Our worship was quite different from that we experienced in Wisconsin the week before. However, the message was the same assurance of forgiveness of sin in Christ alone. In a village church (full with worshipers) Pastor Koenig provided a great picture of belonging to Christ using the fish symbol – IXTHUS. Young and old learned how early Christians shared their mutual faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and Savior. Rev. D. Paul Bakthavachalm interpreted into Tamil for the local members.
After the service we traveled to the homes of some of the local pastors and visted with them and their families. Pastor Koenig and Pastor Ude have already met with several of the 526 BELC pastors in recent months. The visits are to encourage them in the Lord work, and learn more about them and their families along with any prayer concerns they may have concerning their own lives. The concerns are many; from health issues like pneumonia, kidney stones, bad backs, children needing glasses or operations, and one wife who had been bitten by a cobra. Your fellowship in Christ joins you to these pastor’s families and their needs. Your combined gifts of prayer and resources are gifts from God as answer to their prayer.
Those first visits for us on Sunday were then followed by more of the same both Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday we took a break to look for an apartment. One of the four we looked at appeared nice and is closer to Matthew and Vanessa’s home.Thursday and Friday we were back to the visits. My 58th birthday included a day of dodging countless cars, trucks, busses, animals and people. The distractions are many, but the work is sure and certain. For the message these men proclaim is the assurance of life everlasting.
Visits to the pastors homes in the villages are a real joy as I am just begining to learn about how these men serve in the kingdom work with much struggle. Many serve more than one congregation proclaming the good news of forgiveness. They are continually reaching out to lost souls following after false gods with hopeless works. The VBS reports reveal how the outreach of these pastors and their congregations goes beyond the members to include many children who would otherwise have no hope without Christ.
These pastors are busy with weekly Catechism classes instructing many in God’s Word that leads them to a better understanding of His eternal promise. Your providing Catechisms in Tamil, and Telegu allows these Christ-believers opportunity to study God’s Word in their own languages, and grow in His grace.
