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MISSION FIELD REPORT Beloved Brothers and Sisters Greetings to you in the name of Lord and savior Jesus Christ! It is my great joy to write to you that by the grace our Almighty God, Rev. Jeffrey Larson, Mrs. Angela Larson, Mrs. Sheila Morgan and I had a very successful mission trip to India from April 1st to 15th. I gratefully thank all my fellow brothers and sisters who prayed for and generously supported this mission trip.
Then he said to his disciples, “ The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” As we were out in the mission fields, we also were preaching the good news unto the crowds and we saw a great hunger and desire to hear the good news of salvation. We visited many different villages and saw many unbelievers being touched by the Gospel and they accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Many people were also healed in the villages of various diseases as we laid hands upon them. All glory be to God!
We started this ministry since 1995 with the purpose of reaching the unreached in north India with the Gospel and the Lord has enabled us to enlarge our ministry. Since then, we have extended our work to the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Himachel Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Kerala. Presently 29 native missionaries are working in these states. We have established 23 Churches, one Mission School in the border of Pakistan, a Bible Institute in Punjab and a children’s Home in Jammu Kashmir. Charitable works like distributing food, cloths, and medicine to the poor and needy are another mark of our mission. We could achieve this for the Lord because of your prayers and gracious support, we ask that you would continue to pray and support this ministry. As a result, millions in India will hear the Gospel and be blessed. Thank you for supporting GFI and may God bless you abundantly. Yours In His Service, Rev. Mammen Mathew April - May 2004
GFI 9th General Convention By the grace of God GFI. 9th General Convention was held at Chottepur Village in Punjab during April 8 to 11, 2004. There were large gatherings each day of the convention; Rev. Jeffrey Larson, Rev. K. J. Mathew and Rev. Mathew delivered the message. The praise and worship ministry of New Theological College Music Team blessed people. Many unbelievers were touched by the Gospel and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior.
Baptism Service On April 10, 2004, ten people testified their faith in the Lord Jesus through water baptism. Baptism service was conducted by Pastor S. Thankaraj. We like to praise and thank Lord for His great work. Let us pray that many more souls be added to His kingdom daily.
Graduation Service GFI staff was proud to present the 13 graduates, they were the fifth batch from the GFI Bible Institute. They were awarded graduation certificate in Christian Ministry by Rev. Mammen Mathew. The graduation service message was delivered by Rev. K. J Mathew. Graduate students were also awarded bi-cycles as our token of appreciation. These graduates will be send to the new mission field. Peter, one of the children that we have been raising for nine years in our Children’s Home, also graduated and we are now planning to send him to another Bible college for further education. We are currently praying for supporters for these newly graduated students so that they may be sent out into new mission fields. If you want to be a sponsor please write to us , we will send the details about mission field and the missionary.
FEBRUARY 2004 New Mission Field - Phillaur Pastor
Sabu Jacob & family were sent to a new mission field at Phillaur, Punjab on
Jan 26, 2004. He has a great passion to work among the people who are
destitute
Gospel Meeting at Dargabad
New Mission Field in Mattuwawal Village Pastor
Jovinda Singh came from a Sikh background,
Graduation Service
Worship and Witness A
sense of worship and witness should lie at the heart of every Christian as the
Psalmist writes in Psalms 96. The author of this Psalm, possibly David as
it closely resembles David's hymn of praise in 1 Chronicles 16:23-36, is giving
us a So let us worship the Lord by giving the Lord the glory due to His name (v8). Since God's name is above every other name, and since He is our Redeemer and our Creator, His name alone is to be glorified. As He says in Isa 42:8, "I am the Lord, that is My name; and MY glory I will not give to another." Those who worship the Lord are to worship "in the beauty of holiness" (v9). Notice that holiness is beautiful. Paul says, Jesus cleanses the church "that He might present it to Himself as glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Eph 5:27). Since the Lord our God reigns "the world is also firmly established." The power of chaos and evil cannot overcome His creation, which He continues to uphold "by the word of His Power" (Heb 1:3). Jesus is Lord (1 Cor 12:3); he reigns now at God's right hand, and who will return to judge the nations. Let us have a compassionate heart for the people who have never heard the gospel or given their hearts to Jesus. Let us stand boldly for Jesus, there is no other God besides Jesus. People without Him will Perish. Now is the right time. Let us witness for Jesus. Jacob Varghese India Mission Trip If the Lord be willing, the GFI annual convention will be from April 8-11 at Chottepur village in Punjab. Rev. K.J. Mathew (Punalur) will be the guest speaker. Rev. Mammen will leave the USA on April 1st. and return on April 24th. April 4th thru the 7th, he will visit various mission fields. Rev. Mammen Mathew will also visit South India. There will be GFI promotional meetings on April 21st. in Kottayam. Please pray for his visit and that God will bless the convention, graduation service and other meetings. December 2003 Gospel Meeting at Chottepur Village GFI
Prarthana Bhavan (GFI Church) at Chottepur village is located in Pathankot,
Pujab. God is doing
Testimony from Chottepur Church
New Mission Field GFI
started a new mission field at Galadi, Punjab, border of Pakistan.
