New Life Fellowship ANDHRA PRADESH News Letter
WE wish YOU a happy, prosperous and blessed New Year 2004.
We praise God for his perfect faithfulness, love, and the way the LORD has been using us for His kingdom expansion in the state of Andhra Pradesh, INDIA. He has done marvelous things, things planned in our minds according to the will of God. He enabled us to accomplish the goals set in the year 2003. We acknowledge that it would not have been success without the abundant grace of God and through your ceaseless prayers, support and co-operation.
For the past two years, I had been very upset with my health but God had been so faithful and merciful on his servant to do His will in reaching un-reached areas with sharing good news of Jesus Christ and establishing Bible schools for His kingdom expansion. This year again He gave this promise that ‘He hears when we call upon Him’. Indeed it is true when we prayed to God; He answered our prayers to begin a new era in the ministry.
Personally, I am so happy to write this news to you all as the Lord kept me from several weaknesses and sicknesses. I am clinging on to His word that God spoke to me through Jeremiah 29:12. (NIV) ‘Call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you’. The word of God is very true. Last year the Lord said ‘Fear not for I am with you’. I believed in His promise given to me and then He enabled us to launch the Bible School for the Couples at Vishakhapatnam successfully apart from the Bible School at Hyderabad for Junior students and Senior Pastors.
Amidst of all the critical situation and circumstances God permit me to go from district to district, church to church in the state of Andhra Pradesh encouraging Pastors and their churches, preaching, sharing the gospel, baptizing the new believers in the churches, attending crusades, conducting conference and miracles, signs and wonders followed in the name of Jesus. Sick are healed, demon possessed released, many Non-Christians accepted Christ as their personal Saviour.
BIG THANKS for your valuable prayer support and cooperation in spreading the gospel and adding souls into the kingdom of God.
FRUIT OF THE MINISTRY
Baptisms:
Inspite of acute anemia and
multiple myeloma I could go around the state to visit many churches,
encouraging spiritually and establishing neo churches by baptizing the
new converts. I was called and invited to attend Baptism programmes conducted
at different places of Andhra Pradesh by our Pastors. I gave Baptisms to
more than 200 people. These new baptized beliers been added to the Navajeevana
Sahavasam Churches (New Life Fellowship.) The place called Gudivakalanka
in West Godavari district exceeded among all other churches baptized 66
people, next at palavancha in Khammam district more than 36 people were
baptized and not less than 10 people baptized in all other churches we
are having.
Church Dedications:
Our Pastors at different parts
of Andhra Pradesh could establish so many churches and some of them could
construct small Church sheds and some of them erected thatched houses for
worshiping the Lord. With all my possibility and efforts I had been paid
my visit to dedicate and declare open all these churches for the glory
of God. In the year 2003 more than 10 church dedications took place.
Miracles:
There are number of miracles
and signs and wonders that followed the ministry according to Mark 16:16-20.
Down South Rayalseema region: The Lord has been using Pastors to do mighty things in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. Cast out demons, to break down spells and the power of witchcraft.
1. Tuberculosis patient completely
healed and restored back.
2. HIV positive (AIDS) patients
were healed and now they have come into normal life along with others.
I praised God for they are
good witnesses for Jesus Christ. Some people healed from paralysis. Some
people were healed from different diseases in the name of Lord Jesus. Almighty
God touched some who instantly got healed, restored back with good health.
And now they are great witnesses of Jesus Christ. Similarly many youth
have come to the Lord.
New Life College, Hyderabad,
Andhra Pradesh
Senior Pastors Training Program
New Life College is brain child
of Pastor DB Abraham. We are praying for the same for the past several
years.
The first batch of senior
Pastors and district co-ordinators started in the month of June 2001. The
first batch was of 15 students. The batch was good and learnt many new
subjects were introduced and taught to them. They were very much blessed.
The first batch was graduated in the month of March 2002 during the annual
Pastors’ conference.
The second batch again started
with Interview and screening 17 senior pastors were selected for the training.
The batch graduated in the month of March 2003 during the annual pastors’
conference.
The third batch of 15 senior
and some district leaders are being trained this year 2003. There is good
result from the students as they are enjoying the teachings. This batch
is going to be graduated in the month of first week of March 2004.
A Story from Third Batch Senior
Pastors, New Life College - Hyderabad.
