Strengthening Relational Connections in India

The Lord used the team that ministered in India as conduits of blessings. Everywhere we went we continued to strengthen relational connections with pastors, their wives, families, and ministry leaders that we have previously worked with. We served in tribal villages with people that had never heard the gospel message. What an honor and privilege it was to see faces that were downcast receive the hope of Jesus Christ. Many of these people had walked from long distances to come and hear the message of hope of Jesus Christ. The team all felt that just as these tribal people had come to hear the story, we needed to hear their story of the persecution they live in. These tribal pastors invited us into their homes that were mud huts with thatched roofs. Some of these families have nothing to sit on, no running water, and dirt floors. They walk in persecution and threats on their lives and their families. It was sobering to see and have these images forever imprinted on our hearts. May God deposit in your hearts a heart to heart connection as He did for the team. In the coming months, updates of some of these people we served will be shared in hopes that the Father will continue to touch your hearts how to partner with the work in India, as He has ours. The team ministered in states of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh and visited the state of West Bengal.

Encouraging Pastors and Ministry Leaders
In the state of Bihar, which is northern India, we served a ministry leader named Mohan Paul and his wife Neelu. While we were there the team traveled to the village of his birth. We prayed over children in a mission school and people throughout this village. This is an unreached people group called “Yadav.” As we walked through the village, he took us to his boyhood home. His parents still live in the home, but were not there when we went. Mohan and his family visit the village frequently to continue the work there. He asked the team to pray blessings over the land, the village, and his home. As we began to pray, the presence of the Lord rained on that outside courtyard, as the Word of the Lord was spoken over him. He began to weep as the Holy Spirit ministered to him in the deep recesses of his heart. The team went to many places in Bihar, and this was one of the testimonies that were a highlight of our time in this state. It was like water from heaven being poured over His servant to refresh him in the midst of the journey. What we recognized was how God takes us full circle. He was refreshed in his birthplace, the place where he began was also the place he received insight from the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord rained over the state of Bihar in the different villages we ministered in. God used the team to refresh His servants by pouring His love over the people. They had felt like they have been forgotten. This area is known as a “Missionary Graveyard.” What the team encountered was the life of Jesus Christ in the midst of all the extreme rubble.

While in Andhra Pradesh, the team traveled to villages of unreached people groups of the Koya, Lambadi, Madiga and Erukala tribes to mention a few. Each area was a type of ministry network in different regions. Each region has a tribal coach with men they disciple that are pastors in these tribal villages. Just as the apostle Paul traveled house to house and broke bread, the team did as well. We sensed our coming to them visiting their homes, villages, and congregations made a statement that we were willing to give up comforts and be with them. What was a blessing to them having us in their villages, was more of an honor for us to be with them. It was a time of learning first hand their way of life and culture and provided us opportunities to bless these regions.

One village we went to, the wife of the pastor was blessed to receive a gift bag that had been sent from a local church in Indiana. Ladies from this church had sewn and filled the bags with items to bless tribal pastor’s wives. In this particular village the team was asked to share from our hearts with the people. After that time we began to pray over them. One young boy received prayer and was healed by the hand of the Lord and was able to speak. His first word was “Jesus.” He had been mute for two years, because of a Hindu ritual that had been performed and a necklace placed on his neck. Since that time, he had not been able to speak. His mother took a stand repented for the act and removed the necklace. The boy immediately spoke. Another victory was of a young man that had a very high fever. His clothes were wringing wet because of the fever. We sensed to ask this young man if he knew Jesus and his response was, “No.” He encountered Christ that day and His healing power, the gift of eternal life, and was baptized by the power of the Holy Spirit and began speaking in his prayer language. What a joy it was to see his countenance and body change by the manifestation of the Spirit of God touching this young man. There were those that had never heard the gospel message and accepted and encountered Christ that day. They were all later instructed about baptism and were baptized after a Sunday service.

