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Saturday, May 17, 2014

Brown's Daily Word - 5.17.14

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name all the earth.  I just got back from India last night after being away on a preaching mission since the 4th of April.  Our team consisted of 6 short term missioners, including Laureen Naik, Andrew Groth, Rob and Ben from Washington, DC, and Dave Coles, who is serving in Indonesia.  It was great thrill and great blessing to be part of what the Lord is doing around the corner and around the globe. 

    The locus of mission and ministry was at  G.Udayagiri, Phulbani District of the State of Orissa.  As I write these notes and reflections they are announcing the General Elections results of India the largest Democracy of the world.  The party led by Sonia Gandhi had governed for last 10 years.  The results show that the ruling party for last ten years has been replaced by the opposition party. 

    Our team Arrived in G. Udayagiri on the 6th of April.  We had a one day youth conference that was held on the 8th of April.  Over 400 youth attended this event.  We saw the young people on fire for Jesus. The Holy Spirit moved in the meeting.  It was an all day event that seemed like a seamless hour full of the presence of the Lord.  A very delicious and full meal was served prepared by the elders of the church.  During the commissioning service many young people came for prayer of commissioning.  Our team fell in love with these beautiful and vibrant, energetic young people.  Many of the young people came daily for a time of refreshment and prayer.  These young people became part of the prayer  team that was called to be the part of the centennial celebration that started on the 11th of April.  The Centennial celebration started on the morning of the 11th with a colorful procession of drums,  trumpets, and praise dances.  The procession proceeded for a half  mile route that led to the Convention site.  The site of the conference was on large grounds in front of the Church.  The whole grounds were covered with very ornate and colorful tents with a very large stage that had room for the speakers, choirs, musicians, and praise dances. 

    Our team was involved in the music, in preaching, and in prayer.  The Lord of the Church granted us His favor beyond belief.  The services began in the morning and finished late in the evening.  The services were filled with lots of music.  The official report was that there were between 18 and 20 thousand people attending over the course of this 4 day celebration.  I had never attended the meetings of this nature except for Billy Graham Crusades back in the States.  The Lord moved in these meetings  beautifully and wonderfully.  There was order and beauty in these gatherings.  Fully authentic Indian meals were prepared and served twice daily.  I was blown away the way meals were prepared and served with so much love, hilarity, and generosity.  The Lord of the Church who fed the thousands orchestrated the feeding ministries.  In one of the meals they prepared 4000 pounds of chicken for curry. 

    The Lord blessed us with His presence and anointing.  During each session people were prayed for, for healing, salvation, and rededication.  The people were sitting on the ground for hours, never getting tired or complaining.  Our souls were full as we joyfully witnessed the outpouring of His spirit upon His people.  The service of celebration was completed on the night of the 14th of May, and the team from the US and Indonesia departed India on the 15th of  May.  The people of the Lord gave sacrificially and generously for the meetings, both for the arrangements and for feeding of the thousands.  Every Christian  household gave 25 kilograms of rice, along with two bundles of firewood  and two packages leaf plates, both disposable and biodegradable.  Besides the gift of rice, firewood, and leaf plates, people gave  money generously.  It took several million rupees to underwrite the entire cost of the event.  Many many people gave an entire month's salary for this event.  Many also gave their entire monthly pension to underwrite this Jesus event.  When I heard about the joyful and grateful sacrifice of His people for the work of the Gospel, I was humbled and moved with deep gratitude.   

    I noticed a great sense peace and order during these meetings.  Though there were thousands of people literally attending, there was no police presence needed.  The Prince of Peace was there to rule over His people.  The people were staying late in to nights in ceaseless praise and worship and holy conversation.  The whole atmosphere was infused with the  presence of the Holy Spirit, casting away any fear or disorder.  I could say, "Surely the presence of the Lord is  in this place".  I had never before preached to such huge congregation.  Due to the move and the presence of the Holy Spirit I was overwhelmed with a great sense of a "Jesus" event.  The Lord of the Church knit the hearts of thousands in to a seamless and joyful praise and worship.   

    I stayed  longer to preach and speak in another Celebration and gathering in a different location.  It was held from April 26-28.  These meetings were also held under huge tents, or pavilions.  Over 4,000 people attended these meetings.  I was reminded of the great tent meetings that used to be held by the Methodist movement back in the United States during the summer season.  It was an amazing and astounding scene for me.  During the second round of celebrations that took place toward the end of April,  individual churches came together as a single unit and cooked their meals like a camp.  You could see the fires going up in the evenings all around the fields.  I felt like it was the Pillar of fire, the very presence of the Lord. 

