Laymen’s Evangelical Fellowship International
The Unfailing Mercies of God!
Shepherded
81 Years
Preface
“ … I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:5,6
When we think of the unfailing mercies of God towards each one of us as individuals, as families and as a Fellowship, our hearts are filled with gratitude and praise! Recalling the mercies of God, Mother Daniel often prayed, “Lord, Who are we? What are we?” Yes, as we have entered into this 82nd year of ministry, that should be our attitude too. Who are we? What are we? We are not worthy of even the least of His mercies towards us.
Oh, to count the innumerable mercies of God! When Bro. Daniel (senior) fully yielded himself to God and put his all in the almighty hands of God, he was used by God mightily in revival and many people’s lives were transformed. He founded this work with prayer on the principles of the Bible and built it upon the promises of God. Bro. Joe laboured tirelessly with tears and travailed in prayer for souls for nearly 70 years and the dear Lord granted revival outpourings in his ministry and thus this work spread far and wide into many parts of the world. In spite of our unworthiness, the mercies of God are surrounding us and His grace is sustaining us. This work is going forward under the mighty hand of God, who is our Guide, Shepherd and Leader.
Right from the beginning, God has given us so much truth and light. We are a privileged people indeed. Moreover, the Lord has blessed us with a rich heritage of faith. But, are we faithful to God and to His truth, implementing the Word of God in our daily living? That is what we have to ask ourselves,
We live in a world where people blame everyone else but take no responsibility. It is good to remember that when you point a finger at others, there are three fingers pointing at you. When things go wrong, we must ask ourselves, “Lord, where have I erred?” We must immediately look within us and tell God, “Lord, let me not be the hindrance.” An honest heart looks within. Do we have an honest heart today? Then only we can go forward. Otherwise, we will be a stumbling block to revival.
God says, “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” (Luke 12:48) God will hold us accountable for all the truth He has given us in this Fellowship. Having received much, let us examine our hearts to see if we have become a lukewarm people, compromising with the world! We must repent for our failures and shortcomings; otherwise God will spew us out of His mouth!
“His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.” (Luke 1:50) When we fear God and walk in His way, we will see God’s mercies continuing from generation to generation. You might have personally tasted God’s mercies, but have your children tasted the mercies of God? When we walk in the fear of God with a humble and broken spirit, then the mercies of God will continue from one generation to another.
Today there’s a big battle going on in many hearts—shall I go after the world or shall I seek to build the Kingdom of God? When you run after the world, you will lose the blessings of God because you live in disobedience to God’s word. So all the blessings God has bestowed on you and the mercies He has extended to you can be dissipated by your disobedience. But when you walk in obedience to God’s Word, the mercies of God will continue from generation to generation!
We cannot build God’s work with our own wisdom, degrees or money. It takes a broken and contrite spirit to have God’s presence and direction in our lives. The one and the only purpose of our life should be to glorify God and magnify Him, not ourselves. Moses said to God, “I beseech thee, show me thy glory!” (Ex. 33:18) Bro. Daniel and Bro. Joe groaned in their hearts for God’s glory. Let us have a deep longing for God’s glory.
As we enter into the new year of ministry, let us humble ourselves and search our hearts. It is God who builds His work. It is God who fights our battles. It is God who goes before us. How great are His mercies towards us! Great is His faithfulness! As we become smaller and smaller in our own eyes, the Lord will be glorified. Let us seek God’s glory with all our hearts. Then God will do greater things in our midst than what we have ever seen or experienced hitherto!
NEW CENTRES AND ADVANCES
Our Telecasts in Nepal
Bro. Joe was very much burdened to reach the tiny Himalayan country of Nepal and he prayed much for Nepal. After being a ‘Hindu’ country for so many years, Nepal has become a secular country now. The Lord has been enabling us to reach the unreached areas through our two television broadcasts in the Nepali language. The ‘Avenues Nepali TV’ is a popular local Nepali channel which carries the message all over Nepal. Millions of people from Nepal are working and living all over India. In order to reach them also, we have another Nepali telecast in a very popular channel called ‘Nepal 1’, which is available all over India and in the major cities and towns of Nepal. Thus we are trying to reach Nepal with our two television programmes. We need to pray for a real breakthrough to be made in Nepal.
Our school ministry in Nepal has been blessed of the Lord and we have around 350 students studying in our school. Bro. Naveen is trying to reach the Nepalese through our school ministry and is travelling to new areas to give the Gospel to the needy.
After serving in our hospital in Anantanag, Kashmir, for five years, Dr. Chitra and her husband, Arthur, were sent to Nepal to start a medical work amongst the needy people there in the year 2011. After working in a private medical college, Dr. Chitra resigned her job on the advice of Bro. Joe and started a Gospel Clinic in the border town of Sonauli, which is located on the Indo-Nepal border and is a well-known transit point between India and Nepal. Needy people from both India and Nepal receive treatment and also the Gospel at our clinic here.
In the town of Bharatpur, Bro. Devanand and his wife are prayerfully trying to reach souls. They both are working as teachers in a local school. We have our regular worship service in this needy town. We must pray much for these three families who are labouring for the Lord in Nepal.
In Myanmar (Burma)
Bro. Joe’s heart always went after neighbouring countries like Burma and he prayed much for Burma, where he addressed meetings twice. We praise God that Burma has now come out of more than fifty years of military rule. The political changes are quite promising for the spread of the Gospel in that country.
Now two of our young men, who were trained in our Bible School, Bro. Paul and Joshua Munthang, together with their wives, are labouring in Mandalay, which is in the very heart of this country. Mandalay is the second largest city of Myanmar. God helped our brothers to start the work here in one of the outskirts of Mandalay.
A children programme called ‘Meaningful Life’ was conducted for three days from March 2 to 4 just at the beginning of the summer holidays. God wonderfully brought many boys and girls along with some parents, who had never heard about Jesus. Let us remember to pray for those children that God may really work in their hearts and change their lives. They continue to come to our Sunday school every week.
