This is the season of holiday joy and giving. In Matthew 2 we see the wise men bringing gifts to the newborn king, but these were more than just gifts. These gifts would define who these Magi believed this baby was. They worshiped him with the gifts they brought and the posture of their bodies. This season would you worship our king with a gift to an India Pastor to prolong their ministry? It’s hard to imagine actually being persecuted, the way our Savior was, for follow the true and Living God and proclaiming His name the way these India pastors do. Your gifts of $20 or more has the opportunity to live on as did the gifts of the Magi. Please consider giving to these India Pastors this Holiday season by hitting the donate button to the right. Thanks and God Bless

When asked if I could describe India in one phrase, my response was “simultaneously the dirtiest, yet most beautiful place I have ever seen.” The team combined had been all over the world and we were in unanimous agreement about the unique beauty of this place. As we walked through the cities of Chennai and Tenali, the spiritual oppression was heavy and nearly tangible. And yet, though empty eyes surrounded us, the dark spiritual climate was starkly juxtaposed against the bright, vivid colors of the saris and signs filling the streets. The flashy colors seemed to indicate a common thread of hope, a glimmer of humanity and the imprint of God in us all pushing us to seek lightness and joy in the midst of darkness.

In a place where the majority of people worship 330 million gods, my biggest question was “What is going to set Christ apart to the Hindus as the one and only God, not just another to add to the list?” From what we saw during our time there, the answer is through signs & wonders and a ministry team that genuinely shows Christ’s love for these people. We heard of a woman’s arm being miraculously regrown at one of their crusades. It was clear from the start that the ministry done by Harvest India is in a completely different league than anything we had seen before. Harvest India is a ministry started and run by native Indians who have a clear and deep love for and understanding of the culture and their people. As I traveled out to remote villages with Suresh and his staff in my sari I couldn’t help but feel like I was transported to the times of the apostles as they were sent out to reach the world with Christ’s message. Harvest India does ministry just as Christ and his disciples did. Going out to the lost, feeding them, clothing them, loving them, housing them, and praying for them.

The work done by Harvest India is the most strategic ministry I’ve seen. It surely has to be for them to sustain successful ministries in so many areas—-orphanages, schools, old people homes, nursing schools, slum ministry (food and medical care), lepers ministry, prostitute ministry, HIV/AIDS ministry, crusades…whatever gifts and passions one has, there is a use for it in Harvest India. And though the intensity of these ministries evidence their passion to show Christ’s love to the world, the heart of Harvest India’s ministry is to grow up the next generation of leaders and disciples of Christ. Nothing is closer to their heart than their orphanages/schools, bible colleges, and church planting ministries. And it is quite a machine—-they have planted churches all over the country and Suresh’s dream is to see the entire nation of India praising Jesus’ name.

I’ll close with sharing the most shocking thing I learned during my time in India. As Americans—-and even as followers of Christ—we love to throw around the term “karma” and readily buy into the idea that there is this invisible force of justice that repays good for good and bad for bad. I mean, how could that be wrong? The truth is—seeing how actual belief in karma plays out in reality is absolutely devastating. It became so clear that this concept is just another of the enemy’s clever deceptions. Genuine belief in karma results in a people with absolutely no compassion for others. The blind 90-year old woman sleeping in the train station with the rats? That’s her karma. The 3-year old on the streets who lost his parents to the tsunami? That’s his karma. The 12 year old in the red light district whose father sold her to a brothel? Yep, that’s her karma. And don’t even think about interfering with someone else’s karma, otherwise you will mess up your own karma and bad things will happen to you (and you’ll deserve it). So, there is a complete hands-off approach to tragedy, even condemnation in the face of tragedy (Oh, but if a cow wanders into your shop and eats your food—-you are blessed!) The Christians are the prominent force of compassion and love for the destitute in this nation, and that is why the message of Christ is received with awe and wonder by those who would never expect anyone to love them. Of course, there is another side to this—-and that is the persecution resulting in rapes, beatings, and burnings of homes and churches by militant Hindus. But God is moving in a colossal way in India through Harvest India, and I couldn’t be more excited that He has called us to be a part of it.

The story of Esther is amazing because it deals with a woman put in a position to make change happen for the people of Israel. One of the greatest truths comes out as she is wrestling with what to do with her position and in Esther 4:14 her uncle Mordecai says “it may very well be that you have achieved royal status for SUCH A TIME AS THIS.” All of Israel was in a bind with Haman trying to kill them and a young Jewish girl was so positioned to help her people. I believe that right now in India we have a moment as believers, in the one true living God, to come along as a nation and change it for the Glory of God. In India the government has just changed over and is not being oppressed by Hindu leaders as it once was. Harvest India was asked by the government to take care of the millions of people abandoned by the recant flooding. This is a miracle of God sized proportions…a Christian organization being asked by pagan government to help. The climate in India is a climate of change, and you and I get to be apart of it “for such a time as this.” Would you prayerfully consider giving $20 to help an Indian Pastor be encouraged and built up so that they can share the life giving message of the Gospel “at such a time as this.”

I have the amazing opportunity to lead a conference for 1000 pastors in Feb.  These pastors are sharing God’s love in the midst of a culture that rejects the living God and accepts over 330,000,000 other gods.  These men are being persecuted for their faith in a way that you and I will never understand.  Read through the book of Acts and you will see what these men endure on a daily basis.  So…Here is my plea, for $20 you can send one of these pastors for 3 days to a conference that will build them up, encourage them, and challenge them to continue the work the Lord has given to them.  The $20 pays for their travel, food, lodging, and the conference.  I challenge each and every person who reads this to send it to as many pastors, directors, volunteers, and  individuals they know.  We have an opportunity to make a Kingdom difference for just $20…come and help me, and Harvest India encourage these amazing men.

Details

Harvest India – This is the organization that we partner with at Cornerstone.

Suresh Kumar-  This a President of Harvest India and great brother in the fulfillment of the great commission

How to Give- Right now they are working on an online giving link to Cornerstone Church, but right now you can send it to the offices @