Flyer for Latvia Meetings

Please find enclosed the advertisement I had received today for this event. Your prayers on this will be highly appreciated.

Blessings

Inspiring Story- Outlook, Indian Magazine- 27th October 2008

Salma Ali says she's found her saviour

CONVERSIONS: SOULSPEAK

Yours, Faithfully

When change of religion was all about a deeply personal choice

ANURADHA RAMAN If one goes by popular perception, it’s only people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who are lured by Christianity. The notion is that they give up their religion to break free from the Hindu caste system and nurture the hope that a better life awaits them after they convert. But it’s not just the oppressed classes who are drawn to Jesus. Highly educated and well-placed upper-caste Hindus and Muslims have also risked censure from their immediate family and community to take the crucial plunge.  They all have their own reasons for giving up one religion for another. As Jesuit sociologist Rudolf C. Heredia puts it in his book, Changing Gods, Rethinking Conversion in India: "Conversion is a question of personal choice, it involves a rejection, a change or an adaptation of one’s identity. A complex set of motivations are involved. The change is the result of a personal quest, which may be more than a religious or spiritual one. Positively, this is experienced as a liberation; negatively, it could be an escape."  So what is it like to switch from one god to another? Outlookspoke to some unlikely converts: Syed Ainul Hadeed, 38 Filmmaker "I was born in a rich Muslim family of Pune. My parents belonged to families with a rich religious heritage. When I was barely four, my parents separated. My mother and I moved in with my aunt in Hyderabad. From an early age I was taught Islamic traditions and I also learnt to read the Quran in Arabic. However, I went to schools run by the Jesuits and did well both in studies and sports. My mother and I shifted to Mumbai when I was in the sixth standard. "It was during this period that I began carefully studying the Quran. However, I found I could not digest the teachings. Yet I did not stop believing in God's existence. This was in the late 1980s. My teenage years and early adult life were difficult—failed relationships, financial hardships and my father's death made me morose. At one point I even decided to end my life by consuming mercury. Luckily, I survived. "It was all very strange. On the one hand I was attempting suicide, but at another level, I had an out-of-body experience. I felt my spirit drift to my old school—to the feet of Jesus Christ. I could feel his presence. After a year, I visited the school and saw the following words engraved on the pedestal on which a statue of Jesus stands to this day: 'I am the resurrection and the Life.' I believe the Holy Spirit had led me to Christ. Today, I am serving the Lord through the gifts that he has endowed me with. "Naturally, some Muslim friends did not approve of my giving up Islam. The clerics questioned my change of faith. However, this only strengthened my resolve to study the Bible, the Quran, and the Hadiths. Finally, I realised that Christianity was my true calling." Rajeev Menon, 42 CEO, N-Able Solutions Information technology companies require a strong process, otherwise there will be a delivery failure. There are proven processes of development and it is for the company to adapt them and standardise them. "This also holds true in life. I was in my twenties and my life was a total messI had no peace of mind. I was going through a personal crisis. It was then that somebody gave me a book on Jesus. It slowly transformed me. My parents saw the change in me but allowed me to choose my faith. I go for prayer meetings regularly and I have renounced all forms of idol worship."  Salma Ali, 33 Advertising and Public Relations consultant "My mother was a Catholic who converted to Islam when she married my father. We performed namaaz regularly. But my faith was shattered when I came across a verse in the Quran that prescribed corporal punishment for stubborn women. I was shocked. I asked my father, who told me that it was like chiding a child for not listening to elders.  "After my parents separated, I moved in with my mother, who had become extremely short-tempered and abusive. At the same time, she started attending church. I used to attend the congregations she went to, at which people danced and sang, something unheard of in Islam. It was then that I started reading the Bible. I found Christianity a far more liberating religion. My life became stable, and I started doing well in my studies. I have been praying every day ever since." Jaya Ramamurthy, 42 V-P (learning & development) with a business process outsourcing firm "Born into a Tamil Brahmin family, I was brought up in an orthodox religious environment. We worshipped numerous gods and observed various rituals. Every Thursday, we also prayed to Sai Baba. At least 150 devotees would turn up at our house for the prayer sessions. Frankly, I could not make any sense of the rituals and yearned for a relationship with a god I could talk to, a god who would listen to me when I spoke to him.  "It was around this time that I was afflicted with scabies. I decided to go for a blind date with Jesus in the hope that I would be cured. To my surprise I was rid of my ailment. Years later, at 27, I decided to read the Bible. My mother threw it out of the window. But I did not give up and discovered a god I could talk to. Ever since, I have become far more friendly, and the love of god has changed my life. Today, when I speak, God speaks to me. My relationship with the Almighty has changed my perspective. I have become more respectful towards others." Prabhu Guptara, 58 Executive Director (organisational development), with Wolfsberg, a UBS subsidiary "I was 14 when I lost my father and our family lost everything in the process. From prosperity to penury—it was difficult to comprehend at that age. I could not understand how there could be so much suffering if god actually existed. How could he allow people to get away with evil acts? A chance encounter with a young man turned me to Jesus. I read the New Testament carefully and realised that evil is the consequence of man not loving god. Jesus presents a challenge to every individual, asking him to acknowledge his own inadequacies. Over the years, I have found myself moving away from being a selfish person to being more sensitive (to the needs of others)."