As stealing, drinking, gambling and fighting are very common among the people here, we must pray that the dear Lord will send the Light of the Gospel into their darkened hearts and bring them into the marvellous deliverance which Jesus gives to all who come to Him.
‘Beautiful Books’ in Guyana Trade Fair
In Guyana, South America, the Lord helped us to have our Beautiful Books exhibited at GUY-EXPO 2016 for the first time. This is a premier Trade Fair for all of Guyana. Ours was the only Christian bookstall in the exhibition. Hundreds of people visited our Bookstall and bought books and other items. The President of Guyana, Mr. Brig Granger and his wife visited our bookstall and we presented them with “Another Daniel” and some of our precious books.
Our books are being bought and read by more and more people in Guyana and thus our books find their way into some of the remotest parts of this nation. We hold regular book tables in market places in Strabroek, Charity and Linden. Many show a keen desire for our books and Bibles. We must pray much that the Lord may use our books to transform lives, as a book can change one’s life!
Outreach Ministry in North India
Uttarakhand in northern India, is known for its Hindu pilgrimage sites. The light of the Gospel is reaching out into this needy state through our telecasts. One of our TV viewers from Uttarakhand contacted us for her daughter who was afflicted by evil spirits. They came to the revival meetings in Delhi in 2012 and met Bro. Joe and he prayed for them. The Lord delivered the afflicted daughter completely. Later this family attended our Annual Retreat in 2013. Through this one family, the Lord opened the doors to reach new places in many towns in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh like Haldaur, Nagina, Kagpur, Haridwar, Jwalapur, Dhampur and Ramnagar.
Sensing the great need of these areas in North India, a small team of our brothers from Delhi started visiting these towns once a month and upon Bro. Joe’s advice, now they are trying to go twice a month during the weekend. These visits are helping us to come into direct contact with many precious souls who are in great need. To the surprise of our team, they found in these remote regions many strangers who are our regular TV viewers who hear Bro. Joe’s message week after week.
One girl, who is our TV viewer, contacted our team for deliverance from epilepsy and evil spirits which afflicted her for the past 18 years. She attended our Students’ Camp at Beulah Gardens in January 2016. The dear Lord drove away the evil spirits and delivered her completely.
We must pray much for our team in their outreach ministries in several states of North India. “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)
New Telecasts in Nagaland and Manipur
Kohima is the hilly capital of India’s north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. The Lord opened the doors for us to commence our TV programme on the government-run channel, DD Kohima, This channel covers the whole region and now many are watching our telecast.
In Manipur, after much struggle, we were able to get a slot in the government channel called DD Imphal. The message of the Lord is now heard all over Manipur on this channel. Let us pray for a real breakthrough in this state where the Lord has been strengthening our team to go forward by faith.
New Telecasts in Tamil
We began our TV ministry with our first telecast in Tamil on a popular Tamil channel in 2002. Soon our television ministry expanded into other languages and is broadcasted on various secular channels. Later we commenced an one-hour Tamil programme on Sundays over Tamilan TV. Many thousands of people are watching our programmes and some of them call us or write to us asking for prayer.
Recently we have started airing our Tamil programmes on a Christian Channel called ‘Nampikkai TV’ which has the potential to reach the whole of Tamil Nadu and India. On Sundays, we have a one-hour programme between 2 and 3 pm and on Thursdays from 9.30 to 10.00 pm on this channel.
Twin Clinics in Ashoknagar, Chennai
It had been the vision and burden of Bro. Joe to start a medical work in Ashoknagar, Chennai, which is about 5 km from our headquarters. The Lord graciously fulfilled his dream and helped us to construct these clinics at the second and third floor levels of our prayer hall here. These twin clinics are called, “Goodwill Diabetic Clinic and New Hope Dental Clinic” . Two of our trained doctors who had the call of God, are in charge of the medical work here.
Sister Lily dedicated these twin-clinics on Monday, the 16th of November. Lydia Daniel put in a lot of effort in this project and worked night and day to get it ready. At the dedication service, Sister Lily Daniel recounted the great vision and burden of Bro. Joe for the medical ministry of the Fellowship and shared with us her early experiences in the medical work of the Fellowship in Coonoor. Dr. Samraj and Dr. Jayanth spoke about their challenging experiences in the medical work of the Fellowship
Inasmuch as the poorest are attended to and helped medically at several of our Gospel clinics, we use this opportunity to give them the Gospel and many are given valuable Christian literature and tracts so that they may understand the love of God and come to know Jesus in a personal way.
In recent times, we have come to see the importance of conducting medical camps for the poor and needy. Hence some of our doctors and nurses have got together and reached out to the poor and sick through medical camps in some of the small villages around Madras.
We must pray very much for the medical work amongst the tribal people of Masinagudi in the Niligiris that the Lord must touch these people and bring them out of their bondages. Some of these poor people and their children come to our Sunday service and are thus exposed to God’s word.
NEW PRAYER HALLS
Some of our prayer halls which were built many years ago, are now proving to be too small to accommodate the growing congregations. So we have had to expand these halls. In some places, we have had to build new halls. Though we don’t make our needs known to anyone nor appeal for funds, Jehovah-Jireh is our Supplier and Provider and He has helped us so graciously in every project and has never failed us.
Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh, situated in the North-East of India, has long international borders with Bhutan to the west, China to the north and north-east and Myanmar (Burma) to the east. Bro. Joe had a great love and burden for these people. In 2003, he sent one of our trained boys, Stephen and his wife, Ning, to labour in Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh.
Our Sunday services took place in rented halls all these years. The Lord has been touching souls and transforming their lives. A group of about 100 earnest people gather and worship the Lord every Sunday.
Sensing the need for our own prayer hall, Bro. Joe was led of the Lord to acquire a plot of land here. The Lord in His mercy enabled us to put up a prayer hall here according to the instructions given by him. Now our Sunday services are taking place in this hall, which is nearing completion.
