Prison Gates Open for KSM Ministry a Beautiful Chilly Morning Crept Over Prisoners and Police Personnel, the Treetops As We Sat in Front of Our As Christmas Treat
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PRAYING KARNATAKA ù<o~Kù SHUBHASAMACHARA Bj"æljDjAjtÖoÚj MANDALI Aj"0Ûjb WITNESSING DISCIPLING Post Box No.9550, Koramangala, Bangalore 560095 Phone / Fax: 080-25531214; 28465900 E-mail: [email protected] JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005 FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY No.92 Prison Gates open for KSM Ministry A beautiful chilly morning crept over prisoners and police personnel, the treetops as we sat in front of our as Christmas treat. We were Indiranagar Methodist Church in the then joined with the KSM presence of the Lord. It was the 22nd ambulance team and we were of December 2004, the day we’d all off to Tumkur singing songs been praying about ever since we and praising God for the came back from the Kolar prison. wonderful opportunity He had With hopes soaring high we sat given us. The weather was hot praying silently for God’s guidance and the journey was tiresome till our bus arrived. At about 8 o’clock and so we stopped by for a cup Baldwin Girls’ High School bus of tea before our destination. KSM team & volunteers from Indiranagar Methodist Church at the KSM Mission arrived and we got to work packing At 10:15 a.m. our bus entered the Centre before leaving for Tumkur Prison. the snack packets that our church had dusty road that led to the Tumkur generously contributed for the prison. Our hearts brimming with prisoners who were already seated anticipation, we said our on the ground, eagerly waiting for us concluding prayer. As we under the shade of the jackfruit tree. neared the prison, the gates On one side a few women prisoners swung open for us. We were were also seated. The prison warmly welcomed by Mr. D. authorities had already arranged for Sangappa, the Jail a table with a mike system and a few Superintendent. Meanwhile, at chairs for the Chief Guest and for all the same time a few policemen of us. were getting ready to give the The Christmas programme began guard of honour to Mr. S. with Mr. D. Sangappa warmly Muniswami, IPS, welcoming the special guest and our (Above) KSM team and volunteers from IMC Superintendent of Police of entire team. He very generously with prison police, waiting for the special Tumkur District, who was visiting guest in front of Tumkur District Prison. the prison on that day as the Special Mr. D. Sangappa, the Superintendent of (Below) Special guest Mr. S. Muniswamy, Tumkur Prison welcoming the special IPS, the Superintendent of Police, Tumkur Guest of our Christmas programme. guest. Behind are Rev. B. D. Immanuel, Mr. District arriving after taking the guard of When he arrived a well-deserved S. Muniswamy, IPS, Dr. Cherian, Dr. Mary honour. guard of honour salute George, Pastor David Livingston. was given by police force to him. Then the main prison gate was opened and we entered the prison carrying our medical equipment, medicines, literature and gifts. Inside the prison in the open courtyard we were greeted by the (Left) Gathering of Tumkur District prisoners. (Right) KSM medical and evangelistic staff presenting Kannada gospel songs. Anitha Immanuel on the keyboard and Kevin Immanuel with his guitar. team with great gusto sang two Christmas carols in Kannada, to which many prisoners responded in a joyful clapping. Rev. David Livingston, Asst. Pastor of Indiranagar Methodist Church then shared the word of God very effectively through his puppet. The puppet show was (Above) Pastor David Livingston of about the Christmas story of Indiranagar Methodist Church sharing (Above) Volunteer, Mr. Srinivas distributing how God came down to earth to save Christmas message through a puppet show. tracts and gospel portions to prisoners. sinners like us in the form of a baby (Below) Mr. S. Muniswamy, the Supdt. of (Below) Volunteer from IMC distributing who would one day give up his life to Police, Tumkur inaugurating the medical sweet packets to prisoners. camp and Dr. Mary George with him. buy our freedom. The prisoners enjoyed the show and there were smiles and laughter from almost all the prisoners at the end. In response to this message the Chief Guest, Mr. S. Muniswami shared a few words with the prisoners. He said that all of us were sinners and that because appreciated the work of the KSM and of our sins there was darkness told the prisoners that we were here and that God came into the not only for their physical needs but world to shine His light on us. also their spiritual needs. Subsequently, our Special Rev.B.D.Immanuel, Executive Guest distributed the Christmas Director, K.S.M. welcoming the gifts to the prisoners seated in special Guest thanked him the first row. Following