Good Tidings of Great Joy
November 21, 2021 Update
Dear RHM Friends,
Greetings in the Name of our Precious Lord JESUS.
"Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11
This is a beautiful example of the love of GOD which is for all people. The "good tidings" is available to ALL, but sadly, "few are they who find" the value of this great news (Matthew 7:13-14). Without salvation we are ALL sinners deserving His judgment and hell. But GOD in His great love for mankind ("He is kind to the unthankful and evil", Luke 6:35), made a way for us to be forgiven through the death and resurrection of His Son, JESUS Christ. That is the "good tidings" of Christmas! Hallelujah! And it is this news which we attempt, by His grace and power, to share with others during this season. Pray for the many programs and activities which we will be doing during December, reaching out to the poor in the love and truth of Christ.
We shared with you in our newsletter about our upcoming Christmas programs, estimating the total cost at about $3,700. Although we should never be surprised at His wonders, I was amazed that the very same night we sent out the newsletter by email, a large donation was given, designated
"For Christmas and/or wherever most needed." Less than a week later, another large gift was given for Christmas. So in less than one week, all our goals were met! Praise the Lord! If anyone still wants to give for Christmas, feel free to give for that purpose. Surely it will go to bless someone in His Name.
Pray with us. As our faith is expanding, we can see His leading to do more for the people in His love. And as we see His Hand at work, it increases our faith even more. Looking at all the craziness going on in this world, and pondering the difficulties that are likely to arise in the coming days, in the natural it doesn't seem like a time that expansion could take place. But the Lord likes to prove to us that it never depended on our abilities, efforts or money anyway. The important thing is that we stay out of His way! How can we get in the way? By working in our own wisdom and efforts; by letting pride in and thinking these things are happening due to some goodness of our own; by not being honest in all our dealings, by not trusting Him...these are things that hinder His anointing from being released through us. So please continue to pray that all of those involved, especially the brothers and sisters in "the field" (carrying out the work in India) will walk closely with Him. Thank you so much for praying!!! The end result is GOD Himself reaching out to real, hurting people and transforming their lives in many ways.
Scroll down to see what precious things the Lord is doing in India, and how you can pray. Bless you.
Brother Dan
"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." Galatians 6:10
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ABOVE: Christmas gifts for the children in a tribal village called Madala Narayana in 2020 (the plaques have pictures and Scriptures). The men in the back are Bro. Bhaskara Rao (left), who we support in children's ministry, and Bro. Prasanth, a pastor who helps us so much in ministry.
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ABOVE: Bro. Prasanth giving a Christmas gift to a child in Karlapalem. This child is one of 8 children in a tribal family, her Dad having 2 wives. Many times he restricts the wives and children from attending the prayer services, but he allowed the children to attend this Christmas gathering in 2020.
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ABOVE: These are some of the widows & elderly we're involved with outside their church in a village we call VV Palem. One of their pastors, Bro. Samuel, is standing behind them. |
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ABOVE: Bro. Hanock giving blankets to one of our widows, Shivangi, her husband dying of Covid in 2020. Her daughters are twins, Mary (left) and Martha. Pray for Mary, who has had a fever for several days and is now in the hospital.
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ABOVE: Mary, Martha and their mother Shivangi (above photo) lived most of their lives in a hut, then the last year or 2 in a "house" that had no wall, electricity, etc. after the Dad died of Covid. We thank our loving GOD who has used us (including YOU) to provide walls, doors (the roses are the design on the doors), stone flooring, shelves and electricity for their home.
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ABOVE: Mary and Martha have probably never in their lives had a proper bathroom, but just a few days ago an outside bathroom was completed (plastering & painting can be done later). Praise the Lord!
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ABOVE: We shared about this need several days ago in our newsletter, and on our blog and Facebook page. Bro. Hanock is standing with a family who recently had one wall in their house collapse. The man, Kalyan, was in a major accident over a year ago and hasn't been able to work. He's only started walking again in recent months (you can see part of his cane by his leg). The house has been cracking and needing repairs, but they haven't had the money to repair these things. Their state (where we do most all of our ministry) has had major rains and some flooding this year, so it's possible that part of the reason the wall may have collapsed was because of rain water standing against the base of their house for many days. Pray for their needs. If any of you feel led to assist them in repairing their home, please designate your gift "for Kalyan's home". |
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ABOVE: The Holy Spirit has been leading us in recent months to start 2 new things with the poor whom we work with. The first thing is above, gathering as many of our widows, elderly and children as we can for a monthly meeting. The above meeting was in early November, probably 80 to 100 gathering to pray, sing, worship, hear the Word, and fellowship together. During part of the meeting, the children go to another part of the compound for a children's meeting. These meetings seem to be really touching many hearts, for which we are so thankful. We want nothing more than their salvation and spiritual growth. |
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ABOVE: The 2nd "new thing" the Lord has led us to do started just a few days ago. Most all of the 35 or so children whom we're assisting in various ways and sharing Christ with are staying with their mothers, grandmothers or other relatives, scattered in several different towns and villages. Once a month we're gathering some of the children and taking them on an outing where we can bond with them better. Above are Raju and his wife (back row on the left; they are doing fulltime ministry with the kids), 9 of the children and one of their mothers (right). Two other mothers were also there, but didn't go into the water. They are at the beach of the Bay of Bengal, not far from where much of the ministry is taking place.
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ABOVE: Bro. Hanock and some of the widows praying together after having a meeting and distributing blankets & sweaters.
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ABOVE: Bro. Hanock and Hazel (left, who helps with some of the elderly ministry in this area) giving a blanket and sweater to Naomi, her husband dying with diabetes earlier this year. Naomi also had one toe amputated because of diabetes (on the day her husband died!), but is doing much better now.
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ABOVE: Giving blankets to Subhashini (left) and her 2 boys Sai and Chintu, their husband/Dad dying of Covid in 2020. Pray for Chintu (bigger boy); he has pain in his stomach and doesn't walk properly. He's never been able to run like other boys.
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ABOVE: The mother is Bharathi, her husband dying many years ago with HIV; she's on our widows support list. Her son is Arun, a sweet boy with a tender heart. They attend Bro. Hanock's church in a tribal village. The elderly man is a relative.
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ABOVE: Beautiful children in a tribal village with their grandmother, boys in the back and little girls in the front. Their grandmother is Rangamma, who takes much care of these children (there's now another baby boy in the family), as the children's parents are both alcoholics. Pray for the parents' deliverance and salvation.
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ABOVE: Three of the precious children whom your funds are assisting. The girls in the school uniforms are sisters Yesu Meri (left) and Sukanya (her birthday on the 23rd of this month). The little one in the middle is Deborah in a new dress, as it was her 5th birthday on October 29th.
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ABOVE: This is a young mother, Anusha, whom we've known for many years. Anusha just had a baby about 2 or 3 months ago. We've asked you to pray for her husband, Prabhakar, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy, being diagnosed with leukemia. They are both nurses in the major city of Hyderabad, but are currently not working.
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"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
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