Greetings from India! Pastor Joseph has an update for us:
In the month of December, Pastor Joseph preached the gospel to thousands, including 700 engineering students and a large gathering in Hyderabad, a major city in southern India. Many non Christians heard the gospel (saying, “I have never heard this news in all my life”) and came up eagerly asking for prayer. The new GSH home and school had a Christmas program with many Hindu families attending and participating. On Christmas Day at Mercy Colony, 3000 people came! The children performed and the gospel was preached. More than 1000 people are attending the 4 services on Sunday. The new Saturday night service in the neighboring city of Kakanida is growing each week with people eagerly awaiting for Saturday to hear the Word. He is driving out demons there every week. One female dentist came up for prayer for healing for a urinary condition that was not being healed through several doctors’ efforts. Pastor Joseph prayed for her and she fell down indicating a demon was present so he prayed and prayed until the demon was cast out. She called him a few days later to tell him that her urinary condition had also been healed—praise the LORD! The gospel continues to be preached to many non Christians through the weekly TV sermons and prayer by phone;some are then coming to church. Please pray for fruit to be born in the lives of those who heard the gospel during the holidays as well as the regular services and broadcasts.
In the beginning of December, Pastor Joseph and his leaders were barred from coming to the island to preach by the owners, who mistakenly believe that Pastor Joseph is receiving thousands of dollars from America to preach there and want him to give them a lot of money to continue to preach there. Pastor Joseph and his leaders continue to declare that he is not being paid and his desire to return there to preach. The small band of believers continue to meet and pray faithfully on their own. Please pray for encouragement and endurance for them, the return of Pastor Joseph to the island, and for more islanders and the owners to become believers!
The new GSHome and school has the children up through 5th grade living and attending school there. They are learning English, Telegu and Hindi as well as their regular academics and Bible curriculum , and are preparing for their final exams of the year. GSH is applying with the government for approval to expand grades up to 7th grade beginning in June. Please pray the education officer would approve it soon, so preparations can begin. They have decided to purchase two smaller buses so that two bus routes can be covered in a more timely manner before and after school. One bus has been purchased and they are awaiting money to purchase a second bus. Construction continues to be completed on the buildings. Money is still needed to construct a kitchen/dining facility—$30,000 is the estimate. Playground equipment and computers are on the needs list for the opening of school in June. The 6th through 10th grade GSH children are living and schooling at Mercy Colony and are preparing for their final exams of the year in April. Their “high school” education ends in 10th grade, so please pray for wisdom for Pastor Joseph as he counsels them in their next steps. Satya and Rani are GSH graduates that continue to live and minister at GSH Mercy Colony as Sunday school teachers, etc, as they pursue nursing degrees. Please pray for encouragement and endurance for them as they continue to struggle learning their curriculum in English and for all the children as they prepare for their final exams.
The lepers continue receiving medical care and pastoral care in the name of Jesus from GSH. They receive food every other month. They desire to receive it every month, so please pray for that need to be met . Please pray they would be Christ’s ambassadors as they live and move in their community.
The GSH medical ministry in Vladamuru continues to provide 1000-1200 people with medical care each month. Please pray that the medical practitioner, Raju, and the villagers to come to know the LORD as Savior.
The widows ministry continues to provide basic needs for 20 widows/ widowers each month “until their last breath”. They currently sleep under overhangs of people’s houses as they have no family to care for them. The original church in the quarry has an area where an attached shelter and bathroom facility could be constructed to shelter these destitute folks. Please pray for the $2500.00 needed for this project to be provided and for them to understand and embrace the love of Jesus and be saved.
Pastor Joseph sends hi s greetings to you all. He emphasizes each time we talk that he is able to do all that he is, because of your prayers and love for him—THANK YOU! He asks that you pray for God to bless him to be filled with the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel, cast out demons and heal the people so that they know it is JESUS.
Prayer Requests
- Education officer would approve GSH Christian School to expand up to 7th grade
- Island owners would allow him to preach there again and believers be strengthened and encouraged
- Plans to construct a church for 2000-3000 people in Mercy Colony would be according to God’s plans
- God would bless him to preach the gospel, cast out demons &heal the people to reveal Jesus to them
Financial Need Opportunities
- GSHome and School kitchen/dining facility for $30,000
- Construction of widows shelter for $2500
- Increase to monthly food distribution for leper colony: $250.00/mo X 6 months=$1500.00 per year
- Playground equipment and computers for new school…..no estimate yet
- Scholarship fund for GSH graduates