Orissa - West Bengal - North East India 2018

ORISSA

I had been praying and seeking the Lord's will regarding ministering in the NorthEast of India, to voice the prophetic vision that the Lord had given me there. Fortunately on my last trip to Orissa, when I had a chance to visit Pastor Andrew, he obligingly gave me the contact number of Bro. Suraj Chettri who is working for the Lord across the Northeast. 

I got in touch with Bro. Chettri on my return to Coimbatore and we instantly bonded over the revelation of the Word. After explaining my ministry, I told him my plans for a missionary trip to the North-eastern states, and we put together an itinerary for the month of May.

After much prayer, it was decided to begin our trip on May 14^th.

Pastor Ashok from Baripada, Orissa had been calling me over a second time to exhort the flock there, and since there were numerous congregations under his care situated in the interiors, I had told him I would give Orissa a week. Bro. Manas Pradhan had arranged an interpretor until Friday, when he too would be joining us in Baripada.

(Read about my last trip to Baripada on: Orissa - 9th to 15th February 2018 - NEW!)

So it was with much shock that I received a phone call on the evening of May 13^th with information that Pastor Ashok’s parents and second son were all unwell, the child having been admitted in hospital. I was very confused about what to do next, as it looked like the meetings in Baripada would have to be postponed.

I had booked a flight to Bhubaneswar on the 14^th, with an onward journey from Kolkata to Baghdogra, West Bengal for the 21^st where we would be meeting Bro. Suraj Chettri. I was unable to cancel and rebook both flights from the airport, as I had booked through a travel agency, and would have to cancel through them as well. This also meant only a 50% refund of the ticket expenses as it was within 24 hours of the flight schedule.

I wondered if there was some way we could cancel and fly directly to Bro. Manas’s place in Kolkata. While I was pondering, and discussing the situation with Bro. Manas, I decided to coordinate with Pastor Pradeep of Khandamal district to see if the meetings could be held there instead, while Bro. Manas spoke to his father, Bro. Thomas Pradhan and the church in Raipalli.

Pastor Pradeep willingly welcomed me, and said that it would be a good chance for village ministry in the interior. The churches of Khandamal in Balliguda, Raipalli, and Dimriguda were all willing for me to visit them again and opened their doors to me graciously and with joy.

The program being arranged, I was at peace but still asking the Lord why the sudden change in plans. I knew I would receive my answer in time and left off questioning him as I knew He had His will in everything.

Pastor Ashok called me that night to apologize for the situation, and I told him that it had all been taken care of but that it would have been better had I been pre-informed.

May 14th

Well, we set off for Bhubaneswar, Orissa on the 14^th of May, Israel’s 70^th Anniversary, at 8:00 am.

Wet Bhubaneswar Airport

We flew to Chennai at 10:00 am, and caught our connecting flight to Bhubaneswar at 12 noon. Due to a sudden change in the climate, with rain and stormy weather in the Northwest, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and along the Eastern Coast, there was a lot of turbulence during our flight.

It was wet and gloomy in Bhubaneswar with the sudden rains having begun, and Bro. Manas had arranged a car for our journey to Khandamal district.

We left Bhubaneswar by 4:00 pm, stopping along the way to buy fruits, and catch a cup of tea. It was nearly 9:30 pm when we reached Udaigiri district, and made our way over to Bro. Uday Nayak’s home for a short visit, before we climbed the miles to Balliguda.

We reached Balliguda by 11:00 pm. Pastor Pradeep who came to receive us, had booked a hotel room for us in town. He told us how meetings had been scheduled in different villages around Balliguda in the evenings when everyone would have got home from the fields and their respective jobs.

By the time we were settled in, it was midnight, and we got to sleep by 1:00 pm after which there was a power outage in the area, and the generator would not work for some reason. The overhead fan in our room which ran on an inverter, wouldn’t work either and after repeated complaints to the management, we gave up and fell us asleep out of sheer exhaustion in the steamy room until 7:00 am.

May 15^th

The power was back on in the morning, and the generator had been put to rights. We decided to skip breakfast and sleep off our fatigue until Pastor Pradeep came over to collect us for lunch.

Pastor Pradeep lives in Balliguda town in his family home, with his parents, his wife, and his three sons, Rajesh, James, and Anurag.

From Left: Pastor Shadrach, Bro. Rajesh, Pastor Pradeep's father, Pastor Pradeep, Sis. Mekhali

We had a long spiritual discussion about the work of the Five fold ministry, and the current fulfillment of certain important End time prophecies; and then a traditional Oriyan meal.

Pastor Pradeep related how the Oriyan government was not in the least bit sympathetic towards the plight of Christians, how many people under the current government, although innocent were being targeted as Maoists and were being jailed or killed in police encounters, and how the standard of living of the people in the state had fallen drastically, with the current government also demanding back ration cards and the sum of the amount people had claimed in ration over the course of the past years.

We lamented over the state of affairs in our country today, especially about the extremist propaganda and harassment against Christians in different parts.

Road to Jargi

After a while we retired to our room for some rest and a time of prayer before the first meeting that evening.

It was 5:00 pm when Pastor Pradeep and Bro. Rajesh came to collect us in a rental jeep for the 20 km drive to Jargi Village, Sis. Mekhali's hometown. We reached Jargi in half an hour, and were welcomed by Sis. Mekhali ’s mother and family. The matriarch of the family still had the ancient tribal markings on her face.

Sis. Mekhali's  Home

The village was dry, with herds of goats and pigs roaming around. Sanitary facilities had been constructed for the inhabitants, under the Swacch Bharat scheme. Water was scarce though, with no rainfall in the area, and only two hand-pumps serving as the source of clean water for the villagers.

The Village Hand Pump which serves 70 families

The ponds in the village had dried up and the flocks were growing thinner without any vegetation for pasture.

The meeting was held in an old Baptist church building in the village.

There were frequent power outages in the area, and the voltage was too low to run our projector. Still the people sat in expectation, and the message the Lord gave them was, as Bro. Rajesh put it, the required manna for the area.

                           

I preached on “God is in His Word”, with texts from John 1:1, I John 1:1, and Colossians 1:15. I spoke on the importance of reading the Word of God, how the Bride and the Word were to be one to usher in the coming of the Lord, how there was no beginning for God, but a beginning for the Word in the mind of God, how the Lord Jesus Christ was the manifested Word of God, and how when we receive Christ, the Word indwells us.

I exhorted the church regarding their spiritual neglect, which was a type of the barrenness they saw all around them, and how the Lord would make them a blessing if they would obey and seek the Lord with all their heart. I appealed to them to seek the Lord’s face and not to be satisfied with the ritual attendance to church and the traditional obedience of ordinances. Moreover, I delivered to the youth a short exhortation on how they needed to know their Word, so that they may be able to witness to and teach others, answer questions about their faith when asked, and yield more to the will of God in their lives.

The meeting began at 6:30 pm and went on till around 9:30 pm.

Sis. Madhusmitha, who had attended my earlier meetings welcomed us into her home and served us a hot country chicken dinner.

We left the area around 10:30 pm, and retired that night for a well earned sleep after the power cut fiasco of the previous day. With profuse apologies and promises from the management that it wouldn’t happen a second time, we slept deeply that night.

May 16th

The next day, we had the whole morning to ourselves. We spent some time in prayer for the believers of Orissa, and for our protection during the remainder of our trip into the North east.

Pastor Pradeep and Bro. Rajesh arrived a little later with lunch, and we had some good fellowship and conversation regarding the Elijah ministry, the Bride Ministry, false wonders and doctrines, the Ecumenical deception for the End Times, and the transformation of the saints.

After a hearty lunch, I readied myself for that evening’s meeting, this time in a village named Bogadi.

We left at 6:00 pm, as our vehicle had been delayed.

Solar Lamp used by villagers in Orissa

The venue was the home of a brother named Akash, on the main road in Bogadi village. It was a small mud dwelling without the basic amenities of electricity and water. The locals used a stream a little way down a steep incline, and a hand pump for any urgent necessity. The villagers used solar lamps that were charged during the day and hung on the mud plastered walls at night.

Even though the lighting was dim, the believers were fully charged. A Bro. named Isaac had begun a new fellowship in Bro. Akash’s home in the village, and as such, it was one of the initial meetings they were having in that place. 

