Northern India, in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, with majestic snow-capped peaks, seemingly right outside our room window. At 4,000 feet the climate is quite pleasant compared to other parts of India where the temperatures were well over 100 degrees. We had an afternoon rain shower almost every day during the first week.
May 29 – June 11, 2023, at Himachal Bible College and Seminary, in far north India, MTM had the privilege to teach 28 students coming from 8 different states of India. About 3/4 of the students were men and about 1/3 of those were pastors. Then there are a few pastors’ wives. Some of them traveled for five days to get there by bus and train. The teaching was all interpreted into Hindi though there were a few that spoke English. A very attentive and engaged group of students indeed.
Raymond taught on the two kingdoms and the ongoing conflict between the two kingdoms. God’s people are in a cosmic conflict between good and evil, light and darkness, truth and lies, righteousness and wickedness. Have we put on the whole armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil in these last days? Victory is ours in Christ if we humble ourselves and submit to the will of God.
Raymond Teaching With Pastor Jeffrey as his Interpreter
I taught on the six major Covenants and the Old Testament types and shadows of Christ. God has covenanted with man to restore that which was lost in the fall. The covenant with Abraham promises personal transformation and righteousness by faith on an individual level. The covenant with David promises a king that will reign in righteousness. The children of Israel’s journey to the promised land is an allegory of our journey out of slavery to sin, into the promises of God.
Steve Fisher Teaching With Sister Renjeeta as his interpreter
One major highlight was a weekend visit to a small house church in Shimla. Only about 130 miles from the Bible school, but it took 8 hours to get there through winding mountain roads. The church was made up of a small family and a few friends. They are a beacon of light in a large tourist city that is literally built on the side of the mountain, 7000 feet above sea level. We enjoyed a time of fellowship and sharing testimonies. They also fed us a wonderful meal of biryani, (an Indian dish of rice, spice) and meat. What a sweet blessing to see the miraculous work of God in our brothers and sisters around the world. And though we grew up in very different cultures, and different parts of the world, we immediately feel like we belong to the same family.
House Church Fellowship at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA
CLICK HERE TO SEE MANY MORE PHOTOS OF THIS INTENSIVE BIBLE SCHOOL IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION OF INDIA
EDITOR’S NOTE: The above article was written by Steve Fisher is a pastor of a small house church in southern Lancaster County PA. Steve and his wife Suvilla have eleven children. Four girls and seven boys ages, 26 to 5. And one grandson six weeks old. Steve has a vision of inspiring his own people from his own community to carry the gospel both near and far. Thank you so much to you and your sons for faithfully serving the Lord with MTM, may the Lord reward you openly.
