Power of Persistence

Funny the title of this post... I have tried to post this 4 times.  POWER OF PERSISTENCE!

There are over 20 Unreached People Groups here in India.  Some groups have as many as 77 million people in the group, with not one known believer. These unreached people groups are mostly located in the North of India. There are 46 children born every second here, India holds 1/6 of the world's population. They are at our fingertips here. 

This region I live in is known as the Garhwali area, it is part of the state of Utterkhand. It is known for being one of the most restricted areas for the Gos*el. While the city I live in has party houses and a number of believers, we are encompassed by those who still have never heard. Just 20 kilometers away we have villages who have never heard about Je$u$. Twenty KM here is a far distance with the trails and unpaved roads that only go so far into the jungle and mountains; the rest must be walked by foot. Trekking high places with steep inclines. It takes time, energy, money, and motivation. Yet 20 KM away are people dying who have never heard.

We have Bi*le School graduates who are working in this area.  They have given their lives. They live and dwell among those in hard to reach areas. They live where there are no other believers, no support system, no help, no offerings, and no support. I learned this week that supporting chu*ches that had been helping to support these workers, have had to stop.  Five Past*rs are now struggling to feed themselves and their families. I have given some financial help to support these Past*rs, but I am asking what is my role?  How can I help? Maybe you are willing to ask this question too. Most Past*rs are living on about $65 a month. I wonder, “what can I give up to put a meal on their table even one night out of the week?”

One such Past*r recently came to our early morning Pr8 time. He said when times like these comes, we can’t forget the miracles and all the Father have done in our life. We have to remember what He has done and hold on to His promises for today. He shared of the hardship of living where they do. When they first arrived people said others have come here, the gosp*l doesn’t work here. It’s too difficult. There are witchcraft doctors binding people and occultic Hin*u practices holding people in bondage.  But this Past*r said, “We must let faith arise! We have to dethrone the enemy to enshrine the King and see all nations come to Him!” He said after 3 days they wanted to run away, but the Father reminded him, "HE will build His chur*h and the gates of hell will not prevail."  He said, he and his family were only able to stay because of the support of visitors and minister*s and past*rs that came and stood with them and encouraged them when we wanted to leave.  He said the persecution was so strong at times, there seemed to be no point to staying.  Together the family and the only known believers would live together, sleep together- all finding a place on the floor. The doors were never opened in the past there.  Today, 22 years later, they are seeing many come to know the Father.  Last week, a new graduate from the B**le school left to go work with this Pas*or. The Father isn’t done yet.

One leader recently said, “What may look like a failure might be G*ds timing working in people’s hearts- don't be discouraged. He shared about some pioneering work he had done in a closed village here years ago. He and a team had handed out Hindi Tra*ks.  They watched as villagers, ripped them up, threw them in the river, stole their Bib*es and burned them.  They experienced villagers taking off their shoes and slapping some of their team members in the face.  But as their team walked away, they saw one boy across the river make eye contact. He pulled one track from his pocket, held it up, smiled, and then put it back in his pocket and ran away.  This past month, they just baptized 14 new people in that SAME village. It takes time, but the harvest is ripe. We can’t give up. We must ask the Father to give us Spirit eyes to see what He is doing in the unseen. He is at work and He desires that all should know.

We have one landmark here called Happy Valley, it is a Buddhist Temple and high religious place for many people. They come here to worship. Recently, some friends were there to try to meet some people and talk.  They met some girls who were open- My friends were able to share about the Father and His Son.  Others overhearing were resistant and told the girls to leave the grounds. They walked on for hours, higher and higher up the mountain, just to be able to be safe and talk. The Buddhist girls asked my friends, “why have I lived here all this time, and I have never heard about this G*d and his son Je$us”.  After a few hours of sharing the girls were able to exchange phone numbers. My friends have been meeting with these young ladies regularly to tell them about the Father.  Please pr* that the Hol* Spiri* would awaken their hearts and the seeds being planted would come alive with NEW LIFE.  Pr8 Happy Valley would become a high place for the KING of KINGS to be lifted up, drawing more friends who have not yet heard to the Father. May the experience true lasting happiness through the joy that comes in knowing Chr*st.

I was reminded this week of the power of persistence.  Elijah pr8ed for rain. He sent his servant to look for the rain clouds seven times, not once, not twice, not five times, but seven.  And then when he saw it, it was only the size of a man’s hand.  I wonder sometimes how often we give up right before the breakthrough.  I believe the Father is calling us to be people of faith that will not give in, will not give up, but will keep pressing in until we see the enemy dethroned and the KING high and lifted up. Today I am asking for eyes to see into the unseen, for persistence, for greater faith to arise and for the Spirit of the Living G*d to open prison doors and set the captive free!