There were only around 11 people gathered and the brothers were feeling kind of embarrassed as they had not been able to provide much in terms of comfort or numbers. I assured them that I would deliver the same kind of message to 11 as I would have to 2,000 or 200, and that put them at ease some.

                            

After a rousing time of worship, when we palpably felt the presence of the Lord, I began the message, “The Transfiguration on the Mount”, typifying it to the Translation of the Saints, touching on the symbolism of the 3 apostles whom the Lord had chosen to behold the scene, and delving into many other subjects as the Spirit gave me utterance. 

I felt the mighty anointing of the Lord come down, leading the little gathering into the depths of the revelation of the Word. 

At the end of the message we had all been touched by the anointing of the Lord. Our spirits were rejoicing as Bro. Isaac closed the service, and all who had been a part of that evening’s meeting testified to the goodness, graciousness, and mercy of our Lord who had chosen the unworthy, the babes, and the sucklings to hear the deep secrets of His heart.

After a simple meal, we hurried back to our room to retire. As we were leaving the brothers asked me if I could come back again the next day to minister to them once more, and I obliged.

May 17^th

We had planned to leave our quarters at 11:00 the next morning, but India will always be India, and IST will always be “Stretch the Time Barrier till it breaks” 😃; so we left at 12:30 pm on account of a vehicle delay (again).

Road to Bogadi

We were at Bogadi at 1:00 pm, where we were first served lunch.

Bro.Akash's home

We began the service at 1:30 pm, and I began the message by 2:00 pm. 

My message for that day was “The First Resurrection”.

There were a few more people gathered in the tiny hut that day, and I took them as if on a slow walk through the woods, through the 4 stages of the First Resurrection. From the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ as the First Fruits, and the Raising up of the Old Testament Saints, to the Translation of the Living Saints, and the Meeting with those, “Sleeping in Christ”, in Mid Air; to the Public Resurrection of the Two Prophets in modern day Israel, to the Raising up of the Saints of the Great Tribulation.

I cleared up many misconceptions regarding the Rapture as well, and spoke on the Work of the Five-Fold Ministry in the Perfection of the Body of Christ.

The brethren were thrilled. And we ended the service with great gladness and rejoicing.

Click to view video: - Worship @ Bogadi, Orissa - Bro. Akash's home

We left the little fellowship with prayers that it would grow and blossom in the days to come, that the few believers faithfully gathering on the earthen floor would multiply and stand as a testimony in the quiet village of Bogadi.

With the Bogadi fellowship believers

(NOTE: On leaving Orissa, we received news that 3 brethren who had attended the meeting in Bogadi had been baptized, and that the little church there was ablaze with the Word of God.)

We left the village by 5:00 pm, and went to our lodgings to freshen up before the second meeting at Pastor Pradeep’s home in Balliguda.

To Balliguda

Click to view video: - Driving through the Oriyan countryside

We were supposed to begin the meeting by 6:00 pm, but we had a power cut in the area until 7:30 pm, after which we made the short trip to Pastor’s home, and began.

Once again, it was just a few youth gathered to hear the message, including The State Co-ordinator for The Free Methodist Church in Orissa.

The message was, “Why should you die before your time?”, with reference to Ecclesiastes 7.

The service ended by 10:00 pm, and the youth were deeply impacted with the message and bid us goodbye before we gulped down a quick dinner and retired to our room.

May 18th

The next day by 10:00 am, we were bound for Dimriguda, the little village which had given us such a  good reception the last time. 

Our SUV ate up the miles and we grabbed a quick bite of ‘chakoli’ (Orissa’s mini dosas) along the way.

Chakoli (Oriyan raw rice dosa)

Road to Dimriguda

As we turned down the familiar path, our Christian family was already at the entrance ready with warm embraces and choruses of “Praise the Lord!”

We were once again welcomed into the home of Bro. Jagdish. When we had settled in and had time to freshen up and change, it was time for the service to begin.

The service was held in the church building – The Good Tidings Mission Hall, just like the last time.

We started by 12:00 noon, with a break at 3:00 pm for tea and rest.

The 2^nd session went on from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. There were around 50 people in attendance.

My message was a reiteration of what had been preached in Bogadi village: ‘The Transfiguration on the Mount’ for the 1^st session, and ‘The stages of the Resurrection’ for the 2^nd.

We wound up by 6:30 pm, and after the service, I spent some time fellowshipping with the brethren who had come to attend the meeting. 

As the people of Dimriguda had said they would be able to arrange only one church meeting for me, the brethren suggested we have a Pastors’ Meet the next morning in Bro. Jagdish’s home, and then a short Counselling Session for the Youth, to which I agreed.

We had an early dinner that night and drifted off to sleep.

May 19th

The next morning was humid with an impending storm over the horizon.

At around 11:30 am, a few pastors and young brothers gathered in Bro. Jagdish’s home, with their questions.

I was able to clarify certain of their doubts on The Aim and Work of the Elijah Ministry, the Work of the Five-fold Ministry, the move of God in the Bride today, The Authority of the Holy Spirit in propogating the Message of the Hour, and many other topics.

At the end of the session the brethren all urged me to come back to Orissa in late September or October when they were contemplating holding a public meeting in Bogadi, a Pastor’s Conference, and a few days Convention.

After the brethren had bid goodbye, I spent some time with a few of the church’s youth. I spoke to them regarding King Solomon’s advice on: “Remembering their Creator in the days of their youth”, exhorted them on the Importance of Regular Prayer and Bible Reading, emphasized A Good Christian’s Exercise of Bible Knowledge in Effective Witnessing to the Outside World, Spiritual Gifts, The Meaning of Water Baptism and The Holy Spirit experience. Sis. Benita and I then shared our testimonies with them, on how we decided to follow Christ.

We had a sumptuous lunch and then moved out, bidding farewell to the good people of Dimriguda, and promising to be back again soon. Bro. Jagdish’s son Bro. Jyothikanth, was to drive us onward to Raipalli.

As we were leaving, one of the sister’s asked for her few days old son to be named and prayed over. We named him Jasper, one of the precious stones which Revelation 21 says, is the first foundation of the walls of the Holy City New Jerusalem.

By the time we reached Raipalli it was around 8:00 pm. Bro. Thomas Pradhan gave us a warm welcome and made us feel right at home. We met with Bro. Manas’s siblings, and had just enough time to freshen up and have a hot dinner. I spent some time in prayer for the next day’s service.

May 20^th

We were up early the next morning, and a few brothers dropped in to greet us before the service. The church was only a stone’s throw away, and we made our way across the little lawn to greet the waiting congregation.

 Pastor Reuben led the people through a rousing worship session, and then handed me the pulpit.

Click to view video:- Raipalli Church Worship Session

My message that day was “The Transformation of the Saints”.

As per my theme, I touched on The Resurrection, and The Transformation as well, and also felt led to exhort the congregation to rise to higher heights spiritually.

I hoped my message had instilled in them the temporariness of the world they lived in and urged them to be faithful to Christ in all circumstances, to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints, and not to be shaken by any winds of false doctrines.

I pointed out that worldliness in any form, be it in clothing, in behavior, in partaking of fleshly sins, or in compromising in religious traditions, were all an insult to the Word of God.

With Bro. Thomas Pradhan & family,Raipalli

After service was over we had some good conversation with the believers of Raipalli before our lunch was served. Bro. Manas had arranged for our ride to Bhubaneshwar by car which was to leave by 4:00 pm. Pastor Pradeep took our leave at around 3:00.

I prayed for his ministry, Bro. Rajesh, and the other young brethren who had accompanied me. As I was praying I heard a voice within my heart crying, “Jeremiah, Jeremiah, Say not that you are only a child.”, and I was moved to tears. I told the young brothers then that the Lord would use them to set Orissa ablaze with the Word of God before His coming. I advised Bro. Rajesh especially to spend time in prayer, as the Lord was calling him to ministry. Pastor Pradeep said that he would be in touch for future meetings.

Bro. Thomas’ family wished us well as we continued our journey out of Khandamal.

We began the 5 hour journey to Bhubaneswar, halting for dinner along the way.

This time we managed to peg down a hotel serving actual Dosa in a little town called Odagaon.

Our train was due to leave Bhubaneswar for Kolkata by 11:45 pm. However, trust the India Railways for a little spare time…our train arrived at 12:10. It was a half past midnight before we could get to sleep. Kolkata would arrive by 8:30 am the next morning.

