Prison Visits
Paul’s brother, Pastor John, visits a boys’ prison weekly. Because the boys have responded so positively to the visits of this team, the local government has requested their involvement in more prisons. Pictured below, the boys are elated to read the books they were given, cook chicken, and eat a full meal.
Please pray for our brother John as he and his wife live by faith on our street and are expecting their 2nd baby in September!
Short-Term Mission trip to India
Please be in prayer for Paul’s trip to India in October. Our 2nd baby is due August 25th, then Paul will go with a few men from here to Chennai for a month. Among staying with our girls for a week, other goals include equipping 2,000 pastors all over Tamil Nadu with discipleship material. God is increasing Paul’s burden to give hungry pastors a Godly foundation for teaching. Please pray for this vision to be fulfilled as these men will travel all over the state and give materials. Pray God supplies the many needs to run these conferences successfully with a great harvest.
Church and Neighborhood Ministry
By the grace of God, His provision in our lives and Paul’s faithful family and team, we are able to sustain the many ministries God has called us to—even before marriage. A hundred and eighty sweet children in our local area enjoyed coming daily to our VBS last month. Please Pray for the 50 who received salvation.
Thought you would enjoy a peek of our church wall for VBS.Top Middle Photo—Paul’s mother tongue from the Sanskrit, Tamil—only 247 letters in this ancient alphabet! Below is our staff with—Pastor John (top center) and our beloved sister-in-law, Baggia, (blessed) and youngest bro, Jay.
The parents of these children in our neighborhood are reluctant to come to church, they enjoy their 3 hours off the 7 days of VBS. Another draw to parents for our program is they want to give their children an opportunity to learn English and discipline as our church gives these daily lessons with Bible characters. In the closing ceremony, we invite the whole neighborhood to enjoy the songs and dances and lessons the kids learned as well as share stories of Christ. What the parents don’t anticipate is their own hearts being irresistibly drawn to the of the Gospel.
Above is our neighbor, who has been coming church for 3 years with his family. Kandhan struggled since his salvation with fear of losing his reputation and privileges he had as a Hindu. Kandhan found a faithful friend in Paul’s father, Pastor Leo (left), whom he asked for baptism! His Godly wife’s love has won him at last.
Soccer players moving rocksTo the right are a few boys from Xavier’s soccer academy for Christ. They are excited to have new jerseys with our mission agency’s name. 🙂 These boys come from very rough areas, they are use to neglect and hardship, even manual labor. Xavier disciples these boys through Biblical lessons emphasizing team work. When they come to the field, their first duty is to clean it of rocks, wood and garbage to make it fit for soccer! Oh for grassy fields, like we have here [in America]!Will you join your faith with ours that God will continue to spread the transforming power of His Word through all of Chennai and India? Please pray for Paul’s church and sister churches to continue to be strengthened amidst threats of persecution. Pray for his family running the church along with their regular jobs in our absence. We are here for visa work, may God lead our time as we’re missing home.
God’s Girls at the Orphanage
Ashraya Daughters Collage
Pray our girls will be rooted in the truth of God’s Word, strong in faith, set apart for the work of the Lord.
Pray for wisdom as we train them to hear the voice of God and not be swayed by what the enemy has to say about them, about orphans.
Pray they develop hearts for their neighbors, for the world.
Pray for unity for our staff, may their eyes be on serving the Lord, not man. May God equip Paul and I to bless them in every way as they serve in south India.
To GOD be the glory for the miracle provision of 5 1/2 acres from saints in Midland!! See below a hut placed to apply for power!! We dedicate this to you, Oh Lord, open the heavens so we may build a campus this year.
Praises
The negotiator for our new land called our family to thank us for praying….he won the local elections! His heart is for children which is a huge gift of God as he desires to help protect us from those with an evil eye seeking to trap us with bribes as we move forward with all the filing for our girls. In India, as in any 3rd world country, the government’s red tape makes our work so much harder than necessary. But—by the loving hand of our Gracious Jehovah, we can share with great joy the 19 girls are NOW legally ours!! Pray for this congressman’s salvation as we build our friendship with him. Pray for God’s continued favor with our filing to start the building. This land will reach countless for Christ.
Photos
Top: Bedtime in Ashraya.
Second: Our new land with a hut placed to apply for power.
Third: Our live-in staff that cares for the girls: Lucky, Geetha, Priya and Anita.
Fourth: The girls brush their teeth.
