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WORLD MAP SEMINARS IN INDIA:
A Sovereign Appointment!
By Frank R. Parrish
It was
an unusual way for Wendy and I to spend our 26th wedding anniversary,
at 35,000 feet in the air flying eastward on a Boeing 747! But we were
thrilled for the opportunity to be heading to the great subcontinent of India
to host two back-to-back World MAP Spiritual Renewal seminars for church
leaders.
After
traveling just 30 hours (!) we landed in Chennai, India
and were greeted warmly by our friends from IBL Ministries.
Powerful Moment
After
a night’s rest, we were ushered over to the IBL facility where we joined an
enthusiastic group who were concluding a week-long Children’s/Youth
Ministry seminar. The IBL staff asked me to give the concluding message,
which I was privileged to do.
Approximately
half – more than 500 million – of India’s population is under the
age of 18! That fact makes ministry to this age group of strategic
importance, with the potential impact upon the entire nation’s future
course.
As I
addressed the group of more than 350 workers, there was a Holy Spirit-born
sense of divine appointment and timing. At the end of the message, I was
prompted to pray for them, asking those to stand who were willing to fully
embrace God’s purpose and destiny for their lives in reaching an entire
generation for the Kingdom
of God. Every person
stood – and with their hands raised and their eyes lifted, the Holy Spirit
responded to their willing hearts, ministering in such tender grace and
genuine, renewing power. It was a precious and holy moment of commitment
and fresh impartation, for which we praise God. This was the first of many
moments on our trip when we sensed a powerful move of the Holy Spirit
breaking forth in the nation of India!
Dynamic Partnership
We
were blessed to be able to spend the Monday morning devotional time with
the IBL staff, worshipping and breaking open the Word together. IBL (India
Bible Literature) has been a longtime partner of World MAP, facilitating
the printing and mailing of much of our leadership training material to
pastors around the world.
After
the devotional time, we were given a brief tour of the ministry facility
and were privileged to hear of the far-reaching impact IBL is having in India.
Their many ministry programs include orphanages, Bibles for every home in India, and
Christian tract and literature distribution that exceeds 55,000 pieces a day! They have, for years,
conducted a nationwide literacy program for primarily women and children,
using the Bible and lessons from the Scriptures as a basis for the learning
program. More than 458,337 people have completed this program,
with each graduate having received his/her own Bible at the end of the 10-month course and 53,750 people through
Village Literacy Rehabilitation Programme, which
is a 24-month course.
We
were also thrilled to see the new data entry system IBL has developed for
World MAP, since they will now be managing our International mailing list. We
are also indebted to IBL and their staff for the tremendous amount of work
they did to coordinate the two seminars we were about to enjoy in the
country they love and serve so faithfully.
It is
a profound honor to work with this ministry, and to partner with such a
precious and dedicated team as the IBL staff!
A Generation Ripe For Harvest
As we
approached the World MAP seminars, we were cognizant of the fact that India
is at a profound moment in its history. With over one billion people, they
face momentous challenges, even as they are being catapulted into this
modern, technological age.
Among
the greatest difficulties is India’s long history of
Hinduism, and the accompanying worship of more than 300 million gods! This dead religion
enslaves the people to a form of animism, constantly in fear of and appeasing
“gods” to try and earn their way up through levels of reincarnation to an
ultimate nirvana, or paradise.
How desperately they need the truth – the message of hope offered through
the One God and His only salvation offered so freely through Jesus Christ!
As
outlined to us by an astute Indian brother, India’s seemingly
insurmountable hurdles are both spiritual and social. The greatest
hindrances to their progress as a nation are: idolatry and grave spiritual
darkness; the caste system (made illegal in the 1950s, but still a very real
force in Indian society); poverty; the dowry system (which causes much economic
slavery); and illiteracy.
These
problems – and a skyrocketing rise in AIDS cases – pose intimidating
barriers indeed. Yet God is not intimidated, and He is moving in great
power to bring hope to the hopeless in India today! It is estimated
that 5,000 people a day are coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ –
hallelujah! There are signs, wonders and miracles accompanying this move of
the Spirit in many places. We believe this is a critical time for India in which, as previously mentioned, an
entire generation can be gathered into the Kingdom of God.
Let us pray and believe for a Great Harvest in India – and for the laborers
to be released who will glean in this vast field of souls (Matt 9:37,38).
Amen!
A Strong Start
After
our time with the IBL team, we headed south from Chennai along the coast to
the Trans World Radio Christian conference center. It was a wonderful
setting, providing a place of physical refreshing for our first conference
with the 500+ weary pastors who had pre-registered and were already
gathering. (We purposely limit the conferences to 500 pastors for many
reasons, and it unfortunately meant turning many away this time.)
Joining
Wendy and me was Pastor Vic Torres of the Reach Out Ministries church in Hyde Park, New
York. Pastor Vic was part of the team last year
for two conferences in Andhra Pradesh,
India,
where pastors were deeply impacted by his strong, biblically sound and very
practical teaching.
From
the very first meeting, it was evident that much prayer had gone up for
this conference. There was an immediate sense of God’s presence by His
Spirit, and an anticipation of the great things He would do.
Strong
instruction was brought on a variety of topics throughout the three-day
event. Though pastors from many denominations were present, the majority
claimed to be Pentecostal. However, even with that, when I brought the
teaching on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, a large percentage of the
pastors came forward or raised their hands to receive this gift. Many were
baptized for the first time; others received a release of their spiritual
language; and many more were refreshed in this gift.
