Final Update from Bangalore
Our last full conference day has drawn to a close and only two teaching sessions remain on Friday morning before the commissioning session will conclude our conference by midday. Stan concluded with a series of lessons on the practical issues of planning church meetings, time management, and delegation. Arnold concluded with a passionate set of teachings on the spiritual gifts.
We also heard from one of the leaders in women’s ministries. She shared with us the disturbing facts about the plight of women in India, even today. For example, over 10 million female fetuses have been aborted in the past two decades. As many of 50 million girls have “gone missing.” Families are far less likely to educate girls than boys, and far more likely to pull them out of school, either to help out at home or from fear of violence. As a result, female illiteracy in India is 62%. Over 6,000 women are killed each year because their families have inadequate resources for her marriage dowry, while 70% of married women in India are victims of beating, rape, or coerced sex. This breaks God heart, and it ought to break ours as well!
Our team will lead the commissioning service on Friday to send these pastors back to their responsibilities. I (Matthew) will preach the message, Arnold will officiate the receiving of communion, and Stan will pray over the pastors in groups according their their region of service. Please pray for this service and our parts in leading it—pray that these pastors would be empowered to preach the Gospel and care for people even more boldly than they are already doing.
During the afternoon, we will have a debrief session with the local leaders, visit a nearby orphanage, and then make one more visit into the city before having dinner with the senior OM leadership team. We will arrive at the airport at approximately 9 pm to begin the average 3 hour check-in process before our flight leaves at just after 2 am Saturday morning.
Since we may not have an opportunity to access the internet again, this may be our last update before returning home. So, thank you for your prayers on our behalf throughout this conference, and please continue to do so until we are safely home with our families. Our time in India has been incredible, and we look forward to sharing it with you in person very soon.
For Christ & His Kingdom…here in India!
We also heard from one of the leaders in women’s ministries. She shared with us the disturbing facts about the plight of women in India, even today. For example, over 10 million female fetuses have been aborted in the past two decades. As many of 50 million girls have “gone missing.” Families are far less likely to educate girls than boys, and far more likely to pull them out of school, either to help out at home or from fear of violence. As a result, female illiteracy in India is 62%. Over 6,000 women are killed each year because their families have inadequate resources for her marriage dowry, while 70% of married women in India are victims of beating, rape, or coerced sex. This breaks God heart, and it ought to break ours as well!
Our team will lead the commissioning service on Friday to send these pastors back to their responsibilities. I (Matthew) will preach the message, Arnold will officiate the receiving of communion, and Stan will pray over the pastors in groups according their their region of service. Please pray for this service and our parts in leading it—pray that these pastors would be empowered to preach the Gospel and care for people even more boldly than they are already doing.
During the afternoon, we will have a debrief session with the local leaders, visit a nearby orphanage, and then make one more visit into the city before having dinner with the senior OM leadership team. We will arrive at the airport at approximately 9 pm to begin the average 3 hour check-in process before our flight leaves at just after 2 am Saturday morning.
Since we may not have an opportunity to access the internet again, this may be our last update before returning home. So, thank you for your prayers on our behalf throughout this conference, and please continue to do so until we are safely home with our families. Our time in India has been incredible, and we look forward to sharing it with you in person very soon.
For Christ & His Kingdom…here in India!
posted by CUMC Team | 9:21 AM
<< Home