Shillong, Meghalya
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, which has a long porous border with Bangladesh attracted Bro Joe’s attention. It was in May 1988, a local Presbyterian Church invited him for a ten-day city-wide crusade and many were touched and blessed at the meetings. Soon we commenced our labours in this city from October 1988 with our Sunday services in the YMCA hall and later in an apartment. Seeing the great need here, Bro. Joe prayed much and acquired a plot of land in 2010.
The Lord graciously enabled us to start the construction of the hall here in April 2014. As soon as the construction was over, we started our regular Sunday service in this new prayer hall at the top of the mountain from January 2016 onwards. Bro John Daniel has a great desire to have our Beautiful Books and the Gospel Clinic in our centre to reach out the needy people of this area. Much prayer is required to press forward in our ministry among the young people and broken families.
Daman, Gujarat
After Bro. Whitson laboured in Gujarat for some years, the dear Lord is helping our local brothers and sisters to follow up the work with much burden and prayer. Now we have begun our regular Sunday worship services in five of the big cities of Gujarat—Ahmedabad, Vadodara (Baroda), Surat, Jamnagar and Daman. The dear Lord has been drawing souls and we are continually seeing new souls being added into His Kingdom.
The ex-Portuguese enclave of Daman in the south of Gujarat is a small port town and a tourist hub. The ministry in Daman has been steadily going forward as the Lord is touching souls in this growing work. As we didn’t have a place of our own for a long time, we have been looking to the Lord.
The Lord in His mercy helped us to acquire three flats which were converted into a centre for our Sunday worship by breaking the partition walls between the flats. About 100 to 120 people gather to worship the Lord and around 50 gather on Wednesdays and Saturdays at our new centre here.
In August, we had special meetings in Jamnagar, which is called ‘the oil city of India’, because 70 per cent of India’s crude oil is being imported through the sea coast near Jamnagar. As two large oil refineries are located here, people from different parts of the country are working here. At these meetings, the Lord granted us His presence and His Word and the Spirit of God took hold of many people, as they began to repent for their sins. We must pray much for Jamnagar that the work of the Lord may become strong and deep here and spread to other nearby towns in Gujarat.
Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu
At the University town of Annamalainagar, the work of the Lord has been going on for many years. Through the painstaking labours of our brothers like Bro. Inbaraj and others, the dear Lord touched and changed many young lives. Some of the students who were touched here had the call of God upon their lives and they are now serving the Lord in the Fellowship in various places.
As our prayer hall here became very weak and too small for our congregation which consists mostly of students, Bro. Joe prayerfully designed a new hall with a gallery. As he desired and planned, the dear Lord helped us to complete this hall. We must pray for the many students who attend our services here that they must receive the deep touch of the Lord and rise up to serve Him.
Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh
One can remember that the Lord’s call came to Bro. Daniel (senior) when he was working in the McLaren High School in Kakinada. Soon he and his wife, Mrs. N.D. Deevanna Daniel moved to Chennai to start this humble work. The work of the Lord has been going forward in this town steadily and the Lord has touched many souls over the years. As our old hall became too small and weak, the dear Lord enabled us to put up a new hall and the revival meetings took place in this hall in January, even though it was not fully complete. We found the hall to be too small as the hall got packed and overflowed with people at these meetings. Let us pray for a rich harvest of souls in this needy town of Kakinada.
Ongole, Andhra Pradesh
From the days of late Bro. N. Daniel, the work of the Fellowship has been taking place in Ongole. This town, situated around 300 km north of Chennai, has grown greatly in importance lately. From week to week we hired some suitable hall for our worship services. After much prayer, the Lord enabled us to acquire a suitable piece of land, right on a principal street of Ongole. Now the dear Lord helped us to put up a hall in this plot and the work is going forward steadily.
Bro. John Daniel managed to fit in a special morning meeting in Ongole on January 23. The newly built prayer hall was packed to capacity. The Word of the Lord went forth with power as Bro. John Daniel and Sister Lily addressed the hungry crowd. Many were deeply touched and blessed. Let us continue to pray for the mighty workings of the Spirit of God in this place, and for our brother Suresh who has been recently posted here.
Eluru, Andhra Pradesh
Eluru is an educational centre and a district headquarters of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. Bro. Joe had a great burden for Eluru and so he made several visits to build the work here. In the beginning, our Sunday services were conducted in a school. Later the Lord gave us a piece of land where we put up a thatched shed. As the Lord touched many souls and the work began to grow, the shed became too small. Soon a temporary hall came up in that place, where we had our worship for several years. The Lord drew many young people and families from non-Christian backgrounds. As this hall became too small for the growing congregation, the Lord enabled us to put up a new hall in the same place. The need of this place is very great and we do pray that that work must become stronger and deeper.
Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Amalapuram is a sprawling town in Andhra Pradesh, situated on the coastline of the Bay of Bengal. It is the native place of late Bro N. Daniel. His father, Bro. Veeraswamy, who was a devout Christian, preached the love of Christ to the masses and glorified Christ by his godly life. Bro. Joe loved to labour in Amalapuram and he addressed meetings here twice in the midst of his heavy schedule. Over the years, the dear Lord touched several people from Hindu background and the work began to grow. The Lord in His mercy helped us to build a prayer hall here where many students and people from all walks of life gather and worship every Sunday.
Worldwide Labours
Summer Retreat in UK
The UK Summer Retreat was held at Quinta Hall, out in the country, some 200 miles from London, and was practically full from the first night. The Lord stood with us and blessed his Word given by John Daniel and Rev. David Campbell. Bro. Johannes expounded on the parables of the heart condition. There were many who travelled from London, Ireland and various parts of Britain to be present at this retreat, from July 22 to 26. Let us pray much for Britain as people slowly understand how far they have gone from the standards of God’s Word, that there would be repentance and a return to the Lord. There were TV viewers present at the Retreat.
Summer Retreat in Gottingen, Germany
God helped us at the German Retreat which was held at the Youth Centre in Gottingen, from July 27 to 30. God drew earnest souls who heard God’s Word carefully. John Daniel spoke on overcoming through faith in God and His Word.