I am Ramana, born and brought
up in an orthodox Hindu religious family. We were so particular in following
all kinds of religious rituals and other practices. We were partakers of
black magic, sorcery etc. At the age of 12, I was addicted to all sort
of intoxicated drugs, lived a mischievous life. The first convert to be
a Christian in my family was my mother. She prayed for my family salvation
and me. Pastor K Prakash babu shared me gospel and God saved my life. As
days went by I received a call from the Lord that I should involve in the
ministry. The burden of sharing gospel to my own people and to the village
increased much. I started doing ministry in my village without any biblical
base training. I joined New Life College at Hyderabad for Senior
Pastor Training Program with the help of Pastor Paul Swaroop working in
New Life Fellowship. I indeed say that this Senior Pastor Training Program
is very blessing and helping us to go ahead in the ministry with new notions
and goals in reaching the un-reached people with good news of Jesus Christ.
After first term is over, I was able to share gospel to my villagers. My father also came to know the Lord and accepted Jesus as His personal Saviour. He threw all the idols, Hindu religious books and other sorcery articles in a river called Godavari which known as a holy river for all Hindus and famous Piligrimage center. I started implementing all the teachings taught here in the College. Now the church is growing very rapidly increased from 10 to 50 people (believers). My target is to win the entire village for the Lord in the coming days. I have given water baptism for 15 people.
In our Church a lady named Midde Muthyalu was affected from HIV positive through her husband. She came to church in serious condition requesting us to pray for her healing. We prayed for her in fasting for 7 days. After period of seven days we could see her completely healed from HIV positive. She met doctors for medical checkup but they found nothing in her. God miraculously healed her. Thus the Lord has been using me as His valuable vessel for His kingdom expansion. Graduated Students Total 32 students are graduated from the First and Second batch. They are doing ministry in different parts of Andhra Pradesh. Each one of them has got more interesting incidents that occurred in church planting. Here is one of the individuals named Pastor Rajeshwar Rao from Ongole District doing wonderful ministry among the non-Christian people. Before he came to the training he was pasturing a small church. During the training program he obtained Biblical knowledge and practiced the same in the field. Now he is able to establish house-cell groups, Mission centers. His foundational church increased from small number to bigger. At present the church consists of 100 believers. More than 25 people are taken water baptism at the end of December 2003. He is able to conduct youth meetings, Sunday school and organize small conventions. Junior Students We also have junior students about 22 graduated in first batch, 16 graduated in the second batch and now we have only 8 students. Ministry at Hyderabad through Bible College Junior Students One day during our door to door evangelism we ( Brother Arogyam and Brother Elisha) happened to meet a Hindu orthodox family who are residing at a place called NSL colony in Hyderabad. When we were sharing them gospel for the first time no body paid heed. Later we found the family completely dejected in Spirit because of one of his son who is severely affected with kidney stones. His name is Satyanarayana, the eldest son in the family. After coming to know their panic, we introduced them Jesus Christ as a Healer and redeemer of our sin and gives Eternal life. As we were emphasizing on the word ‘Jesus heals you ‘they showed their curiosity to know more about Jesus.
Brother Satyanarayana was complaint of stones in his kidneys taken to the hospital. Initially the doctors gave him treatment with a suspicion of Backache. But later doctors diagnosed it he has stones in kidney. Doctors advised him to through surgery and demanded much amount of money. The means of livelihood was only dependent on their daily wages. His parents are not in a position to pay the demanded amount to the doctors. At this critical situation some of his relatives, neighbours given advice to take him to the some sorcerers and do some immolation and oblation to different Hindu gods and goddesses. They had been to different pilgrimages in the state of Andhra Pradesh thinking that either any of the god would heal him. It was done as told by their relatives and friends. They exhausted in spending money and finally found every thing futility. They were so depressed. At this juncture we introduced them Jesus as Healer of all sickness and disease. Then they showed interest to know more about Jesus. The whole family took fasting in prayer along with us for several times. God heard our prayer and he completely got healed from his sickness. When Satyanarana went for medical check-up again, doctors told that he has no stones in the kidney. Every one amazed to see this miraculous healing occurred in Satyanarayana life.
Every one in the family accepted Christ as their personal savior. This family consisting of five People has become house group prayer cell now.
Here is another story…
Missing found
We met a woman whose son was
missing since four years. She was in searching of him but found nowhere.
At this particular time we shared gospel with her and given hope in the
Lord that her son would return back to home. She believed and we prayed
for her son’s returning. Few days later her son returned back to home safely.