Inspiring Story- Anand Mahadevan- Editor, Outlook Indian Magazine

OPINION

I, The Convert

My conversion was not a change of religion; it was a change of heart

ANAND MAHADEVAN

I was born a Brahmin and am the grandson of a priest whom I dearly loved. I am educated and my current professional standing indicates that I am reasonably intelligent. I am also affluent and my income would put me distinctly in the upper middle class bracket. I guess that would make me high-caste, rich and smart. In other words, I am not a tribal, or poor or dim-witted. And yet, I chose to become a follower of Jesus Christ. The world would call me a convert to Christianity. I have no problems with that, though I see my faith more as a relationship with God through Jesus Christ than as a religion. And for the record, I can truthfully claim that no one financially induced or threatened or deceived me into converting to Christianity. I am fiercely proud of my national identity as an Indian and I am completely at peace with my cultural identity as a Hindu. I retain the name my parents gave me. My wife, who also shares my faith, continues to go by her Hindu name. We have two children and we have given both distinctly Hindu names. In fact, many of my colleagues and acquaintances who may happen to read this column are likely to be surprised. They have no inkling about my faith, for I generally don't go about announcing it. But if someone does ask me the reason behind the joy and hope that is everpresent in my life, I am always delighted to share it with them. I write this piece to make one point—that my conversion was not a change of religion but a change of heart. To explain this, I need to go back to my childhood in Chennai, similar to that of so many other Tamil Brahmin boys like me. My grandfather, every bit the virtuous priest, had enormous influence over me. I absolutely adored him and as a toddler, always clung to him. He too loved me to a fault. There was no wish of mine that he would not rush to fulfil. But even in my early, formative years I was unable to relate to the religion he fervently practiced. Later, in my school days, I once spent my summer holidays with him in Trichy. Memories of dawn walks with him, for the ritualistic dip in the Cauvery river, cow in tow, are still fresh in my memory. I learnt many shlokas, some of which I still remember. But I never understood any of it and none of it helped me connect with God. When I was 19, a Christian friend with whom I used to play cricket invited me to his house for prayer. If he had invited me to a pub, or party, I would have gone too. At his home, he and his sister prayed for me. It was a simple yet delightful conversation with God that lasted all of five minutes. I don't remember it verbatim, but they articulated a prayer of blessing on my life, future, career and family. It was a simple affair—no miracles, no angels visiting. All they did was utter a deep human cry out to the creator God and His only son Jesus Christ. When they said Amen, I felt in my heart a desire to follow Jesus. It was a faith encounter with God that I shall not even attempt to understand, rationalise or explain. I simply accept it. It is my faith. It is what I choose to believe. That evening I did not change my religion, for in reality I had none. Hinduism was my identity, not my religion. It still is.  The Christianity I acquired that evening is not a religion. On the contrary, it is an intensely intimate relationship with Jesus. Over the past fifteen years, I have come to know this Jesus even closer. I know Him as the pure and sinless Son of a Holy God. And I know Him as a dear friend to whom I pray and talk to every day—about my career, my dreams, successes, failures, finances and even my sexuality. If I read a good book, watch a good movie (Rock On is terrific, mate), or eat a good meal at a new restaurant, I would naturally tell my friends about it.In Jesus, I have discovered a truly amazing friend, guide, leader, saviour and God. How can I not tell all my friends about Him? And if anyone does listen and he too comes to believe in Jesus, I am delighted. The world would call it a conversion; I call it a change of heart, like mine. But I would never force anyone to listen to me, leave alone financially induce, coerce or con him into believing. That to me is pointless and against the very grain of my faith. But I do have a constitutional right to practice my faith and to preach it without deception, force or bribery. It pains to see such basic rights of mankind being cruelly violated every day in this great Hindu nation.  God bless India. (Anand Mahadevan is the editor of Outlook Business.)

Wednesday Bible Study- Hebrews 2

Hello All,

We are back again on the Hebrews Bible Study on the Wednesday. We could not record the last week message and this one as well. May be next week we will record the same.

Please do find below the link for the download on the second study of Hebrews chapter 2 we are doing today.

http://sites.google.com/site/worldchristianfellowshipsite/hebrews

Prayer request for Trip to RIGA, Latvia

15th November to 20th November I will be away at Riga, Latvia to minister there. I will be ministering in one of the largest Church in Riga on Sunday.

18th November is an important day for Latvia, is celebrating its 90th Independence day! so we will be having some special meeting with Businessmen in Riga and outside. John Goodall and Kate will be joining on this mission on the 17th November.

We will certainly appreciate your prayers for this trip!

