New Delhi - West Bengal - Assam - Nepal - July 2023

Following my last trip to Nepal, where I and Bro Arpan had somewhat broken down the ideals of traditional Christianity, Pastor Mathee of Komala Road Village Church had extended an invitation to me to come and minister there a 2^nd time.

To read about our 1st trip to Nepal click here.

Our plans were - one meeting, every evening for a whole week and 2 sessions on Saturday (which is the weekend in Nepal, Sunday being the 1^st day of the week there.) That way, I would be able to cover most of the doctrinal topics I wanted to discuss with the pastors and elders, so that I could lead them towards a better understanding of the Apostolic Faith.

However, our plans were upturned when, Pastor Mathee reported a week before I could leave, that due to lack of rainfall in the area this year, most of the believers were relying on sumps and manual watering for their cultivations, and as a result would be involved in field work until late in the evenings at different times. So gathering everyone together for Bible Study at that time would prove to be difficult. Still, he said he would be happy to accommodate us for the weekend for as many sessions as possible.

This was quite disheartening, and since my tickets had already been booked, and my other plans for West Bengal, New Delhi, and Assam inter-linked, I tried to contact some other brethren within Nepal but was unsuccessful.

21st July, 2023

Bro. Timothy saw me off.

Still praying, and with a heart filled with a burden for those souls in Nepal, I set off for New Delhi, as planned on the morning of the 21^st of July. My flight was at 9:30 am.

Above the Capital

I reached the capital by 12:15 pm. Bro. Rajeev Emmanuel from the Delhi Church was there to receive me.

Bro. Sanjiv's neighbourhood

Sema Fellowship Church

I reached Bro. Sanjiv Emmanuel’s home by 1:00 pm and his family received me with their familiar warmth and gusto.

Bro. Sanjeev informed me  that as he was in between a house change, he had arranged for 2 days of meetings to be held in Sema Fellowship Church, in Jeevan Park, New Delhi, a little distance from his place. The pastor of the church there had granted Bro. Sanjiv permission to hold gatherings on the premises until he had arranged for his own place.

The meetings were to be held between 5:00 to 9:00 pm on the 22^nd and the 23^rd.

22nd July, 2023

It was just a small gathering, but our Big God was present as always.

My message on the 1^st day was a Warning Message for the Bride based on Luke 21: 34 - "See Not The World, But Look Unto Jesus."

Bro. Sanjiv interpreted the message in Hindi.

Bro. Sanjiv leads the worship

With our Delhi Fam

23rd July, 2023

On the 2^nd day I spoke on 'The Transformation Of Our Bodies', based on I Corinthians 15: 51

Bro. Aaron on the congo

My back was giving me trouble again, and there was an electricity cut on the 1^st day I was there. The heat was oppressive in New Delhi, but the fellowship we had there made it all worthwhile.

During my last conversation with Bro. Sanjiv, I learned that though there were only a few attendees, the Word had managed to penetrate the heart-soil of a few people who did show up - 2 of his relatives, and another sister from a denominational church, who have now  decided to attend fellowship at his place in Delhi. 

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" (John 10: 27)

24th July, 2023

I had my flight from New Delhi to Baghdogra, West Bengal on the 24^th at 3:15 pm. Bro. Rajeev saw me off at his namesake airport in New Delhi.

I reached Baghdogra by 5:30 pm that evening and was received there by Bro Arpan.

We made the 10 kms journey to Siliguri where Bro. Arpan had booked us for the night in Haven Retreat Centre – a Christian lodge which was exceptionally clean and affordable.

Towards Siliguri

Haven Retreat Centre

We got some sleep and were up the next morning by 5:00 am. Our train would arrive at Siliguri Railway Station by 7: 45 am.

25th July, 2023

We boarded the Tourist Express (not much of an express J) to Alipurduar where Bro. Arpan lived. The train had been launched newly for tourists who wanted to enjoy the Himalayan range scenery along the way. And so I passed the journey joyously watching lakes, rivers, forests, and tea gardens against a backdrop of clear Himalayan sky.