Witnessing this, she received Jesus in to her life and glorified Him. She
and her son are now believers. This house also has become one of the cell
groups in Hyderabad city.
New Life Ministry Training Center
for Couples at Vishakhapatnam
With great burden and concern
for my perishing people I prayerfully started thinking and some times me
and the congregation went on fasting and praying at Eluru which is first
church where we had all types of good, bad and worst experiences. We trained
young men, women and couples send them to villages and hamlets to preach
and establish churches. The trail of sending these young ones encouraged
me and provoked me to pray for the training centres to equip the young
men and women of this generation who will be the next great men, women
and couples for the Kingdom of God.
In order to full fill the
vision very rapidly we started Bible College at Hyderabad for young men.
With this good start we started praying for the couples to be trained at
Vishakhapatnam. The Prayers been answered, God enabled us to start a New
Life Ministry Training Center for Couples at Vishakhapatnam. The
target of recruiting was only 12 couples for this academic year, but 14
couples came forward with the great commitment to join in this training
program. This special Bible training program is seen very useful. More
than 15 House Churches are planted and one church consisting of 25 believers
has been established.
Opposition
Pastors in the field are facing
opposition from fanatic groups for not to preach the gospel. Some
of them harassed, beaten ruthlessly and warned to vacate the ministry place.
One of our Pastors named Jayanth Kumar working in a place called Adilabad
town constructed church shed, his ministry is being increased. Watching
this some of the Local political leaders tried to stop conducting worship
service but they failed. With the evil intention they attempted to demolish
the church shed but finally they could only demolish church compound walls.
The Lord helping him to stand courageously to preach the gospel in-spite
of all these typical situations.
Drought
The state of Andhra Pradesh
is now under drought there is no rain and cultivation of the field. Though
some of the southern coastal of Andhra Pradesh is able to cultivate paddy
(rice) depending on some rivers, bore wells but in the month of December
2003 all the paddy fields that have come up with good crop has been swept
away due to heavy rainfalls. Farmers lost every thing and going through
big panic, now they are not able to survive themselves. Most of believers
are farmers and daily labours. Due to this Pastors also facing financial
problems. So do please pray for the state of Andhra Pradesh
Family News
My two daughters Hephzibah and
Tabitha obtained B.Sc Clinical Nutrition degree in the first division.
Eldest daughter Beulah got married to Malachi who was working as a field
correspondent in a Christian organization called Gospel for Asia. Now he
has given his resignation and helping me in ministry in administration
and looking after Bible College at Hyderabad. They are blessed with a Baby
girl on 3rd June 2003 named Mahima Betty.
My son Joel helps me in
the ministry in administration and church planting. Please pray for my
family.
My health condition
Still I am in the ministry running
up and down from district to district and church to church to fulfill the
call of the Lord. Churches have been planted and Bible schools are established.
I praised God for all of you. It is impossible for me to do such things
without your prayers. Please pray for the Lord to heal me. In the moment
I and need every two months Blood transfusion. I ought to take expensive
medication like Chemotherapy treatment as I am diagnosed with acute anemia
and multi myeloma, often suffering of bleeding from nose and mouth and
blood clotting. The hemoglobin percent drastically has come down to 6.2.
The severity being increased more and it driving me to approach different
doctors, places and hospitals. This is very expensive.
I am grateful to God and all those who have made this a great achievement in this land of Andhra Pradesh. May the Lord bless you all abundantly as every single penny is being sown in and for the kingdom of God. Goals set Now, this year at least if God willing can complete the target of thousand churches by the end of December 2004.
Again we are praying and planning to start a Bible School at Eluru for those who can read and write and equip them for the ministry according to their talents.
There is much to write about
the ministry but we have given only some important details in this news
letter. Hope it would help you all to pray for us.
Prayer Points
Please pray for rapid
growth of the ministry in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Pray for the two Bible
Colleges at Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam.
Pray for the land,
constructed buildings to run the Bible College at Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam.
Pray for the Pastors
to have constructed church buildings at their own respective ministry areas.
Please continue to
pray for my health and also pray for lot of medical needs to be met.
Of all these wouldn’t have been success without your prayer support. This is to exalt one and all that had been kind to me, praying for me all over. I am grateful to you all in Jesus.
Convey our love and regards to family and Newbold Baptist Church and all that knows us and pray for us.
Thanking you once again.
Yours in His kingdom Service,
Pastor DB ABRAHAM
