Greetings once again to all in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Just wanted to update you guys on whats happening in India, i hope you guys are aware of it, if not please read Pastor Caleb’s post. Churches are standing together conducting mass processions, rallies and fasting prayers and are raising support in every way to help those who are being brutally tortured for their faith. Please take time to look into these links and the power point presentation to understand in detail and pray more effectively for the affected.

Nun was gang raped and priest brutally assaulted in Kandhamal

Victim of anti-Christian mob describes experiences

Sister Nirmala’s appeal to Orissa Chief Minister

Hindu extremists damage 600 churches in Orrisa
4000 Christians forced to flee, one nun burnt alive

NCM submits its report on Karnataka violence to PMO

Attacks on churches spread to Tamil Nadu

7 churches vandalized in Karnataka

Kandhmal: Christians unwilling to return home

Dear Friends,

I urge you to stand with us in prayer, am sure u are aware of the ongoing violence against Christians in Various districts of Orissa a Hindu pre-dominant state. The reason for the sudden escalation of violence is a Hindu priest was killed by the Maoists for which Christians were made scapegoats by the Hindu activist groups who were already angered at the growing rate of conversion found this incident to falsely turn it against Christians, as a result Christians have been victims of violence instigated by two major Hindu groups by VHP and RSS. They have destroyed 600 churches, killed more than 25 people, 4000 people are hiding in the jungle out of fear for being killed with no water, food or shelter, and thousands are living in relief camps. A nun was gang-raped and murdered, another one was burnt alive. Pastor’s throat was slit he bled to death. Two pastors were killed last week. A handicapped person who couldn’t run was burnt alive right before his brother’s eyes who was helpless by an angry mob. Thousands of houses have been destroyed.

We want guys on your knees crying for these dear ones and martyrs of the gospel. We don even feel like eating when we hear the news of our brethren under such great persecution.

There are endless stories of brutally Christians being tortured for their faith, it’s a reality right here in India a so-called democratic secular front. Am also suggesting some links which give an update of day to day incidents.

If you guys would feel led to support the victims , please let me know I know pastors and missionary organizations whom we can channelize it through. Above all pray that God of Elijah would intervene supernaturally and protect his children.

God bless

Pastor Caleb , India

Background information on Orrisan violence on the church

I am hearing some good ideas while at the Gnomedex conference.

We are going to start the efforts earlier for next year, as we are now all very happy we had such a great trip in 2008.
So I created this ChipIn tool for the site:

Yes, we are targeting $30,000 for next year. This will pay for 800 pastors to attend a 2 day conference, plus help make our festival highly impactful. This is not the total we will raise, but simply the smaller donations we are targeting to come through the site. Up til now, we have just collected in the thousands from a small circle consisting mostly of my own money. Fundraising has seemed to be too big a hurdle, but I have a new optimism about the possibilities of many smaller contributions bearing the bulk of the load.

We’ll build this into the site and get things organized for next year.

We had an amazing thanksgiving service at Pastor Joel church (Chengulpet), all most all the pastors from uttiramerur fellowship gathered together and it was good day. We sang some songs, prayed together and had time for testimonies. what you are about to read is no story but real testimonies.

Pastor Henry Lawrence, a well respected senior servant of God who has been at utiramerur for a long time and has a church at the entrance of the township said, history will speak aloud of the revival meeting coz no one comes to conduct meetings at uttiramerur it was always the rejected place. He also added that posters of meetings conducted in neighbouring taluks will be pasted here but not for meetings at uttiramerur coz there was none. We were longing for a breakthrough he said and God not only used CGI Ministries as a bridge for the breakthrough but also to create history.

Brother Jayakumar who was a of such great help from the beginning said this revival meeting was a gateway to bring all pastors and ministers together. He also said that day the Presence of God was so strong an awesome that it was like little heaven on earth.

We completed the meeting by honouring the pastors and giving them a small gift as a token of our appreciation. Tears of joy flowed as we hugged and prayed for one another. In the end we had a good time of fellowship and food.

I want to end by saying we make a difference where ever we go and we create history coz the HISTORY MAKER HIMSELF is with us. Please pray for us and join us as we together extend the Kingdom of God and bless the district of kanchipuram. God Bless You.

If you guessed the Taj Mahal, you are right.

Having the opportunity to see The Taj Mahal (which means The Crowned Jewel) was truly a highlight of our Indian journey. There is no doubt that aesthestically, it’s an archtectural feat. It’s amazing to see and touch the beautiul, intricate, smooth marble work. It’s amazing that it took around 20,000 artisans, working 24/7, completing it in 20 years. It’s amazing that it’s a tomb for one of the King’s most beloved wife (he had more than one). It’s amazing that many consider this a spiritual mecca, where one comes to see the physical work of devoted love.

As I see this for my very own eyes, I can’t help but see the parallel devotion represented through Jesus. We are considered His bride, and He calls us to be totally devoted to Him, and our monument to Him is using our life to represent His devoted love of us. It’s really a “wow” factor!

2008 we created history. Uttiramerur meeting saw unexpected turn out and the whole town was in awe of how churches got together in unity and love to celebrate and pray for their taluk. Its still the talk of the town. Pastors and local leaders are calling in to report miracles and great change in peoples lives and even in their own fellowship. We faced many hurdles and confusions but in the end God prevailed and His Name was Magnified that day. We are expecting major break throughs and more pastors to join the local fellowship and be a blessing to the district.
There was such liberation and freedom as we sang, danced and worshiped God. God used andrew powerfully to challenge his people to look to HIM alone and come out of shame as He will make their faces radiant coz there is no shame in Christ. Its revolutionary as about 55 people gave their lives to christ and we laid hands on the sick and prayed and GoD delivered them. The only person who was ashamed that day was the already defeated satan and his crew. People didnt wanna leave after lunch even thou it was late coz they wanted more songs and worship so we had some games, songs and did a small skit and finished the day in style. This is history guys…………………..

