Dateline India

April 11, 2007

Hi friends,

Thank you for your continued prayers. Things are going along in a really special way and we are continuing to see God work in ways that only He can. We are all healthy and strong by God's grace and we are looking forward to beginning VBS here at the Banaswadi campus. Today (tuesday) the staff said they are anticipating 600 kids for this VBS but that several of the surrounding villages are beginning Hindu festivals tomorrow so pray that the kids will be able to get through all the distractions and hinderances. Also, transportation is an issue so pray that the Lord will provide.

Yesterday we headed out on our overnighter in some of the remote places in India. Words fall short in describing the abject poverty. It's really so difficult to even describe. The first village we got to was Bandakadi Palli. The children and many adults were already gathered and singing as we arrived. We had the service and 35 men, women, and children came to the Lord.

For many of the children, we were the first "fair complexion" people they had ever seen. You should have seen the looks. The children really seemed to take up with LeaAnn. She is extremely fair with blonde hair and the kids followed her everywhere. They also enjoyed watching Patty take video and they would try and get behind her to look at the viewfinder. Many of the people still live in grass top huts with mud walls. Patty even said at one point; "I feel like I'm in the middle of a National Geographic documentary."

After we ate, we headed to the next village where we would be staying for the evening. The village is in a mountainous "jungle" area of India where in October, November, and December they have trouble with bears. Glad it's April!! Apparently, there is a fruit in this village that is plentiful and comes due during those months so the bears come in for their share. We had a service although the people had been sitting, packed in this building for a couple of hours by the time we arrived. There were no professions of faith but not unusual in this case. Over a period of a few years, the entire village has converted from Hindu to Christianity.

The overnight stay was "different" (lots to tell you individually) but uneventful for the most part. Here's where the cool part starts. We show up at the next village only to hear that a truck had come into town looking for workers. Since work is hard to find for these people, many went including almost every church member and believer. The little pastor was so disappointed. We began singing and folks began showing up. All non-believers. Only a dozen or so but would it surprise you to hear that ALL of them, men, women, and children, came to the Lord? You really do need to see it to believe it.

After one more stop and 9 more professions of faith we headed home to collapse. Tommorrow is the big kickoff. Thanks for your prayers!

In His Love,
John

July 12, 2007

Hi friends,

I need your help to pray for a man in India. I quote from World Magazine:

"Sudha Simon undoubtedly began to worry when her husband did not return home after a Saturday evening errand run on June 9th. The 4 a.m. phone call she received from him the next morning did little to assuage her fears: "Help, I have been kidnapped! They are beating me to death!" came the voice of her husband. Then the line went dead.

With the recent increase in attacks against Christians in India, the possibility exists that CHARLES SIMON, an Indian national, was kidnapped by religious fanatics. The husband-wife team direct the high-profile Kids for the Kingdom ministry in the Indian city of Chennai, a weekly outreach that gives more than 2,000 children warm, nutritious meals and spiritual truths through its Bible Clubs."

Folks, Chennai is on the south western coastline about 6 hours away from our people over there in Bangalore. It's only 6 hrs because of the roads. I would imagine it wouldn't take more than 3 1/2 hrs or so here in America. I've contacted the ministry we work with and it's leader Dr. Paul Devakumar to find out what I can. It's been several days and I've gotten no response so it seems to me that they are being especially careful themselves. I'm not even sure that Charles Simon and Paul Devakumar know each other but being in the same ministry that close to each other would lead me to believe they do.

Please pray. The Hindu leadership (which includes all political leaders as well as priests) simply do not like the freedom that Jesus Christ gives the people who have been in bondage for so long.

We are so blessed,
John

July 19, 2007

Hi again, friends,

Thank you for your recent prayers regarding Charles Simon of Chennai, India, and his captivity. I reported that I had contacted our person, Dr. Paul Devakumar, in Bangalore, to see if he knew of this incident. He reported to me that he did not know him and, in fact, had not heard of the kidnapping.

Then he gave me this report. I thought since so many of you followed us in that journey and prayed for us that I would give you specifics on his ministry there so you could continue to pray for him.

Remember those standing firm in their faith in the midst of overwhelming odds,
John

Our very dear Bro. John and Sis. Patty,

Greetings to you in the Precious Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Thank you very much for your e-mail. It was nice to hear from you. We are very sorry for not being able to reply immediately.
Thank you for all your prayers for our health. I had to undergo Angioplasty with stent implantation on the May 15th. Now I am okay but feel very uneasy at times, breathlessness etc. I have been taking very strong medication which the doctors have prescribed to clear the other two blocks in the heart. Rebecca is also undergoing medication for her kidney problems. Please continue to pray for our health.