We need to pray that God will raise up young people to get a burden for His kingdom and take concrete action to move forward in faith. We enjoyed the lovely violin playing of our brother and sister Lucas who led the singing at the retreat. Let us pray much for the people of Germany who had taken the Word of God to many regions of the world and let us pray for a new wave of blessing.
Summer Retreat in Sebring, Ohio, US
The Summer Retreat in the US, from August 11 to 16, was greatly blessed of the Lord. Many made long journeys to be present at the Retreat. One of our sisters from Nigeria, who was greatly blessed by the bookstall ministry in London, came all the way from Nigeria to attend the US Summer Retreat.
As the Lord used Bro. John Daniel, Bro. David Campbell and Bro. Johannes, many were convicted and were repenting and turning to the Lord. The prayer sessions were blessed of the Lord as we were waiting on the Lord.
Everyone pitched in as some of our sisters helped in the kitchen and our brothers did the wash-up after the meals. Above all, God gave us His presence and oneness at the retreat as people sought the face of the Lord earnestly. We must pray that the Lord will do His deep lasting work in the hearts of the people to set their hearts to live for eternal values and the kingdom of God.
Thanksgiving Retreat
God blessed the Thanksgiving Retreat in November and brought many people who travelled long distances and made the conscious effort to be present. Our little chapel at Novi was full and God granted us His Word.
It is through the exercise of faith, love and sacrifice, the work of God has been built through the years. We praise God for His many mercies and look to Him to build each life to live for the Lord. We are grateful to all who pray for the retreats here.
Easter Retreat, Detroit
The Lord brought many needy people who travelled from the East coast, and various other regions of the country to meet in His presence at this Easter weekend. God granted us good weather making travelling easy. It takes faith and sacrifice to be at the retreats as those who are pulled by the world and the pursuit of the things of the world just do not make it a priority and they eventually lose everything. God granted us His Word pointing to the Cross and a close walk with God.
Retreat in Melbourne, Australia
The theme for this Retreat was “A Study of the Parables.” Bro. Arthur, Bro. Rodney and Dr. Sydney shared the Word at the Retreat. The Retreat started off on October 17 by an in-depth study on the Parable of the Sower and the four soils on the first day’s morning session and continued into a two-hour season of prayer which was a great blessing to all. Several of the group prayed earnestly opening their hearts and humbling themselves before God. Parables of the prodigal son, two foundations, forgiveness and talents were the other parables that were shared.
People came from Perth, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Deniliquin. There was a Hindu girl from Canberra and a Muslim boy at the retreat. The two days seemed to pass very quickly in the presence of God. We must pray much for the ministry in Australia.
Meetings in Guyana, South America
The meetings in Guyana, from November 18 to 22, were blessed of the Lord, as more people came in daily to hear God’s Word. The hall was full of people from all walks of life and they heard God’s Word intently.
A sister who has just joined the Teachers Training College gave her testimony as to how the Lord touched her as a Sunday school student in the days of Dr. Danny and how the Lord speaks to her and gives grace to overcome the temptations around. God is raising up people who want to do God’s will in their lives and serve and help in the work of the Lord.
The book fairs held in the market place are being a great blessing to many. The wife of the Consular Assistant was present to hear God’s Word with her children. Let us pray that the Lord will touch her husband also.
First Memorial Meeting Of Bro. Joe
The first memorial meeting of Bro. Joe was held on October 17 at the headquarters hall. It was a time of great blessing as we remembered the exemplary life of Bro. Joe and praised God for the rich heritage of faith he has left. The big hall at the headquarters was packed with people on this occasion. The special programme by the Headquarters children on the incidents from Bro. Joe’s life and ministry was very touching.
Bro. Peter Iqbal, Sister Lily and Lydia gave fitting tributes to Bro. Joe for his life of sacrifice, faith and prayer. Sister Lily exhorted us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 8) so that the revival momentum may continue in our midst unabated. Bro. John’s message on “Fighting the good fight of faith” was a blessing to many. The dear Lord was greatly glorified in our midst.
Youth and Children’s Camps
The International Students’ Camp
The camp was well attended, as students packed the hall in Beulah Gardens, with over 6000 in attendance. The good Lord made His Word a cleansing FIRE at this camp as the messages went out with great power. The messages given by Bro. John Daniel, Bro. Arthur Hill, Bro. Johannes Weidenmuller, Sister Lily Daniel, and Dr. Joshua Jesudas were a blessing to many.
Many students were under the conviction of sin and were found praying all over Beulah Gardens, pouring out their hearts before God. The prayer session on Saturday afternoon, on Jan. 16th, was greatly blessed and owned of the Lord. The Spirit of God came upon the crowd during the prayer session and many cried to God with tears, seeking His forgiveness and deliverance. Many of our evangelists were kept busy counselling these young people till late into the night. Some of them got through to the Lord at the camp and were marvellously converted. We must pray much that the Holy Spirit will continue with all the other young people until their lives are transformed. The discussion groups were very engaging. The testimonies and reports of our missionary doctors, who are labouring for the Lord in various places, was a great challenge and inspiration to the hearts of many.
Students from Africa, who are studying at various universities and colleges of India sang two special songs. Now let us pray that these young people, scattered far and wide, will be faithful to the Lord and be overcomers and carry the fire to many unreached people.
Youth Camp in Guyana, South America
This special Youth Camp held in October for school and university students drew many young people from around Georgetown. In fact, we had a greater turnout of teens and young people beyond our expectations. There were about 360 youngsters at the camp. Most of these young people were listening to the Word of God and testimonies with rapt attention. The presence of God was felt and God spoke to many students. We must pray for these precious young people that the seed sown must bear fruit in their lives.
