SUNDAY., AUG. 10, IN INDIA

Pastor Clarences son-in-law, Rueben, picked me up and took me to the largest church in India. It is called FULL GOSPEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH WORSHIP CENTRE. Pastor Paul Thangiah is the pastor. They have 16,000 members. Each service holds about 2000. This Sunday, we drove up and found several hundred people standing outside waiting to get in for the next service. It was amazing to see how much the people were hungry to worship God and hear the word. I was introduced to one of the women in leadership and she took me inside. The people were sitting on the floor knee to knee, with a tiny space in front, big enough to lay their bibles down. We walked through the crowd and up to the front of the church. Immediately, there was an altar call, and she began to pray and I to agree with her, mostly in tongues, and that was before our service began. There was a powerful presence of God. People that have cars park up to a couple of miles or walk long distances to get here. There are 2 English services, 2 in National languages and 1 that they call international. The service lasted 2 hours. When you sit on the front row, where the altar prayers are sitting your knees are just a few inches from the altar. The worship started with everyone on their feet. The music was very annointed, some of the songs we have sung at home, others were new, but giving glory and honor to God. The Holy Spirit feel almost from the first note, there was much singing in the spirit and praying in tongues throughout the worship time. There were several Prophetic words given forth and it was---wow, PTL. There were times when I could hardly stand and the whole building shook. All the songs concentrated on Jesus, His blood and glorifying God. We shared in communion and it was very moving. Pastor called out specific healings as we took the host and cup. There was one word that especially touched The woman whose husband had beaten her last night, should not dispair. Jesus was coming to her and her husband would be saved and changed very soon. There is so much need in this country, every single step you take has great social need and financial need and just desperate need. it was a powerful word to hear that Jesus was aware and coming to meet her need and the healing needs of so many others. It was an amazing experience to sense God's power and might and His very tender love with these dear brothers and sisters. Pastor Paul was preaching a message on the baptism of fire. I nearly fell over, since this is the word that God is speaking many places and exactly the thing we have been praying for and seeking God for. Church, I believe we should take heed. He went on to share several things about the baptism of fire. First comes purification: repentance, seeking God with all of our heart. Being in the word, studying and praying to know Him more. He spoke of people coming to church and sitting "like idols", not participating but watching. He spoke out several other areas of sin, including bridegrooms seeking dowery from brides parents, which is like being bribbed to marry and robbing parents. He than talked about fasting and prayer. This should be a regular part of our seeking and honoring God. This Fri. is the Independence Day for India, and the pastor has called a whole day of prayer and fasting for the nation. The whole church is joining together in prayer and fasting. Imagine the possibilities of 16,000 believers coming to fast and pray, one heart, one mind and one accord, for the salvation of how many billion people. He then spoke about the persecution that the enemy would want to bring against those He poured out His spirit on. He shared several victory scriptures but also wanting us to be aware. There was so much teaching and preaching and conviction. I could sense the move of Spirit starting to flow all through the church. He gave an altar call and they started moving chairs out so that the people could move forward. There was not an inch of space between any one as we stood and sang and worshiped. Then those at the altar began to pray in tongues and he called down fire from heaven, the Holy Spirit baptism of fire. The whole building shook with praise and prayer. This went on for maybe 35 min. I was so blessed to be a receipient of the glory of God. When the people finally began to leave, there was a throng waiting outside. This pastor is believing that all of India will be evangelized and come to salvation before he goes to heaven. Let us stand in agreement for the move of HS to take over India. They gave me a gift of annointed oil to use to annoint people and pray for the sick. What in investment of faith and trust in me and in God. After service Ruben and his wife took me to lunch and then shopping. We went to KFC. the chicken was very small, but tasted good. No potatoes or gravy, no cole slaw. some kind of spicey dip stuff, which I chose not to taste. Pastor Clarence had instructed them to take me and buy fabric and have 2 outfits sewn for me. No matter how much I protested, they wanted to bless me. We went to the real market place. Oh my I walked many blocks and almost every shop they offered to buy me a gift. We went to 2 fabric places, they spoke for me and bartered until a good price was agreed upon. They were so kind and generous, it was overwhelming. I found a small purse, which I have been searching for, since my travel bag is too heavy to carry every day. They insisted that they get it for me. I am blessed. They have 2 girls, Kathryn 6 and Julia 1 1/2. They were beautiful, dear little children. Kathryn made me a picture with paints and beads and I told her I would take it home with me and put it on my refrigerator and that I would pray for her and her family whenever I looked at it. She was very excited and her parents were very touched to think that I would pray for them. We went to their house, and apartment two flights up and no lift(elevator). God surely strengthened me beyond all I could have imagined. Thank you for all your prayers. They had people over and I shared the word that God had put on my heart with them. I also, shared some of my testimony, and what God had sent me here to share with the churches. Shija shared about the divorce rate here. It is very high, not as bad as in US but climbing. They shared about some marriage materials that their pastor had recommended that just came out and I want to get it to bring home. It is speaking about the same things that we teach in Sunday School. I know now that the materials I brought are very needed and on point, to what God is doing here. They spoke prophesy over me, powerful word, and they are praying for divine appointments to continue outside the church. (I have been speaking to the housekeeper Reba and her husband came to meet me and he treated us to lunch at the restaurant that he is chef at. We are building a relationship, they are Hindu) They bought fruit and baked goods from street vendors and we had tap water, all the things that are not recommended, but I knew I had God's protection and I shared with them. Fresh pomagranite and a croissant like roll stuffed with chopped tomatoes onions and hard boiled eggs. This was a snack and I stayed until dinner. They insisted I eat with them and it was so dear, I couldn't say no. We had very thin rice pancakes, you could see through them, and a diping dish which I cannot begin to spell. You eat with your hands and dip while you are eating. They did not grind chile peppers into the did for my sake. They showed me how they made the pancakes in a pan(sort of like a griddle) Finally, they asked me to pray for them I felt honored and blessed and used by God. There were 1000 children in SSchool every service, and a huge nursery. They have services for the beggars and they feed several thousand a week. There is also a service for the severely handicapped and they are also fed. They have started a large orphanage and the Pastor sees to it that these children go to the best schools. On school holidays, families take these children into their homes for the 2 month and other holiday. Pastor takes them shopping at Christmas for gifts and treats them each to a meal in a restaurant. He truly leads by example from a heart of love. There is intercessory prayer every day at 9am. They are hoping I will minister at a womens meeting=800 or more regularly attend. God was very good to me today, when I got home I was very tired but great. I am trying to arrange flying to another state to minister with Pastor Clarence next week.