This month I will tell you from the woman’s perspective how God delivered a pastor that we love. His wife, Flori is a cherished friend of mine. Also I will tell you how to prepare good tea for a crowd and how it can be done with ease! Among the crumpets offered is a web site that you should know about. As always, I encourage you to find time to share a laugh with someone you love; it may be just what they need.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59,60 These words flashed through Pastor Prasad’s mind as he lay, being mercilessly kicked, punched and cursed; he did not think he would survive this beating and realized he was not intended to as he heard one man say that he was dead and that they should leave. Dozens of men took their turns beating this man, in groups of about a half-dozen at a time; they waited to have their turn to beat upon this small and gentle pastor. For over a year Pastor Prasad ministered at this home weekly, an invited guest, to disciple a small group that had come to Christ a year earlier. In their excitement to learn more about the Man, Christ Jesus, they invited Pastor Prasad. Occasionally others came to learn too. Some of them did come to Christ for eternal life too. Though this home was in a village where there were no other Christians, he never had been threatened before.

Pastor Prasad’s dogged determination brought him to his scheduled Mangalore Baptist Bible Institute class the following morning. Over the following days, we rejoiced for though he looked atrocious, he suffered no serious internal injuries. This very faithful man would sur- vive the attack.

The work in India continues to grow. Those that profess faith
in Christ are a small minority but are very much reviled, though, once again by a small minority. There are those though that would incite them to riot and malicious activities. The adversary is always lurking, but time and time again, when trouble mounted and appeared that it was growing and could become very big, it was as if "The Wagon Train" was formed into a circle where a hedge of protection prevented utter destruction to us, to the work. It has always been my husband’s challenging exhortation to us that we must endeavor to live as righteously as we can, cheating no one that the cause of Christ be not blasphemed, but also in keeping with the thought that we are simply stewards of the Lord’s work, that He will honor us by fighting our battles for us. Time and time again He has been faithful to protect and even honour our "little faithfulness" in ways that we could never have done ourselves. He has shown great care of the work in India and of each of us too.

The men that have been given to the work in India, and their wives, are fully remarkable. Each has shown a great level of faithfulness and integrity. As with each person ever born, they have areas that the Lord is refining, yet they have never been overtaken with the weak area and the testimony of the pastors remains strong within their communities. The physical deliverance of this man was not all the Lord did for us. Pastor Prasad chose not to press charges though we did know who some of the men were. Within weeks, the news of this attack spread. Chief Ministers from throughout the country got involved and were very vocal. Many arrests were made and subsequent articles were published reminding people that India would remain a place of religious freedom. The laws of India protect our people but those who do not believe would encourage others who generally spend their lives in slothful living to earn a few rupees or some are bought with hard drink in order to incite them
to fight for "their religion".

Since the birth of Gospel Light Baptist Mission India, we have endeavored to be sensible and never careless with our faith in God, to make decisions that would increase likelihood of safety. We have tried very hard to avoid carelessly offending the very people we have gone to win, souls that our LORD died for. India has anti-conversion laws in place and we have never broken them. It has been our prayer since our very first trip that we would be faithful to give the Gospel to those seeking truth, believing a verse found in the Old Testament. Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. All throughout the word, people are seeking to find that which will fill the God-given void within their life, as if our lives were puzzles; only One piece will fill the space where our heart is. Our "securi-tea" is in Jesus Christ.

As the trauma from this attack is over, the "troops" quickly regain their position and carry on, sharing Christ with all who will hear, then training them to give this good news to those in their grasp. We have little doubt that another attack will come in one form or another but our battle cry remains, "Greater is He".

An important web-site to visit; twins needing prayer.

You will be shocked to read of this travesty::

This is one of my favorite pictures, a calligraphy done by a dear friend as a gift especially for us in 1996. From Isaiah 32:18, it is a promise that God’s people will live peaceably. This beautiful picture is somewhat warped and damaged. I dug it from the wet ashes days after our home burned and held it close knowing that God’s promises are true even in the midst of a burned out shell of our house. The house burned; our home remained intact!

Another verse that is often on my mind in regards to our home is a quotation from David, who knew something about looking at things he should not. It is " I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psalm 101:3 The first part of this verse is very important (as is the second! But for now, I am thinking on the simplici-tea of the first part!) Periodically I walk through my home, physically or mentally and think about what is there. Is there anything that would cause shame to me or to my Saviour? Would I watch a certain television program if He were sitting be- side me? Read a certain book? Most generally I would find a thing that I would not do or have if He were present ... Oh! But wait! I invited Him to dwell with me many years ago and He promised He will never leave me. He is here, the perfect, sinless Christ Jesus is with me and gives me the peace that passes all understanding. His mercies are new every morning. His compassions never fail. He is faithful to be with me when I need Him, but the Lord Jesus is with me even when I’d just as soon not have Him be part of a sinful thing; I take Him there with me. This truth is very real to me in my life and I have conveyed it to my daughters. Because we believe it, we do not have to feel ashamed of what is in our home, apart from a few cobwebs up in the corner, but I am okay with that too, after all they are in kings palaces too! When a home is cleaned out of wicked and questionable things, it becomes a haven, a refuge to all who enter.

I remember a home that I visited occasionally as a child; it was always cluttered and somewhat dusty but it appealed to my senses and now I know why. This home was clean in important ways and there was always a welcome, without apology for the disarray. A verse comes to mind here too from Proverbs 14:4. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. They were a strong family, always working. While the level of clutter would be overwhelming for me to live in, it was enjoyable to visit. It was a testimony of the work that they did.