Stuartpuram, Andhra Pradesh
The dear Lord richly blessed the youth camp at Stuartpuram in August and granted His presence. Several of our brothers shared the Word to these hungry young people. There were more than 5000 boys and girls in the Camp. The Spirit of God began to work in their hearts and many young people were crying to the Lord in prayer. Many missed their dinner to seek God’s face earnestly. We must continue to pray for these precious young souls that they may rise up as mighty witnesses for the Lord and catch a heavenly vision for His kingdom.
Dimapur, Nagaland
The dear Lord helped us to have a 3-day youth camp for the young people of this area from August 14 to 16. God used our local brothers and the Word went forth powerfully. Many boys and girls were deeply convicted of their sins and God granted the spirit of deep repentance in their hearts. Please continue to pray for these precious souls who have received the touch of the Lord that they may rise up to glorify God.
Youth Camp in Imphal, Manipur
The Lord in His mercy enabled our team to exercise faith and work to prepare the hall and compound for the Youth Camp. After our prayer hall developed cracks due to the earthquake in January, it was an uphill task for the construction team to get the hall ready for the camp in time, as they faced repeated bandhs and blockades in this troubled area. Moreover, as our team was gearing up for the camp, suddenly a 48-hour bandh was announced for 23rd and 24th June. So the camp began with just 90 young people on the first evening. But more and more youngsters began to arrive and soon 450 registered for the camp. They all came with such hunger and expectation for the touch of the Lord. On the second day evening, we had nearly 800 and on the last two days, the hall was full and overflowing.
The dear Lord gave His presence and His Word abundantly and used our brothers. The prayer sessions were owned of the Lord as the young people cried aloud to God for mercy. We must pray that these young people will rise up as true witnesses and get a real burden and vision for God’s kingdom.
Children’s Camps
The children’s camps conducted in Salem, Mettupalayam, Headquarters, Royapuram (North Chennai), Dimapur and other places were a time of great blessing when many hundreds of children came under the searchlight of God’s Word, supported by suitable skits to drive home the truth. The Vacation Bible Classes (VBC) in several of our centres were also blessed of the Lord. We must pray for these children to rise up as faithful witnesses for the Lord.
Campaigns in Andhra Pradesh
AND Telangana
Nellore
People started pouring into our compound and there were more than 2000 present at the meetings, which took place from January 20 to 22. The Lord blessed the meetings with His Word and His presence. God used Bro. John Daniel, Dr. Jesudas and Sister Lily Daniel to feed the hungry crowd. Many were convicted in their hearts by the messages and they were humbling themselves and turning to the Lord. We must pray for a mighty visitation of the Lord in this town, which is also an educational centre.
Guntur
Thousands of needy people filled up our large prayer hall and they overflowed into our vast grounds, during the meetings here from January 23 to 25. As the Word of the Lord went out with power, people drank in the Word with rapt attention. The Lord gave us His presence and many were touched and blessed at these meetings.
Stuartpuram
At the meetings here this year from January 26 to 31, the presence of God was present as Bro. John Daniel, Sister Lily Daniel, Dr. Jesudas and a few of our brothers were used of God in a mighty way. The Lord poured out of His Spirit repeatedly upon the vast crowds and a deep spirit of prayer and the spirit of repentance took hold of the people.
The special meetings for evangelists and trainees in the mornings at 8.45am were addressed by Bro. Arthur Hill and Bro. John Daniel. We look to the Lord to increase our faith and prayer that the Gospel will be taken to the remote regions of this vast sub-continent.
Vijayawada
Our huge grounds in this crowded city, which is a busy commercial hub of Andhra Pradesh, got filled with earnest souls, during the meetings here from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3. People listened to the messages with rapt attention. The Word of God went out with power. Let us pray much for this sprawling city of Vijayawada and for the Word of God to govern people’s life.
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is one of the major cities in Andhra Pradesh, situated on the banks of the great river, Godavari. Our large compound, which is barely 200 metres from this river, was filled to capacity. The crowd sat attentively and heard the Word which went out with power. Many came under deep conviction and they sought the help of God’s servants for prayer and guidance. We must pray for a huge harvest of souls in this town known for its idolatry.
Kakinada
The special meetings in our new hall were blessed and owned of God. We praise God for the hunger for God’s Word which was evident in the hearers, as they sat and drank in the Word. The new hall could not hold all the crowd and so the overflow crowds were accommodated in the old hall which also got filled up! Many came under the deep conviction of sin and were repenting. Let us pray for a rich harvest of souls in this needy town of Kakinada.
Hyderabad
The last of this string of special campaigns was in the historic city of Hyderabad, which is currently the joint-capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Lord used Bro. John Daniel and Sister Lily Daniel to share the Word of God to the people. Dr. Jesudas helped on the opening and closing days of the meetings, as he spoke on the parable of the sower and preached on the final day. The presence of God and the convicting work of the Holy Spirit was very much evident and the Lord was glorified. Now the dear Lord alone must work and write His Word on people’s hearts.
Batch Meetings in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
Every year, during February, March and April, several batches of our brothers go to several needy villages and towns and conduct meetings. We received reports of the Lord’s blessing at these meetings. These meetings give us an opportunity to reach rank outsiders and they bring much encouragement and blessing to our own people too. Let us pray to God for abiding fruit out of these labours in those small towns and villages.
Labours in Far-Flung Regions
IN NORTH INDIA
Anantanag, Kashmir
Our team of doctors and nurses have been doing an excellent work in the troubled town of Anantanag in Kashmir. They have been constantly exposed to many dangers but the Lord has been sustaining and encouraging them to go forward by faith.
In order to reach outsiders, we had special meetings from August 14 to 16. About 150 needy people gathered to hear God’s Word. The Lord graciously granted His presence and His Word. People listened to the Word very attentively. Many were seen praying till late in the night. We must pray for a deep work of the Spirit in their hearts that they turn to the Living God and become His true witnesses.
Ludhiana, Punjab
We had two days of special meetings in Ludhiana in April. The Lord brought in many needy souls most of whom were students from Africa and North-East India. A few local people were also present. The Lord gave us His presence and His Word. As some students were deeply touched, they sought counsel and prayer and opened their hearts and shared their struggles and problems. They need our prayers very much. We must continue to pray for those African students who got converted in our ministry here and returned to Africa that they may be Christ’s ambassadors in their own countries.
