An Incredible Experience - Navapur Convention '16

"I don't know how to describe it, but it will be one of the most incredible experience of my 30 years of ministry life."  This is was what one of the speakers, invited to speak at the recently concluded Navapur Convention, had to say about the entire week.   When asked to elaborate, he mentioned several aspects of the Convention, out of which the humility of the people to hear the Word of God stood out. 

People from 12 states gathered together to worship God and hear from the Word.  The total abandon in worship and the great attention that they were paying to the Word of God, really spoke volumes for their love for Jesus. 

There was a time, when the people would bring their bullock carts and come to the convention.  They would ‘park’ their carts all around the ground.   But today one can see only a sea of motorbikes, cars and other vehicles all around in the parking lot.  The people have been blessed both spiritually and in every other area of their lives and as a result, their giving also has risen considerably.  Praise God for this total transformation.    

This year, on the first day itself, there was the scare of demonetization of two currency notes.  So people had trouble traveling to the convention ground and also hesitation to give yet God took control and by the end of the convention, we could testify that God meets every need and loves to provide a direct answer to our prayers.  Nothing was amiss and the meetings proceeded unhindered.

Speakers
The speakers included Pastor Suresh Babu, who spoke on the “The visitation and the habitation of God.”  His messages were anointed and the people responded to the altar calls with much prayer and surrender.

Pr. T C Thomas spoke directly to the hearts of the people, when he mentioned the various facets of the power of the Gospel.   When he prayed for the people, you could see tears rolling down the cheeks of those who decided to accept and also to carry the message to others.

Pr. M.S. Samuel narrated the stories from the Gospels.  His exposition of the gospels for the simple man were profound yet practical.

Pastors’ Meetings
Over 400 pastors had gathered to study from the word of God and one of the brothers expressed it well, “It was  a true joy to go so deep into the Word of God and mine the pearls of practical wisdom for ourselves.” 

Dr. Jacob Cherian was the invited speaker for the pastors and leaders seminar.  His love for the Word of God was evident in the way he taught from the book of 1 Thessalonians.  Pastors and leaders needed to hear about the conviction and the call of God on our lives.  In his three sessions, he took us on a journey through this book and it was worthwhile.  A bunch of younger pastors and leaders could also be witnessed in these meetings.  Thank God for the many generations that are there sharing the Good News.

Pastors’ Wives Meetings.
For the first time in the history of the convention, the wives of the Pastors got together for a special sessions.  It was a great time of bonding, of sharing and crying and praying together.  Over 150 women gathered in the room to hear what God had to say to them for their lives, for their families for their calling and for their own churches.  A need was expressed to do it in the coming years also.  God willing, they will begin to meet on the State level in the days to come.

MISSION '17

For the next year, we want to focus our energy in equipping the people and our front line workers like never before.  We want to be intentional about this so that together we will have a greater workforce to reach more people in the coming days.  We request you to pray with us as we align and give structure our ministries especially amon Women, Children, Youth, the Lay Leaders and Pastors themselves.  

Separate teams will be traveling to locations to encourage and strengthen the work that is already being done and initiate them along the lines that we have mentioned. With work spread out over 15 states, humanly speaking it is very tough to work towards this change.  But we know that with you praying for us, we would be able to bring about the change and together accomplish the vision.

We are excited to bring news that we were able to start one more training centre in Navapur, Maharashtra, India. We are already training 130 students for the two and three year leadership programs in our Bible College in Udaipur. But this program is a one year program, especially training young men and women for grass root evangelization.  

This will give them the much need start to go out and begin ministering under existing pastors and leaders.  Once they are ready, they will be launched out into newer locations starting congregations on their own.  This is part of our original vision of training natives to reach natives.

Pioneering in the 21st Century

BIKANER:  One of the 13 desert districts in Rajasthan, Bikaner is a great educational and cultural centre.  Its kings and palaces and legends are unparalleled.  We have been working here for the past several years but something special is happening in this city.   

Recently Pastor Stephen Samson, who is pastoring in Jodhpur (about 250 Kms away) got a special burden to go to Bikaner and start the work afresh there.  He obeyed and started going there twice a month. Suddenly new connections have  come up and people are wanting to worship Jesus and know about where they can go for worship service. 

And then the Lord connects us to a missionary family who arrived in Bikaner a few months ago, not knowing what God wanted them to do in this city.  We have now connected with them and want to invest in their lives as they stick it out there in spite of the extreme weather.

Realizing that this is a good time for us to move in, we are hiring a large home so that this family can stay and which will double up as a place of worship and learning centre too.  The rent alone is Rs 11,000 per month.  And then there is the cost of living for this family. Is there anything too hard for the Lord?  Nothing is too hard.  But we need to believe for greater things and act for greater glory.

And Oh! another miracle happened.  A family out of the blue, came and said that they want to give a piece of land (and that too in the city) to build a church building!  Coincidences? Or signs of divine timing?   Please pray and join us in touching Bikaner anew.

Eleven Years

Rev.  Dr. Thomas Mathews
(February 9, 1944 -
November 24, 2005)

11 years ago on this day, my Dad went to be with the Lord.  On his way to preach in another city, he stayed the night in a home in Delhi and never woke up.  He was taken by our Lord for the rest that he very much needed. 