KOLKATA

May 21^st

As our train was delayed, we touched Kolkata by 9:00 am, and Bro. Manas, smiling as always was at Howrah railway station to welcome us.

Howrah Railway Station

We slipped through the filthy streets of over-populated Kolkata careful not to step over or touch anything. The railway station was a flood of humanity, the stench of sweat and garbage mingling rudely, the people laying about the station in droves, oblivious to the unsanitary surroundings.

We took a bus and then a toto, (a mini Kolkata rickshaw), through the dizzy, miniscule streets to Bro. Manas’s place. We were greeted with squeals of delight from his daughter Mishti.

Kolkata's Toto

After a hot bath and a good South Indian Idli-Vada breakfast, we felt a bit more civilized, and then set about doing some laundry. 

Bro. Manas said that he would be treating us to Kolkata’s famous Hilsa Fish Curry, prepared by himself of course! It was surprisingly lip smacking. Kudos Bro. Manas!

Lunch @ Bro. Manas's place

Hilsa Fish Curry ala Bro. Manas

We had some good fellowship after which Bro. Manas had to leave for work at 2:00 pm. 

Since we had to leave early for our flight the next morning, we thought it best to remain indoors, as the weather was acting up outside. I called Pastor Andrews and updated him on the ministry in Orissa and my plans with Bro. Suraj for the North East.

Bro. Manas's family

Bro. Manas’s wife, Sis. Fancy arrived at 7:00 pm and we had a chance to catch up on each others’ news before dinner. Bro. Manas joined us at 10:00 pm and after dinner we sat up late discussing the Word, future meetings in Orissa, and the risks of taking the ministry deeper into the interior.

WEST BENGAL

May 22nd

We were up by 5:00 am the next morning, after a fitful sleep.

We took a taxi to the airport by 7:30 am. We just made it through the early morning Kolkata traffic and into the airport in time for our check in. Our flight took off at 10:00 and we were in Baghdogra by 12 noon.

Bro. Suraj had instructed us to take a prepaid taxi to Siliguri Railway Junction, where he would meet us. From there we would be taking a train to a place called Haasi Maara around 3 hours away.

The weather in Siliguri was unexpectedly humid. As we sped across the tiny streets of Baghdogra towards Siliguri, with tea plantations interspersed with modern structures on either side of us, and Totos and hand rickshaws dotting the sleepy streets, we felt as if we had entered another world all together.

Bro. Suraj Chettri met us at the station. It was like meeting a long lost brother. After some refreshments, we booked tickets for our train to Haasi Maara which was due to arrive by 12:30 pm, but as Bro. Suraj informed us would as usual be inevitably delayed by an hour or so, as was the state of the railways in the North East.

Siliguri Railway Station 

With Evg. Suraj Chettri waiting for our train

Our train arrived at 1:40 pm, and we boarded the general compartment. It had been a long time since we had travelled in the local bogeys, and we realized we had actually lost our talent for squirming in and catching seats. Bro. Suraj convinced a couple of passengers to make a little room for us, and we were finally on our way to Haasi Maara. Squashed amidst the throng of passengers, trying to keep slipping off our seats, Sis. Benita and I exchanged glances as we recalled our days travelling by the Mumbai rail.

We reached Haasi Maara by 3:30 pm, and Bro. Suraj said that lodging had been arranged for us in a brother’s home in a place called Sathaali. We took a cab there, and turned down the path to our destination.

I actually thought that Bro. was taking us to a resort of some kind, or maybe the brother there ran a resort.


It was a wonderfully organized cluster of cottages nestled in the heart of picturesque betel nut plantations, with fruit trees lining the borders, and bird call in the distance.

Bro. Samuel welcomed us warmly into his home. After settling into our room and freshening up, we spent some time getting to know the family and sharing the news of our ministry trips across India, and MY INDIA vision.

Bro. Samuel who worked as a civil servant in the army base in the area, had built his home there in 1997. It was a set of temporary structures half concrete, and half steel sheets, roofed with wood and shingles. He told us that he had built it in that way because the army had not given any of the settlers in the area permission to build permanent homes, as the land that they occupied belonged to the government, and the settlers could be asked to vacate at any time.

Bro. Samuel may think his place a humble dwelling, but to us it was a grand and beautiful haven of peace. He lives there with his wife, and youngest son, Sagar who has taken charge of the farm. His eldest son Samir works in the army, and his family lives a little distance away in town. Bro. Samuel’s second son Sumith, runs a fast food place in Chattisgarh, his wife’s native town.

Sathaali Church building

Bro. Samuel told us about how the church had been built with the aid of The Pentecostal Mission in the area, on his land, and how when a few members had decided to come out of denominationalism and be independent, it had caused a rift in the church with many people leaving and demanding the church building be confiscated. Bro. Samuel had been willing to let it go, saying that the few believers that remained with him would have been glad to even worship in his home. It was by God’s grace, that the head pastor of the mission had agreed for the building to be henceforth under Bro. Samuel’s care, and it now served as a place of worship for the few independent believers who gather there. He also told us how there had been another split a while ago due to certain strange doctrines being introduced, as has been the case with many End time churches these days.

That evening we had some good family fellowship, a hot meal, and a good rest. Two meetings were scheduled for the next two days in the evenings from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

May 23rd

The next day, the family suggested we take some time to see the sights in neighbouring Bhutan.

We could scarcely believe our ears. We were near Bhutan?!!

“Oh Yes”, said Bro. Suraj, “In fact we’re right near the border, just 20 kms away to be exact.”

Enroute to Bhutan

Well, it was an unexpected treat for us, and we agreed. Bro. Samuel arranged a vehicle and we drove the short distance across the many tea and betel nut plantations along the way into the Bhutanese hills where the mist covered the mountains like thick clouds. We drove through the little border town of Phuentsholing up to a viewing point in the hills where we could see the borders of India, Bhutan, and Nepal, and the little villages down below like a jigsaw puzzle.

There are no legal formalities required to pass across Indian borders into the little town of Phuentsholing, due to mutual trade and security agreements between India and Bhutan. However to travel further into Bhutan, one does need a permit.

The people in Bhutan speak Dzongka, Tshanglakha, Nepali, English, and Hindi.

Being a Buddhist nation, Bhutan’s rules are that no livestock can be slaughtered within its borders, which puts all the slaughterhouses on the Indian side.

Bhutan relies heavily on India for air and rail transport, import of slaughtered and processed meat, and essential rations. It was hilarious how, once we crossed the border over into Bhutan, the layers of garbage strewn around, and the open gutters filled with unidentifiable waste seemed to disappear J.

The architecture grew more oriental as we ascended into the hills. 

There was a monastery there and a Buddhist temple where many of the tourists had come to pay homage. But we were glued to the viewing point. The sight of the little villages at our feet, the silver streams curving through the green fields and the majesty of the Himalayan range in the distance took our breath away. Across the mountains was Nepal, and further on Tibet. It made us feel so miniscule.

We recalled the words of the hymn, “When I look down from awesome mountain grandeur, and see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze; Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee – How Great Thou Art!”

As we returned home, we stopped the car in a shady corner, and I and Bro. Suraj, who has been trying to get the Word into Bhutan for some time now, stood on Bhutanese soil and prayed that the Lord may open doors in Bhutan for the Word to be carried there and preached liberally and without impediment.

Click to view video:- Praying for Bhutan

We returned to Bro. Samuel’s home, our hearts filled.

That evening we had our first service in “Sathaali Church”.

After a brief introduction of my ministry, I opened up to the little congregation, “The 7 visions of the 7^th Age Messenger”, which foretold the close of the Laodecian Age, those fulfilled and those yet to be, with corresponding images, videos, and news articles projected onscreen. I also touched on ‘The Mess in the Message – Trying the Spirits.’

Bro. Suraj served as interpretor.

The congregation was thrilled and received the message with great rejoicing, eager for the following days service.

There had been many adverse reports circulating from different “brethren”, that Pastor Shadrach was against the message, was preaching false doctrine, was against the prophet messenger, etc. However, when the Word of the Lord was preached, the Spirit of the Lord dispelled all doubts regarding this in the people’s minds.

May 24th

The next evening, the service began a bit earlier.