GFI’s goal is to send such missionaries to many new fields in the coming years. We request your prayer and support for it. With God, everything is possible. We want this good news of salvation to be preached to every village of North India. Let us work together and fulfill the Great Commission given by our Lord Jesus Christ. GFI Bible Institute
Hishar Church
Anti Conversion Law It was reported in Gospel of Action, November 2003 (Christian Newsletter) that Extremist Hindu groups are trying to bring the bill to the Indian Parliament supported by local political parties, to stop conversion among low caste Indians. They claim that Christians are forcing these poor people to Christianity and it is time to stop such conversion. There are some states like Tamil Nadu that have introduced these kinds of anti conversion laws and is found to be effective, so these extremist want to spread this throughout the land of India. Though India is a secular country with freedom of religion, such false accusation against Christians would make the life of missionaries difficult. Let us pray that such efforts may fail so the gospel can be preached freely. October 2003 Gospel Meeting at Purwall Village There was a gospel meeting at GFI Prarthana Bhavan in Purwal village, Punjab in July 5-6. About 300 people attended the meeting, the Holy Spirit moved powerfully in this meeting, and many accepted Jesus as their savior. 12 people obeyed the Lord in water baptism. Pastor Lakhwinder Maish is serving as the missionary in this village; please continuously pray for Pastor Lakhwinder Maish, his family and the church. Mission School at Khojkichack Khojkichack is a very remote, little village about 1/2 kilometers from the Pakistan border. GFI has established a school in this remote interior village. (there are over ten villages surrounding this village) It is indeed a heart breaking sight to watch the small children walk several miles to reach the school. We don't have any transportation so far in bringing these kids to school. However, God has given us a wonderful privilege to educate and disciple the children to grow in a spiritually and morally nurturing environment. We also maintain good relationships with the parents in order to guide them to the way of salvation. We started the school with just a preschool. Now, by the grace of God, there are 7 grades with 130 students. This school is a great blessing to the village. Currently GFI is using rental buildings. We need at least $15,000. to purchase the land and to build a school building. Please pray and as God leads you, send your gift for this project. New Mission Field GFI started a new mission field at Kathlaur in Punjab, on the boarder of Pakistan. We appointed Pastor Philip George and his wife Sailaja Philip, as the new missionaries. They have two children Pheba and Julia. Pastor Philip and Sailaja are graduates from college and had good jobs when they received the calling to become missionaries. They resigned from their jobs and decided to serve the Master in North India. They joined GFI and we are very proud of their dedication and service for the Lord. This is a very difficult mission field. Since there is always trouble near the border, they have to evacuate the place often and they face many trials. We request your earnest prayer for this place, and for the Lord's protection and souls to be saved. Basohli Church Basholi Church is situated in Jammu and Kashmir, Pastor Ranjinder Masih, his wife and two children are serving the Lord in this church. God is doing great things in this church, many souls are being added into the kingdom. The church itself has no building, but meets in the area surrounded on three sides by other buildings. One being a very small concrete one room home for the pastor and his family. Since the building does not have a bathroom, it is very urgent that we build one as soon as possible. GFI bought a small piece of land but we need about $3,000. to build a church building at this site. We request your prayer and support for this project. God will reward you for your generous gifts. Testimony from Basohli As a devout Hindu, Basohli worshipped demons and even built his own Hindu temple filled with many idols. His son fell sick and died. He called the pastor over, who told him that he could not pray with idols present. Becasue the man was desperate enough, he removed the idols and asked the pastor to pray. God raised his son from the dead! Basohli accepted Jesus as his own savior and decided he would never again worship idols and demons. He chose to serve Jesus alone! Praise the Lord! "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever!" GFI Children's Home Jesus called the children to Him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (Luke 18: 15-17) Jesus loves the little children! In India, 40% of the population is made up of children. 25% of all the children live below the poverty line. There are many children wandering the streets, slums and remote areas without food, proper clothing, and education or shelter. GFI has taken on the burden to care for and educate the children who are poor and destitute. GFI has on children's home. It is located in Lakahnpur in Jammu and Kashmir. Currently we have three children, but we would like to increase its number to 25. We need sponsors like you to support these children. Sponsor a child. You not only invest in eternity, but you are raising up a future native missionary in the way he should go. You can sponsor a child with just $25.00. GFI will send you a photo and you have the unique opportunity to pray for the child and encourage them with your letters and gifts. GFI Bible Training Center The primary aim of the Bible Institute is to train young men and women for church planting and also equip them with the Word of God. The duration of the course is one year. The new academic year started in July. Six students enrolled this year. We request your prayers and support for these new students. |
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and living in slums. Pastor Sabu was previously managing the GFI
Bible Institute. He is a very dedicated and hard working man of God.