During these 11 years, there have been times when I have been alone, afraid and confused, but it was always the Lord comforting and reminding me that His grace was sufficient for me. 

Thanks to your valuable prayer and precious partnership, we have only continued to grow. The vision of planting churches continues through our feeble hands.   New churches have been planted, new people sent out to the mission fields and many people from new communities added to the Kingdom.  But there are a few more million people still to hear. We do not have time to celebrate! Let us continue to work hard until all hear, and then altogether we will celebrate

Personal Letter

Beloved Friend,

It is a great joy to be connecting with you in this manner. You have been receiving this newsletter and have been joining us through prayer and financial contributions.  May the Lord bless you and reward you generously for standing with us. The Bible is very clear and direct when it says in Hebrews 6:10 reminds us that … God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. (NLT)

With every passing day we look back we are  grateful to God for leading us and the ministry in such marvellous ways. We have enjoyed your friendship and sincere prayer and partnership. It is not our efforts or strategies and plans but the faithfulness of the Lord. Thank you so much for the part that you have played.

Supporting Church Planters

Because of your  faithful partnership we have been able to support missionaries in much needy places especially Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Would love to mention one story from Kutch in Gujarat.

Situated in the west of the country, Kutch is known to be a dry place both physically and spiritually. But it has seen a breakthrough in the past year. Brother Mahendra and his family and Brother Blessen and family have joined the ministry in that region and they are reaching out to  local people through prayer, counselling and community work. They have started outreach in three new villages and the first baptism took place a few months ago.  This was one of the biggest miracle of the year!   The Lord is really blessing and new people from the neighbouring villages have started coming in for Sunday worship too.   Would you like to help families go out and serve Jesus?  If so, please write to us.

Community Initiatives

A new work has started in four locations among the Kalbelias and the Lohars. Traditionally the Kalbelias are snake charmers and the Lohars are blacksmiths.  Our workers are teaching and reaching out  to these communities through health education, informal education and adult literacy programs. Medical camps were held and medicines distributed reaching out to more than 500 people. In one community where the women and  children earn their living by picking up rags, efforts are being taken to encourage children to enroll into a regular  school and for women to learn healthy practices. Through health education many Lohar youth have quit multiple addictions to tobacco and other locally available addictive substances. We are trusting God for transformed lives in these communities. Would you pray for them please?

Church Buildings

Over two years, out of a total of ten churches that needed a building, God enabled us to complete five.  We are excited and thank God for His miraculous provision. A church that is right now in the final stages of construction is the church at Sagwa in Rajasthan. The believers at Sagwa church underwent much persecution seven years ago.Today God enabled us to build a church building in the same village and it is a source of great relief and blessing for the people in the region.  We need your continued financial assistance to finish these buildings.

We request you to continue to help us with your prayers and your giving. Your giving, big or small, goes to the most needy individuals and meets their dire needs.  God bless as you consider to give. Also let us know how we can pray for you in the days to come.

In closing we want to bless you with Ephesians 3:20 — Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (NLT)

Joining you in this end time ministry,

Paul and Christy Mathews
Udaipur, Rajasthan

Spirit Wind in Sakri

Situated on a raised plateau, Sakri is known for its beautiful mountains, strawberry fields and its sugarcane farms.  But soon it will be known for one more thing.  The Spirit Wind.

As you meet Pastor Motiram you are stunned by the sincerity in his words.  He was trained in the Filadelfia Bible College and went back to minister with his co-workers in the Sakri area.   After 15 years of ministry, there were results, but not at the speed he wanted them to come.  One fine day, as he and others were praying, the Lord promised them that he would send a Spirit Wind upon the region and remove the barrenness.   But they were to sit in pray for the coming revival. And they began to pray earnestly.

As prayer gathered momentum, their faith began to rise.  With faith and prayer, came answers to difficult prayers.  Soon, they had the faith to put up a tent meeting.  A small meeting was planned but the turnout defied all odds. People began to give generously and sacrificially for a larger meeting.

“All the expenses are being borne by the simple people of our churches,” says Motiram. Knowing the condition of the people, this in itself is a miracle.

Shyama came to the faith after losing two sons.  He himself was battling a strange disease.  No one helped nor cared.  But he was desperate and God directed him to a church.  People prayed for him and he was totally and instantly healed.  From that day, he prayed that they would come to his village to start a church.    That prayer was soon answered.

A church was started and people began to pour and NMM was able to partner with the believers to complete a church building in the village.  But God had greater plans for Shyama. Handing over his farm to his sons, he is now working full time with his local pastor.  When asked… what changed him?  He replied … it was the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Everything changed. Love for the Lord, compassion for the lost,  a boldness to pray for people and the joy of seeing people being healed, is what I got after my Spirit baptism. 

While studying in the Bible College, the only prayer that Pastor Savlish had was, “Lord send me to a place, where no one know you.. I want to be a witness for you.  But then he had another prayer too.  Lord, please save each and every member of my family, before I go out and preach to others…  Today God has honoured both this requests.  His whole family is saved and he is  ministering in a pioneer location and the Lord has blessed him with 40 believers there. 