Bro. Samuel’s son, Samir came forward for interpretation.

Bro. Samuel translates the message

The message was “The Transfiguration on the Mount”, and its symbolism for the Rapture of the Saints.

I also spoke on the Persecution which is to befall the Bride before the coming of the Lord, The Lamb with the Two Horns in Revelation being today’s Protestant America, and The Fulfillment of the Battle of Ezekiel.

We had a short 10 minute tea break at 7:00 pm, and then continued up till 8:00 pm.

After dinner that night, the brethren said that they would like to hear more, and that the time they had during work days was limited. They asked me to come back in the month of October when the kids had their school leave, so that they could arrange a bigger meeting, and hear more of the revelation the Lord has afforded His Bride.

May 25th

The next day, we were to leave Sathaali and the beautiful brothers and sisters who had looked after us so well, and move to Bro. Suraj’s home in Gaksha Para, in Alipurduar district, a 2 hour drive away.

With Bro. Samuel's family @ their home in Sathaali

The family had arranged a taxi for the purpose, and before we left, we were invited to the home of the congregation’s elder, Elder Satyan for a visit.

With Elder Satyan's family

With Sathaali Church's Pastor Biken and his wife

After a short time there, we made our way to Pastor Biken's home where we had a word of prayer before we set off for Gaksha Para at 2:00 pm. Bro. Sagar, accompanied us to Bro. Suraj’s home.

Gaksha Paara

Bro. Suraj's Medicine field

It was almost 3:00 pm by the time we arrived at Bro. Suraj’s home and were graciously welcomed by his wife Rebecca and son Arpan. Their cottage lay in the middle of a mini farm with an orchard and garden out front.

Bro. Suraj has successfully researched natural cures for certain diseases, and has a variety of medicinal plants with which he concocts naturopathy remedies for nearly 30 ailments, including jaundice, allergies, asthma, pnemonia, tuberculosis, high cholesterol, etc. He told us that the method of preparing certain medications came to him in a series of dreams, and that he uses the cures as a way to create opportunities for sharing the gospel in the various villages he visits.

Bro. Suraj, who has an evangelical call, ministers throughout the North East. Originally from Bhutan, he moved to Nepal, where he was married, and later settled in West Bengal. He is based in Gaksha Para, in the Northern part of the state, where he lives with his wife and son. His daughter Angelina is married and lives in the US.

The church he leads, has a congregation of around 50 people situated in Kumargram Tea Garden a little distance from Gaksha Para.

After we had settled in and freshened up, we had some good fellowship with the family, and after a sumptuous dinner, retired for the night.

May 26th

The next day, Bro. Suraj told us we had meetings only in the evenings over the next two days, as the congregation in the Tea Garden consisted mainly of labourers who worked in the tea estates, and got off work only by 6:00 pm, after which they had to walk back to their homes in the settlement.

That evening, there was a power outage in the area, and a heavy thunderstorm, due to which many of the people were not able to make it to the meeting place, and so our first day’s service there was postponed.

The 26^th happened to be our 11^th wedding anniversary, and the 2^nd anniversary we were spending away from home working for the Lord. We spent that evening in prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord for bringing us together and keeping us together in His service to fulfill His will.

May 27th

May 27^th, being a Sunday, we made the short trip by van to Kumargram Tea Garden at around 10:00 am, where we were welcomed by Sis. Grace, one of the oldest believers in the area, who has graciously donated a part of her home as a place for the weekly Sunday gatherings there.

Kumargram Tea Garden

The room was small but cozy, and there was a power cut again that day, so we couldn’t use our projector. The service began at 11:00 am. I was handed the pulpit by 12 noon.

My first day there, I shared my testimony with the congregation, about how I came to the Lord and forsook all to work for the glory of His Name. My subject was “The Lord’s Prayer” – a simple message of exhortation for simple hearts, but one which touched many.

The congregation who were not very familiar with my Prophetic Awareness theme, had many questions regarding the End Time prophecies, and were filled with eagerness to see and know more.

The brethren had a discussion, and agreed to have meetings for the next three days consecutively every evening from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

May 28^th to 30^th

We had to make arrangements for the transport of Bro. Suraj’s inverter and battery to the Tea Garden and back every day as long as the meetings lasted, to guard against power outages. So over the next couple of days, Bro. Suraj and Bro. Apran had the ardurous task of hauling the 150 kg load into and out of the van.

In the mornings we got ourselves some good rest and then spent time discussing the Word with Bro Arpan, who led the church in his father’s absence.

For those three evenings, I preached on The Importance of Prophetic Awareness, The Close of the Ages, The Transfiguration on the Mount, The Ministry of the Bride, The Signs of the Times, The Coming of Christ, and Peter’s Prophecy: “The Elements shall melt with fervent heat”.

Bro. Arpan translates the message

The congregation was uplifted and on the last day, sorry to see us go. They all urged us to come back a  second time, where they could call more of the brethren and arrange for meetings in a bigger place.

On the 30^th, a young married sister who had been attending the congregation, was to be baptized. Bro. Suraj asked me to do the honours.

The sister, Deepmala, who was from a Hindu background, lived in Tea Garden with her two children. She arrived at the pastor’s home around 10:00 am, with Sis. Grace, and another sister from church. After a time of prayer, we made our way to the nearby River Raidak that originated in the Himalayas, and flowed down through Bengal.

Walking to the river

At the River Raidak

Baptism: Sis. Deepmala

On the evening of the 30^th, Sis Grace had arranged for a small dinner for us after service, and we left around 10:30 pm that night for Bro. Suraj’s place, bidding goodbye to the humble folks of Kumargram who have given their hearts wholeheartedly to the Lord.

With the Kumargram Tea Garden Church

May God bless the work in Kumargram Tea Garden, and protect the flock from all Satan’s corrupting weapons and influence. May God raise up great witnesses there, especially among the young folk, and grant Bro. Suraj the strength to lead them onward, and see the due fruit of his labours.

With Evg. Suraj in front of his home, Gaksha Para

May 31^st

Waiting in Goseigaon Railway Station

We were to leave for Assam on the 31^st by a train which had the record of being perpetually late. The Brahmaputra Express which halted at Goseigaon station a few kms away from Gaksha Para, would take us to a place called Diphu in Assam.

The train which was to arrive at 8:30 am was running late by 15 hours!!!!!!!!!!!! We checked the train status on Bro. Arpan’s computer from time to time, so that we could leave in time for the railway station.

We left by 9:00 pm that night, and had a 2 hour wait yawning in expectation. Our train arrived at 11:30 pm, and we had to lug our bags across the tracks onto the mini platform. We boarded and were fast asleep in our bunks in minutes.

ASSAM (KARBI ANGLONG)

June 1^st

We arrived in Diphu around 10:00 am the next morning. It was excruciatingly humid. We made our way to one of the better lodges in the town: Singhasom (or The Throne) in the Karbi Anglong district.

The rooms were clean and homely and we settled in for the day.

This part of Assam was dominated by the Karbi tribe, who, we were told, were now demanding a state of their own, just like Telangana, that had split from Andhra Pradesh.

The Karbis, as well as the Assamese rolled their ‘r’s the way the Americans do, and as a result their English slang seemed very urban and Americanized.

Diphu Town Square

Bro. Suraj had been ministering to a few people in the area over the course of his many visits here: among them Bro Paul, who he had already baptized, Sis. Beauty, her husband Bro. Jothin, and a couple of other people. 

Sis. Beauty and her friend Sis. Alice arrived at the hotel that evening for a discussion, and to clarify certain matters regarding baptism. The brothers Paul and Jothin too, later joined us, and we had a Biblical discussion and a short time of prayer in our hotel room.

The baptism service was fixed for the next day, and a van booked for the purpose.

June 2^nd

We left for Sis. Beauty's place early the next morning to see to the vehicle arrangements.

@ Sis. Beauty's home

We left by around 9:30 am for a place called Siloni, a picnic spot with a river and waterfalls. 

There we baptized Bro. Jothin, and Sis. Beauty.

Baptism: Bro. Jothin

Baptism: Sis. Beauty

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly"

Bengali Village Meal

Sis. Beauty’s cousin, who was a witness for the baptism, also had her questions answered. We hoped that she would be ready for baptism the next time round.

We left an hour later and stopped at a Bengali hotel for a quick lunch before we headed back to our rooms.

