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"... and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47) |
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India
April 2006 Bruce and Jean Manning have recently returned from a 2
week visit to Jean taught in 4 Bible schools in Myanmar.
These schools equip young people as well as mature believers to
be able to minister the truth of Scripture both in evangelistic
situations and in their local fellowships. In these schools we
saw a working together of leaders to share their giftings. House church meetings are very powerful and effective in promoting the gospel
and in bringing the saints to maturity. We ministered in
house churches in the evenings and saw signs of the kingdom. God
was releasing understanding upon the word and conviction to obey. We revisited many of the orphanages that
we have been relating to over a long period of time and were impressed
with the development in the facilities and also with the care
given to the children. In a couple of areas where we have established relationships
we saw the people involved overcoming great difficulties in their
circumstances and fruitful ministries emerging. Much of the ministry in One young pastor who was part of our team returned to
his area 2 days ahead of us to prepare to receive us there, and
before we arrived he assembled the elders of his fellowship and
spoke to them of the things he had heard in the previous 4 days
in our midst. That fellowship moved in one accord to put true
scriptural practice in place when we arrived – a fulfilment of
2 Tim.2:2 In every place truth was brought to replace man’s rituals
and traditional practices.
There was recognition that there needs to be “the
removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that
are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain”
(Heb.12:27) in preparation for living
in the kingdom. Ministry in He and his wife very excitedly introduced us to babies
born as answers to prayer from previous visits and shared other
answers to prayer with us. For 3 days Jean taught the disciples
and in the evenings we ministered to a large body consisting of
disciples, mature and new believers, and their unsaved friends
and neighbours. The Lord healed many and cast out a demon
which manifested in a young woman. This same woman returned with
her mother who received Jesus as her Saviour and Lord 2 nights
later. A 14 year old boy who was paralysed from the waist down
also received Jesus and joyfully joined in the worship in subsequent
meetings. The disciples who remain in these nations are faithful.
RMA materials
in local languages Before we left There will be that fulfilment of Scripture that “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” a glorious church will arise, built by the Lord Jesus Christ, ready to reign on this earth. Bruce and Jean Manning
Jean Manning has visited India fourteen times and has been associated with INDIA CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST in their ministry on campus. She and her husband Bruce have also been involved with a drug rehabilitation programme (in Delhi) through Sahara House and Sharon. An RMA team led by Jean travels to India to teach at a pastors' and leaders conference in West Bengal, at the invitation of Rev. Joseph Chhitri. Many of these pastors are Nepalese. Locals had been praying for 2 years for such visits.
Growth in India Bruce and Jean Manning came home from India encouraged by the increase in the numbers of workers and in the extent of the ministries that are bearing fruit in India. This was Jean's seventh visit and Bruce's fourth. Once again we were overwhelmed by the immensity of the task of reaching so many people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet at the same time we were so blessed to be working alongside men and women who preach this gospel with such commitment and love in the midst of severe opposition and oftentimes danger to self and property. Over the years we have been associated with India Campus Crusade for Christ. We saw an increase in the number of staff workers with India Campus Crusade for Christ and a greater diversity in the ministries they are involved in. Ministry now reaches from witnessing and discipling students on College campuses, to witnessing through sporting activities, to sharing the gospel with professional and business people, and with politicians. Distribution and showing of the Jesus Film is impacting many lives throughout the nation. There is a great co-operation between these workers and the denominational churches. Prayer - The Key to Growth India Campus Crusade for Christ staff have a vision to raise three thousand prayer warriors in thirty North Indian cities. Jean was invited to teach about prayer and to encourage believers to rise up as pray-ers. We traveled to two cities, Ajmer and Jaipur. Here Jean taught the word of God and encouraged the believers to pray God's will into place, recognizing that His kingdom comes as we pray His word, that is, as we pray Spirit led prayers from the Scriptures, not just the ideas we have in our minds. Ten years ago there were only a handful of teams carrying the Jesus Film from village to village in North India. This year Jean spoke about prayer and faith to 270 young men at a conference for these northern teams in the India Campus Crusade for Christ training center at Gurgaon. The Lord released a powerful word with authority to encourage these young men who lay their lives on the line for the sake of Jesus Christ. What a blessing it was to be with them! Revival in Kanpur We traveled to Kanpur to visit a pastor and his family and fellowship. Again we were blessed as the Lord released His Spirit in two evening meetings and two morning teaching sessions. We saw God bring salvation, healings and release His gifts. Encouragement from last year's visit The pastor and his wife who organized the conference for the people of West Bengal last February traveled thirty-six hours by train to spend two half days with us to share what is happening in their region. We were encouraged to hear that people seem to be bolder in sharing the gospel. God's sovereignty in the midst of persecutions and violence In the midst of all this the people of India were suffering violence and disruptions from militant groups. God sovereignly removed blockages and curfews to allow us to travel. God had indeed set before us an open door that no man could shut (Revelation 3:8). We saw the truth of Psalm 91:9-12. As we had made the Lord, even the Most High our refuge, no evil came near us. As we set our love upon Him, He delivered us. (Even from an out-of-control heavily laden bullock wagon!) We were experiencing God "perform His word." Jeremiah 1:11-12 • Pray for blindness and deception to be lifted from the people of India so that they might see Jesus Christ. • Pray for more Christian workers to proclaim the gospel in India. |