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20,1997
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Dear Brethren,
Greetings to you in the precious name of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That greeting may not seem so much a trite formula for beginning my news report if one reflects on the fact that I have been in a land where the names of Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, and Lord Buddha are commonly heard. But I have a dream and a longing for the day when only the name of the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit will be uttered by all the people of India, Nepal, and BangladeshOctober 20,1997October 20,1997. My thirtieth mission to the intriguing land of India is now history. God has again blessed our work and given us a great harvest of souls. To God we give all the honor and glory. We are simply His co-workers and feel honored to be used by Him to reach the lost. In the last seven years we have baptized more than 400,000 souls, and have averaged planting four new congregations per day! More than 6,000 native Indian preachers work with us in doing the lord's work. The persistent, lingering question is: Will all these newly baptized souls and new congregations remain faithful? My fellow worker, Ron Clayton, has observed that as with the church everywhere, there are "the goof, the bad, and the ugly". For the most part our new brethren are faithful, sincere, and diligent workers. However, the same characteristics of the seven churches found in Revelation 2-3 are to be found among our brethren in India...as well as in America. One can find those who love the Lord; those who serve even though they are persecuted; those who hold to the truth as a pearl of great price; those who have left their first love; and, those who are lukewarm. It will always be this way because human nature is the same whether Indian or American. The most important thing to be observed about the response in India is to be aware that we are seeing the power of the Good News, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, at work among the most religious people in the world (Romans 1:16). On my thirtieth mission I worked in Bombay, Hyderabad, Amravati, Nagpur, Bipara, Bidar, and Suriapet. Suriapet means "sun city". It lived up to its name as it was 110 degrees and very humid. In spite of such heat, the students in our intensive preacher's training school in Suriapet were most attentive, and we also reaped a good of souls in the surrounding villages. In fact, the work went so well there that I felt compelled to add three days to my shorter planned work of only two days. I cannot describe in a few pages all the good experiences of this work. Suffice it to say that the work is most enjoyable and unbelievably productive to the glory of God. I am grateful to you for your prayers and financial gifts which enable me to do this work. I am reminded of Romans 10:14-15. "How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" We are experiencing the need for a church building as congregations outgrow their homes in which they meet. Thousands of our congregations meet in homes. Most of theses meet in the living room which is also the bedroom and dining room of a two room house. Usually the second room is a kitchen and storage room. We must build a few church buildings in selected areas to help advance the brethren. Just like in the U.S. larger congregations are often in a position to help small congregations so it is in India. Where we have build church buildings, we have seen brethren in turn help to support and build other places of worship. We hope to complete the construction of seven church buildings in India during 1998. To do this we need to raise $30,000. Perhaps you can help...a bag of cement may be purchased for $3.00...10 bags for $30.00. Please pray about this need and do what you can to help our poor brethren to have a place to worship God. An unknown author has written the following:
I look forward to the challenge of our Winter 1998 campaign. Each mission to see the lost calls on all our resources...physical, intellectual, spiritual, and financial... to achieve the winning of thousands for the Lord. Your prayers are needed...travel is very hazardous in India...a concern for adequate financing is always present. But we trust that God will touch your caring and generous heart to provide what is needed. I estimate the Winter 1998 mission to cost $23,000. (I will provide details of planned expenditures in my December newsletter.) I have been engaged in the India work 1978. During this time I have seen the "widow's mite" given. I have also seen the wealthy give their gold in the measure of Abraham giving to Melchizadek (Genesis 14:17- 20). Your gift whether great or small is needed. It is important...and it will be observed by the Lord (Luke 21:1-4). "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15). |
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Remember Paul's word to the Philippians
(4:10,16-17):
I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now a last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity...for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increase to your account. Thanks for praying for the work, for all of our brethren, and for me personally. Thanks also for you financial partnership in the preaching and teaching of the Gospel. Grace and Peace, Jerris N. Bullard, Missionary
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© 1997-2000 John Murphy for the Manassas Church of Christ |
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