this we immensely for sparing his valuable threaded our way through the time to be present with us. Then our prisoners and gave them their (Above) Bible and a couple of gospel literature being presented to Mr. S. KSM doctor examines each prisoner and Christmas gifts. Seeing the immense Muniswamy, Supdt. of Police, Tumkur. Mrs. Selvi Rufus distributes medicines with joy on their faces our hearts leapt with (Below) Mrs. Mary Karl from Indiranagar Miss Lydia Abel and Mrs. Beulah Immanuel joy we had never known before. Methodist Church and S. Kumar, KSM assisting. Then the Chief Guest evangelist and volunteers distributing sweets and fruits packets to each prisoner. inaugurated the medical camp by taking the B.P. of the first prisoner with the assistance of our doctor Mary George. Immediately, our medical team began their work helping the ailing prisoners. Many of us went out into groups of JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2005 2 KARNATAKA SHUBHASAMACHARA MANDALI few ladies along with me went to the women’s cell. The sight that we saw there was something that we had never expected. We expected them to be down and depressed like the last time. But the smiling faces that we saw there came as a pleasant surprise. Since most of them were liberated they were very enthusiastic to learn (Above) Dr. Cherian examining prisoners. the gospel through song. We began Dr. Mary George examining women singing and they soon took our cue prisoners in Tumkur District Prison and and joined with us, clapping their Praise God For ... Miss Shantha Kumari assisting. hands and rejoicing in the presence of 1. The successful outreach programme prisoners and began speaking to the Lord. Then, testimonies began to held in 51 villages in Guttal area of them and our personal flow out from every heart. After this Haveri and Ranebennur taluk in Dharwad District. evangelization brought an oasis of wonderful time of ministry it was 2. Many non-Christians who have life into their sorrowed hearts. time for us to leave, and we could see that they were a little sad that we had responded to the gospel to know As a token of having accepted our more about Jesus Christ and are to leave soon and many of them with invitation to this Christmas undergoing follow-up lessons. tearful eyes requested us to come programme, the special guest, Mr. S. 3. Hundreds of outpatients being Muniswami, was presented with a more often. Seeing all this our hearts treated at both the KSM clinics at Holy Bible by Rev. Immanuel. Then a went out for them. Kothanur Narayanapura, Outside the women’s prison the (Below) IMC volunteer praying for a Koramangala slum, mobile clinics in prisoner. medical team had finished the work 4 villages and in 5 prisons. and was packing up. Glowing 4. Lord’s provision and guidance to faces were seen everywhere rebuild the Koramangala Slum Clinic and we knew without a doubt and Tailoring Training Centre. that our task of planting the 5. Faithful Lord’s people who continue seed of the word of God in to pray and support His ministry. their hearts was accomplished. 6. Continued ministry in Bangalore, Back in the bus again, we Mandya, Tumkur, Bidar and Kolar were tired in the hot humid air prisons. but spiritually rejuvenated. It was truly an awe-inspiring Pray and Share ... visit. Later on at a small 1. For those whom we have reached in restaurant 24 of us had our villages, slums and prisons with the lunch, talking about the great gospel so far in the state of work that God had just Karnataka. accomplished at the Tumkur 2. For the evangelistic medical ministry prison. We were ever so in the slum, villages in 4-5 grateful to God for making surrounding villages of KSM mission centre at Kothanur Narayanapura. this visit a success, that we 3. Outreach programme in joined hands in prayer to Davanagere district in the month of thank God and give glory to (Above) Prisoners at Bangalore Open Air February. His name for the mighty move of the Jail. (Below) Dr. Anuradha examining a 4. Funds needed for the rebuilding prisoner and Mrs. Selvi Rufus assists her. Holy Spirit at the prison. project of KSM clinic and tailoring On the way back songs of training centre at Koramangala praise bubbled out of our slum. mouths till we reached 5. KSM staff to be used by the Lord to Bangalore. This experience reach the un-reached and served the had a lot to teach us. It will poorest of the poor. always remain etched on our 6. Good health for the KSM staff and minds forever. children. 7. For the victims tsunami disaster and – Report by Mrs. Mercy Karl for the rebuilding of lives of the Volunteer from Indiranagar survivors. Methodist Church. KARNATAKA SHUBHASAMACHARA MANDALI 3 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2005 KSM Outreach KSM outreach 25. Giriyapura in 51 villages of Haveri Taluk team covered the 26.