Today is the last day of preaching in the villages (thandas). It’s also Sunday, which means worship services will be going on. Lisa and I stop with our group to preach in a thanda before going to a church service. An old Banjara friend of ours is pastoring the church we visited. I met Pastor Baloo Naik in Khammum last time we came to India. It thrills my heart to know this man is still following the Lord, and his congregation is growing. I asked our interpreter on the way to the service how many people he was expecting. He said only a few, there weren’t too many believers out there; but when we turned the corner and saw at least 30 people sitting waiting for us, he said “Oh! There are many Banjara believers in this area!”
The church service went great. Anand, our interpreter who has informed us his name means “Happy” in Hindi, explained to us that “where two or three are gathered together” there the Lord is with them. So these 30 men and women, began to pray, very loudly, all at the same time. Some shouted, some whispered, some chanted, but there was no doubt that the Lord would be there. Later I heard someone from our mission trip say about the experience that it might have been what God hears when he listens to all of us pray. It was wonderful to see them taking the scripture so literally. A Banjara woman evangelist gave a long testimony after that, and then I preached to them…I gave my “3rd spoke” lesson a trial run and found that the lesson on fellowship was a pretty clear message. People understood it and appreciated it. Not that I was the one who put this together. The Lord did that. I sometimes forget that it’s through Him that a message is communicated.
Pastor Baloo and his wife were so sweet to us. After the service they provided a bed for us to sit on and rest for a few minutes before they took us inside their home to pray. Then we went to their church building which seemed so small for the size of the congregation that had gathered today. The size of that room couldn’t have been any bigger than the bathroom we had back at the hostel.
I tried to call Karen again tonight, again she didn’t answer. I wondered where she was and looked at my watch to realize I’m 12 hours ahead of her, it’s 9:45 AM back home, she’s in church! Duh…it’s Sunday for her and the boys right now and they are in Sunday school. She’s a good wife. I miss her and the boys very much but also realize my wife is capable of handling just about anything, so I don’t worry.
During our share service tonight I found there were about 6 or 7 people who came to know the Lord in thandas today. It’s always hard for me to tell. Nageesh, a huge Indian pastor who I got to know some last year, kept track of names of those who were new believers. They do this so they can go back and follow-up and feed the new born Christians. Note for myself next time though – ASK how many are coming to know the Lord and keep track throughout the days we’re preaching. Write it down even. Damodar is asking the Americans how many were saved and I’m finding I have no clue who’s accepting the Lord and who’s not. The very presence of Damodar seems to be one of a gentle nature but also one of respect and authority. I almost felt ashamed that I didn’t know how many were saved just because I respect the guy so much. I’ll make sure and know the the next time I come.
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