28 Jun Why India?
Let me just tell you, our God is awesome!
By the Lord?s grace, this summer, I and 8 other team members have been given the opportunity to serve our creator and God for several weeks in India.? We are 2 days out from the trip and I still can hardly believe that this is becoming a reality.? I didn?t know that anxiety, fear, excitement, humility, and joy could exist in one person all at the same time.
?Why India??? This is the question that I?m sure every team member has answered at one time or another in preparation for this trip.? India is spiritually deprived of Christianity because it is one of the top 50 unreached nations.? India?s population of over 1.1 billion people is less than 1% Christian.? This means that over 99% of the country worships idols and pagan gods through the names of Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and many other tribal religions.? There are unreached people groups who have NEVER heard the name of Jesus Christ, nor will they if there are no people to tell them.? Their need for the gospel is immense.?? The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.? In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says to ?Go and make disciples of all nations.?? As disciples of Christ, we must obey His command and share the gospel with the people around us.? But we are not alone.? Jesus reassures His children by ending verse 20 with ?Behold, I am with you always, to the very end of age.?? God will equip us to do His work.? He has already given us the most powerful tools that we can have:? the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and prayer.
In just a few days our team will fly out of Charlotte to India to help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.? Our flight leaves on June 29, and about half the team has never been to India before.? I cannot help but remember the passage of Ephesians 6:10-20.? Our team is entering a spiritual battle, and God has more than provided us our tools. Paul says, ?Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.? For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.?? Like soldiers going into war, we are to put on:
-The Belt of Truth
-The Breastplate of Righteousness
-Shoes of Peace
-Shield of Faith
-Helmet of Salvation
-Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
We will be praying constantly that the words of the Holy Spirit may be given to us so that we may ?boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel.?? In all that we do, may God receive all the glory and the honor.
Please pray for:
-God to be glorified in all that we do and our love for Jesus to grow
-The lost people of India; that they would hear the truth of Jesus
-The team; physical needs (such as financial support still being raised, health during the trip, and protection from harm) and spiritual needs may be met; unity in Christ amongst all 9 members
– Megan Bannister