FOUNDER Late Rev. Dr. Theodore Williams CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD The Most Rev. Dr. P.K. Samantaroy Former Moderator CNI and Bishop of Amritsar Diocese HONORARY TREASURER MAY - JUNE 2020 Mr. Dinakar Wilson Vol. 56 No. 4 GENERAL SECRETARY Theme for 2020 Rev. Dr. Raja Singh Elias Editor “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” Shobana Nelson Romans 13:14 IEM OUTREACH is published by Indian Evangelical Mission in English, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Oriya, Inside... Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi and Khasi. Those who donate a minimum of 3 GS Reflections Rs. 150/- per year (Overseas by Air mail US $50 per year) towards the ministries 6 Bible Study of IEM can receive this magazine. 9 Why Should You Die Before YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS may be sent by cheque, DD or MO drawn in favour of Your Time? Indian Evangelical Mission through your local IEM personnel or directly to the 11 Pray for our World Finance Secretary. 12 Praise & Prayer calendar ADDRESS CHANGE: Send old and new address with your code number or recent 22 Women's column address label. All emails to the Communication Department should be 32 Youth column addressed to [email protected] Magazine Statement “ To inform our readers and create an interest in missions and impact them to get involved in IEM’s missionary work and missions in general” For your active involvement Contact Mail us at: INDIAN EVANGELICAL MISSION For Mission mobilisation: 38, Langford Road, Post Bag 25097, [email protected] Bangalore - 560 025. Finance: [email protected] Projects: [email protected] Phone : +91 080 22245256, 22480080 To join IEM: Fax : 22122779 [email protected] Website : www.iemoutreach.org E-mail : [email protected] Lord, we confess that we have wandered Far from your purpose and plan And willingly walked in the wrong direction We've disobeyed your commands Father forgive us, Spirit come lead us Back to the way, Back to the truth Back to the foot of the Cross We want to leave a clear set of footprints For those who will follow behind Signposts in our lives that point to Jesus A pathway they'll easily find We want to fill up the sufferings of Jesus As we obey our lives display The glorious way of the Cross Show us the ancient paths Lead us along eternal highways We want to follow the footsteps of Jesus We want to enter your rest. - Tom Iglis Let us bend our knees for the healing of our nation and the world. We know that only in the whole-hearted recognition and acknowledgement of Jesus as the Lord and Saviour, lies victory and healing. Walk along with us through this Prayer digest. We'll pray together and seek His counsel. General Secretary Reflections: GOD'S WORK, IN GOD'S TIME, IN GOD'S WAY (A response to Covid 19) We thank the Lord for His abounding love, for it endures forever. Even in this state of lockdowns and health emergencies due to the spread of 'Corona Virus', GOD is always faithful and true to protect and care for us. When the lockdown was announced in India, one of the passages that flashed across my mind was the prayer of Jehoshaphat, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12. This passage made me to focus on the following five areas to pray and discuss with my National Leadership Team, as the Lord put it in my heart. It was the time, we worked on a questionnaire titled 'God's work, in God's time, in God's way', to pray and get input to move forward in the lockdown season. In fact, it is a prayer too. 1. Spiritual Stability (2 Chron 20: 1-13): Jehoshaphat became the fourth King of the separated kingdom of Judah around 850 to 875 BC, at the age of thirty-five and reigned for twenty-five years. "Jehoshaphat sought the Lord with all his heart" (2 Chr. 22:9). As war clouds gathered around him (2 Chron 20:1), Jehoshaphat was afraid. In this crisis situation, he sought God before taking any step. He rallied the nation for prayer and encouraged the people to trust God in the face of this overwhelming crisis. He realized the helpless situation they were in and called people to remember who God is (v.6), what He did in the past (v.7) and what He said He would do in the future (vv. 8-9). The entire family including children were part of this spiritual exercise (v 13). We gain spiritual stability and inner confidence as we trust and keep our eyes on Him by faith (v12). May this lockdown be an experience of silence, strengthening relationships in all aspects, and seeking God's forgiveness, to us. 2. Ministry Continuity (2 Chron 20:14-19): Th prophet asserts in v. 15, 'The battle belongs to the Lord.” So is God's ministry!In the midst of all the confusion, listening to the Holy Spirit is vital. We need to move on seeking new direction from God. He may ask us to change our strategies. The Mission and the battle belong to God. In this season, we should not fall into guilt feeling that we are not doing what we did in the past. We should know what God wants to tell the Nations, Churches, Missionary Movements and Christian Institutions. We should continue to do God's will till His coming. Let us trust the Lord of creativity, to make ministry continue in new paths. May - June 2020 3 3. Resource Sustainability (2 Chron 20:20 – 23): The call in the crisis is, 'Believe in the Lord your God and you will be established'(v20). In a crisis, challenges are plenty, like sustaining ongoing work, meeting people's needs, fulfilling the vision etc. The resources are God's word, prayer, personnel with God-given finances. Our suitability is established in our dependency upon God. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat and established the kingdom under His control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honour. (2 Chro 17:3-5). The blessing is experienced by our being with God and moving forward with instruction from God. Relying upon God brings rest, peace and allowing God to work, causing us to be spectators of His grace. In all circumstances my prayer is, 'Lord, you be the coordinator.' He is faithful. 4. Social Responsibility (2 Chron 19:4-11): Jehoshaphat brought people back to God and set the ball rolling. He was sensitive to the needs around and motivated solidarity with the suffering. We need to initiate measures to meet the needs of the people around us as written in Micah 6.8 'to show justice, constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with God.' COVID 19 has given us an opportunity to engage in relief work and listen to the day to day struggles of people. As Christians, let us help in transforming the social, economic, and political life of the society. 5. Members' Safety (2 Chron 20:29 – 30):The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. 2 Chron 2:29:30. The borders became safe. There was a nation-wide celebration. The word peace and rest are the indication of security where God over rules impossible situations. As this magazine is committed for prayer, let us keep these areas as our concerns and pray. Shining IEM Hostel Child in COVID -19: Mrs. Thati Nagalaxmi (Miriam) is our former hosteler in Jagannathapuram, Koya field, Telangana. She serves as a Teacher in Anganwadi, (Day Care Centre) dedicated to serve the children and their parents. Due to the lockdown, she is now assigned to take the census of pregnant women and children up to 6 years old in the Koya and Gothi-Koya (settlers) villages. Barefooted, she takes her assistant (cook) and carries the groceries to cook and give nutritious food to children and pregnant women. Her immediate officer observed her service and informed the concerned higher Government authorities. Her sincerity was published in the local newspaper. The local leaders and the son of the Chief Minister tweeted appreciation to her. She told our missionary Rev. John 4 May - June 2020 Douglas, 'I am only doing what I have learnt as a Christian believer and "Service" has become my lifestyle.' Several of the former hostel children of Koya field are into Government service and have proved to be faithful in their service. They are playing a key role in the Koya church too! Postponement of MFC: The scheduled Missionaries' Family Conference (MFC) from 31 May to 4 June 2020 in the Karunya University Campus in Coimbatore is postponed due to the prevalent restrictions in our country. Lord willing, we will have it in the next year. I express my appreciation to the Chairman of the Steering Committee Rev. Jacob Ravi Kumar, the Treasurer Rev. Ebenezer Mani, and Rev. Edwin and Mrs. Getzi for their leadership, along with our IEM Church Ministry Team in Tamil Nadu. We thank God for the committed local pastors and supporters in the committee. National Convention 2020: Our National Convention is planned from 1- 4 October 2020 in the Nongthymmai Presbyterian Church, Meghalaya. Kindly pray for the Steering Committee and the host church.