The Tourist Express

The journey was restful and we reached Alipurduar, West Bengal at 1:00 pm. We hailed a cab to Bro. Arpan’s home in Barobisha, where Bro. Suraj and Sis Rebecca Chettri were waiting to welcome me. It was heart-warming to meet them after a good many years.

The homestead had undergone a couple of renovations, but the Agape Love of its inhabitants was the same. It’s wonderful how even a gap of time fails to disturb the link of fellowship between believers in the Word. We might be from opposite sides of India, and very different cultures, but once we got together, we picked up right where we had left off.

Click here to watch a video

Bro. Arpan's Home

En route to Kumargram

That day, I took some rest. Bro Arpan informed me that there would be 3 meetings for the next 3 consecutive days, only in the evenings, as most of the church members got in after duty by 6:30 pm. The meetings would begin by 7:00 pm and end by 9:00/ 9:30 pm at their Church in Kumargram Tea Garden a few kms away.

The meetings held on the 26^th, 27^th, and 28^th of July were telecast on Zoom, and a few brethren from other parts of India, and the world attended.

The Church had been extended and renovated since I’d been there last, and I was happy to see the familiar faces of the brethren there who had rejoiced in the Word during my last trip.

Click here to read our about our 2018 trip to West Bengal.

Kumargram Church 2018

26th July, 2023

The first day, I reiterated the Warning Message from Luke 21, that I had preached in New Delhi – ‘See Not the World but Look unto Jesus.’ – an admonition for the believers to beware of Satan’s distractive tactics and focus more on their life in the Lord, lest His Coming take them unawares.

We had a wonderful time of worship with Bro. Lorentush Minj leading the singing, Bro. Arpan on percussions, Bro. Sujit Minj on the keyboard, and Bro. Ujjal Darjee on guitar.

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Bro. Arpan interpreted the Word in Hindi.

27th July, 2023

My message on the 2^nd day was from The Song of Solomon 5: 1, 2 – 'It Is Time To Wake From Sleep.'

Bro. Lorentush Minj leads the worship

27th July, 2023

On the 3^rd day, I preached on The Work and Anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Bro. Suraj Chettri exhorts the congregation.

With our Kumargram Fam

The Word was gladly received and all those who attended testified to being blessed.

Click here to watch a video.

Leaving for Assam

Bro. Suraj Chettri had been sharing the Word with a few believers in Assam, among quite a bit of opposition, and it was there that we were headed next.

28th July, 2023

We left for Alipurduar railway station the next morning. Our train to Assam arrived at 10:30 am and we reached our destination by 6:00 pm.

Bro. Suraj suggested we first meet the Pastor there before going to our lodgings and so we did.

Pastor Simon Peter and his family received us warmly with cups of steaming hot chai– the Indian ‘go-to’ in all climates. After we had refreshed ourselves, I had a chance to share my testimony with them before the meetings the next day.

Traveling thru Assam 

By the time we made our way to our lodgings, the time was 11:30 pm. Our room was unfortunately on the 3^rd floor, and there was no elevator, and no hot water. It was raining cats and dogs and the climate was quite cold. I freshened up in the ice cold water and we then ordered some dinner before I rested my poor back for the night.

Our lodgings in Assam

A late, late dinner

29th July, 2023

The next day, I felt a sniffle coming on, and knew I was in for the flu. However ‘Heigh Ho, it’s on to work we go’, and so we did.

That Sunday’s meeting was divided into 2 sessions.

Bro. Suraj served as interpreter.

The first session began at 9:30 am and ended by 11:30 am.

Click here to watch a video

The Assamese worship was reviving and I spoke on The Image and Likeness of God.

I then went back to the lodge for some rest and decided to skip lunch that day, as I was feeling the onset of the flu and was kind of queasy.

The 2^nd session was supposed to start by 5:00 pm, but many of the believers were delayed due to the rains. They were finally all assembled by 7:00 pm after which we began.

The service lasted up until 9:00 pm that night.

