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PERSECUTION IN PAKISTAN

PERSECUTION IN PAKISTAN

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Our brother from Pakistan reports:
One of the brothers from Peshawar was kidnapped with his two physical brothers and 15 friends when they were having a thanks giving prayer meeting at one of their friend’s house by the Taliban on the 21st of June, 08.

When they were kidnapped, most of them had a lot of fear in their hearts because they were all taken to the caves in the tribal area and were told not to talk to each other and even not to come out of the cave without their orders. While they were inside the cave, they heard the Taliban activists who were there as guards were talking about slaughtering them all. These talks really filled every one with fear and they all started thinking about their families and children. They were afraid that they may never see their families.

But this brother said that he kept praying with faith that God can do a miracle and can release them from there. And early in the morning he had a dream that these people who kidnapped them coming and telling that they are releasing them and also dropped them in the city. Exactly after two hours, the Taliban activists came and told them that they are releasing them and all of them should go and sit in the car so that they can drop them in the city and release them.

Last week when the national leader of our Church visited Peshawar church and met this brother and asked him about the incident, it was very encouraging to see that the faith of this brother and his family is grown so much more ever since he went through all these incidents.

Amazing Testimony

Amazing Miracle by God
"My name is Malarvili.P. I was 21 years old when I got baptized in 1991 -
Bangalore Church. I was Invited by Cindiana Cruz and Jayasheeli in the month of February 1991. They studied the Bible with me. Though I was from a
Protestant Back ground, was very convicted of the fact that I was not a disciple. It took couple of weeks for me to acknowledge my sins and then convicted by Cross got baptized on 17th March, 1991. Then I was working as
a Typist in High Court. I come from a very traditional christian back ground. I had 3 younger brothers. My dad was an Auto driver.

Me becoming a Christian was not very much accepted by my dad as he didn't like me going out and evangelizing and attending meetings in the evenings. So, almost every day I would get scolded by my dad for practicing my faith. There were few days I have had discussions on what the Bible says etc. with my dad. He would tell me that I am not obeying the parents as the Bible
says. I used to show him Luke 14:23. But the arguments would go on and most of the days to a point where my dad would scold my mum for the way how she has brought me up. Every day living a christian life was a night mare for me, because my dad being drunk used to fight every single day with my mum and me. Life went on......Most of the days I was scared even to sleep
at home thinking that he might kill me. All that I was able to do was to pray to God.

During all these I kept on reaching out to my mum and she became a disciple in 1994. After that my mum started fervently praying for my dad and my brothers. One of my brothers, Sathish nd his wife Beula became disciple. Subsequently my youngest brother Suresh became a disciple in
1997. I started fervently pray for my dad to become a disciple. My mum and I have fasted and prayed for my dad many times. Life was not that easy for my mum and brothers. In the meantime, I was married in 1995 to Dr.Ashok Kumar Prabath and had our daughter "Saranya Kezia" (1998).

My dad's life took a turn for the worst. He kept on getting drunk. His day schedule changed. He used to get up by 4.00 a.m. and go to bed by 3.30 p.m. or 4.00 p.m. If at all he gets up from his sleep in the evening he needs to have a drink. He had fallen on the road fully drunk; people who
have seen him brought him back home. My mum was faithfully serving through these tough years but kept up her faith continuously praying for him. I kept on advising him whenever I visited him, and I kept him in my miracle prayer list year after year. Couple of years ago he started studying the Bible, but didn't accept Jesus Christ as his Lord. Few more years passed by. In these couple of years God protected my dad because he loved him. Once when my dad was asleep, the ceiling fan fell just next to his head. He was saved!! We praise God what He did. Another day, dad got up in the evening went off to have a drink, didn't come home till next day
morning. Later, we found out that after his drinks the previous night he kept walking almost 10 kms looking for the house. Only in the morning he came to his senses and came back home by auto. We see God at work in all these situations. God was so gracious and kept my dad from many other dangers that I have not written here, After many other incidences, in the
month of March 2008 part of his body got paralyzed. Though for couple of days he was positive that he would get better. After that he became into himself. Didn't talk much. His health got worse and became very unhappy about the fact that he was not able to drink and smoke. But in all these days my mum kept on talking to him about God and read Bible to him daily. My dad's
health was so bad and as he spoke very less, we didn't feel that he was ready to study the Bible. All that we could do was pray and the different brothers from the Kanakapura ministry kept reaching out to him. Slowly he came out of his depression, his health got better he was still bedridden. In May, when the my mom and brothers asked him about studying the Bible and
changing his life, he immediately accepted. Confessed all his sins, apologised to all of us for the troubles he had created, he also apologised to his own brothers with whom he had a difficult relationship and got baptizedon 11th of June 2008. He getting baptized was literally a
celebration in our house.....but I believe it was a celebration in heaven
too.

In all these, we see God answering our prayers. We literally saw God at work. He is the only one who can change the heart of people. Praise be to God. Thanks to all the brothers and sisters who continuously prayed for him
and helped him.

In Christ

Malar.

Fund Raising Event

Fund Raising Event
It was an exciting day for the Church in Bangalore. We met in the Mount Carmel Ground for the worship service and had a Cricket and Throw Ball tournament for raising funds for the upcoming 20th Anniversary of the Church.

8 Teams of brothers played Cricket with great spirit and Central team won against South in the finals. East sisters won against Central in Throw ball finals.

Many brothers and sisters set up food stalls to raise funds for Church anniversary. It was exciting to enjoy the day long fellowship and games. Here are few snaps from the day.

