Pastor Sanjay unexpectedly passed away last year. In the course of teaching I made reference to the time a few years ago when, after a long day of travel we were taken to their apartment and shown gracious hospitality. It was like an oasis at the end of a very long day. They greeted me following my session and it was good to see them both there.

 

Yesterday, Wednesday, I taught the morning session again, and then we all participated in a graduation ceremony, with 10 graduates from their Bible School in the Punjab state. Also participating was an American pastor from Astoria, Oregon, who is there for the first time along with his wife. The graduates are always so joyful, and most of them will now go out on to the mission field where they may plant churches.

 

Here is one of the crazy things about what I do here. A young pastor from the north of India approached me yesterday afternoon to tell me something. He said that he has had this “burden” on his heart to leave what he is doing and go to another city and plant a church. He said that he had struggled with it and had been confused as to what to do. He’s told me that after my message that morning, it all became clear to him and that he was now convinced it was time to step out, so he is now going to leave his job and ministry in his city and venture forth and follow his vision of planting the church. Yikes! It was a very sobering thing to realize that what I , or any other speaker, may say creates such a bold response. He was so thankful to me for what I had said. I guess that’s why I’m here.

 

I had been fighting a cold but am feeling great now. Thanks for the prayers. More tonight, with a couple of photos.

 

Would love to hear from you!

Wow! The launch of MTI this evening went very well. I was so pleased with the turnout and the wonderful words of encouragement from so many. The presentation itself went about as smoothy as I could have hoped for, with some great questions at the end. Thanks to all who attended and participated. What a great way to begin a new adventure.

OK, now to get ready to leave tomorrow for the 3-week trip. Maybe I should pack . . .