CHRISTmas and Prayer Requests
December 22, 2021 Update
Dear RHM Friends,
Greetings in the Name of our Precious Lord JESUS.
"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down
our lives for the brethren." 1 John 3:16
The GREATEST GIFT ever given, and the GREATEST LOVE STORY ever told, that GOD our Creator would send His only Son to rescue sinful mankind from the judgment which we all so rightfully deserve. Not only the love of our heavenly Father, but the love of our Savior, He being willing to take the punishment upon Himself. WHY this great love? Almost from the very time of our creation, mankind has been spitting in the Face of its Creator, determined to control our own lives. For what REASON would He love us, have mercy & compassion, and provide a sacrifice so that we could be forgiven? No other reason that I can think of except that
"GOD is love." 1 John 4:8,16 What should our response be to such great mercy? Like David said in Psalms 116:12, "
How can I repay the LORD for all the good He has done for me?"
We encourage you to visit our
RHM Blog for regular updates on what is happening in the India ministry. These email updates and our newsletters are usually sent out only once a month. But we have been making an average of over 20 blog posts each month, covering many aspects of the ministry and including many prayer requests or praise reports.
As you scroll down the page to see the photos, you can see that much of this month's ministry has been focused on Christmas programs in various locations. RHM is sponsoring a total of 12 programs this year. So thankful for His provision through gracious donors who responded so quickly to meet that need this year. We hope to have some testimonies, perhaps in January, about how the Lord impacted hearts through these programs this year.
Please pray for a medical and financial need. Our friend Jebaraj, a pastor in Chennai whom some of you know because he helped you when you came into India, has asked us to help him financially. His mother is having infections in her kidneys and lungs, and she is under treatment. Already Jebaraj's family has spent about $1,800, which is difficult for them. They are expecting that at least another $700 to $1,200 will be needed, assuming of course that she responds well to the current treatment which is being done. Pray if the Lord would have you participate in helping them during this difficult time. Jebaraj's father (a pastor) passed away earlier in 2021. Be sure to designate your gift if you are wanting to help this brother's family. You could just mention "Jebaraj's mother".
Last request: please keep us in mind as the end of the year approaches. Some of you may be wanting to bless some ministry with extra funds before the end of this year. These extra funds are always such a blessing for us as we enter into a new year. Lord willing, we will be starting some small projects to try and help some of our widows, elderly and poor families to earn some income for themselves or for their families. Many details are still pending, but at this time we're looking at more than $10,000 needed. How much we can do, and how quickly we can implement these projects depends upon available funds.
Scroll down to see some of what the Lord is doing in India, and how you can pray. Bless you, and THANK YOU ALWAYS!
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: Brother Jebaraj is the man on the left, joined by other family members. His parents are sitting, his father (a pastor) passing into eternity earlier this year. His mother is a Godly woman, having served the Lord alongside her husband for many, many years. Please pray for the mother, having infection in her kidneys and lungs, now on a ventilator.
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ABOVE: Bro. Raju sharing with children in a small church in the city of Ponnur. As you can see, the "walls" (tarps) are not in good condition. By His amazing grace, a gracious sponsor is giving funds to help Bro. John (the pastor) build a new church and small adjoining house on his property here. PTL!
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ABOVE: This was the scene in Madala Narayana, a village where we do children's ministry, in late November. Still now, some of the families have left the village because the water went into their huts and damaged many things. The water has receded much, so we were able to conduct the Christmas program in that village yesterday (the 21st). |
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ABOVE: Children from the village in the previous photo, holding their Scripture gifts given to them during the Christmas program in that village. Several or many of the children weren't able to attend because of the water problems in the village, but their families should be returning soon.
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ABOVE: Adults, elderly and children with new dresses for Christmas at Bro. Hanock's home for poor or handicapped girls. All these people are ones which RHM is assisting regularly in some way: financial or medical assistance, food or helping with the children's education.
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ABOVE: Lunch provided for the adults & children who came to Bro. Hanock's home. In the morning they had a time of singing, worship and hearing the Word, then a distribution of the new clothes.
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ABOVE: Bro. Bhaskara Rao doing a puppet show in the village of KB Palem during the Christmas program only a few days ago. He does a very nice job of interacting with the village children, very few true believers in this village. This village boy is obviously enjoying the opportunity! In the next photo you can see the reaction of the village children and others who are watching this puppet show. |
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ABOVE: Look closely at those beautiful smiles! You think they like puppet shows? |
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ABOVE: Bro. Prasanth sharing GOD's Word about the reason for CHRISTmas in the village of Nandayapalem.
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ABOVE: This is a Christmas program conducted in the village of NR Thota, the great majority of the adults, elderly and children being people whom your donations are assisting in some way. World Challenge out of Colorado Springs is sponsoring most of the widows, as well as a few others in this crowd as well. These people are also watching a puppet show at the time this photo was taken.
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ABOVE: During part of the meeting at NR Thota, the children came together for a separate meeting by themselves. Very thankful for Bro. Raju, Kumari and Esther Rani who taught the children this day, and for many others who are helping with the children's ministry. Here the children are chattering away, getting acquainted with each other before their meeting began.
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ABOVE: There's about 85 widows & elderly in Bro. Prasanth's area (he on the right). Many of them came for this meeting in NR Thota, and received new Christmas clothes. These women are from the villages of PB Palem and Betapudi.
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ABOVE: Happy to see most of these elderly people smiling, all of them widowed except for the younger woman (Jyothi, her and her husband in poverty). These people are from 2 more remote villages. Job said in Job 29:13,
"I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy." And that is certainly one of our goals in this ministry. True joy stems from having a living hope in our Father's care and salvation.
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ABOVE: About 23 of the precious 40 or so children whom your funds are assisting were able to come to this meeting in NR Thota and received new Christmas clothes and a Scripture/saying gift. Many of them are living in villages where we are having Christmas programs, so are receiving their clothes at that time. Bro. Prasanth's father (also a pastor) is sitting, Raju & his wife are on each side of the photo (they being the leaders of the children's minstry); very thankful for them, as they have a sincere love for the children, and are bonding very well with them. Pray for all the children the Lord brings into our realm of influence, for their salvation and spiritual growth.
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ABOVE: Bro. Bhaskara Rao joking with the children while giving them gifts. He loves the children very much. On a monthly basis, RHM sponsors this brother to do children's ministry 8 different times in various villages. This Christmas program was in the village of Devuni Manyam.
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ABOVE: Quite a cast of actors in the Christmas program at a Karlapalem church, telling the story of Christ's precious birth found in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.
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ABOVE: Brothers Raju & Bhaskara Rao with children in the village of Golapalem. There has been ministry going on in this village for many years, but it has been hard plowing because the adults' hearts have been hard, and they often have hindered the children from coming to hear about JESUS. But recently a larger number of children have been attending. Most of these children are from Hindu families.
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ABOVE: Elderly people in SR Colony when receiving new blankets in November. Pray for our widows and elderly ministry, for their salvation and spiritual growth.
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"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
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