Right Hand Ministries
RHM: PO Box 12385 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 rhmhope1@gmail.com
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GOD and Sinners Reconciled
December Update
Dear RHM Friends,
"Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
GOD and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies.
With angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King."
I hope this timeless treasure of a song has not become outdated in your church or mind. The ultimate reason for His coming to this earth is found in the words, "GOD and sinners reconciled." I'm not sure of the spiritual value of most of the activities which surround this season; He knows. But one thing we can say here in India about the Christmas season: it is a great time to not only share the love of Christ through gifts and good deeds, but to share the REASON for His coming. All of mankind was separated from GOD because of our sins (Isaiah 59:2). Through the sinless Sacrifice of our Lord JESUS Christ, this separation has been done away with as we repent of our sins and put our faith only in His precious Blood to save us. This Gospel is preached in every meeting we have during this time.
We thank GOD for those of you who have responded in giving to the Christmas project. Forgive me for over-estimating the needs for this project; now that some things have been purchased and we have a better idea as to the cost involved, it's not quite as high as I was previously thinking. I was thinking $6,000 might be sufficient, $7,000 being more than enough. But $5,500 should meet all the needs. So far $4,260 has been given, so another $1,200 or so would be great. If the Lord puts that upon anyone's heart (the full amount or less), we would ask you not to designate toward "HOPE Christmas". The reason being is that HOPE's Christmas needs are probably already met, most of this $4,260 having been designated for "HOPE Christmas". If you're only interested in giving for HOPE, that is fine. After prayer we would decide what to do with any excess funds, usually going toward some need within people's lives, small work projects, or needed purchase. Examples: we have 2 children in HOPE who will need some dental work, perhaps major. Another girl outside of HOPE we're involved with needs the same. Also, the washing machine at the HOPE girls home is maybe 10 years old, and probably needs to be replaced, and the boys home has no washing machine. There's always useful ways to spend extra funds.
Brother Wesley and I just returned from ministry in another area of India. One great praise report: the 7 men we've talked to you about for years (falsely accused of killing a Hindu priest), they have all now been released on "bail" by order of India's Supreme Court. Because of the circumstances involved, and the lack of evidence, it seems highly unlikely they will ever have to go back in. Four or 5 years ago, when their lawyers thought they were going to be released, the judge (under much political pressure, for sure) gave them life sentences (they have been inside prison for 11 years). What a great blessing for Wesley and I that 5 of the 7 men were released within the last week, so we got to see every one of the 7. Please pray for them, as most of them are somewhat fearful (one of them VERY fearful) about going out of their homes to work. They're not really sure what to do with their lives at this position. They need the Lord's protection, many unbelievers still deceived by authorities, the media, or Facebook posts that "the men who killed our swami are now out of the jail." Trusting in Him. We will try to keep you informed also about their financial needs. They have a sponsor who's been helping their families for years (whom we're so thankful for), but we don't know how much they will help with trying to rebuild their lives now that they are out. Please pray.
Keep us in your prayers until the end of 2019, as we (like so many other ministries and organizations) are praying/hoping for wonderful end-of-the-year donations to be given, which has always been such a blessing for the ministry here in India, as well as a boost for our financial situation as we move into 2020.
Thank you always for your love, prayers and support! Bless you.
Brother Dan
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ABOVE: HOPE girls leading action songs in the village of Golapalem during last year's Christmas program in that village. This large village is almost entirely Hindu, but gradually over the years a few have come out from the idolatry and fear that holds most of the people in bondage. Fear meaning the fear of even seeking after any other belief than what the other villagers hold to, because of the persecution which would result in their lives. Because of that fear, perhaps most of the world's population will not even think to do anything different from what their elders or other relatives believe.
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ABOVE: Elderly who are part of our widows & elderly ministry in the village of Alluru, here receiving new clothes for Christmas in 2018. Brother Peter, standing, is one of their pastors.
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ABOVE: A few widows from Jampalavaripalem after receiving new blankets in September of this year. We're involved with elderly in 2 different churches in this village, 2 different churches because of caste differences. Sad, huh?
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ABOVE: HOPE girls doing a dance to a Christian song during last year's HOPE School Christmas program. I don't know how many Christian dances children do in other countries, but music & dancing are definitely a big part of the culture here in India.
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ABOVE: Perhaps you can guess what's happening in this musical skit done by HOPE girls during last year's Christmas program in Nandayapalem. The angel is 5th grader Rizwana (now 6th), announcing the birth of Christ to 4 shepherds: Sudha Rani, Kumari, Keerthana, Veni.
Luke 2:8-20
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ABOVE: Precious photo (also in the November newsletter): HOPE's Jean Joy is sharing with the children during last year's Christmas program in KB Palem.
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ABOVE: Not very clear, but a nice photo. Rani (older girl on left) is teaching children an action song or dance during Sunday School. Rani leads 2 different Sunday Schools which RHM is a part of, and she's now preparing the children in 2 different locations for Christmas programs.
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ABOVE: 10 precious girls which we're a part of supporting in another part of India. As I've said so many times, we shouldn't give names and locations because this area is potentially more volatile. In many ways they have to be more careful about their witness for Christ. With them is the couple who oversees them, and Brother Wesley (middle). Brother Wesley and I just returned from this area this morning.
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ABOVE: Brother Wesley teaching the Word of GOD to the girls (same as in above pic) and a group of widows whose husbands were all killed during persecution about 11 years ago.
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ABOVE: This picture simply does not do justice to the fact of how some of these girls seem to be seeking more of JESUS in their lives. During the 5 days which Wesley and I were there, many times I saw tears streaming down some of their faces as they were either in worship or prayer. I was so thrilled as we shared a message about prayer and searching our hearts 2 or 3 nights ago, and many of the children were weeping as they were praying. The 2 children who seemed to be the most earnest in their prayers and worship (the Lord only knows the hearts of all the girls; this is my observation only) are the oldest girl in the home (front row, 3rd from right), and the little girl next to her in the pink sweater. I saw tears coming down her little face perhaps every day we were there. Praise the Lord!
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ABOVE: Not only a pic of children & adults worshipping or praying to the Lord, but unique in this regard: the men on the back row are Christians who have unjustly been in prison for the last 11 years. For most of them, this was their first service outside of prison for those 11 years. Five of the 7 men just got out of their various prisons within the last week. Hallelujah! No coincidence that the Lord arranged for us to be going to this place at this particular time. What a blessing to be able to meet them and encourage them in the Lord.
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ABOVE: Six of the 7 men who have been recently released. The other one wasn't released until Monday, the day before Wesley and I departed, but we got to meet him also before we left.
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ABOVE: Brother Isaac (principal) sharing during morning assembly at the HOPE School. Precious children, and precious opportunity.
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ABOVE: Elderly women during literacy class in their village of Subba Reddy Colony.
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ABOVE: Brother Prasanth (who is helping Brother Wesley and I with the widows & elderly ministry) is praying for Zechariah in the village of Alluru. We're glad we went to see him and his wife Premavathi about 10-12 days ago, as Zechariah's body died only a few days later. When we saw him, he wasn't eating much and couldn't talk. Pray for Premavathi, also in very poor health, and now so sad.
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ABOVE: HOPE girls who saw me off at the train station along with Sister Buelah the day Bro. Wesley (already on the train) departed for the above ministry trip. These precious girls are all in the 5th grade.
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"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
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