MISSION JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2007

Thursday, November 15, 2007 Today is our first full day in Nellore a medium size city south east of Hyderabad near the ocean. A cyclone hit the coast near here several weeks ago, devastating area villages. Many people lost their lives and roads were flooded out, making transportation from the outer regions difficult. This definitely impacted the turnout at the crusade. It is also a special Hindu "Day of Assumption", a day where the stars are aligned just right and they believe it is a good time to get married. So there were many weddings and celebrations today that lasted well into the evening. But probably the most disturbing thing we face this week is a division in the Body of Christ. The Christian influence in this region is primarily baptist, so when they were approached to be part of this festival celebration, their reply was to just give them the money and they would put the event on themselves. When they did not get a satisfactory response to that demand, they called for all pastors and church members to boycott the event. Brother Paul, the music director who recruits area singers to build the choir for the festival even had trouble getting choir members for the event. This is a sad state of affairs within the Body... and unfortunately it does not exist only here in Nellore. If we look closely, we will probably find similar prejudices in our own towns and cities. Do you realize that every denomination came into being because of a church split?! Maybe the choir didn't sing the right songs, or the pastor didn't do communion right, or maybe the carpet was the wrong color... whatever the reason, I don't think that is what Jesus intended. We are to be ONE body... His body... His bride... and instead we are divided by everything from music to worship style, to dress code to skin color. We at Matthew10 believe it is a time for unity in the Body... a time to put our differences aside and worship the one, true, living God. Please pray that in this city, as we continue our time here, that God can bridge the differences and unify this body under Jesus... and while you are at it, maybe pray the same prayer over your community, your church or even your home..

We believe that this unifying festival is the desire of God's heart. A belief punctuated by God's favor as reflected by the headlines of the morning paper. Another cyclone, a big one, had been heading right for us and threatened to make landfall Friday, but it made a sudden turn and headed north and eventually hit Bangladesh. Over 425 people were killed. We were spared and the crusade was saved. We believe that God really wants this event to take place and the festival will go on.

Even without all the obstacles, the first day of the Pastors' Conference usually starts a bit late because many times the pastors have far to travel, some of them by bicycle and so by the time they get registered we are starting an hour or so behind schedule. This is really not uncommon in India. It seems like event start times are merely a suggestion and so they come "fashionably late" to everything. But once they gather the event begins to build and grow throughout the weekend. Today was no exception to that.

This week, the conference was held in an old run down theater adjacent to the festival grounds. This once beautiful facility provided the necessary shelter with pretty good airflow thanks to the few remaining ceiling fans that hung spinning vicariously over the auditorium seating.

The setting did not dampen the atmosphere at all. Our new friends, Lester and Holly kicked off our part of the program as they shared their faith through song. They plan to try to work in some Telegu translation throughout the rest of the week, but the language barrier did not seem to make a difference. Jesus was worshiped and glorified by all in attendance and so the teaching began.

It's amazing how God brings fresh fire to messages that have been preached before. Our pastors are presenting the same information as they did last week to the pastors in Warangal and yet they taught with an enthusiasm and excitement that seemed as if they were sharing these exciting revelations for the first time. Their audience consisted of pastors from various denominations, their wives and the widows of the area. Remember, there are 50 widows that have been praying for this event non stop for the last 20 days. What power God has granted the prayer of the widow.

As CarolMarie made her first presentation to the to the pastors, their wives and widows, the same fresh fire came with her message as well. It is truly amazing what happens to a person when they realize who their are in God's eyes and get a glimpse of the purpose they have in the Kingdom. The concrete shell created by years of rejection, self loathing and hurt begin to crack and crumble like the walls of the neglected building we were sitting in.

We are confident that by the end of the conference God will have done a monumental work in the hearts of all involved.