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Wesley’s India Mission Report Ii
January 15, 2004
Wesley’s India Mission Report II
January 13th, 2004
Dear Friends:
Greetings from Bangalore, India in Christ’s saving name!
After concluding our three day meeting in Kancheepuram we arrived in Bangalore yesterday. We estimate that 5 to 6,000 people came to the meetings in Kancheepuram. God showed his power over lost souls and ailing bodies. Over the course of three days more than three hundred decisions were made for Christ. Some were healed others were delivered but all were impacted by God’s truth and lives were changed.
Muslim man trusts Christ and is delivered from alcoholism
Pasha, a Muslim man came inebriated with alcohol, he said to me that he wanted to change his ways and become a Christian. I said to him, you are a Muslim, are you sure you want to follow Jesus? He was cognizant to understand my question and make a decision. I sent him to talk with a counselor, a few minutes later he came back to say, “I feel something shaking me, something troubling me. I am afraid.” I knew that the devil had already begun to attack him. I laid my hands on him to pray. God’s power came over him and he fell to the ground clenching his hands and teeth. He fought the forces of darkness and screamed vehemently. I asked several to gather around him and pray. After a few short moments, he relaxed as the evil spirits departed from him. The man woke up as a new man, sober in every way. He left the grounds praising God and promising to come to the church. Wow! This is what is God is doing. I am excited about people like him who are finding deliverance from sin and the clutches of the devil.
Anita is a young lady, about 22 years old. She came forward for prayer. Anita suffered severe pain in her hips, she felt the constant pain even as she sat the meeting and then as she stood to receive prayer. Suddenly as I prayed, God’s power coursed through her back and healed her instantly. She testified to this fact and nearby her another young Hindu girl complained of the same condition. I asked Anita to lay her hands on her and pray for healing. Would you believe this, she too was instantly healed. It was great to watch Anita rejoice over this healing. She witnessed God use her. So, it’s not about me folks, God can use anyone who will believe and act with compassion. Even you, as you read this, believe and act with compassion toward someone near you who needs a touch from God. God will demonstrate his power through you.
Kancheepurum is known for its silk. It is a city teaming with people, cattle and fabric shops and Hindu temples. The city is a stronghold for Hinduism. Living in Kancheepurum is a prominent leader of Hinduism by the name of Shankaracharya. He is one of the engineers of the law against conversions. When he met with the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, he instigated her to come up with a law against Christian conversions. So with this arch enemy of the gospel in the city, many people thought such a meeting would come against some opposition. However, by the grace of God we enjoyed peace and calm. We were protected by the grace of God and found favor with those who could have been responsible for bringing problems.
Truly the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord and He really does have control.
Pastor Moses Nessaiyan and his father were the principle organizers of the “Good News Festival” in the city. The local churches unified and stood together to organize these meetings. It was the first time they were came together in this fashion. It worked favorably as we stood unified against the stronghold of Hinduism. Warren and I are preaching the gospel to a people who are steeped in Hinduism.
In Bangalore and surrounding areas, several Christians have faced persecution. During Christmas season, a pastor and his church members who went caroling were beaten and severely injured. Another pastor was invited to pray in a home. There they beat him and demanded he reveal the names of other believers. When he refused to cooperate they searched his pockets and removed a pocket book with telephone numbers of church members. They reached several of his members and invited them to come to the pseudo-prayer meeting and bound them and beat them as well. Then they took them to the streets half naked, thrust a Hindu flag, put a red dot on their forehead and made them march the streets of the village denouncing Christianity. Finally they gathered in the village center and started a bon fire with the scriptures and their Christian literature, as the fire blazed many shouted, “Burn them as Graham Staines! Burn them as Graham Staines! Burn them! Burn them!” Such is the atrocity and hatred for Christians in some parts of Karnataka. We are conducting two meetings in this state of Karnataka (Bangalore and Mysore). Pastor Kumar also told us of the chief inspector of police in Mysore a few months ago was against Christians. One of his missionaries was beaten by Hindus and put in jail. The response of the chief inspector was callous and deplorable. He said, “If you missionaries convert Hindus, I will burn you guys with my own hands just as Graham Staines was burned, get out!” Pastor Kumar repeated this statement to the Police General in Bangalore, a few days later this police inspector was removed and placed in some remote area. God has already prepared Mysore even as he removed a man in power who was against Christians.
In Bangalore our meetings have been secured by a busload of policemen. The government has seen fit to provide our meetings with high security, praise the Lord!
Preaching in my hometown
We began our ministry here in Bangalore today. Earlier in the day I spoke to over 100 pastors. God blessed my time with them in a mighty manner. In humility many wept over the city, asked God for souls and a passion for reaching the lost.
Tonight I preached at the gospel festival held in my hometown. I stood before them in much fear and trembling. As I shared my testimony, I bore my soul before them. Many of my friends and relatives were in the crowd, and several of them had no idea I lived such a wretched life. A friend of mine I grew up with called me when I reached home to say that he was in the crowd and that God was using the message to touch many lives.
When I gave the invitation more than 50 people came forward to make decisions for Christ. Earlier in the meeting I had the privilege of introducing my mother to the crowd and acknowledged her role in my life. It was a beautiful moment; I had her pray for me before I preached. I also invited parents who were struggling with their children to come forward and be prayed for by my mother. My mother shared that many came to her to be prayed for; their stories were quite moving and hard rending. I have no time to relate all those to you. But we find ourselves touching many lives and imparting the good news. Thank you friends for your prayers and financial support. You are touching these lives even as Warren and I are ministering here in India.
Continue to pray for us as we preach here in Bangalore today and tomorrow (14 and 15th) and then we go to Mysore 16-18th.
Proclaiming the good news of Christ,
Wesley and Warren
Location: Bangalore, India
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