'Cow's' and 'Wow's'

You can see in the picture here another exampleof the variation of IVCM's ministry. People (inc kids) come out and literally meet in the middle of the village at night. Kym preached and I did a kids talk. What an awesome experience! This is 'Street Ministry'.....taking Church (without the building) to where the people are. The local neighbours stand and watch and listen to everything...... I saw some laughing at the kids talk illustration.This is where we used the DVD and projector to show the Jesus film project. This style of ministry ... WORKS!!

We started at 10am this morning and finished at 10pm ! 3 services to preach, children's ministry, and distribute saris to widows and bibles to those in need, plus of course 1 hour of individual prayer.

Prayer is a vital ingredient as you will have gathered. All in all an exhausting day by the time we got back and had dinner, got to bed around midnight..but what a day!

The evening service in this particular village was on the 3rd storey of an unusual building.. not your glossy mag kinda place. Had to be seen to be believed. = approx 20ft x 20ft with a brick wall partition about 3ft high in the middle. Walls rough brick resembling an animal shelter, but inside we found about 35 people inc kids in full worship without one single instrument! (see pic left)

Despite our surrounds this 'church' was an amazing assembly of God's people. I have come to the conclusion that I am now seriously challenged about how we "do church" in the Western world and how much we spend on buildings; esp after the earlier service when two people got converted because of open sides!

Perhaps instead of putting up walls we should be knocking them down, if it were not for -7oC or 114oF (for our American friends)..........????

We have also been challenged by the need for prayer ourselves. We find with the things we are confronted with (often visually) that we feel perhaps inadequate.

I know that familiar saying 'it's not in our own strength', but somehow the reality of a dear brother or sister on their knees in front of you with expectant eyes (often with tears) demands your whole being as you lift them up to the Lord...

Finally, a couple of other stories.... First here is living proof of first the request in prayer and the answer provided for. Pastor Paul and his father (see pic) had been praying for some cows to enable the profit to help support his ministry... here's the result!

And then here's Kym on the motorbike of Pastor Solomon had just enjoyed aride with him driving it up a rural lane. This was another great provision which enables him to get around the various rural villagesand save time with buses and lots of walking. He can also take otherhelpers with him if necessary. What a practical blessing!