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.