Click here to watch a video

During the 2nd session I preached on how Jesus was to us as The Cedars of Lebanon – It was a message of faith and divine healing for the body and the soul.

Luke 8

In the preaching, I alluded to the woman who had been suffering from the issue of blood 12 years, and had forward in faith, through the crowd, to touch the hem of the Saviour’s garment, and was healed.

After the service, we had a short prayer for healing. (I have since received word that a few Baptist believers who had attended that day have received healing for their ailments and are interested in attending future meetings. We give praise to the Lord for this manifestation of His grace.)

Pastor Simon was very glad with the preaching, and service, and has extended his hand in fellowship for future meetings there.

With Pastor Simon Peter and family

A simple meal with the family

That night, I had a fitful sleep, and by the next morning was suffering with immense body pain, fatigue, and a full blown viral infection.

30th July, 2023

We left Assam by 4:30 am that morning. The lodge was around an hour’s drive from the railway station, where we boarded our train at 6:30 am bound for Alipurduar.

We reached Bro. Arpan’s home that afternoon at around 1:30 pm in time for a hot lunch.

As predicted I was sick for 2 days after and so could not move to Bihar for 2 meetings which had been planned there. Bro Arpan told me to rest as much as possible so that I could be revived in time for our journey to Nepal, which I agreed to as I had no choice L.

So as to not waste days, and seeing that I was feeling a bit better by Wednesday, Bro. Arpan arranged a mid- week Bible Study in his church on the evening of August 2^nd.

2nd August, 2023

My message that evening was ‘Walk like Enoch’ – a discourse on the believer’s walk towards transformation.

I bid goodbye to the believers in Kumargram Church that evening, as it would be the last I saw of them on this trip.

3rd August, 2023

The next day, after lunch, Bro. Arpan suggested we go into the neighbouring country of Bhutan for some relaxation. The Bhutan border was only 17 kms away and under Indian control, so we didn’t need a Visa or permit to enter. We only had to furnish our Election IDs as proof of Indian Citizenship. We were allowed to go into the country up to a certain point.

I had been to Bhutan once before with my wife, the last time I had visited West Bengal in 2018. The brethren from the Sathaali Church I had been to then, had arranged it. 

Click here to watch a video

We travelled by motorbike, and the landscape was breath-taking. Zooming past the Bhutanese countryside, we crossed the Kalikhola River to Lhamoizingkha, a point where we had to stop and turn back under government regulations.

The Bhutanese Countryside - No pollution

As the dew of Hermon...

We had to stop and click this shot - the mountain in the distance, lofty and formidable, its top clothed with mist, as if in testimony to what I had alluded to in my sermon the previous day - about the dew of Hermon drifting towards the mountains of Zion.

The air was clearer here and we had some time to renew our bodies and clear our heads.

Although Bhutan affords its inhabitants freedom to practice their own religions, there is a prohibition against non-Buddhist preaching and mission work, propagation of other religions, conducting non-Buddhist religious meetings, and building of non-Buddhist religious structures within the country.

There maybe some Word-Seed here as well. Only time will tell.

We headed back home by evening for a piping hot dinner and a good night’s sleep before we began our journey to Nepal the next morning.

4th August, 2023

I was all packed and ready to go, bidding adieu to my Fireball Brother Suraj Chettri and his wife who had hosted me so well.

We left that morning by 10:00 am and made our way to Alipurduar, where we caught our train to Siliguri from where we would be boarding a bus to Nepal.

The bus was scheduled to depart at 5:00 pm for the Nepal border via Bihar.

We reached the Nepal border by 6:30 pm that evening and made our way to our hotel some 40 mins away, by auto-rickshaw.

Entering Nepal

Living structures in Nepal's rural areas.

The meetings had been organized in Pastor Mathee’s Church in Jhapa District, for Saturday and Sunday, and were divided into 2 sessions.

5th August, 2023

We were greeted heartily by the Church in Nepal that Saturday.

The people I was ministering to were the Santhals or Santhali tribespeople.

They inhabit the states of Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal in India. In addition, they live in the countries of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

The nomadic community was originally based in the Champa Kingdom of northern Cambodia before migrating to India and settling in the Chotanagpur Plateau some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.