Love and Blessings

Praise Report for 25th Men's Advance camp of BMF

God did amazing things in the Camp held at Aberfoyle from the Friday 3rd October to Sunday 5th October 2008.
Friday afternoon about 120 from the Businessmen Fellowship assembled at the beautiful site in Dounans Centre at Aberfoyle. The Beautiful Scottish high lands showed us the majestic beauty of the awesome creation of our Lord. Men came from Russia, Poland, Siberia, Latvia, Turkey, Tanzania, India etc. As we all assembled in oneness the Spirit of God moved into our meeting right from the start.

We had a spirit filled worship by Andrew Dougall and his friends in all our sessions. I had the privilege of being the guest speaker for this year. God ministered to all those who came with His Holy Spirit in Power. The message we meditated on Saturday night was about ” How God has created us and anointed us for his call”, and on Sunday morning we meditated on “how the Desires comes in our hearts to fulfil the purpose in life”. Three men gave their life in the course of the camp and it was such a joy to see their faces changed. Also one of the waiter in the dining hall also gave his life to Christ! God healed may people from day one!! Again I stand by my familiar statement "God is still in the same Business"

 

Many businessmen changed forever and God gave a wonderful promise and hope to set us towards the coming year.
I am sure the Business Man Fellowship (BMF) is going to set the holy fire on the market place ministry in UK with the able leadership through Mr. Drew Greenwood with the guidance from our Almighty, All sovereign God.Amen.!!!
The message can be downloaded from the usual address or under this blog as well.

Scotland's 25th Men's Spiritual Advance

OCTOBER 3rd to 5th 2008

MAIN SPEAKER: ABRAHAM DAVID JOHN
Abraham, a chemistry graduate from Tamil Nadu (South India), has held many senior positions in the fields of marketing and manufacturing, in India and in other South East Asian countries eg. Indonesia and Malaysia. He has 20+ year of experience in managing businesses in consumer, engineering, textile and mineral industries, worldwide.  God has used him to change management effectively, by giving him insight into failing businesses and turning them around into flourishing companies. While in Indonesia, working as a head of marketing for the largest textile company which had a turnover in excess of 260 million US Dollars, he felt the call of God to leave there and move to the UK. He obeyed the call of God, resigned his job and trusting solely on the Lord,  moved to the UK with his wife and family.  Here God led him to start his own company, dealing with Telecommunications. Born and raised in the Anglican church, he worshipped in other denominations and is now serving as a Deacon in a Baptist congregation.  He is also involved in a church for the Tamil speaking community, conducting worship in their own native language.  He also ministers the Word of God wherever he travels and recently had the opportunity to share God's message in India and Sri Lanka. God's anointing is very strong on this man and when he ministers, people are touched and transformed as he moves in the prophetic and healing gifts.

Russia - Wonderful Trip

What a wonderful Trip we had in Russia for the Businessmen Fellowship!! 

God moved in amazing way in setting people free and gave them the right purpose in their life.  John Watt, Jonathan Suriakumar and I reached Rostov, Russia on the 25th September 2008. We had our Businessmen Seminar on the 26^th, over 120 people attended the conference. Every one stayed back until evening. John Watt shared his talk in Russian, which people seemed to enjoy as very few understand English. We had to use the interpreters to speak to them. God moved in a mighty way in opening their hearts. Glory to Him!!! 

On the 27th evening we had the dinner meet with many businessmen in a very good restaurant. Sorry, I’m unable to mention the name of the hotel. Overall 5 people came to faith in Jesus Christ. Praise God!!!!!!!! 

On 28th we ministered in the Local church run by our friend, Pastor and Businessman Andrew in Armavir, 6 people gave their life to Christ and many were healed of their physical oppression. One prominent thing I have to mention was that Mr. Andrey’s nephew came from the other end of Russia by travelling 8 hours by air got saved in the meeting and baptized in the Holy Spirit. God has got everything under His control!! 

On the 29th we did the Businessmen Seminar at Armavir and over 60 people were there all through the day. Although it was scheduled from 10 am to 6 pm, we could manage to finish only by 7 pm. Everyone felt the presence of the Lord. God used us to anoint the people and pray for their baptism. God ministered to people prophetically to set them free and poured out His love upon them. 

On the 30th September we had the dinner meeting at Armavir at a very beautiful restaurant, 4 people got saved and one interesting person was one of the waitress who served for us. God spoke to her about her life and she was set free! 

1st October we went over to Krasnador and had a dinner meeting with businessmen in that region. Again God healed people and 2 persons got saved. 

All in all we have travelled over 1000 kilometres by road and flown over 13 hours and did all this meetings. We thank God for His favour, protection, grace and most of all His continued presence in all the meetings. We are also thankful to God for the wonderful family of Andrey Litvinov's who has accommodated us, fed us and took care of us so well. We thank God for Andrew, Luda his wife, sons Vovo, Boris, Leara and Baby Andrai.  I personally take this opportunity to thank all of you who supported us in prayers!!!