India Journal
Nov. 3-5 Believers Fellowship Conference/Kota
We are all praying for Steve as he starts preaching the Grace Walk series. Never sure quite how the atmosphere will be. He is the featured speaker-though others will talk.
Met with M.A. Thomas the founder of Emanuel Ministries a gentle strong man of great faith. He is a visionary who has and is believing God for great things. I read a short book about his life written about 10 years ago. Very inspiring!
Having wonderings about why we are here-specifically-is there some special reason.
The trips from the hotel to the conference center are real adventures. The roads are narrow, scooters, 3 wheel cabs, bicycles, people, cow and pigs are everywhere. This rivals any amusement park thrill ride, especially at night. We were constantly just inches away from collisions it is absolutely amazing to me that we never once hit anything.
I had the opportunity to speak 4 times to various break out groups during the conference. Twice using an interpreter and twice in English, though I wonder if all the people could really understand. I spoke on identity in Christ and total forgiveness.
Met a man named Andy who was at the conference to speak. Thought he was a pastor, turned out he used to be but now in business and on the Board of Emanuel Ministries U.S. Connection. When I told him what I did he said isn't that what used to be A.L Williams. He said they were preparing a presentation to seek funding from the A.L. Williams Foundation. I offered to help if I could write a letter, etc.
Later I met with M.A. Thomas and Samuel to discuss my willingness to assist with the foundation presentation by writing, calling, etc. Thomas put out his hand in his characteristic way, looked at me and said, "You must go!" You would have to meet this man or have been there to get the impact. "Ok", I said, "I will go to help make the presentation. I will tell them I have met you, seen your ministry and encourage them to help."
I believe I found one of the reasons Sarah and I came.
M.A. had met with Neal Askew-amazing! I've known Neal for years thru A.L. Williams and was (am) friends with him.
This point of contact was no accident. A month ago I had never heard of M.A. Thomas or Emanuel Ministries. During one of the evening sessions Thomas brought 5 men to the front, introduced them as pastors. Some had as many as 30 churches in various villages. (Small groups of as few as 10 up to 30 or more.)
These pastors have no form of transportation and must walk from village to village. He said the goal was to raise enough from the evening offering to buy 5 scooters , so these pastors could visit up to 5 villages a day as compared to one a day now. (I found out later the entire offering that night was about = to $100 U.S.) These people are generous but very poor. God put the thought in my mind very clearly to pay for those 5 scooters. Before I could find a break to tell Samuel, a pastor, the nephew of the 1st Martyr from this ministry gave his car, another man gave his watch; as Paul said-"From their deep poverty they overflowed with abundant giving."
I told Samuel I would give the men their 5 scooters and they could then give 5 more men scooters. The next night-they brought 5 more Pastors to the front to receive scooters. I believe the ministry planned on getting 5 even if the offering wasn't enough. I believe I found the 2nd reason we came.
