Dear friends,
Greetings with prayers that God’s grace and peace
would abound towards you!
More climbers have conquered Everest this year than in
any year since the world’s highest mountain was first scaled in
1953. It is reported that 514 climbers have scaled Everest as of May 28.
Famously conquered for the first time by Tenzing and Hillary, the 8848-metre
peak has since been reached a total of 3514 times. An American 18-year
old became the youngest foreign woman to climb to the top, and a retired
Japanese teacher became the oldest person, at 71. This is a challenge
every Christian must carry into his walk with God. You can go as high
as you want to. Revivalist Leonard Revenhill (1907-1994) observed: “Christians
normally go through three stages: Salvation, Satisfaction, Stagnation!”
Here are a few questions for personal introspection:
- Are the flames more intense on my prayer altar than before?
- Do I fall in love with the Bible again and again?
- Am I striving harder than ever in fighting against sin in my life?
- Do I steadily increase the investment of my time, talent and treasure
for the expansion of God’s Kingdom?
- Am I growing gentler, kinder and more tolerant and sacrificial
in interpersonal relationships?
The Preach Better Seminar conducted
in Tiruchy, 22-24 May, was more than a programme. It was an event in the
lives of the 240 delegates who had come from all over India. Though the
Seminar was conducted in Tamilnadu, the percentage of participants from
non-Tamil States was more than 30%. It was heartening to see several pastors,
some of them seniors, of both mainline and free Churches, sitting with
humility to learn. Thanks to the leaders of parachurch organisations who
had sponsored some of their staff to this Seminar. The climate was quite
hot when the Seminar began, but God granted good showers on the second
day!
The most important thing about the Seminar was the manifest
presence of God throughout. Raybin and Sanjeevi with their team members
led the singing. The 5-stanza hymn, Spirit of the Living God, composed
by Leonard Ravenhill was the theme song. A spirit of brokenness gripped
the delegates every time this song was sung. I taught the following three
subjects, one each day, in 15 sessions, totalling 15 hours—
1. How to Receive Messages from God, 2. How
to Construct a Sermon, 3. How to Preach
The simultaneous translation into Tamil was done superbly
well by Mr. E.L. Ephraim. Thank God for the rich anointing and the good
health He granted us for this challenging assignment. Ruso was the Programme
Coordinator.
Each of the delegates on registration was given a cricket
cap with the slogan, I love my Bible! It was a sight to see everyone,
men and women, wearing it as they were walking to the dining hall from
the auditorium in the hot sun! Tender coconuts were served instead of
tea! The Camp coordination was meticulously done by Mr. D.M. Hastings.
The volunteers worked like bees! BYM Missionary Stephen and Brother Ezekiel
with a few volunteers handled the bookstalls. As and when a Bible Study
Aid was recommended, the delegates would rush to the stall! What thirst!
The Lord wonderfully met all the expenses of the Seminar.
All bills have been paid, and there’s a balance which is invested
in the literature ministry. Praise God for His goodness. Thank you for
your generosity and prayers. Friends have requested this Seminar in the
other States also with respective vernacular translations. The need is
there, but my question is, Where is time? Pray.
The Talks delivered in the 10 sessions of the Preach
Better Seminar are now made available in an attractive 10 DVD pack for
Rs. 750/- per set. This pack will be an asset to anyone who is in the
ministry of sharing God’s Word to small groups or large audience.
You can also gift a copy to your Pastor or a Preacher friend. You cannot
perhaps give them anything better! Kindly include Rs. 50/- for forwarding.
Immediately after the Seminar in Tiruchy I had to rush
to Hubli to participate as the Guest Speaker in the 10th
Anniversary Celebrations of the Operation Equip India ministry
led by its Director Mr. Tim Swauger. The ministry of this organisation
among the disabled and lepers is commendable. I spoke on “The
Believers’ Response to a Suffering World.” Joni’s
greetings sent through a DVD was prophetic and punching. How God turned
a mishap in her life to become a blessing to thousands all over the world!
She broke her neck in an accident in 1967 and has been confined to a wheelchair
since then. Her life-story is a testimony to God’s power being manifested
over human weakness. Buy her autobiography from a Christian bookstore.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has produced her story as a
film, Joni. Thrilling! She supplies mobility aids all over the world thro’
organisations like Operation Equip India in Hubli. Dear friend, don’t
waste your sorrows! Turn them into songs to God and service to man. 2
Corinthians 1:3,4 gives the most satisfying answer to the question, “Why
bad things happen to good people?” Here it is—
“Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our affliction, SO that we may be able to comfort
those who are in any affliction, with the same comfort with which
we ourselves are comforted by God!”