Chandigarh, Punjab
The special meetings in Chandigarh in October were blessed of God. There were so many non-Christians present. People poured out their hearts and prayed during the prayer sessions. The testimonies of our brothers and sisters were very challenging. The Lord used Bro. Swamidoss and others. We must pray that the Lord will raise up witnesses in this needy city, which is a union territory, and the joint-capital for both Punjab and Haryana.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
The Lord blessed the meetings in Lucknow, the capital of India’s largest state of Uttar Pradesh, on Nov. 11 & 12. There were around 120 people in attendance. As the Lord began to work in their hearts, many of them were convicted of their sins and they lifted up their voices and prayed during the prayer sessions. A few local people were present. One Brahmin businessman has begun to seek the Lord and we need to pray much for him. Please pray that God may give us abiding fruit in this place.
Jammu
Even though it was raining heavily the whole week, the Lord stopped the rain just prior to the meetings. There were many local people at the meetings and some of them were total strangers. A few local pastors were also present.
A team of our brothers from North India laboured at these meetings in March. People heard the Word with rapt attention and many of them opened their hearts during the prayer sessions. Many came for prayer and counsel after the meetings. We must pray that the Lord must raise up mighty witnesses for Him in North India.
Karimganj, Assam
Karimganj town in the Indian state of Assam is located just on the Bangladesh border. One of our young men, Gideon, and his wife, Rachel, were sent to this strategic town two years ago. The Lord has been helping them to go forward in the ministry.
With much burden and prayer to reach and win new people, meetings were arranged in Karimganj on April 13 and 14. The presence of the Lord was very near and a strong conviction of sin came upon many and they humbled themselves and cried to God for mercy during the prayer sessions. We must pray for the growing work in Karimganj.
Aizawl, Mizoram
At the Easter weekend meetings in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, we had a group of around 150 people. As the Word of God went forth, the Spirit of God began to convict many in attendance. The prayer sessions were owned of the Lord as many cried to God for mercy. Our brothers and sisters were kept busy till midnight counselling these souls who were touched by the Lord. We must pray that an army of mighty witnesses may rise up from this place.
IN TAMIL NADU, SOUTH INDIA
Hosur, Thirukovilur and Kallakurichi
For the first time that we have had revival meetings in the industrial town of Hosur for a duration of three days during the Independence Day holidays in August. The Lord brought in more than 200 needy and hungry souls, who drank in the Word eagerly. People cried to God with tears during the prayer session as the Spirit of God began to work in their hearts.
In the temple-city of Thirukovilur, a crowd of over 200 people gathered and heard the Word diligently at the special meetings in our hall. Some of our people from nearby centres also participated in the meetings. Many were touched and blessed by these meetings which took place in August.
Kallakurichi, which is a small town, about 100 km from Salem, had one-day meetings on September 24. There were about 250 people in the rented hall. The Word of God went out with power. During the time of prayer, many cried out to God with tears. The meetings were a great blessing to many.
Arupukottai, Erode and Madurai
The four days of special meetings from September 24 to 27 in Aruppukottai were owned of God. Many needy people came from nearby areas also and the hall was full and overflowing. Dr. Jesu and our brothers were used of God as the Word went forth with much power. During the prayer sessions many wept and cried to God for mercy. The presence of God was deeply felt, as many humbled themselves and sought God’s touch in their lives. Let us continue to pray for the Spirit’s continuing work in these needy souls.
At Erode, the large rented hall was full with more than 500 people, during the special meetings from September 24 to 27. Many people came from nearby places. The Lord used our brothers in a mighty way and the Word of God went out with great freedom. Many were touched at these meetings. We must continue to pray for these precious souls in Erode that the Lord will bring forth abiding fruit out of these labours.
The three days of revival meetings in the temple-town of Madurai, in South India, in October were blessed of the Lord. Around 400 people poured in from our nearby centres and the rented hall got filled up with hungry people. People poured out their hearts during the prayer sessions. These meetings were a great blessing to many.
Panruti and Karur
The brothers in Panruti started gathering and praying for the special meetings for more than a month, for God’s definite visitation at the meetings. The hired hall was full of needy people at the first meeting itself. As the Word of God went forth with much power, people cried out to God during the prayer sessions. Many were touched and deeply blessed. After the meetings, many new people are coming to our Sunday services. We are praying for a place of our own in this needy town of Panruti.
The One-day meetings in Karur were held in a rented hall on November 10. People gathered from far and near with hungry hearts. Many cried to God for His touch in their lives during prayer. We need to pray much for this needy town where we are still in the early stages of the ministry.
Tanjore and Tiruppur
Though it had been raining continuously in Tanjore prior to the meetings in November, the dear Lord marvellously stopped the rain for the meetings. The rains commenced after the meetings concluded. Our hall was filled with needy people. The Lord used our brothers and many were touched and blessed. As the Spirit of God began to work in hearts, people were crying to God during the prayer sessions. We need to go a long way in this dark and needy city of Tanjore.
After a gap of seven years, we had one-day meetings in Tirupur which was a great blessing to many people. The rented hall began to get filled up quickly and we had about 350 hungry and earnest souls in attendance. The dear Lord was glorified as He graciously used Dr. Jesu and a few other brothers to share the Word. These one-day meetings were a great boost to the growing work of the Lord here.
Ooty and Mettupalayam
Though these days were government holidays and several meetings were going on in Ooty, the Lord brought in many needy people. Several people came from other centres. As the Lord used our brothers mightily, the prayer sessions were a time when many cried to God for His touch. The meetings were a great blessing to many people.
The meetings in Mettupalayam in our school auditorium from April 15 to 17 were greatly blessed of the Lord. Many people came from several of our centres and our hall got filled up with hungry and earnest souls. People heard the Word very attentively. We must pray for the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of these people who were touched by the Lord.
