'Driven' to find out more....

What an awesome end to part one!

As you know our driver had been attending some (in part) of our meetings. He has been very helpful albeit burly in character and have enjoyed teasing him most days. This is the first time a driver has ever been interested in what we do and observed our activities.

He has also seen me tease the youth and even hotel staff wherever we go and somehow we have related to one another in a positive way. I asked you recently to pray for him. At the end of a very long day as we pulled up at the hotel, he asked if I would pray with him. I knew at once this needed taking further. After a chat I told him that Jesus loved him and so did I, and that he needed to make some changes in his life and accept Jesus as Lord. I hugged him & we prayed together and he asked Jesus into his heart.

This was an awesome moment and this was for all of us a wonderful event that I will never forget. The next day (our last in this area), we gave him a bible and also a N.test. for his daughter. I later learned that his daughter who was married had been possessed by a demon, and her husband left her. Selvin (the father ~ our driver) had witnessed a change in her after another pastor had prayed for her and told us that she was interested in Christianity.

It's awesome to be part of a chain that God uses to speak to people and we give thanks for his response. Pastor David is arranging a visit (on return from the mission) to follow up with Selvin and pray with his family. Please pray that the whole family will be saved!

Village ministry

Today we travelled into the mountainous areas and early evening we met up with a village pastor called 'George'. He was a man with boldness and strength in his voice but clearly a man of God. He led us on foot to a tribal village that he spends time with on occasions. You can see us walking up a path surrounded by green pepper vines (as in salt and pepper) towards that village.

We met as is the 'norm' in what appeared to be the center of this village where around 30 kids greeted us with joyful, happy faces.

We observed that very near by was a Hindu temple and the reality of the spiritual opposition was very evident. In fact a few hours earlier we were struggling with all kinds of silly issues and even Kym and I were a bit 'frayed at the ends'. If only we realised earlier that the enemy was working against us and that might explain some of these issues.(We took time to pray in the foot path and proceeded onward.)

Another IVCM pastor taught the children a new song to which some of the adults tried to join in. Pastor George spoke to the kids and he can be seen raising his hand with the temple in the back ground. Kym did a children's message and I followed with a gospel message. I was especially aiming at the few adults (mostly old) who were still gathering in response to the worship and activities we were performing.

9 adults responded and made a decision to follow Jesus which was so encouraging and we gave them each a copy of the N.Testament to take home. Pastor George made himself familiar for follow up later on and invited them to his church some 15 minute walk away.

A very special thing happened after we distributed the bibles and prayed with these new believers, was a small young boy came up to Kym and I and asked if we would pray for him! These are beautiful moments we treasure as this was clearly his own response, and we also gave him a NT.

Thanks for your prayers and encouraging emails that some of you have sent, sorry if we cannot reply to all, but it is encouraging to know our efforts to keep you updated are helpful.

Kids & Kids (Goat ones!)

Tuesday evening had us visiting a very rural village which we had been to once before. This time IVCM has appointed a pastor who travels to this village and helps a few believers. As you can see from the pics ... it's very rural goats/cows and all!

It always amazes me that within moments of arriving some plastic chairs appear and some mats for the kids to sit on. The one issue however that appeared to be a challenge was going to be the lack of light as it was approaching dusk. About 25ft away from us was a single power pole with numerous wires hanging off it, and before you could say Ardu... (Tamil for Goat) a man went shinning up bare foot with a flood lamp trailing a pair of wires. In moments and with no safety equipment (as you can imagine) he strapped the light to the pole and had it connected...and then there was light ! Approx 40 kids and about 35 adults filled the village square.

Kym preached the gospel with some difficulty as we had no portable PA system (something we desp need) and the kids were very unruly at times. All kinds of distractions from bleating goats and a few drunken people on the side lines. At times I felt this was an impossible situation. I then rounded off using the light of the world illustration using visual aids. With a further enlightenment of the gospel, I felt brave enough to make an 'alter call' for people to respond. Approx 24 adults (inc. a few older youth) responded to the messages.. Praise the Lord.

I introduced pastor Immanuel (IVCM) to these people after praying with them. Pastor David interpreted the prayer of response as well as what to do next, and this was so encouraging. Please keep praying as despite the battles and aggravations God is working thru us.