This year was different in many ways and one was having the conference after the revival meeting. We were really anxious as the day arrived coz we had about 800 registrations but funds for only 500 people. We did call and send letters asking poeple not to come but you know in india people do turn up. But God ways are always perfect and just that we had only 500 turn up that tuesday afternoon. The three days were powerful and life changing. Worship was radical, alive and the sermons were straight forward and sharp. Everything went on perfect with out any confusion or disturbance. Many pastors are calling us saying THE OVERCOMING CHURCH CONFERENCE has changed the way they thought of church and ministry. ONE BODY, ONE VOICE, ONE CHURCH was our cry, dedication and prayer. Pastors call in to say they that the statement “CHURCH IS GODS PROJECT” has opened their eyes, to reconciliation and unity. Pastors are already calling in to book their seats for next year conference. Like i said before wow… wow… God Is Great, He Does Miracles Too Great, There Is No One Else Like HIM. There IS No One Else Like Him.

We Thank God for his grace and mercy to serve him and bless the district of kanchipuram, thank you all for your prayers and your support. Please continue to pray for us and the dstrict of kanchipuram and do join us next year as we proclaim and claim more taluks in the district of kanchipuram. Thank you and bless you all.

I leave you with some pictures of the revival meeting and the conference. will update you more in the weeks to come……..

Prakash set up the conference midway with a strong word about the dangers of the Babylonian Church, or, using worldly methods to make the church succeed. On Wednesday Night, I went forward with this to directly call pastors to repent of the 7 deadly sins of church building. I don’t pretend to be an expert on church building, especially in the practical manners of administration, etc. I do however see that according God’s design for the body in Eph 3, 4, Rom 12 and elsewhere, the following 7 common practices have to end:

1. Being respecters of persons (James 2)
2. Personal kingdoms (aka Running church like a competitive business)
3. Among pastors, a sense of having graduated (no longer singing with the church, etc.)
4. Jealousy
5. Love of Money
6. Sectarianism
7. Thinking ourselves priests (1Tim 2:5)

This is something the whole church leadership needs to take heed of, and the leaders of Kanchipuram are privileged to hear it first. Hopefully they will run with it and the rest of the church can see wonderful revival transpire here in India and repent also. I doubt most churches would allow this kind of message to be heard. Christian leaders worldwide are bonded to practices they learned not from Christ, but from marketing books, elitist sectarian policies or political expediency. Someone has to say it.

What turned me around on this subject was this in Christ’s prayer in John 17.
He prays for one thing only — That we be One, just as He and the Father are One.

When was the last time you had an opportunity to be an answer to prayer to what Jesus Himself is praying for?

Let’s build the church His way shall we? Not because it is expedient, strategic or what the people of this generation are demanding, but simply because Christ is the Head, and we are THE Body.

God blessed this conference! It went way beyond my expectations! The Holy Spirit gave me this message two months ago, but it was only He who perfected it, and encouraged these women who serve their husbands, children, and church tirelessly. What I felt God wanted to impart upon them was to give time to allow Jesus to wash their feet…to allow Him to serve them, to bless, and encourage them by spending quite time with God. I followed the message with the honor of washing one of the women’s feet. It was a humbling experience, and yet I was also encouraged to go beyond my “boundaries”, and do more for God. (John 13:14-15 says: If I then, the Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you are to wash one another’s feet and be an example.) My interpreter, Lily Durai, is a good friend of mine whom I first met (seven years ago) when Andrew and I, and our family, moved to India, So it made it extra special for me to have a close friend give the message in Tamil.

Likewise, there was a great youth group from Living Hope Church (located in Vancouver, Washington) who were there. This group of four young adults were incredibly helpful…from designing a backdrop for one of Andrew’s sermons, videotaping the entire conference, helping out with praying for those in need at the end of each service, and going swimming in the Indian Ocean!! My admiration goes out to this group….thank you ever so much!

Here is a brief “photojournal”, that I pray you’ll not only be blessed, but challenged, to take time to be with God. No matter how busy our lives get (and they can get extremely busy), set the time to be with the maker of the earth, and the entire universe, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Overcoming Church conference is our third annual and we are seeing what looks like a new beginning here.

I dont have time to report on the details, but we will be uploading the audio of the event later and will also make it available as a cellecast.

Our guest speaker yesterday was none other than M. Prakash, who in addition to being the Director for TBN in India, is also a great friend with our pastor Frank DiMazio, Bob Whager and Dick Iverson! We became friends very quickly, and we look forward to working with him again, as he is very close to Pastor Joel, which makes him a close partner to CGI. It was a delight to hear is amazing message about the dangers of Babylonian methods in the church. I marveled about how well it fit in with and advanced the conference theme.

Please visit the site to see the conference audio we’ll put up later today or tomorrow. The church can overcome, but we have to repent on a lot of fronts.

India has mobile data cards… so I am doing a new tech trick in India I have yet to do in the States. No one can tell me that India is not a land of great convenience. We are driving now down to The TWR conference center where the ministry begins tonight.

Please pray and consider helping financially according to my last post, as our attendance is likely exceeding capacity. We are turning pastors away who keep calling. Who knows who will show up without calling.