Palamcottah and Vellore
At the three-day meetings in Palamcottah in October, our hall was tightly packed, as more than 250 people gathered to hear God’s Word. Many came from nearby towns and villages. People poured out their hearts during the prayer sessions. These meetings proved to be a great blessing and encouragement to many.
The Lord blessed the one-day meetings in Vellore on 10th November. Though it was raining intermittently, our prayer hall filled up quickly. As we could not accommodate the crowd in the hall, we had to send a group to a nearby room and provide closed circuit TV. We had about 275 people in attendance. All the sessions were owned by the Lord. Many medical students were also present.
Once again, at the three-day campaign in Vellore in April, the Lord brought in many needy people and used Dr. Jesu and Dr. Jayanth in their midst. Many were deeply touched and blessed at these meetings. We must pray for abiding fruit out of these labours.
Tambaram and Ponneri
After many years, we had revival meetings in Tambaram, Chennai, from March 11 to 13. Some new people and total strangers turned up to hear God’s Word. Even though examinations were going on for the students, there were several students at these meetings. Let us continue to pray that the Lord must revive and build up the work in Tambaram, with its immense opportunities and challenges.
At the revival meetings in Ponneri, in April, our hall got filled up with hungry souls, who listened to the Word very attentively. The Lord used our brothers to proclaim His Word. Many came under the conviction of sin and began to humble themselves. Let us pray for the Spirit of God to etch the Word in the hearts of the people so that they may rise up as mighty witnesses for God.
Bangalore, Karnataka
The Lord blessed the one-day meetings in Bangalore on September 25. There were over 350 students from various colleges as well as some software professionals at the retreat. The Lord graciously gave us His Word. The testimonies and the discussion class too were blessed by the Lord. During the short prayer session at the end, many young people were crying out to God with repentant tears. We need to pray much that the seed sown in their hearts should bear much fruit.
Mysore, Karnataka
This is the first time we have ever had revival meetings in Mysore, a historic city in Karnataka. The Lord brought in needy souls and some total strangers and Hindus to the meetings which were held in April. We must continue to pray for the ministry in Mysore that the Lord may touch souls and do a deep work in their hearts.
Cochin, Kerala
The meetings in our prayer hall in April were blessed and owned of the Lord. There were a few newcomers at the meetings. God’s presence was very evident in our midst as the Lord used our brothers as they proclaimed God’s word. God in His mercy visited the place with His Spirit, touching all those people who gathered with much earnestness. The Word took hold of the hearts of the needy people and so many earnestly sought counsel and prayers at the end of every session. The Lord was glorified in our midst during these meetings.
Annual Retreat
The Annual Retreat was blessed of God as we drew apart and humbled ourselves in God’s presence. The searchlight of God’s Word identified how far short we have fallen from God’s Word and expectations in our lives.
The Lord used Bros. John Daniel, Arthur Hill and David Campbell. The reports of our brothers from various regions of this country and other countries, greatly inspired hearts. The testimonies of our brothers and the transforming power of God in their lives were very challenging. The special songs by the Daniel 5 and Doug Strait were very touching.
As the Lord spoke to hearts, there was a tremendous spirit of prayer at the camp, as many people were found praying till late in the night in the prayer hall and in the open grounds. A mighty spirit of prayer came upon the crowds at the fasting prayer sessions. The Lord was glorified in our midst.
We praise God for the brothers at the different departments at the retreat like registration, kitchen, bookstall, tuck-shop, sound system, television and electricity departments, who served the people with all their hearts. A great crew of willing helpers laboured much to keep everything in the retreat spic and span. The bookstall also was kept very busy as many availed themselves of the precious books made available to them at the retreat.
The little chapel in Beulah Gardens was filled with folks from North India who had the message interpreted to them in Hindi. Another group heard the message in Marathi in the room above the chapel. A small group of Manipuri people also heard the message with Manipuri translation at the conference hall. Several people were sitting under the trees and listening to God’s Word with great attention, as the loudspeakers filled Beulah Gardens with the message. One could see the earnestness and the hunger in the hearts of the people wherever they sat to hear God’s Word. The presence of the Lord was deeply felt all over the garden. As we provided live webcast on our website, many watched the proceedings of the Retreat around the globe and at our various centres in India.
The cleansing, sanctifying Word of God should continue to do a deep work in the hearts of those who are now scattered in several parts of India and around the world. Conserving the truth and obedience and the implementation of God’s word in our daily life is the key.
Literature Ministry
As the Fellowship expands and presses on to reach new areas all the time, there is the urgent need for more soul-winning and soul-nourishing literature. Though our printing facility in Beulah Gardens is quite small, we have been printing and publishing good books and biographies in several languages all the time. Yet, our literature ministry can only be described as a mere drop in the bucket, when we see the crying need for more literature in various languages.
In this day of such widespread desecration of the Sabbath Day, we felt the urgent need for a book on Sabbath. When Brother Winfield Poe came to help us at one of our earlier annual retreats, he brought several copies of his book, “View the Sabbath from Genesis to Revelation” which was an eye-opener to many. He gladly gave us permission to print this book. We do hope that the faith of many will be strengthened by the reading of this book which we have printed and published.
Bro. Joe felt that a condensed biography of Henry Martyn would challenge many and be a great blessing. Bro. Johannes’ daughter, Sarah Weidenmuller, took up the responsibility and wrote this book. We believe that many will be greatly stirred by the life of Henry Martyn who burnt out for God. The Lord also helped us to publish “The Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor” which will challenge the reader for a closer walk with God. One can learn many precious lessons of practical faith from Hudson Taylor’s life.
Our first book in Vietnamese, ‘Victory over Demons and Fear’, was published in April and we must pray that the Lord may use this book to touch and deliver many souls who are bound by the devil.
Hindi being the most widely spoken language in India, we have published 50 of our books in Hindi till now. During the last year, we were able to release 8 new Hindi books. In Tamil and Telugu also we were able to publish many new books.