    I preached twice on Easter Sunday and attended a Sunrise service early in the morning, consisting mostly the youth.  I preached every Sunday while I was in India.  I also visited several churches in the villages during the week.  I preached one Sunday in a church that had been one of the first churches that was attacked during the persecution that broke out in 2007.  Two of its leaders had been martyred there.  One of my classmates, who was brutally beaten, died a few months later.  The church was completely destroyed.  The new church building is under construction.  It is incomplete at this time, so the church meets under a huge mango tree.  I was brought to tears as I  preached in this church that sat on the ground. There were four goats, one dog, one cat, and a few chickens that came by the gathering with out any interruption of the service.  Sunday School children recited memory verses during the service and a group of young girls offered a worship dance to Jesus.   

    The last Sunday I was in India I preached in a house church.  A baby was named and dedicated during the service.  On my way to the States I flew from Bhubaneswar, the capitol city of Orissa, to Calcutta, the city of Mother Teresa.  I spent the much of the day visiting the work of the Gospel in the City of Calcutta.  Due to the lack of time I walked by the mission station of Mother Teresa, but I visited the work of various denominations that run  two large hospitals, 10  English medium schools, and two guest house.  I had a great time with a young pastor and his family.  I was invited for dinner the night of my departure.  I had never before met this young pastor.  He was born after my  move to the USA in 1974.  This young man is pa storing a very large and engaging English speaking church consisting over 350 families. 

    As I traveled in the villages and the cities I notice a great transformation taking place in India.  The Church of Jesus Christ is alive and well.  The economy of the country is vibrant and explosive.  When I was growing up in India there was great poverty and hunger.  I sensed that the hunger is on a decline.  The infrastructure is expanding quickly.  The villages are connected with concrete and paved roads.  Many of the villages  now have electricity and running water.  Almost every family has more than one cell phone and access to the Internet.  As the economy on the upward swing the people of the Lord are giving with great generosity and the mission of the church is furthering.  The total population of Christians in the District of Phulbani is now 27% of the total population.  Many of the young people from Phulbani are are now scattered all over India, sowing the seeds of the Gospel. 

    One my nieces  is a Registered nurse works in a very modern Hospital in Calcutta.  She and her husband met me at the airport in Calcutta and I spent part of the day with them.  My flight was at 3:30 AM from Calcutta.  We left at midnight to go the airport, where I checked my luggage in.  The attendant looked at me with astonishment.  My printout ticket read that my flight was at 23.30 AM On the 15 of May, but the computer reading said my flight was at 3:30 AM on the 16 of May.  I was stunned and prayed. "  Lord Jesus, please help".  The attendant had to consult with his manager.  The flight was fully booked for the 15th of May.   Somehow Jesus came and intervened.  They found me an aisle seat that I had requested.  Usually there are hefty penalty to change an International ticket, but  Jesus did it again.  He showed me His favor and grace.  The Airline official waved any penalties that could have occurred.  My luggage overweighed, but He let me travel with out any overage charges. 

    My flight back home was seamless and beautiful.  Thank you all for praying for me.  The Lord  gave grace and mercy.  My eating habits were changed because of Indian Standard time.  There were days I was eating after 11 PM, but the Lord protected me.  I had no colds, no sniffles, no stomach issues, no headaches no fever.  I walked with one of my young friends almost every day for four miles. 

    I woke up around 5 AM every day after brief devotions to go for a morning walk by a reservoir, by the hills and the mountains.  It was sunny every morning.  The sun rose around 5:30 AM, with golden and bright colors, beaming and brilliant. Hundreds of spring birds sang, making melodious sonnets.  My heart was joyful, my feet were jubilant, and my soul was satisfied.   

    I met literally hundreds of people.  I graduated from High School in 1964, and so   It was my 50 year anniversary of my graduation from High School.  I met some of my High School class mates.  It was in 1974 that I finished my Graduate School, and I had the opportunity to see some of Graduate school FRIENDS.  It was 40 years ago that I left India to come to America the Beautiful.  In many ways It has been a joyful and nostalgic trip to India.  I got see my mom who is in her late eighties.  She has suffered several strokes.  She is home bound, without any physical pain.  My niece and my brother are caring for her.  She is well taken care of at home in Bhubabneswar.  There are two loving and caring women who take care of her daily.   We are grateful to Jesus.   I praise the Lord our church families back in New York for their faithful support and love.  I am grateful to the Lord for wife and family for their unfailing love and grace.  I am grateful to Jesus for you all with whom I am linked through Jesus and His blood.  

    As I was visiting one of the large churches in Calcutta, I noticed a bronze engraving on the towers that lead to the entrance to the church, with the words of our Lord and Savior, "Upon this Rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it" 

Praise the Lord for all His promises.

   In Him,

    Brown

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