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has been replaced by the opposition party.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
