MTM To Sundergarh India
Rajgangpur (Orissa State)
February 22-26, 2010
The following article was written by Jordan Flory who was part of this MTM team. Jordan is from Ellensburg WA and is an IGo alumni student.
* PRINCIPLE! * PURPOSE! * PASSION! *
These three words came to me as I sat down to write this report for Bro. Raymond. Praise God Jehovah! Accompanying my brothers to Orissa, INDIA for the very purpose of teaching God’s Holy Word was a very refreshing blessing! I believe the need for deeper teaching/discipling is every bit as important a need as evangelism. This is clearly the heart passion and desire of MTM. I had never been to India before, and didn’t know what to expect…but I have a feeling that won’t be the last time!
THE LORD GOD IS ACTIVELY AT WORK IN INDIA! Even in the face of severe persecution, bloodshed, and Spiritual wickedness, the Word of God is prevailing and gaining ground in Orissa State. Thousands have lost their homes, but they have a home incorruptible. Entire congregations are dirt-poor and lacking bread, yet “every word of God” is being taught to them. Here is a small insight… “Suresh” was beaten and left for dead…; “Nag” was forced to flee to the forest to spend sleepless nights.
The pastors/church workers who attended the conference were mostly seasoned men (+ 2 sisters). I would say that the average age was around 38 years old. The eldest pastor was 57 while the youngest was 19. These are Brothers and Sisters who have hazarded their lives for the divine sake of the Gospel.
PRINCIPLE! “Go ye…TEACHING them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…”
Bro. Raymond taught “World Evangelism from the Book of Acts”. He initialized by laying the foundation of a Biblical PRINCIPLE: “KNOW CHRIST AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”. This principle is God’s very heart for you and me! I was challenged deeply as I pondered that principle. If I don’t “know Christ”, then I CAN NOT “make him known”. Bro. Wilmer also laid principles for Biblical Apologetics (Knowing Your Bible).
PURPOSE!
My heart was moved as I began to see more clearly the eternal PURPOSE of the God of Heaven. The Purpose of the Anointed Son of God is to bring many sons to Glory! If my purpose is any other than that, I must be found guilty before a God of principle. If I know Christ, the result is that I will make him known! If I don’t know Christ, then the answer is easy: I won’t make him known. My Purpose must be God’s purpose, otherwise I am only spinning my wheels. But Hallelujah, what a Savior! – a purpose-driven Savior who took the sins of my once lost soul upon him to the grave (as well as all those who sit in darkness)!
PASSION!
I wish you could have been there to see the faces of those Brothers and Sisters light up as they were gripped by the principles and purpose as taught by Jesus Christ. They came from different locations, tribal backgrounds, and denominational persuasions; yet they were even as an army of mighty, lion-hearted men – united with PASSION to serve the Lord God with Purpose of Heart. They left resembling Sampson’s foxes…SET ON FIRE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE TO SET THE WHOLE WORLD ABLAZE WITH THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! HALLELUJAH!
MTM Ministry Team
L-R, Jordan Flory (Ellensburg WA), Wilmer Shenk (Dublin GA), Raymond Burkholder (Thailand) & David Brown (Ephrata PA).
All 27 pastors were from the persecuted state of Orissa India. One pastor gave his testimony how he was beaten and left for dead. When the Lord spared his life many Hindu extremist turned to Christ. Most all the ladies were our conference cooks.