On the way we had a chance to visit a brother named Moses Longpi, who, after an accident, had gone blind. He lived in a place not far from Siloni, called Berla with his wife and daughter.

With Bro. Longpi and his wife @ his home in Berla

This brother spent his days praying for various ministries, people, and missionaries across India.

After Bro. Suraj had visited him repeatedly, he has come to the understanding of the truth, that God is not in denominations, that we need to be baptized in Jesus’ Name, and be aware of the signs of the coming of Christ. 

He is still in thought regarding what to do, as the land he has constructed his house on belongs to the local church. Since he no longer frequents the church but rather stays home in prayer, after receiving the Word, the authorities who gifted him the land are now repeatedly asking him to move out. The only reason he remains is that due to his handicap, he is no longer self sufficient and has to also provide for his wife and young daughter. If he is turned out of his current domicile, he will have nowhere to go.

We had a time of prayer in the brother’s home before we left. We pray that God may open a door for this brother out of his current state.

Bro. Suraj had been sharing with a couple of people who had separated from the local Baptist church, and were going by the name, “Christian Fellowship”. On telling them about my Prophetic Awareness Campaigns, they expressed an interest to hear me that Sunday, and extended an invitation to come and preach at their church for the Sunday service.

That evening we travelled into a village in Berla to meet one of Bro. Suraj’s long time friends, Mr. Theron, a part of the local Presbyterian congregation. Bro. Suraj has already shared the truth with him, and gave me a chance to share thoughts of my Prophectic Awareness meetings in the North east, the Awareness of the Soon Coming of Christ, and the Great Falling Away in Traditional Christianity.

We were there for only a short visit, hoping to break more ground the next time we visited.

June 3rd

Two brothers from the church came to pick us up in their car the following day for the short drive to their village.

@ The Karbi Village, Diphu, Assam

The church was a Bamboo structure, as many of the dwellings are in the north- east, situated in the middle of a huge expanse of green.

The gathering had no appointed Pastor as such, but a brother named Lawrence, served as its current leader, and another brother Kennedy, who was also a layman preacher, led the worship. The congregation was around 50 strong, with more brethren having gone to the city of Guwahati to see to their children’s admission in colleges there.

Bro. Kennedy would interpret the message in the Karbi language that day.

Bro. Kennedy interprets

I began with my testimony, then delved into how we need to be aware of Biblical Prophecies, as God was in His Word, and knowing His Word was knowing Him. I stressed on the importance of a Word Aware Bride who was waiting for her bridegroom to come back to take her to the Father’s house, and how could we be Word aware if we were still floundering in the world?

My message that day covered a small part of The Mystery of Iniquity, and how it had crept into modern day Christianity, The Word in the Mind of God, The Spirit Man, The Mystery of the Godhead, Baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, The Ecumenical Movement, and True Christianity.

Many among the congregation were touched, and a majority embraced the truth without any reservations. But there were others who said that they needed more clarification, they had questions about the preaching they needed answers to.

I and Bro. Suraj stressed on the importance of baptism and underlined the present truth for the age, explaining in short a few of the prophecies in fulfillment, and the extreme proximity to the coming of our Lord and Christ.

We left with prayers that all those who had heard the message may be ready for baptism soon.

Traditional Karbi Dress

With Bro. Kennedy, Bro. Lawrence, and his family

NAGALAND

June 4^th

We left for the town of Dimapur in neighbouring Nagaland which was a 2 hour drive (roughly around 44 kms) away from Diphu. A Bro. Simeon Hanse drove us to Bro. Suraj’s old friend Hojevi Kappo’s place in Thahekhu Village, Dimapur.

The road was more potholes than road, and as we wobbled along we felt the afternoon heat descend.

Potholed road between Diphu and Dimapur

Along the way, we stopped over at Bro. Paul’s home for a short time of prayer. Bro. Paul, who had already been baptized by Bro. Suraj, lives in a village on the way to Dimapur, with his wife, and two sons.

The family fellowships with another family in the vicinity every week, and are working on winning more souls in the area for Christ.

With Bro. Paul's family @ their home

We made another stop over at the home of a Nepali family Bro. Suraj had known over the years.

We finally reached the Baptist Mission Campus at around 3:00 pm. We were served lunch and given a room in the mission guest house.

Bro. Hojevi Kappo’s father Rev. Inache Kappo had been the founder of the Baptist Mission in the area. Bro. Hojevi lived in Thahekhu Village with his wife Hokali, and his five adorable children Amekali, Tunatoli, Pinotoli, Likhana, and Lekivi. 

With the Kappos in Thakekhu

He is the Secretary of  Music for the the Department of Music for the Baptist Church in Thaekhu Village, and has travelled around Europe, North America, and Asia with his music team “Nagagenous” as a Gospel Musician.

Nagagenuous (still from their music video)

Bro. Hojevi showed us his collection of native musical instruments that he himself had invented out of Bamboo such as 'the Rainmaker', and some others, which we appreciated as a truly marvelous gift.

We were expecting a couple of the brethren from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, to join us in Dimapur the next day, and so retired early.

Bro. Hojevi's self-made Bamboo instruments

Bro. Hojevi playing the Ukelele

June 5^th

Nagaland is the only Christian State in India. The natives or Nagas were originally tribes. Nagaland is basically divided into 12 tribes, distributed across the state, and living within their communities.

The Baptists began mission work in Nagaland in the 1870s. And as we saw from the numerous mission houses, and church buildings throughout the little city of Dimapur, Nagaland was a Baptist stronghold. There were also a scattering of Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, and Presbyterian churches in different areas, but the Baptists had won Nagaland, and the mission work they have accomplished there is not to be taken lightly.

The Nagamese are a fierce people – fierce in their beliefs and their loyalty. As fierce as they had been in tribal living at one point of time, they have grown as vehement in Christianity today.

The government in Nagaland has been very unstable over the years, and political corruption has hampered the quality of infrastructure in the state. The roads we travelled over were appalling: like tar and cement patchwork over a failed roller coaster track! The ever widening potholes were constantly filled with rain water and slush, the incessant power cuts – a way of life, and the mud roads over short distances throwing up so much dust, we had to wear pollution masks to keep from choking.

Another thing we learned about Nagaland was that certain localities in Dimapur were notorious for gang fights and squabbles after 7:00 pm. Local youth gangs prowl the streets at night, picking fights with bar owners and stores keepers still open, and looting shops and bazaar stalls. As a result, not many people venture out of their homes after 7:00 pm. By 8:00 pm, even the town’s hotels draw their shutters, so the streets in Nagaland after 8:00 are as silent as the grave.

What the government in Nagaland fails to provide, the various mission homes do, be it inroads, sanitation, home grounds, drinking water, and a decent education. And this is the reason many in Nagaland are staunch supporters of their missions. It is very difficult to speak to laypeople about the difference between Apostolic and Traditional Christianity, as the Christianity they know is what has put a roof over their heads, and food in their mouth till date.

Bro. Suraj took us to the local supermarket that day, where we saw the tribal produce laid out for sale: bamboo shoots, curious mushrooms, poultry in all shapes and sizes, and then the more exotic – green frogs, water insects, silkworm, and dog meat, neatly cleaned and sorted!

@ The Naga Supermarket

Dried Frog

Green Tree Frog

River Snails

Dog Meat

Cleaned Dog Head

Mud Frogs and Water Insects

Hamster Meal :-(

Silkworm

King Chillie

The Nagamese love their dog meat, and most tribal families raise a dog just as we would a goat, to be chopped off and consumed one day. Well, to every man his own. And although we were not as bold as to try such savoury cuisine, we did sample other more palatable specialties of Nagaland – chilli pork gravy, authentic chow mein, fried momos, and Sis. Hokali’s home grown cucumbers and red pumpkin squash gravy with a dash of King chillie – the meanest and hottest of chillies this side of India.

We also managed to find a hotel serving authentic South Indian cuisine in Nagaland. Amman Hotel (originally known as Chennai Hotel) in Dimapur town has stood there since 1972. By this time my wife was quite homesick, and so it was a great comfort to sit and talk Nagamese Tamil in a South Indian hotel with the familiar smells of chutney and sambhar wafting out of the little kitchen, and our beloved idli and dosa staring up at us from our plates. The owner’s niece, Sangitha Swami would become a good friend to us over the next couple of days.