'Meet and eat'

Approx. 85 + Women turned up to the first IVCM women's meeting in this town. More would have come but some stayed at home to obtain their weekly supply of water, as this can happen at any time during the morning.

Kym delivered the main message which was greatly appreciated and Rod spoke after the tea break with a time of reflection. The meeting concluded with distribution of saris and bibles to nominated ladies who were so pleased to receive these.

One lady seen here can be seen getting a bible but then later requested prayer from Kym, as she was potentially facing a gynaecological operation and was extremely anxious about this happening.

A very successful meeting with positive feed back which concluded with lunch as we call it 'meet and eat', all part of IVCM 's getting people together from rural churches

People all the way....:

This evening had us concluding the day with a visit to another rural church around 7pm. Not many people were present and if I am honest our reaction was one of disappointment. After about 20 minutes of worship led by a very gifted young man others started to arrive.

I recognised a couple of young people who I had recently baptised and their enthusiasm along with others changed our whole outlook. we had a really special time of fellowship, who were very attentive to both Kym and I as we spoke.

The children were delightful as you can see, and the young people were so excited to receive a new Tamil bible.

Some more 'teddies' were handed out and in particular to one handicapped young man who is permanently on crutches. He plays the bongos and sings with great passion and you can see he is devoted to Christ.

More saris were given out by Kym and this was followed by prayer, one lady asked for prayer for her eyesight which had been defective from birth. A real test of our faith and we are praying for healing!

Please also pray for our driver, who faithfully takes us around from place to place. This he does without any questions from 9am to 9pm every day so far. What is amazing tho is that he is now attending some of the services and meetings for some of the time. Tonight he heard the gospel and has witnessed baptism and other activities. Please pray for him and us as we look for the right opportunity to share Jesus one to one.

Running out of steam a bit, but have one more full day before we have a day off. Please keep praying. Thank you

Teaching the teachers:

A packed day which demanded our full concentration as the whole morning was devoted to a pastors seminar for independent rural village pastors. We hire a small hall and provide transport subsidies and lunch, so that they may come together for fellowship and teaching. Here you can see some of them in worship.

A huge responsibility to lead this program and to teach them. Our recent training at Bible college made us better equipped to do this, and on this occasion we were able to use some visual aids via  projector. Kym spoke on Jonah and then myself on leadership principals.


This was a very special time of fellowship and many people gave encouraging remarks. After lunch I spoke to the newly formed group of 'trainee pastors' as part of my college placement again on leadership. Some IVCM pastors also attended. This was the actual 'launch' of this new program, which needs a name (suggestions welcome!). The aim is to enable men who have a heart for the ministry but who have had no formal training and also could not afford to do so, to meet up on a regular basis for ministry training. 

Sunday: A day of rest??!!!

A total of 3 services today so we have well and truly been blessed albeit quite demanding as we have ministered in so many different ways! A wonderful privilege to distribute saris to widows, and Bibles to the needy. Their expressions of gratitude leave such an impression upon our hearts and makes this so worthwhile for all the effort in raising finance and coming here to demonstrate God's love for them.

One new church that has become involved with IVCM sits on the top of a small hill and as you can see is a good walk to reach it. Such rural settings signify the importance of this ministry. The children are such a colourful picture and so good to see them come under the influence of the gospel at an early age.

On our way to the evening service we saw small rural shops with friendly people whom we are able to engage with even in a small way.

Beauty for ashes:

Sunday morning had me planting the two small raised walls to the entrance of the new church we were going to anoint, and dedicate to the Lord. A small crowd of excited people gathered to watch and participate in this brief ceremony.

The very first service was soon held following which more Bibles and saris were distributed, a real blessing for them.

Such a joy to be involved with such lovely believers and be there to encourage them! It was a beautiful service with such passion for Christ expressed during the service in worship and prayer.

You could hear (even if we did not understand) an elderly man pray tenderly with such fervour that had me and others moved to the point of tears! And this woman was fully in love with Jesus as she worshipped him with her whole being, tears running down her face.

What an awesome thing it is to see these beautiful people saved by grace and showing true love to the one and only true God that we also worship. There is something marvellous to know that these and many others, have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour in remote rural areas of India


Finally, so great to see this blind man (who we have met before) lead the church in worship and be totally included in the service as he helped us worship by playing the drum. Another fabulous picture of believers serving Christ wholeheartedly regardless of any physical disability.