The Lord gave us a very fruitful time of ministry from the 17th to the 27th of June. We had the dedication of our new church at Hoysala Nagar on Sunday the 17th June.This is our outreach church and about 50 believers gather here for worship. Most of them are from non Christian backgounds, which means they are just first generation christians. We need to pray much for them and their daily walk with the Lord, as they face a lot of opposition for their faith and they are really paying the price for their faith in Jesus. From the 18th to 20th June, we were able to have a blessed time of ministry at our mission fields in Andhra Pradesh. 6 new believers were baptized at our mission field in Rayachotti. Many new believers gave their hearts to the Lord. Medical camps were also conducted simultaneously during the same time at the villages. We praise the Lord for all that was accomplished at the villages.The need is so very great and we trust the Lord to help and reach out with the love of the Lord. On the 23rd June, a youth retreat was conducted at our church centre in Banaswadi. 200 young people participated in the retreat and were greatly blessed. On Sunday, the 24th June, during the worship service at Banaswadi in Bangalore, 11 new believers were baptized at our church. We praise the Lord for these new believers. Later we all moved to our church in Veeranahalli, in the outskirts of Bangalore, where the shelter for the church to gather which is still under construction was dedicated to the Lord. More than 1000 people participated and worshipped the Lord. This just showed us the greatness of the Lord. We are trusting Him to provide all the needs of the completion of the shelter like, the flooring, the windows, and all the electrical work and the sanction of electricity from the Government.The shelter stands today to show how great our Lord is. We say this because we were pushed away from Veeranahallli several times for sharing the Gospel. But the Lord gave us the grace to be patient and persevere. We are seeing the fruit of the labour. All glory be to Him!

The Lord has enabled us to dedicate a new church at Heerandahalli in the outskirts of Bangalore on the 8th July. 9 new believers all from non Christian backgrounds were baptised.

Thank you very much for all your love and concern towards the work here at IFCM. Those who would like to give for IFCM can make a check OR a demand draft in the name of "INDIA FOR CHRIST MINISTRIES" and send it by Registered Mail to our address given below:

Rev. Dr. K. Paul Devakumar
Founder - President
INDIA FOR CHRIST MINISTRIES
739, Church Lane, 4th Main Road
A.Munireddy Layout, Horamavu Main Road
Dodda Banaswadi
Bangalore-560043, Karnataka, INDIA

All here at IFCM join us in sending our best wishes to you all.

With warm Christian greetings and prayers,

Yours in His Matchless Mission,
Paul & Rebecca Devakumar.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Hi friends,

I just got the following letter from our friends in Bangalore, India. Take time to read about the great work going on there. Should you feel led to give to this ministry, I've included the instructions of how to do so on the Donation Information tab.

Great way to celebrate a risen Savior!
John

Our very dear Bro. John & Sis. Patty,

Greetings to you in the Precious Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Trust you are keeping well. Thank you very much for your prayers and support. We praise and thank the Lord for the wonderful way in which He has been leading us until now. As we continue to trust and depend on the Lord, He continues to lead us and guide us miraculously.

During the first week of March’08, when we visited our mission fields in Kayathur and Pombur, in Villipuram District of Tamil Nadu, more than 100 adults and about 100 children stood up to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord after we preached the gospel and the invitation to accept Jesus was given. The people listened to the Word of God intently and gave their hearts to the Lord. During the mission trip a new believer who comes from a staunch, Hindu background was baptized at a glorious worship service in Chennai. Many from her family who are still Hindus listened to the gospel and we believe the Word of God has touched them.

We praise the Lord for the ministry at West Bengal, Assam and Sikkim. In the northern parts of Bengal, which are mainly tea plantations and in Assam, the work is progressing under very difficult circumstances. The people among whom we are working are in deep poverty, most of them are unemployed. They work mainly as laborers. But this has not hindered them in growing in their relationship with the living Lord. The children in these mission fields are suffering from malnutrition and do not have access to education. The Child Development Centres, that we have started among these children, for their holistic development is working wonders and it is a great blessing to the church. We are witnessing the parents of these children flocking to the church to listen to the Word of God. A 6 year old, girl child in Assam was suffering from Brain malaria and the doctors gave up all hope of the survival of the child. The parents brought her to the church and we fasted and prayed. The Lord answered our prayers and now she is completely healed. The parents have opened their home for the church to gather and worship the Lord. There are more than 100 children, who attend the IFCM CDC program in Kochugoan Assam. There is an urgent need for a shelter for the children to gather. We request you to kindly pray for this pressing need.

At our mission fields in Jammu, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, many new believers are being prepared for baptism. Next week we will be visiting some of these mission fields to baptize new believers. There is a lot of opposition at these places. We will greatly appreciate your prayers so that the glory of the Lord may be manifested and Satan will be put to shame.

We request you to kindly pray for a vehicle, which we need for our mission trips. The Sumo, which we have been using for the past 10 years, is totally, worn out and we are not able to take it to our mission fields.

Please continue to stand with us in the ministry with your prayers and support. We are praying much for you and your family.

We wish you a very happy Easter!

Yours in the Resurrected Savior,

Paul & Rebecca Devakumar.

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay." Hebrew 10:35-37

If you want to give to this ministry send a check or money order REGISTERED MAIL.

Make it payable to:
INDIA FOR CHRIST MINISTRIES
739, 4th Main Road, A.Munireddy Layout,
Horamavu Main Road,
Dodda Banaswadi, Bangalore-560043

Your payment must be sent registered mail.

If not, they will receive an opened envelope with just a note. A registered letter will not be opened except by Dr. Paul or Rebecca.

Thanks!
John