With Miss Sangita @ Amman Hotel

After savouring the sights, sounds, and smells of Nagaland, we were back in our rooms by 2:00 pm just in time to receive the unfortunate news of a landslide in Kohima, which had prevented the brothers from there to come down to meet us in Dimapur. When Bro. Suraj asked them if they could make it over the next couple of days, they said they were doubtful.

We were now in a quandary, as our plans had been disarrayed somewhat, and were wondering what to do with the time that remained before moving into Upper Assam.

That night, there was a power cut in the area, as is a regular feature in the whole of the North-east. We had been in prayer that day, asking the Lord to make the paths straight, and seeking his guidance as to why our plans had been changed like this.

Bro. Suraj rapped on our window in the semi-darkness and told us that he had been talking to his friend Bro. Hojevi and a meeting was to be arranged in the local Baptist church the next evening. 

June 6^th

The next day, we visited the local Christian Literature Store for some rare finds, strolled through  Dimapur’s HongKong market, and then grabbed lunch at a Tibetan restaurant before readying ourselves for that evening’s meeting at 4:30 pm.

We met the Youth Music Promoter Bro. Vikiho, and Child Promoter Sis. Henitoli, who welcomed us on behalf of Thahekhu Village Sumi Baptist Church.

Thahekhu Village Sumi Baptist Church.

The congregation slowly began to trickle in, and after a time of prayer, I was offered the dias at around 5:30 pm.

I had initially planned to speak on “This Generation” – a message on the coming of Christ in our times. However, I found the Holy Spirit leading me to speak on a different subject.

I began with my testimony, my call to the ministry, and then went on to underline The Foundations of Apostolic Christianity. I stressed on the Importance of Knowing the Signs of the Coming of Christ, and the Importance of Being Guided by The Holy Spirit. I spoke on the Difference between The Natural Man and The Spiritual Man, The Creation of Man, The Inspired Word of God, and finally touched on The judgment of God as defined in II Peter – “The elements shall melt with fervent heat.”

At the end of the message I exhorted the congregation on holy living, submission, consecration, and turning back to Apostolic truths.

A few came up to me at the end of the service and appreciated the message.

We packed a bag for our trip to Upper Assam the following day. Bro. Suraj’s son Arpan, was now our travel agent J, and had booked a passenger coach for the three of us to Sapekhati, Assam, at 12:45 pm.

UPPER ASSAM (NAGAHAT)

June 7^th

There was a church social in Thahekhu Village the day we were leaving for Assam, and the brothers brought us up a delicious lunch before we left for the railway station at noon.

Our train left Dimapur at 12:45 pm. We dove in and out of Assam and Arunachal along the train ride, as we were travelling on the border. The sky was clearer than we had ever seen it, and the bamboo forests blurring our view mysterious yet inviting.

View from the train en route to Upper Assam

  

Bro. Suraj shared with us along the way, his testimony, of how the Lord had rescued him time and again from mishaps in life, the near death and recovery of his wife Sis. Rebecca, his struggle to accomplish many things swimming against the tide, until he began fervently serving the Lord full time, and the many dreams that had guided his hand in the preparation of the naturopathy remedies that had helped so many people over the years. I found the echoes of many of my own life experiences in his words, and rejoiced at how the Lord dealt with each one of us to bring us into his service.

We reached Sapekhati by 5:00 pm. A brother Kumar and his wife were at the station to receive us in their car. The drive to Bro. Noah’s place in Nagahat where we were bound was about an hour from the station at best. We made it there by around 7:00 pm because of the bad condition of the roads.

Bro Noah and his family welcomed us warmly. We were served hot cups of the famous Assam tea, and then informed that a meeting had been arranged for that day itself in a prayer center in a village called Hulunga Maara a short distance from Nagahat.

Although the trip had not been so tiring, the heat was oppressive, and the strain of continuous travel over the previous couple of days was getting to us. We felt like flowers wilting in summer. As we had not been pre-informed about the meeting, we were not prepared, and so hurriedly freshened up before we left for the meeting place.

We left Nagahaat by 8:00 pm, and reached our destination in half an hour. When we got there, there was a power cut, and the little cottage lay in darkness. However, the congregation was still waiting for us in expectation.

There were around 70 people in the light of a kerosene lantern singing and praising the Lord in the Assamese tongue.

Hulunga Maara Prayer Center

I just had enough time to thank them all for coming, introducing myself and my ministry, explaining to them the purpose of my coming, and then going through a brief introductory message from Revelation 10.

Bro. Suraj interpreted.

The congregation was receptive, even in spite of the buzzing mosquitoes, and the darkness. However, I could sense that they were still babes who needed fresh milk, and could not digest the tougher meat of the Word. I had my message for them for the next day.

We closed the meeting at 9:30 pm, and bid the people goodbye. The folks from the village, mostly labourers and farmers, used to gather in the prayer center every Thursday for a mid week meeting, and had been expecting us that day. As we were not able to give them a full service that day, the leaders offered to arrange another service for us the following evening at around 6:30 pm.

We were invited to the home of the local Baptist Pastor, Pastor Tintus for dinner.

We reached Bro. Noah’s place at around 11:00 pm and settled down for the night.

June 8^th

Bro. Noah lives in Nagahaat with his wife Benetha, and his in-laws. They have a small bamboo cottage alongside a mini tea plantation, with cattle and poultry, and fields of rice.

Bro. Noah's home in Nagahat

Lunch with Bro. Noah

Most of the people in the Northeast who own lands have turned to tea cultivation as it yields a fixed income throughout the year. A majority of landowners there are either owners of cattle or tea estates, or farmers.

The climate in Assam was so humid during the day, we were soaked even before we got out of the bath and dried ourselves. Almost everywhere were the signs of global warming. Folks told us that this was probably the hottest summer they had experienced by far. We read the alarming news in the papers of people in the metro cities of New Delhi and Mumbai dying from heat stroke.

Not a leaf stirred outside. There was no hint of a breeze, and we were told it was because of the bamboo forests sucking in the ground’s humidity and breathing it out within the Arunachali mountain ranges at the border of Assam.

There were frequent power cuts here as well, and we admired the Assamese for their forbearance. Sis. Benetha handed each one of us a bamboo hand fan which we had to twirl around to stir up a bit of breeze to keep cool.

That evening, we made the short trip to Hulunga Maara once more in Bro. Kumar’s car. We began the service at 7:00 pm, once everyone had finished up with their field work for the day.

I had planned a message on Metamorphosis – From Glory to Glory, and tying it up with the Coming of Christ, but I felt the Spirit lead me in rebuking the congregation for their lethargy, for their slumbering conscience which had covered up fleshly sins under the guise of prayerfulness, for their spiritual neglect in paying heed to the Word of God and not giving it prominence above all else.

And then I spoke on The Five Wounds of Christ – the agony and torment He suffered on Calvary, and the seriousness His sacrifice demands of every believer especially in the days before His coming. 

I felt like I was addressing some particular members of the congregation, and I knew the rebuke had been for them. I continued with the message on Metamorphosis, and closed in great sorrow of Spirit. My sorrow was for how denominational Christianity cloaked the believer’s need from his own sight, satisfying himself with ritual times of prayer, good deeds, self discipline, theoretical learning, everything except the simplicity of the Word of God – the Book of Life, The Bible, and how learning that could satisfy the very basic need in every human spirit – that of laying hold on the Eternal Life to which we all are called.

I don’t think anyone understood what I felt in my spirit that day. I prayed for the people who faithfully kept frequenting that Prayer Center in Hulunga Maara. I prayed for the leaders, that they understand the Word, and lead their people by the Word, and to the Word.

Our car was quite delayed, and we reached home late and spent. After a quick dinner, we retired to our room and slept off in minutes.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH

June 9^th

The next day, Bro. Suraj informed us that we had been invited to a village in Arunachal Pradesh to preach. It was just an hour’s drive away, as Nagahat was on the border between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

So we set off at about 10:00 am by car. The weather outside was swelteringly hot, the air as still as ever.

Bro. Suraj had visited the neighbourhood Baptist church with the locals to ask for permission to preach to the people there. However when they had refused due to a committee issue, the Jamikham family who were members there, had said that they would be more than welcome to host a meeting in their home for their family, as they were interested in knowing what we had to say.