The Holy spirit is doing a marvellous thing in the area…..

Navapur14 - God Among His People

Joy unspeakable, peace deep within, satisfaction beyond measure, an overwhelming presence of God, all glory to God are some of the sentences you would use to describe the the 34th Navapur Conference which was held from October 28 - November 2, 2014. Each year, the Navapur Conference has its own story declaring the goodness and greatness of our God but this year surpassed it all. We count it a great privilege to be a part of this great move of Holy Spirit in the Indian history. There is no greater joy than to be used as His vessels and for the expansion of His Kingdom.

I wish I could tell of all the wondrous things that God did for us in this conference but I'm sure words remain weak and insufficient before His glory.

What began under a tree with a handful of God-chosen people, even now attracts thousands and thousands of lives with the same fervour and zeal to fellowship, to worship, to learn the word and the boldness to tell the world that He reigns.

This year's conference again witnessed thousands thronging in to worship Him. The multi coloured tent  in an open ground that can seat 50,000 people sitting next to each other in the ground, was jam packed to the point that there was no way one could walk among the crowd. People from many nationalities also took part and were greatly blessed.

A young IT professional from Hyderabad, who took leave from work just to attend this conference, commented , " I love coming to Navapur conference and  it's my second time here. It  is a very big miracle for me to come out of my busy work schedule but I have been praying and believing to attend the Navapur conference this year. I was not sure until the last minute if I would be granted leave from work but God did a miracle and I was able to attend the conference. As soon as I entered the Navapur conference ground, which was covered by colourful tents, immediately I was filled with unspeakable joy and peace. I think you know what I am talking about  “Holy Spirit”. I got my Bible and notes ready and I was also ready to dance and offer my best sacrifice of praise to Sovereign God." This is just one among hundreds of testimonies that have been  resounding and  ringing in our ears.

Pastors Babu Cherain, Freddy Thomas,  Shibu Thomas and Dr. Idiceria Ninan delivered the Word of God with much conviction and passion. The presence of God hovered around the place so heavily that  the ministers could no longer minister. One of the minsters said, " I fear the presence of God in this place." 

Each day people gathered early in the morning to intercede and pray for the people groups.  It seemed the presence of Holy Spirit was driving every mind into His presence - people gathered on time, gave sacrificially, sang and danced open heartedly, lingered in the presence of God,  poured out their hearts freely, responded to the Word of God beautifully, enjoyed the blanket presence of God reverentially. Every day people had the opportunity to blessed by several Word sessions which added life and colour. Hundreds of children had the opportunity to be together under a colourful tent, learn the Word of God, do action songs and engage in activities enjoying  the presence of God. The young people had the opportunity to use their energy for God. They were challenged through the Word of God to give themselves and all they have for the Kingdom cause. The women looked all bright and colourful as they gathered under one tent to praise Him.

Wonderful testimonies poured out from the crowd as they queued up to testify the great things that God has done in their lives. Also they brought in sacrificial and precious offerings like cash, tears, testimonies, vows and beautifully presented them in the house of God amidst the congregation. Sister Yvonne and several pastors wives led the women into learning the Word of God and prayer.  One of the sisters shared this miracle testimony on stage, "I was barren but I came for the Navapur conference last year and got prayer for. God answered my prayer and now I have a baby boy."

Another sister exclaimed, "My house was about to crumble. I lived in a small mud house where one could hardly get in. I came to the conference last year and took a vow before the Lord that if he blesses me with a home I will offer INR 1000. God miraculously helped me and I want to fulfill my vow now. "

At the testimony section, still another recalled, "I was diagnosed as having heart problems because of which I had breathing problems and my palms and lips look bluish in colour. I was pregnant and doctors advised me to terminate the pregnancy because of  my health conditions . I trusted the Lord and requested for prayer during the last conference. I continued the pregnancy and God helped me to deliver a boy baby without any complication."

"I am believing God for a house of my own. I want to offer my gift into the house of God and believe God for a miracle. I will testify of His greatness as I come for the Navapur conference next year."

As iron sharpens iron, testimonies of women declaring His goodness over their lives, resulted in much praise.

The conference also witnessed over 39 Bible College students graduating, 20 new pastors being ordained and released to go out and take the good news in the needy places. The tents resounded with the praise song, "Let the nations sing, seas clap and mountains dance in praise to the King. "

The conference ended with heavenly scene of hundreds of pastors serving the Holy Communion to thousands of believers from across the nations and a compelling message deposited in every spirit that this good news needs to be taken to the lost and dying.

We cannot forget God's faithfulness and the faithful contributions of the saints who have contributed selflessly and sacrificially towards this five day celebration. With your contributions we were able to host, feed, provide basic facilities and improve on several fronts. Yet with the increase in the number of people, a greater number of facilities are needed to host them over these five days. 

For the coming year 2015 Navapur Conference we are believing that we will be able to build 50 male and 50 female washrooms and toilets.  Would you join us to pray and believe for this?

We pray that you will be able to join us next year from the 17th to the 22nd of Nov, 2015.