Many new pictures are on the India web site, under photos. https://www.christiantrainingonline.org/our-ministries/india/photos/
(Monday, Jan 23, 2012, on the bumpy road from Macherla to Vijayawada, India) I haven’t shared personal experiences from this trip so I thought I’d do so today. One is about when the police showed up and the other I about a demonized pastor. So now I hope you want to read on!
Last year it was my joy and privilege to baptize 13 people in 2 separate locations. They were don’t in local rivers but without drawing attention to them for not too long before some foreigners had been arrested for public baptisms. They are legal, but they raised a fuss among local Hindu’s so the people were held in prison for several days until large enough bribes were made.. This year I was again asked to baptize at the same place, but turned it down. I didn’t refuse because of the arrest situation, but because of the conviction the local pastor who whole be with them should have the honor and they should bond with him. Also I don’t want some thinking their baptism is somewhat ‘better’ because an American performed it. I prayed for the candidates before the baptism and stood by the pastor as he did it to show support and approval. As he started I saw a police officer drive up and get off his motorcycle. His uniform reminded me of pictures I saw of dilators of third world countries. He was quite stocky. As he headed toward out group Moses, who was on the side nearest him, shouted to me, “Jerry, he’s come to arrest you!”
He came over to me and shook my hand. It turns out his elderly mother was being baptized and he came to see. His sister was there as well, also a Christian and church member. He was also a Christian! I must say God gave me perfect, total complete peace the whole time! But don’t tell Nancy about this, she will probably miss the humor in the whole thing!
We went back to the same church for out pastor’s conference today, a 4 hour car ride each way (on extremely bumpy roads, many not paved). Here is where the demonized woman started screaming at me while I was teaching about spiritual warfare. The demons violently threw her to the concrete floor and we prayed for quite a while until she came around and was baptized. The women being baptized after her did the same thing when I put my hands on here to baptize her in the river (after driving the water buffalo away).
Well, it happened again today! A pastor who everyone said was demonized came up for prayer afterwards. He looked awful! I laid hands on him and kept forcing his eyes open so he’d look at me. Demons hate to be touched or let a believer look into their base of operation. God gave me courage, holy anger at them, and the right words and before long he slumped to the floor. He went down gently and I felt assurance the demons left, but kept touching him and praying until I felt everything was covered. He opened his eyes while I prayer and peace and gentleness was all that was there. I smiled, said “Praise the Lord,” and finished praying. He said it as well. After that he was fine. All pastors in attendance get copies of my Spiritual Warfare and What God Expects of Pastors, so I was able to communicate to him to read the book. What a wonderful tool those books are and how very, very glad to pastors are to have them. They read them and pass them on, and what the and What God Expects of Pastors, so I was able to communicate to him to read the book.
What a wonderful tool those books are and how very, very glad to pastors are to have them. They read them and pass them on, and what they read impacts them and their ministry for the rest of their lives. I think of all of you when giving them out, for without your sacrificial giving they wouldn’t be possible. Translating and printing 11,000 copies cost $14,000. Thanks so very, very much! Your gifts make all of this possible or we wouldn’t be able to do any of this.
Tomorrow we go to a new location – 8 hours driving plus regular pastors conference in the day