The Bible Revival Meetings in Mangalore
of Karnataka, 1-3 June, witnessed a visitation of God’s Spirit in
Revival blessing among His people. The meetings were organised by His
Harvesters, a fellowship of likeminded believers, in association
with all the Churches of the City. Several Pastors testified that the
Christians of this City heard such messages after many long years. Pray
that God would raise from here men like Dr. Augustine Sallins (1914-1985)
who was called the “Weeping Prophet of Karnataka.” I thank
God for my friend Mr. E.D.Chelladurai who translates for me from English
to Kannada in these meetings.
The three days I spent with the 250 students and the
faculty of the India Bible College in Kumbanad, Kerala,
14-16 June, refreshed me a lot. I handled three sessions each day. It
was so encouraging to see students from 14 States of India in this College.
Such an atmosphere helps students to develop their crosscultural adaptability
which is vital to missionary work. Being a non-seminarian I stand with
apprehensions whenever I go to address the students of the theological
colleges. I thank God for His special grace which equips me to minister
in such situations. Ministering to 250 Bible College Students means preparing
250 leaders for the Church of today and tomorrow. The teaching staff of
the Seminaries carry a tremendous responsibility on them in shaping the
lives of the youngsters committed to serve God. Pray much for them specifically.
The pioneering spirit of the Keralites is a boon to missionary work worldwide
provided there’s clear focus and channelisation.
Thank God for the ministry of Pastor L. Joseph of Muzhangal
Yutham (Warfare on Knees) based in Hosur near Bangalore.
He is an unassuming but a mightily anointed servant of God. All he has
is “vision” and “burden” for India. His prayer
handbooks in Tamil are like firewood for prayer altars! It was my privilege
to minister to his congregation in Hosur on June 30 & July 1. A few
years ago Pastor Joseph had started his ministry as a small prayer group.
Now over 3000 believers worship in his huge auditorium. Let’s intercede
that God would raise many such prayer movements in the North Indian States
also. Write to Muzhangal Yutham, 46/AA Shanthi Nagar West, Hosur 635 109,
Tel: 04344-221616, 226336, for a catalogue of Pastor Joseph’s Prayer
Handbooks in Tamil.
After about 20 years the Lord took me again to Pondicherry
on the 14th and 15th instant to preach His Word there. It was an Inter-Church
Revival Meeting organised by the Pondicherry Unit of the Youth For
Christ (YFC). Paul Isaac with his wife Shyla and the team did a tremendous
job in organising the meetings. There was participation from all the Churches.
Friends from surrounding places like Villupuram, Panruti, Tindivanam,
Cuddalore and Neyveli had come. On both the days I spoke on Revival
as the dire need of the Church today. 800 to 1000 Christians attended
the meetings and were richly edified. Eventhough it was YFC which hosted
the programme, no promotional work was done for this organisation. The
focus was on Revival—and only that! Leonard Ravenhill wrote his
world-famous book, Why Revival Tarries, in the year 1959. After
about 50 years now, we have to ask, Why Revival Still Tarries?
The results of the Presidential election in India are
announced today. We must pray regularly that Mrs. Pratibha Patil would
be given God’s wisdom for her new responsibility. What really bothers
us is that the Presidential election was so highly politicized. Everything
is politicized today. Once the Church was talking about “National”
politics. The Missions were talking about “Church” politics.
What shall we do now about “Missions” politics? There’s
a saying, “As the Church goes, so goes the world!” The Church
is the salt of the world. If that salt has lost its saltiness...?
Thank God for the life and testimony of Ruth
Billy Graham who at 80 had her Homecall on 14 June 2007. How
she took care of their children, when Billy kept travelling all over the
world, is a great challenge to every mother, especially the wives of preachers.
I met her in Amsterdam ’83 and had a brief chat. What impressed
me most was her unassuming character! She was moving around in that huge
auditorium and talking to the delegates so normally that nobody would
think she was the wife of the most renowned Evangelist of the world. She
had once said that the daily newspaper had been her prayer handbook! Being
the daughter of missionary parents who laboured in China, she always carried
a missionary burden. Keep Dr. Billy Graham, now 89, in your regular prayers
as he struggles with many illnesses.
The Operation Mobilisation India in collaboration with
a Publishing House of Poland has brought out the Family Bible
to influence children at the right time in the right direction. The 426-page
Family Bible with magnificent paintings of the Bible stories from Genesis
to Revelation is a godly alternative to the increasing number of TV programmes
and books that promote ungodly fantasies, superstition, destorted beliefs,
perverted values and the presence and power of evil forces. The Bible
text is from the New Living Translation (NLT). Art paper and durable hardboard
binding. Weight 1.2 kg. Made in Poland. Ideal for children upto 10 years.
Price Rs. 400/- only. Purchase from OM or other Bookstores. You can order
from me also. Add Rs. 75/- for forwarding.
It has been a burden in my heart for quite sometime
to send out into various States of India several mini-vans loaded with
my books, VCDs, my wife’s books, Study Bibles, Study Aids, etc.,
to meet Christians at their doorsteps, Church gates and in their localities.