We reached Arunachal by 11:00 am, and were welcomed by Sis. Lainu Jamikham.

The Jamikham Homestead

We were straight away taken to the home of a woman who sought prayer. She had been experiencing extreme migraines, and was suffering so terribly, she couldn’t move her head from one side to the other without pain.

We prayed over this sister, anointing her with oil, and spoke to her about the infinite healing power of Christ, and about faith in Christ that could move mountains. We bid her husband read the Bible in their own language, and exited, claiming her healing in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We were then ushered into the Jamikham house, where the electricity died soon after we were served refreshments. We had perfected the art of smiling in the anticipation of power cuts by now, so we smiled away as we soaked in our own sweat.

The brethren however had a generator, which they mercifully turned on.

We began the service by 12:00 pm. The whole Jamikham family was in attendance. There were around 60 people including their neighbours.

I began the message attempting to point out how we could not live a nonchalant life as nominal Christians when the Lord of all had died for us and was expecting us to be perfect as He is. I briefly explained The Creation of Angels, The Fall of Lucifer, The Spiritual Man, The Original Sin, The Need for Redemption, The Anti-Christ, Mystery Babylon, Paganism in Christianity, The Ecumenical System, and how the True Church of Christ is to be saved from all this.

The little gathering understood, especially the young brothers.

At the end of the service, many came forward for healing. In the midst of prayer, a young sister collapsed unconscious on the floor. I and Bro. Suraj prayed over her, but she did not regain consciousness immediately. However, we saw her move her lips as if she was singing something in her unconscious state. I had dealt with evil spirit manifestations before and knew that this was something else.

Praying for healing

She lay unconscious like this for around 20 minutes, with the family around her praying. Then she rose up weakly, and the family took her inside. She even served us lunch after a while.

When we asked the family what her ailment was, they told us she usually fell down this way in the middle of church and prayer services, and lay unconscious for long periods of time. Sometimes this would even occur on the streets or as she was climbing down stairs which was very dangerous. They had sought medical advice, but the doctors could not pinpoint the cause.

I and Sis. Benita asked to speak to the sister after lunch. Her name was Ngamson. And she told us that whenever she fell unconscious, she did not know where she was or what was happening around her, and she began singing a chant which she could not understand. At the same time, in her mind’s eye, she could see the dead bodies of her relatives come towards her, and each time she fell, she said she had felt a darkness envelope her. This had begun a few years ago.

"However", she said,

“When you prayed over me this time, and I fell unconscious again, I felt a great light cover me and then hit me, and this time, I felt strong enough to fight, and I began singing a spiritual song in my trance instead of a chant. When I came to consciousness I knew I felt different.”

I told her that the Lord had touched her, and that we had prayed for her healing, which the Lord had surely granted. I then gave her some advice on how to get closer to the Lord, how to spend time in prayer and Bible reading, and that we would be in prayer for her and be in touch soon.

As we bid goodbye to the family, I asked if I could try on their tribal hat with the feathers in it. They were pleased that I asked and decked me and Bro. Suraj with their traditional tribal sashes, and Sis. Benita with their tribal ornaments as a sign of honour from their tribe.

The New Tribals :-)

After goodbyes and promises to return soon, we headed back to Bro. Noah’s place in one of the brother’s vehicles.

With the Jamikham Household

The Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh are the descendants of the Mongolian race who had been driven out of China after the Mongolian regime was overthrown. Some of the Mongols made their way across the mountains of Tibet and over into Arunachal Pradesh where they settled down as the Arunachali Nagas. This is why they very closely resemble the Chinese.

(NOTE: The sister with the migraine, as well as Sis. Ngamson were both healed. We checked up on them a few days ago, and they both say they are in good health. Sis. Ngamson says that there has not been a recurrence of the experience since, and that now she is confident to go out in public again.)

Back to Assam

That evening, Bro. Noah had arranged a meeting at his place. He had called a few friends, relatives, and neighbours, and they gathered around 7:00 pm in the yard outside his house.

Courtyard meeting @ Bro. Noah's place

Since most of them understood the Adivasi Saadhri dialect, a brother Daniel Paul was asked to interpret the message in Saadhri.

After being introduced, I began to preach on Revelation 17, and 13, The Mystery of Iniquity within Christianity, Mystery Babylon, and The Ecumenical Movement. 

As always I stressed on the importance of reading and knowing Christ through His Word, and emphasized on holy and sanctified living according to the Will of God.

We wound up the service by 9:00 pm, and a few souls came forward for prayer for healing and deliverance.

June 10^th

It being a Sunday, I had been invited to preach at the local Baptist church in the village, and Bro. Suraj in another church in the next village.

A brother and sister ferried us to the church on their bikes.

After the traditional service, I was handed the dias at around 12:00 noon.

Bro. Daniel Paul, who was a member of the same church served as interpretor.

Bro. Daniel Paul interprets

I spoke on the subject, “Christ – the Word of God”, delving into The Creation of the Natural and the Spiritual Man, The Voice of the Inner Man, The Five Wounds of Christ, The Plan of Redemption, and Baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many in the congregation were touched, as I was later informed.

(NOTE: A month ago, Pastor Suraj called with the good news that many in both the villages were ready for baptism, and that we had better plan to return soon to ensure that they are grounded in the faith.)

After the service, we were invited to the home of Bro. Daniel Paul. He lived in the village with his wife, son, and elder sister who was a widow.

As was their custom, the sister washed our feet once we entered the home.

Bro. Daniel Paul told us of how he had entered mission work, how he had built a foundation for a prayer center in the area, how he had been seeking God’s Will for his life for the future, and more.

We had only a little time to discuss the Word before we were served lunch, and Bro. Suraj, who had been accompanied by Bro. Noah arrived.

We were scheduled to leave Sapekhati for Dimapur by train at 5:00 pm, and so had to leave around 4:00. We prayed for the family and took our leave.

With Bro. Daniel Paul's family in front of their home in Nagahat

Bro. Daniel Paul and his wife, the foundation for the prayer center in the background

It was a tearful goodbye at Bro. Noah’s place, as we had grown so fond of Sis. Benetha and the family who had served us so well and made us feel so loved and so much at home. Sis. Benetha gave each of us a traditional Assamese shawl and a package of duck roast to eat on the way.

With Bro. Noah's family

We also took a while to visit Bro. Kumar’s place. His wife had prepared a few rotis for us for dinner, and they too were sorry to see us go.

With Bro. Kumar's family @ their home

Bro. Suraj attempting to look taller than me :-)

We had hired a vehicle to the station. Along the way, the vehicle in front of us wobbled a bit, and we came to know the driver was drunk. We almost missed being hit twice, which made our driver mad, get out of the car and begin an altercation with the drunk driver in the other car.

We prayed ourselves to the station in time. J

We bid goodbye to our new friends, as we left steamy Assam for the cooler climes of Nagaland once more.

We were a bit apprehensive, as our train was supposed to reach Dimapur only by 10:00 pm, and we had been told such stories of muggings there after 8:00. However, our Lord was with us along the way, and we reached Thahekhu Village Baptist Mission Compound safely by 11:00 pm, smiling once again before the electricity went out in our rooms for the night.

June 11^th

We thanked God that the climate was bearable. Once again, we had been trying to get in touch with the brothers in Kohima, wondering if they could make it over, but unfortunately we weren’t able to contact them.

Our next destination on the map was Manipur where a sister who had embraced the truth was ready for baptism. However we decided to cancel the program, because we had to be in Diphu in two days time, to meet with the brethren who were interested in baptism, and to counsel those who had already been baptized.

The trip to Manipur was 10 hours by road. The actual journey took only 6 hours, but the condition of the roads and the transport vehicles were so bad, that the journey usually stretched to 10 hours. The capital of Manipur was Imphal, which could be reached by Winger or mini-bus. It wasn’t reachable by railways. From Imphal, we would have to take a bus to another place called Ukhrul which took around 3 hours, and from there we had a 2 hour journey to the village of the sister in question.

This meant that the entire journey to and fro would be a total of 30 hours. The roads were so bad that our friend Sangitha from the hotel, whose father was a regular traveler to Manipur told us that we needed at least a half day’s rest after the journey to Imphal to recuperate from the bumpy ride. She also told us that any vehicles travelling across the Manipur border were allowed only if they made it by 3:00 pm, after which they had to stand in line at the tolling stations indefinitely for impromptu police checks. This was because there were rebellions by the local Maoist insurgents that occurred off and on and the authorities had to be careful about whom they let across the border.

