Foolish Things

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;  1 Corinthians 1:27


Home again and back into the swing of things.  My body clock has switched back to Eastern time, my days are resumed of ministering and being a part of the church.  India is still real and not faded into a memory.


As I tell the story of our trip, the verse from Corinthians is a great theme.  How foolish was our trip?  Two white guys from small towns in America that went to India to encourage pastors and minister to the poor and needy.  It sounds like something from a TV movie.  The difference is that it is real, and it is God.

God did create us for a purpose.  He has works and deeds He has laid out for us to accomplish.  Know that is true.  Know that you are created for a purpose by the living God, the creator of the universe.  Know that He is cheering for you as you grow.

Know we are His!

11/19 Heading Home

Sitting in airports, trying to understand ticketing and check in, wishing for a bathroom, dealing with language in security. These are some bits of travelling home. Right now I am writing while on the plane from Abu Dhabi to Chicago. Children are crying and getting sick, many people are wrapped up sleeping in their own world.

As for me, I haven't slept a whole lot yet today. We are flying west so the sun will appear to have been up for 15 hours by the time we land. The time awake makes me think about the whole adventure.

It is still amazing to me that I actually went to India and am now going home. The trip itself had been in planning for so long it was hard to keep our hands on. The conferences were amazing for the pastors. There were times where people would ask Jay and I to pray for illness, pain, studies and a myriad of needs. Why us? Why would God listen to us more than anyone else? And we prayed.

The children of the orphanage are incredible. They know Jesus and worship with more intensity than most of us. From their sorrows, there has been birthed a heart sealed with the spirit. My heart hurts when I think of leaving and saying goodbye.

Pastor Moses and his family are the biggest heartache. For the week we were side-by-side constantly serving in ministry. They have such servants hearts they immediately opened their home to me. I was instantly welcomed. And as our time went along, we grew close. I am amazed by this Man of God. His vision is powerful. The Spirit's work in him is mighty. He is my brother and I am his.

11/18 Final Preaching

Today is our last day of ministry in India. We are going to spend the day with Pastor Moses at his church.

The day was amazing. We celebrated at both worship services. These churches have such an amazing heart of worship. Sometimes I think heaven bends down as they worship and cry out in prayer. It is awesome to be there together. Several times I fought back tears when talking. This trip has been hard and my heart is raw.

Know this, the men and women of Nissi Faith are God's warriors and are fighting to advance the Kingdom!

11/17 Gentle Giant

Every time we go out, Jay attracts a bit of attention. He is a big guy, and in India he appears even bigger. He's a giant! Yet he shows so much compassion. It is awesome to see him minister. He speaks God's word with authority. He prays with power and empathy. He plays with the children with compassion.

In every village we visited children would see us walking and then begin to follow at a little distance. They would take turns pushing each other closer, giggling and good nature teasing. Jay always takes time to spend with them. This service and understanding of their families is a joy to God!

11/17 Widows Meeting

On Saturday we went to another Nissi Faith church belonging to Pastor Lazarus. Here we held a widow's meeting.

In parts of India, widows are considered bad luck and often cast out of their families. As a result, many are left to fend for themselves and are the objec of scorn and harsh words. One of the many ministries Nissi Faith has is to serve these women.

Our meeting was one of praise and worship, message and encouragement. Both Jay and I used God's word to encourage hearts and hopefully set a seed so that these women will change their identity. Prayerfully they will not see themselves as worthless, but the prize of God.

At the conclusion of the meeting we handed out new saris to the women and all enjoyed a meal together.

The widows break my heart. It is difficult for me to grasp that they are told they are bad luck, worthless and unwanted. And then we see them believe these lies and live as though they were true. My heart!

11/16 Village Visits and Church

We continued to visit homes in the area and the homes of Nissi Faith pastors for fellowship and encouragement. What a group they have! These men and their families have joined together and made a covenant with each other to protect one another and serve God where He has placed them. Each time we visited one of their homes their was overwhelming hospitality and true fellowship. It was only today I realized that I had no conscious recognition of a language barrier. We had blended into the social customs of those around us and were truly seen as brothers, not guests of honor.

Friday evening we went to another pastor's church. We had a fantastic time of worship and sharing in God's word together. It was a joy to hear the hearts of believers and see their smiles as we shared.

Children of God.

11/16 Church Dedication

Friday morning we went to dedicate the finished church building of another Nissi Faith pastor. His name is Pastor Babu Rao. He is a faithful man with a beautiful and compassionate congregation. We gathered together to publicly open the church and celebrate the new building for the pastor.

Jay and I both spoke on the duties of the congregation, the responsibility of a church and the great glory of the True God that will hear and answer the prayers of His people. After the church meeting, we fed everyone in the village. They setup tables in the church and outside to allow everyone, regardless of church membership, to enjoy fellowship and a meal. What a great outreach to the community!