Later
in the conference, I taught on the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Because
there is much misunderstanding about this subject in the Body of Christ, I
gave a scriptural basis for what the anointing is and also what it is
not.
Earlier
in the day as I was in prayer, I had been impressed that as pastors
received a fresh anointing from the Holy Spirit for ministry, there would
be healings, visions, release and breakthrough for many.
That
night, as an invitation was given, many pastors crowded forward (though I
encouraged them to receive wherever they were). Their spiritual hunger and
desire was overwhelming – and the Holy Spirit’s response was even more so.
As we
began to pray and raise our voices in worship, the Holy Spirit began to
move upon us all in a powerful and demonstrable way. Words always seem
inadequate to convey such sovereign moments to you. But suffice it to say
that it was a mighty time in the Spirit, and all that I had sensed that God
wanted to do in and for these pastors was done – and more besides!
We were
later informed that the Spirit’s work continued on through that night, with
one leader reporting “pastors gathered as groups, praying loudly under the
trees and also in the chapel hall…even the ladies’ section…nighttime and
early morning praying and worshipping individually as well… it was a
revival! We have never seen or attended such a wonderful and Spirit-filled
conference. Praise and glory to God in the highest!” And to that we say a
hearty AMEN!
The
church leaders were truly blessed, edified, instructed and ministered to at
this World MAP conference. It was such a joy to see these pastors in the
final session – who might normally be reserved in manner – raising their
hands as they worshipped the Lord in song and dance, proclaiming the
chorus, “Jesus Is The Name Of The Lord”, first in English, and then in
their native language, Tamil. We really thought the roof might be lifted
off the building!
Your Outreach
We are
blessed to report that your faithful giving provided not only this
conference, but also for each registered pastor to receive their own copy
of The Shepherd’s Staff, World MAP’s 1,000-page hand-held Bible school, and a
certificate acknowledging their participation in this World MAP conference.
You are a part of reaching India for
Christ,
and we thank you on behalf of the pastors whom you have blessed!
Even More Hunger
After
a brief rest, we were on to the next conference 1,000 miles north in Nagpur, Maharashtra state, India. This site was chosen for
its central location, drawing pastors from all over India and
especially from the north. A large number of leaders traveled many days to
participate in this conference.
Nagpur is the headquarters of the RSS, a radical Hindu
organization that is the source for much of the violent persecution of
Christians throughout India.
But this fact did not deter the Indian pastors from filling the conference
to capacity!
We
were told that the average biblical education and exposure to scriptural
principles would be less here than at our previous location. But I believe
this made the pastors who gathered in Nagpur
even more hungry for God and His Word!
Line-Upon-Line Teaching
Pastor
Vic Torres, in his casual, mentoring style, is a true father in the faith.
His many years of integrity in ministry and faithful study of the Word, as
well as his insightful experiences, deeply touched the pastors at both
conferences.
Dr.
Torres taught the pastors about confidence – in their call, in their
position before God, in their relationship with Christ, and in their
ministries. These messages were line-upon-line teachings straight from the
Bible, filled with practical illustrations and application. Such
strengthening and edifying teaching gave such encouragement and release to
these dear brothers and sisters.
At
this conference, I shared lessons from the life of Paul, as well as some
prophetic words the Lord had given me for the pastors of India in this season. I also
taught again on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit – this time with an even
greater response by the pastors than at the prior conference! Many, many
(about 150) affirmed that they had been filled for the first time after
prayer from their fellow Indian pastors who laid hands upon them.
The
following night, I taught on the anointing of the Holy Spirit. God was
faithful to again pour out sovereignly upon us,
and we were powerfully touched with much evidence of the Holy Spirit’s
presence and refreshing.
At the
conclusion of the conference, each pastor received their Shepherd’s Staff and certificate with
gratitude and thanksgiving. The conference in Nagpur was a tremendous blessing to the
pastors, just as the conference in Chennai had been.
“By My Spirit”
At
both conferences, the pastors were so eager to tell us how much they had
been blessed. Of the many comments we received, the ones that stood out most
were those expressing how though the pastors had been part of other conferences,
this was the first time they had been more than instructed – they had also
been personally ministered to and
encouraged in their calling. They were powerfully touched, refilled and refired – and ready to be God’s instruments for this
great hour in India’s
spiritual destiny!
This
is, of course, not to our credit or glory, for all glory belongs to the
Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ. It is not by men’s might, power or
wisdom, but “by my Spirit, says the Lord!” – amen!
We know it is God’s desire to empower His servants for the work He calls
them to. We also understand that the more we pray and invite the Holy
Spirit to come and have His way, the more fruitful these pastors’ gatherings
will be!
Day Of Salvation
The
pastors’ urgent and heartfelt requests for World MAP to return with more
conferences tugged at our hearts. We firmly believe that the Lord will lead
us to India
again. Please pray with us, for God to direct and abundantly provide for
this open door!
We
believe that NOW is God’s time for India! The Gospel has been
present there since Thomas the Apostle in A.D. 52 first brought the message
of salvation through Christ and was then martyred in India.
Through the centuries, other great missionaries like William Carey, Amy
Carmichael, Mother Theresa and many others have sown their tears, their
lives, even their own blood, into that nation. And from this faithful
sowing is now rising a Harvest, a season of sovereign visitation and
ingathering of souls in India.
“Behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Cor 6:2).
Let us
join together in strong and sustained intercession for India in this hour. Let us
align ourselves with God’s desire to gather the people of India to
Himself in salvation, adding a mighty company to those who will one day
gather at His throne and proclaim His glory forever (Rev 7:9,10)! Hallelujah!
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