Folks are otherwise too busy to visit Christian Bookstores, or several
towns don’t have a bookstore. House-to-House, Street-to-Street and
Church-to-Church literature ministry has no equal. As a first step, God
willing, a Maruti Omni Cargo will be purchased for book sales in Tamilnadu
in a month or two. These Vans with books display facility will be called
Bible Wheels. Pray much for this humble endeavour.
Teaching the Word of God to Christians in order to lead
them to maturity and establish them in sound doctrine, is a burden implanted
in my heart ever since I started my Bible Teaching Ministry in 1963. There
is not enough of corrective teaching against the floods of false doctrine
which confuse God’s people. The Lord enabled me to lead a 5-day
Sound Doctrine Seminar in Tamilnadu, English to Tamil,
in 1997, under the auspices of the Blessin...g Youth Mission. The same
was repeated in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and
Orissa, with the respective vernacular translations. The thousands who
attended these Seminars remain grateful for the timely input. It’s
now time, after 10 years, to go for the second Sound Doctrine Seminar.
Participation by selection. 250 to 300 candidates would be invited. Ask
for an Application Form. I encourage you to apply if you can follow teaching
in English or in Tamil. Over 40 volunteers gathered for a day of prayer
and planning in the venue of the Seminar on 07-07-07. A spirit of prayer
with unusual burden fell on all of us that day. The Enemy will be extremely
furious because such corrective teaching will unmask his face. A huge
prayer force needs to be built up. Start praying regularly from now on
whether or not you apply.
My programmes for July & August—
July 27-29 |
Inter-Church Revival Meetings by BYM, Cuttack, Orissa |
Aug 11 |
Madurai Bible Conference |
16-19 |
Pastors Conference & a Public Meeting, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh |
25-26 |
General Body Meeting of the Blessing Youth Mission, Kodaikanal |
Please send your mobile number by SMS to Mr. Ruso at 98423-68424 if you
desire to receive instant news of my programmes. Thank you for your letters,
enquiries and gifts. I started preaching while I was 16. I am 61 now.
My prayer is from Psalm 71:17,18, “Since my youth, O God, You
have taught me, and to this day I declare Your marvellous deeds. Even
when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your
might to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come!”
R. STANLEY
I Recommend...
The Study Bibles & Study Aids displayed
in the Preach Better Seminar, Tiruchy,
22-24 May 2007, as recommended by Brother R. Stanley, an Indian Bible
Teacher
1. The NIV Scofield Study Bible III One of the oldest
among Study Bibles, now adapted for modern readers, which served as a
foundation for many other Study Bibles.
2. The NKJV Study Bible A Bible, with the mind of a
scholar and the heart of a pastor, with more than 2400 pages of text and
helps by eminent scholars. Non-sectarian and well-balanced.
3. The NIV Quest Study Bible A Question-Answer Bible
for anyone who looks for answers to the puzzling passages in the Word
of God, suitable for new believers and mature Christians.
4. The Holman HCSB Illustrated Study Bible The most
informative and visual Bible with pictures, maps, charts and illustrations
so you may discover the people, places and events of Scripture in a whole
new light. A Bible with its background!
5. The Experiencing God Study Bible (NIV) A Bible that
literally focuses on your relationship with God. This is a Bible for knowing
and doing the will of God. The Word of God becomes like a personal letter!
6. The Amplified Bible A boon to those who have not
studied Hebrew or Greek. Gives various shades of meaning for the original
words.
7. The Message—The Bible in Contemporary Language
Available in MP3 CD also. Young and old fall in love with its freshness.
8. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge 500,000 Bible
references! You cannot have more references than what you find in this
unusual volume.
9. The NIV Nave’s Topical Bible
10. The Outline Bible Every verse in the Scripture outlined.
Good for personal meditation, group study and sermon preparation. The
best among Outline Bibles.
11. Richards Complete Bible Dictionary Rich in historical
and devotional content.
12. Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia (5 Vols.)
A must for the library of any serious Bible student.
13. Rose Book of Bible Charts
14. Cruden’s Complete Concordance
15. Unlocking the Bible by J. David Pawson Available
as DVDs, VCDs, MP3 and in bookform.
16. 1000 Bible Study Outlines by F.E.Marsh
17. The Complete Works of E.M.Bounds on Prayer An unparallelled
classic!
18. Spritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders The King of
books on Christian Leadership!
New Arrivals
19. Spurgeon’s Sermon Notes Over 250 sermons including
notes, commentary and illustrations by the Prince of Preachers / 725 pages
/ Hard Cover
20. Nave’s Complete Word Study Topical Bible (CD-ROM included)
Nearly 2000 pages / Hard Cover
Please purchase these precious items from Christian
Bookstores or wherever available.
If you want my help, write to me specifing the title(s). Thank you.
|