Good News from Bidar

GOOD NEWS FROM BIDAR
EZEKIEL’S STORY
Ezekiel a young 19year’s old disciple is studying P.U.C. II Year Science. He was invited to the church in October 2007 by Robert who is a Disciple. He came to the church and studied Bible in the month Feb 2008. He learned his life was without Christ Jesus and he understood he needs forgiveness from the Lord Jesus Christ and got baptized on 1st march 2008.

He was very timid, shy, insecure and not confident when he came to the church and he was not used to fellowshipping with anybody because of his insecurity.

One of the incidents on one of the occasion, we asked him to come and join with us for a taking a church photograph, but he ran away from us was unable to join with us because of his shyness, later on one of the brothers encouraged him and brought him for a photo session.

Even if we fellowship also he used to withdrew from us. He was comfortable with few people like, his family and those who studied bible with him.

But after becoming a disciple, by the power of Jesus he got transformed totally from what he was, we are amazed by his changes in his life. He became bold, confident to talk to anybody. He does Bible studies with new visitors. He gets involved in many responsibilities of the church. He leads songs boldly, translates message from Hindi to Kannada does announcements and fellowships with all of us.

Personally his mother witnessed his transformation. Through him and by the help of God, his sister Rebecca and mother Rajamma got baptized and younger brother and father are coming regularly to the church. His father helps the disciples in times of need.

His father attended one of the marrieds’ meetings and got inspired and convicted by the message and helped his wife in her household work. He personally shared about it and we are hoping that his father and brother will soon be disciples of Lord Jesus.

Whole church and his relatives are amazed looking at him .We are grateful to God for His wonderful miracle in Ezekiel’s life.

God proved once again that nothing is impossible for him by choosing Ezekiel and turning him to be his instrument. He is doing spiritually well. To God be the glory Amen.

Response from Douglas Cruz

I was redirected to this blog site through an email I received from Jerome in Chennai. It is absolutely wonderful to see the way God is blessing his church in Bangalore and even more so in the East region.

I remember meeting one of the first converts who lived in 'G' quarters of HAL colony in December '86. Through him we started a family group in the 'East' of Bangalore, which was considered 'way out'. Well Dorris didn't think so 'cause she and many others followed to grow into the present 'East Region'.

It's good to see Raj sharing about the the past yet even more exciting how the Lord is working in the present and building for the future. You are all an inspiration and an upward call to me.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the 20th anniversary service and share a few blessed moments together.

Keep the flame burning, sisters and brothers of the East Region...

With love and prayers.

Douglas cruz

July 11, 2008 3:39 AM

Prayer Requests

Please pray for the following people who are sick.
1. Murugan's (Ramamurty Nagar) Father and Mother are admitted in Bowring Hospital.
Please pray for healing and for them to become disciples.
2. Vennila Aunty (K.R Puram) is admitted in St.Johns for surgery.
3. Ruby Santhakumar (Whitefield) is suffering from Typhoid

Pray for the following people studying the Bible
1. Raju
2. Dr.Ajay
3. Nandini
4. Anitha
5. Vidya
6. Vennila
7. Divya
8. Sajitha

20th Anniversary

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we are approaching the 20th Anniversary celebration of our Church in Bangalore, we request all of you to do your best to bring as many of our brothers and sisters who left the fellowship in the past on 23rd and 24th of Aug 08. Mission Team members will be present for the get together of all 'Old Christians' at memorable place 'YMCA HALL' on Nurputhunga Road near RBI, opp. St.Martha's Hospital on Saturday 23rd Aug '08 at 7pm. Please fast and pray and follow up on as many people to come on 24th also. Please pray that through this amazing celebration to glorify God, we also see many people being restored and saved.

Good news of June 08

Chain reaction
Sheetal, currently a final year student from St.Anne’s college reached out to Soumya ,her classmate in School .Sheetal who was baptised when she was 15 years old has always been zealous for God & his Kingdom.Soumya visited the church during one of the campus service & she became a disciple in April 2007.Soumya has been really excited to be a christian & through her life her sister Sunitha became a disciple in the same year.
We had a singles retreat in the month of March this year. About 160 brothers & singles from all over the karnataka region attended the singles retreat.Soumya got inspired at the retreat to reach out to many more people .She invited Rovina ,an engineering college student on the way back home in the bus right after the singles retreat .Rovina started visiting the church & she got baptised in June 2008. Rovina’s life has been a great inspiration for many other christians here.From the time she started visiting the church she started reaching out to her parents who are living in Mangalore.Their parents started visiting our church in Mangalore & they are studying the bible.It is heartening to see them to come all the way to bangalore to witness the baptism of her daughter.
When baptisms happen, disciples need to spread apart & should continoiusly preach the word of God.Thats what happened.We have started a new sisters family group being led by sheetal ;Soumya & Rovina are part of the same family group.They have started this group with an obejective to reach out to many more students & single girls in the city of Bangalore.

Good News

Suresh became blind in his young age. But no one could stop his hunger to God . Few months back, Koushik invited him from a bus and the very next Sunday he found his way to Ambedkar Bhavan and since then Prabhu and the brothers from K.R.Puram family group have been studying the Bible with him. Irrespective of his difficulties, he started attending the Mid week meetings also. It was exciting to see Last week he got saved by the Grace of Jesus.

PRASHANTH

Prashanth came from Bidar to Bangalore recently after he lost both of his parents. His brother Dayasagar is a disciple in Hyderabad Church. Prashanth found a job in Banaswadi and from then he had been faithfully attending Church services here. Ravindran and the Kasturi Nagar family group reached out to him and he got saved last week of June.