Although these facts were quite discouraging considering it was to be our first time going into Manipur, we could have chanced it all if it had been the Lord’s will for us to go. While in prayer, I felt the Lord’s hand leading us back to Diphu. I had felt it time and time again, once we had gotten back to Dimpaur, that the Lord was pointing us to Diphu instead of to Manipur.

Bro. Suraj was a bit cast down, as he had been expecting the Manipur trip, and said that the sister had been anxiously waiting for us, and had arranged for a few people to gather at her home while we were there. However, I told him that I did not feel the leading of the Lord at the time.

One of the main reasons I felt lead to go to Diphu was for Bro. Kennedy who had been touched by the Lord the last time we were there, and had expressed a desire to be baptized.

That night Bro. Suraj had a dream. He saw a man, only the upper torso of a man, in white, and the man said “Kennedy will come.” This had put his mind at rest, he told us the next day, and so we considered it worthwhile to go to Diphu by train.

Back to Diphu, Assam

June 12th

We put up at the Hotel Singasom again, leaving most of our baggage in Dimapur, and only packing a few clothes for the journey.

We spent most of the day in prayer for the brothers and sisters of The Christian Fellowship who had earnestly expressed their desire to know more.

June 13^th to 15^th

On the morning of the 13^th, we decided to go visit Bro. Jothin and Sis. Beauty at their residence some distance from town. Sis. Beauty who worked late had told us that it would be very difficult for her to visit us at the hotel because of her deadlines at work.

We were there by 7:00 am, as she usually left for work by 9:00 am.

There had been a steady downpour the days preceding our return to Diphu, and the inroad to their house was filled with mud and slush. It took us around 20 minutes to cross the small space from the main road to the tiny Bamboo hut without losing our balance!

Not as easy as it looks!!!

There in the wee hours of the morning, Bro. Jothin, Sis. Beauty, their adopted daughter Urmika,  another relative, and ourselves spent some time in prayer. We then counseled the family on Life After Baptism, and how Friendship with the World was Enmity with God, and what that meant in society.

We left around 9:00 am and once again received word from a few brethren who said they would see us that evening.

On cancellation of our Manipur trip, I felt that our Missionary journey through the Northeast was at its end. However we had time to kill till our flight on the 18^th, and our fervent prayers for some fruit before we left Diphu for good.

We spent our days in prayer waiting for some sort of result, and were mostly overwhelmed by the time evening came, and no one showed. It was like going through indefinite labour, but still we felt the Lord’s presence with us asking us to wait.

Back to Dimapur, Nagaland

June 16^th

We had to leave for Dimapur. We felt that we had done all we could.

Suprisingly, Bro. Kennedy too, who had booked tickets in the same train, and was travelling to Dimapur with his sister, coincidentally got seats in the same bogey as us. And then we knew why the Lord had bid us wait in Diphu these 3 days! We were able to have short discussion with the two regarding traditional christianity, the Godhead, and the Original Sin.

We were at Dimapur by 11:00 am, and took an auto rickshaw to our pre-booked lodgings there.

After lunch and some rest, I and Sis. Benita took a short trip to Thahekhu Village again to pick up the rest of our luggage which we had left in Bro. Hojevi's home.

Bro. Kennedy had said that he would join us that evening at the hotel, and so we were glad to see him once we got back. He said that he was ready for baptism, but that he had certain questions he would like to discuss.

That night, and the next morning, I and Pastor Suraj did our best to clarify any doubts Bro. Kennedy had regarding baptism, the Godhead, and the move of the hour.

June 17^th

We had booked a vehicle for the next day to take us a little way from Dimpaur, where there was a clean river.

There we baptised Bro. Kennedy after a time of prayer.

Baptism: Bro. Kennedy

It was a joyous way to spend our Sunday, fellowshipping in the open under the clouds - a tiny congregation, but I'm sure we were accompanied by thousands of angels rejoicing right along!

With Bro. Suraj and Bro. Kennedy
(Down to the river to pray-ay-ay)

It seemed like we had waited and prayed in Diphu for just this one soul. But we are sure, he will bring many more back to the truth of God's Word.

Driving through Dimpaur on a Sunday could suprise you. All the stores are closed as the majority of the population is Christian, and when we asked one of the hawkers why Sunday was a market - closed day, he reported that it was a waste to keep shops open on Sundays, as most of the town would be in church till around 4:00 pm! 😊

Stores shut on Sunday in Dimapur, Nagaland

Once we got back to our rooms, Bro. Paul arrived. He had come to bid us goodbye, and we had some lunch and good fellowship before he left for his hometown for the day. He would return the following day to meet up with Bro. Suraj. Bro. Kennedy left that evening, and we began packing for our flight the next morning.

Our flight to Kolkata for the 18th, was at 12:30 pm, with a connecting flight to Hyderabad at 3:15 pm.

I had already arranged for Bro. Suraj and Bro. Paul to make the trip to Manipur the same day without us, and they were to leave by bus at around 1:00 pm or so. So we said our farewells at the hotel. 

We would miss this simple, smiling, fiery man with his amazing ability for spot evangelization, who had been such an affable companion to us both for the course of the month.

This trip throughout the Northeast, was more a breaking up of fallow ground. The places we visited are remote, and road transport a nightmare. Travelling takes up so much time, and souls are so far placed. Even though many people come forward for baptism, they need still to be led, nurtured, and tuned. 

The Northeastern mission field is hard, but rewarding, and requires more labourers. It is not at all suprising that so few in the Northeastern states are acquainted with the message of the hour.

Due to the frequent power failures, lack of proper telecommunication networks, sudden landslides, appalling condition of the roadways, and the great distances one has to travel to meet new souls, meetings in this part of India can never be well organized or planned. We have to rely solely on the leading of the Lord and the move of His Spirit, waiting at times for days, as we did in Diphu, just so that we could have an incidental meeting with the one soul the Lord had been interested in. Or as it happened in Nagaland, where we had gone to meet brethren from Kohima, but by the leading of the Lord, were called to preach to a congregation in the very place we were lodged in; or in Nagahaat when I and Bro. Suraj were called to preach in two different churches, or in Arunachal Pradesh, where our plan to address the local church was diverted and the Jamikham family opened their doors to us. 

The brethren in the various places I visited are all calling me back again, asking me to dedicate longer periods of time to minister, and go further into the interiors. There is so much more work to be done, and so little time.

Do pray 

- for the souls in Bogadi, Jargi, Balliguda, Dimriguda, and Raipalli, Orissa; that the churches there may grow in number as well as in the maturity of the Word.

- for the churches in Sathaali and Kumargram Tea Garden, West Bengal, and for the Lord to protect his children from all false winds of doctrine there.

- for Bro. Manas and his family, and Pastor Andrew's congregation in Kolkata.

- for the souls in Diphu and Nagahaat, Assam, who have understood the truth about baptism and need to come to the full knowledge of the truth, that the Lord may give us a chance to minister there again and see more fruit.

- for the ministry work that the Lord has committed to Bro. Paul and Bro. Kennedy, that they may each understand their calling and work accordingly for the kingdom of the Lord.

- for the souls in Arunachal Pradesh who are as babes - ignorant of the impending threat of ecumenism and the New World Order.

- for the souls we have shared with in Nagaland, especially for the few brothers who have understood the truth in Kohima.

- for the ministry in Manipur, which has only just begun.

- for the Lord to grant us a chance to travel to the states of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim, and onward into Bhutan and Nepal.

I thank Pastor Pradeep and Bro. Rajesh for their quick organizing of the meetings in Orissa, Bro. Manas for his Hilsa fish curry and clothes dryer :-), Bro. Suraj Chettri for his comradeship and guidance for this trip, Bro. Arpan for all his help with our travel arrangements, Sis Rebecca for all those cups of Laal Chaai, Bro. Sagar and Sumith and the sisters in Sathaali for the lovely home cooked star quality meals, Bro. Hojewi for accommodating us at such short notice, Bro. Noah and family for their loving care while we were in Assam, and most of all to all those of you have contributed towards this mission work. 

May the Lord bless and keep you all in his care.