Women Blessing Women
The team traveled to an area in Andhra Pradesh called “Wazedu.” This area is known for violence, rebellion, oppression and persecution. It was the first time that women have been allowed to travel into the area to minister. The ministry leader, in this area, and his family have gone through many trials. This leaders name is John Victor Katta and his mother’s name is Subagyabathi, trying to pronounce her name was a difficult task. The joy on John Victor’s mother’s face to see women coming to minister was one we will never forget. She wept and embraced our host pastor’s wife, Ruth, and the women on the team. John Victor and his mother lost a father and husband a couple of years ago due to persecution of his faith in Jesus Christ. In these meetings, there were around 500 people that came from the region and from a neighboring state of Madhya Pradesh. Approximately 80 plus percent were women. In one evening over 100 souls came to encounter Christ as their Savior and there were more the following morning. John Victor and the tribal pastors he oversees continue to disciple these individuals that encountered Christ. This village was definitely a visible demonstration of the Kingdom of God.

The team was able to bless some of the women that came that were of a poorer caste with sari’s. This village reached out to families from the state of Madhya Pradesh to provide food and shelter until their homes are safe to return to. Their state was in the midst of terrorist activity and they had witnessed others loosing their lives for professing their faith in Jesus Christ. The team could sense the flowing of the Father’s love to these ladies. There was no language barrier when the Spirit of God connected our hearts. That was what happened with so many of these women. As we would embrace them it was like the very depth of their soul cried out. ¬¬We could sense the pain from things they have gone through and the love of their Heavenly Father pouring over their souls. Again, the refreshing rain of the presence of God was evident that night. The team was privileged to stay in this village in the home of John Victor. It was definitely community with over 400 people sleeping on plastic tarps under the sky and all eating together. It was a gift from God that will be forever imprinted on our hearts. The team received the blessing by praying, staying, communing, and breaking bread with these individuals. To Him be the glory for all that was accomplished, all He asks is for willing vessels!

Heart to Heart Connections - India

2 Corinthians 12:15 says, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls …” Each place we went, our hearts were to pour out all the Lord has deposited within us to those we met. It was a joy to spend all God has graciously entrusted to us for the souls of our brothers and sisters in India. Each time we go we continue to see God wanting to release His best and that truly was the case again for this outreach.

We would like to share some of the ways that we can continue to pour into some of our brothers in India who are part of the “harvest force” that are advancing the Kingdom in the tribal forest regions. All funds can be designated as “Mission Needs India/scooter.” There are tribal coaches that walk to the villages which are areas they oversee. The terrain and conditions are not favorable or in some cases unsafe. ¬For example, one coach was attacked by a wild boar last year and nearly lost his life. They need transportation like scooters or a motorcycle in one case, because of these conditions. The cost per scooter is $800 and there are four that have needs in this area. Another need is a generator which costs $800. Electricity is turned off either because of brown outs (scheduled power outages), or outages restricted by Hindu led governmental leaders that do not want to Christian meetings to take place. The director of this initiative is in need of a computer that would cost approximately $650. All of these are areas to pray about. We trust God to supply their needs and may He touch the hearts of His people. Each team member that served on this mission to India will be sharing these opportunities with their ministry partners trusting God to pour into these harvest fields of India.

Master’s Touch asks for your prayerful consideration in sowing into the return mission later this fall. The total cost for this mission was $2,700 and we believe God to bring in the resources to sow towards the return mission to India this fall. If you sense the Lord leading you in this direction you may designate your contribution as “Mission Outreach India.”

Master’s Touch Prayer Focus

PRAY FOR:

• Wisdom and revelation for Master’s Touch Ministries. (Eph. 1:17-19)

• To see and hear the council of the Lord and to speak His word faithfully. (Jer. 23:18, 28)

• Prophetic Insight for the people and nations Master’s Touch Ministries serves. (Phil. 1:9-11)

• For a servant heart. (Matt. 20:26)

• Integrity in all aspects of ministry and for Godly character to be reflected in all Master’s Touch Ministries is involved with. (1 Thes. 2:4-8)

• Attributes of Jesus Christ to be manifested personally and in all ministry service

• Balance in the being and the doing in personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 10:38-42)

• Hungarian pastors Paul and Kati Henderson for wisdom in their time of transition.

INDIA PRAYER NEEDS:
• For the team that served in India: Robert, Brian, Robbie, and Charlene

• For the souls that encountered Jesus to attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ

• For the host pastors, tribal pastors, their wives and families protection against terrorist attack or harm

• For the pastors and ministry leaders the team served to continue to be encouraged by the Lord and strengthened in the work that has been entrusted to them

• For God to raise up the provision for many of the needs that were witnessed in these different tribal regions

• For God to release revelation, insight, and strategies for our continued work in the nation of India and for the return mission in the fall

Thank you for your continued partnership, prayers and support!