Santhals have 12 different gotras or tribes— Hansda, Mardi, Soren, Murmu, Kisku, Besra, Tudu, Baskey, Hembrom, Chorai, Bedia and Gondwar. For a time, and after most of the Santhal community converted from paganism to Christianity, they actually believed that they were the descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel.

The 1^st session began at 10:00 am and ended by 1:00 pm, after which there was a break for lunch.

I preached on ‘The Visible Form of the Invisible God’ from Colossians 1:15

Click here to watch a video

Prayer Service

Bro Arpan interpreted the message in Nepali.

The 2^nd session went on from 2:30 pm till around 4:30 pm.

I preached on Why we need to be Baptised in the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ.

The preaching was well received.

That evening, after we had retired to our room, Bro. Arpan suddenly got the news that a minister who had been supposed to speak on his church zoom group meeting had not been able to make it, and asked me if I would be willing to take his place as the speaker.

I agreed, and Bro. Arpan helped me to set up for an evening zoom session of 45 mins from our hotel room.

I preached on 'True and False Repentance'.

After a satisfying rest that night, I was revved up for the Sunday service.

6th August, 2023

I felt the Lord urging me to clarify as much as I could about the truth to these people. I could hear Him strongly speaking in my heart, saying, "Preach as if this is the last chance you have to make them understand."

During both sessions, I covered The Mystery of the Godhead, One God, Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ, The Origins and Ideologies of Traditional Christianity, and The Apostolic Pattern of Life.

The Mid-day meal - Samosas, Puffed Rice and 
Sev (Gram flour Crisps) with Chicken Gravy.

The message was one-on-one, heart-to-heart, simple and clear cut, so that there would be no doubt in any one’s minds of the points we sought to convey.

At the end of the service, the ministers and elders who had attended, recalled my last trip’s service, when I had been there and preached on these subjects, and how this time round, the teachings were deeper and much more in detail.

They declared before the congregation that there was no denying the facts and teachings I had laid before them to be true as per the Word of God. The congregation too were clear as to what had been preached. They agreed that going forward they would follow the Apostolic pattern of Baptism in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, the elders stated that they needed some more time to consider it, and since I had to leave immediately the next day, asked me to come preach there once again. Pastor Mathee too encouraged me to come and teach in his church again so that they could be sure as to their next course of action. The plan is to have a baptism service next time round. He suggested I preferably visit in October when the climate would be more conducive for meetings there.

After the main service, we also had a healing service where many of the sick were prayed for.

I bid goodbye to the Church in Nepal and packed up for my flight to Coimbatore the next day.

With some of the young believers in Komala Village Church

7th August, 2023

I and Bro. Arpan vacated our lodgings and left for Siliguri the next morning, and from there to Baghdogra where we parted ways.

I boarded my flight from Baghdogra to Chennai at 3:15 pm, and had a 3 hour wait in Chennai for my connecting flight to Coimbatore at 8:30 pm.

I reached Coimbatore by 9:30 pm, and it was 11:00 pm by the time I was home with my dear wife.

All in all, this trip was successful. However, I do wish I had more time in Nepal. I pray that next time round, the believers and church elders there will redeem the time, and take action.

Do pray for the churches in Nepal. I’m sure there are others that I hope to reach out to on my next trip.

Pray for Bro. Sanjiv Emmanuel and his ministry in New Delhi, that the Lord may shower more grace and remove all obstacles for the Word to move freely in that place, for their new meeting place to be arranged soon, and for many more new souls to be added to the church there.

Do also keep the Chettri family in your prayers for their work of the ministry in Bengal and the North East of India.

I also ask for prayer for Pastor Simon Peter and his flock in Assam, who are very zealous for the Word of God and are also learning the End Time truths.

Prayers for Bhutan and for the Seed Word of God to fall somewhere on that soil and sprout in time for the harvest.

And most of all, I need your prayers Dear Saints, to reach the other states in North East India, so that I may see MyIndia vision fulfilled.