The people living in slums do not have proper food, clothing or shelter.
Their children do not go to school and they do not have any hope in their
lives. Let us pray that the work in this place may produce great
fruit. Also, that the people who live under drugs and alcohol may see the
light of Jesus Christ. The Lord came into this world to save all
sinners. Now there is a small church in Phillaur. Please pray for
Pastor Sabu and his family.
Pastor
Sat Pal Masih graduated from GFI Bible Institute in the second year. He is
a man of great reputation and people respect him. He is also very
dedicated to God's work. God is using him in a mighty way. Gospel
meetings conducted from January 8th. - 11th. were very successful. Around
300 people gathered to hear the gospel, and many accepted Jesus and decided to
obey the Lord in a water baptism. Lord willing, they will be baptized
during the week of the GFI annual convention. Please pray for this
place. That many new souls to be added to the kingdom of God. "Help
us, Lord, to be a lifeline, to a dying world today, bringing hope to the hopeless
people as we share salvation's way." - Spergeon
he graduated from GFI Bible Institute in 2003. On February 5th. 2004, he
was appointed as the missionary at Mattuwawal village, Punjab. We believe
God will use Pastor Jovinda Singh mightily. Lift up your eyes and look at
the fields, for they are already white for the harvest. Please pray for
Pastor Jovinda Singh, let the love of Jesus be shared in every home in this
village.
Lord
willing, services for the students graduating from GFI Bible Institute will be
on April 10th. Currently there are 13 students. After their
graduation, GFI will appoint them to various mission fields. We request
your prayer and support for these students. If you want to sponsor someone
going into the new mission field, please let us know.
call to worship the Lord by singing a new song. Not only us, but also all
the earth. God's heart is always towards the whole of mankind. He
wants everyone to be saved. (v1,7) When we worship our Lord knowing His
greatness and majesty, our hearts get filled with joy. "For the Lord
is great and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all
gods. For all the gods of the people are idols, but the Lord made the
heavens and the earth. Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and
beauty are His sanctuary." (v4-6) What a great missionary
challenge! We hear the missionaries heart beat in this psalm. Gods
of the world are idols, but we serve a living God who made the heaven and the
earth... Praise the Lord! Do you feel sorry for the people of this earth
who do not know this Living God? So when we worship our Lord by singing
new songs, also be a witness for Jesus by proclaiming the good news of salvation
from day to day in this world. (v2). In the New Testament, when
authorities seek to silence the apostles, they reply, "we cannot by speak
the things which we have seen and heard." (Act 4:20)
great things in this church. Pastor S. Thankaraj and
family are serving as the missionary in this village. The Lord heard our prayer
and GFI was able to construct a church building at this place. Gospel Meeting
and fasting prayer for 21 days was held in the month of October 2003 and God did
GREAT things. 13 people obeyed the Lord in water baptism. Let us praise
God
for His marvelous work!
GFI
appointed Pastor Insoant Masih and his wife as the
new missionaries. They have
two children. Pastor Masih graduated from GFI Bible Institute last year and he
is very active and has great zeal for the Lord. This mission field was started
3 months ago and people in this village are predominately Hindus. Currently,
there are 12 believers. Let us pray that many new souls will be added to the
church and also for God’s protection over Pastor and the family and church
members.
Hishar
church in Haryana was established four years ago. Pastor M. Y Thankachen is the
missionary in this village. There was not much fruit for 2 ½ years, but God
answered our prayers and in the last 1 ½ years we have seen great results. Now
there are 25 new converts in this church. May our good Lord reward Pastor
Thankachen and his family for their hard work and patience. We request your
prayer and support for this mission field.