With prayer and greater dedication, hundreds of titles with really edifying and challenging material should be printed annually by us. We should pray for our crew that they should become experts in this vital field of service. God should raise up men with true dedication.
Our Book Fairs
Our book fairs are proving to be an effective tool to reach large sections of the general public. They show a great deal of interest and even excitement in some cases, and buy Bibles and books. They quickly find that the prices of the books are reasonable and even low.
The dear Lord enabled our team to have book fairs in three important towns of Burma, viz., Kalaymyo, Mandalay and Yangon. Many churches and schools have bought books for their libraries. We supplied Bibles to the Myanmar Bible Society and to some Christian book shops.
We had no less than 29 book fairs in different states of North and South India in this 81st year of the Fellowship. We also had a book fair in Thimphu, the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Now we must pray that the Lord may give us precious souls through these book fairs and help us to establish new centres in some of the needy places.
Television & Radio Ministry
The dear Lord is enabling us to extend our telecasts into new areas in the local languages through new channels constantly. As our television work keeps increasing, we have had to add one more editing room at our Television studio at the headquarters and upgrade some of our old equipment. Many viewers and Christian workers are surprised that we do not appeal for funds in our TV programmes. We praise God that Jehovah-Jireh has been our Provider and Supplier. We look to the Lord and give him all the credit.
We need to pray much for the UNSEEN CONGREGATION whom we are reaching through our telecasts in India, UK, Germany, France, Guyana, South America, Australia and in the US. We must pray that the Word of God will sound out as a trumpet, that people will hear, repent and turn to the Lord.
Please pray for the TV and radio programmes which go out in Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters and that many souls will be touched and transformed to live for the Lord and that the whole Caribbean and South America will be reached with the Word of God.
In Australia, 33 radio stations are now airing “The Lord’s Challenge.” In addition to these radio broadcasts in Australia, the message of God’s love and power goes out over the television in the cities of Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. We must also pray for our ten weekly quarter-hour broadcasts in the US.
A true understanding of the purpose of our radio and television broadcasts and the wide scope of their blessing and a live expectation that God will touch the hearts of millions, must grip our hearts.
Our Schools
While running a school has become a commercial enterprise to many today, we run our schools with the purpose to give the Light of the Gospel to a non-Christian society by inculcating Christian values in the school children. Thus their parents are exposed to the Truth of God’s word.
Our schools must impart sound Christian character in the hearts of the children, a goal which is far more important than high scores in exams without the fear of God. With God’s blessing, the results will be there.
We are grateful for the loving service and sacrifice of so many of our teachers and staff of our schools. It is due to their hard work and dedication, some of our small Nursery Schools have now grown into Matriculation Schools and are able to see good academic results as well. There is a great need for dedicated teachers today for our schools, especially for our schools in Nepal and in Bansi, Uttar Pradesh. What a blessing dedicated teachers can be!
Medical Camps
A group of our doctors, nurses and counsellors from Royapuram and headquarters have been trying to reach the unreached through free medical camps. During the last 16 years, they have had about 70 medical camps in the villages around Chennai. Hundreds of people turn up at these camps and receive free medical treatment and the Gospel.
During the last one year, we were able to conduct these camps in seven villages around Chennai. Every medical camp is a challenge and it requires much prayer. These medical camps give us opportunity to establish a rapport with the local community and to show the love of Christ and to give them the Gospel. Sister Lily’s visit to the medical camp in Pothur, near Red Hills on June 11, was a great encouragement to our team.
Internet Ministry
Many needy people seemed to have tuned in to the messages of both morning and evening sessions of the Annual Retreat on our website in several parts of the globe. There were many hits and reports of blessing are coming in from places far removed from this part of the globe. Now even if a handful of people are blessed, we feel it is worth the effort and the expense involved.
The message which goes out every Sunday from our small church in Detroit, which is called Community Christ Church, at 10.00 AM EST (7.30 PM IST) is a blessing to many people.
Much of the resources on our website are now made available in eleven other languages, viz., Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Burmese, Hindi and Telugu.
Promoted to Glory
Now that the Fellowship is 81 years old, some of our early converts and workers are being elevated to higher service. Though it gives us much sorrow to lose any of our dear brothers or sisters, heaven is a wonderful place and these people who were called Home must be rejoicing in ‘BEULAH LAND’—the word with which John Bunyan, the classic writer of ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’, called it. It is imperative that one learns to teach and train others in faith, love and sacrifice so that there are godly people ready to fill the gaps.
Bro. Yesupadam, Tenali
Bro. Yesupadam got converted under the ministry of Late. Mr. N. Daniel. Having the call of God on his life, he resigned his job at Tenali Cooperative Central Bank and joined the Bible College at the headquarters. After training, he was first sent to Tumkur in Karnataka and then to Nalgonda and to a few other places. In 2007, he was given the responsibility of the Tenali ministry. He worked hard to build up the work with much prayer and faith. He was a true soul winner. The Lord used him to heal people from chronic diseases and to cast out demons.
Bro. Moses, Narsapur
Bro. Moses was born in a nominal Christian family. But from his childhood he was given much to mischief and disorderly conduct. In his youth he was drawn into a group of ardent communists. The police were after him and he had to hide himself in graveyards, bushes and treetops. In that condition he was invited to our meetings and the Lord touched him in the ministry of Bro. Joe. He was trained by late Mr. N. Daniel. During his service in Andhra government he was an upright person.
After his retirement in 1988, Bro. Joe entrusted to him the ministry in Narsapur and Vizayanagaram. In spite of his physical weakness, God used him for His glory in these two places. He was faithful to God till he was called Home at the good old age of 89 years.
Conclusion
Every year we experience afresh the faithfulness of our Lord, the inexhaustibility of the riches of His grace and His tender mercies towards an unworthy people like us. Let us be ever grateful and faithful to the Lord.
The quality, dedication and adoration in our thanksgiving and worship must increase as we look forward to the Lord’s return. May the Lord help us.