THE CALL FEBRUARY 2020
…You are my hiding place;you will protect me from troubleand surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7
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Gospel Shared in Fields During Christmas
- GEMS Family
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THE CALL Transforming Peoples to Transform Nations
Contents
From Bihar With Love Bro. D. Augustine Jebakumar Annual Workers Fasting Prayer
2 – 11
Nursing School Graduation
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Missionary Brother Raja Ram Entered – God’s Glory
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House of Prayer Dedicated in Nepal
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Published for Gospel Echoing Missionary Society
11, 13th Cross Street, New colony Chromkpet, Chennai - 44 Ph. : 044-22386031, 044-22380295
Published by GEMS Educational Media Services 14, Jeba Nagar, Vasanthapuram south, Near Vijaya Garden, Tirunelveli 627005 Ph. : 9488771655 Field office GEMS, Sikaria, Indrapuri - 821308 Rohtas Dist., Bihar , Ph. : 06184 - 234567 (Railway station & courier centre : Dehri on Sone) Website : www.gemsbihar.org
Gospel Echoing Missionary Society is a Christian mission organization that serves to bring about wholesome transformation in all the lives that it touches staying true to its motto ‘Transforming peoples to transform nations’. It touches the hearts of the people through the gospel of Jesus Christ and serves as a beacon of love and hope to the deprived, disadvantaged, exploited, destitute and homeless thousands fulfilling this vision through Spiritual, Educational, Medical and Humanitarian Services primarily in Bihar, other Northern States of India and beyond since 1972.
E-mail : gems@gemsbihar.org
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From Bihar With Love Beloved Prayer Partners in Christ Jesus,
In the name of the Lord of Armies that causes storms in the ocean, I send my wishes to you. “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His splendour is above the earth and the heavens. And He has raised up for His people a horn, the praise of all His faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to His heart” (Psalm 148: 13, 14).
“In a life filled with troubles and turmoil, the Lord brought victory, protecting by removing all my weaknesses” so sang Sister Sarah Navaroji. Through many of God’s people, we come to know that the coming days will be filled with struggles, yet we also receive the assurance that the Lord will protect His people. Halleluiah to that! Our world is in turmoil Ever since the beginning of this year, our nation has witnessed many struggles. There have been protests both for and against CAA. People get worried the moment they hear the word ‘NRC’. The clashes that this has triggered in The Call
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social media sites and the efforts that the Government took to control them has only raised more questions. The shocking news that airborne pollution in parts of Northern India during the winter months causes reduction in people’s life span did not seem to make people think but only quarrel. In North Gujarat recently, wasn’t there an infestation of grasshoppers covering an area of about 61000 acres encompassing about 285 villages? The havoc that these grasshoppers caused, which originated from Sudan, was immense! The forest fires in Australia not only destroyed the forest, but also the wildlife and some surrounding houses. The wild fire that spread about 5.5 million acres, have impacted millions of lives. We have started hearing chants that say – ‘India is for Hindus’ and in Srilanka we hear ‘this land is for Buddhists’. The future of many refugees is also at stake. Besides all these, we saw the fear in the hearts of all nations of being forced into another war when Iran’s military leader Soleimani was killed by the American air force. About 51 people died in a stampede at his funeral procession. The terror at our borders makes the countries hate one another. There is hope for the saints When we are surrounded by such news, the warning in the Bible comes to the fore. “All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matt 24: 8). I attempt to write this letter to answer how God’s people will survive in spite of all this. When Egypt was punished by the Lord (Exo 7: 4), the Israelites were right there. Yet, none of these plagues affected them, God’s hand protected them. Even during the punishment days, God wanted to distinguish the Israelites from the Egyptians. “If you do not let My people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people The Call
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and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them. But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land. I will make a distinction between My people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow” (Exo 8: 21 – 13). The Israelites lived in the land of Goshen. People other than Israelites also lived among them in Goshen. Due to the covenant that the Lord had made with Abraham, these other people were also spared. The Lord blessed the whole of Egypt because of one man, Joseph. We also read that “The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household” (2 Sam 6: 11). Similarly, though the Gentiles were not circumcised, yet they received the same protection as that of the Israelites. In the same way, “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you My power and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth. You still set yourself against My people and will not let them go. Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded till now” (Exo 9: 16 – 18). Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields—both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree. The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.”So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. (Exo 10: 21 – 23). The Call
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Likewise, because of God’s people, people that live along with God’s people are also protected by the Lord. The Lord does two more things to distinguish His people from the rest. First was the security through the blood of the lamb. They were protected by the blood of one year old male lambs that were without defect. The blood of these lambs was applied on the doorframes and so the Lord passed over without causing destructive plague over the land. “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt” (Exo 12: 13). Such is the protection by the blood of Jesus Christ. “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22: 20) and it can speak the good word (Heb 12: 24). We have been redeemed by His blood: “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin.” (Col 1: 13, 14). Isn’t it the complete truth that: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph 2: 13). Anyone that comes under the blood of Christ, the Passover lamb that was sacrificed will be saved (1 Cor 5: 7). “…the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God” (Heb 9: 14). What must we do? The Lord is still showing His supreme-ness through various acts on this earth. The Lord shows another act that the person drenched by the lamb’s blood needs to follow and The Call
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this is important. “For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And anyone, whether foreigner or native-born, who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel. Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread” (Exo 12: 19, 20). Paul mentioning about yeast in his letters proves that what was mentioned in Exodus was a shadow to what was to come: “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch— as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor 5: 6 – 8). We must never forget how important it is to be sincere and truthful and how horrible it is to be of malice and wickedness. Though we might have been saved generally from these hidden dangers, it is easily possible for us to be sucked in by these. Jesus warns us against this: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12: 1). Jesus condemned hypocrisy (Matt 23). He compares it to a whitewashed tomb. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which looks beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matt 23: 27, 28). Inner cleanliness is stressed vehemently by Jesus Christ. Even if the clothes and the speeches seem right, the Lord that looks at the heart of people whom he wants to protect, expects this. Today’s nation of Israel, it is said, has a 3 layer defence in the skies. Is it not surprising that the Lord also has such protection for us? The Call
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No matter what happens in the outside world, to experience the protection that the Lord has set up for us, we must practise obedience, faith and holiness. “But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm” (Pro 1: 33). When the whole world was destroyed by water, Noah was saved through water (1 Peter 3: 20). The same fire that destroyed the enemies, was the weapon that freed God’s children – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan 3: 22 – 25). In His Vineyard, D. Augustine Jebakumar
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Workers Fasting Prayer
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New Year Workers Meeting – Sikaria
New Year Fellowship – Sikaria
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Fasting Prayer Motivates GEMS Workers to Grow from Glory to Glory
Annual Staff Fasting Prayer was conducted in which all the workers of GEMS participated and waited upon the Lord in prayer, introspection and heeding to Gods’ word.
The yearend w o r k e r s fasting prayer
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was conducted at Sikaria, Bihar in which all the staff of GEMS participated with their families from 27th to 29th Dec 2019. The General Secretary of GEM Bro. D. Augustine Jebakumar opened the fasting prayer with exhortation on ‘Glory to Glory’ which set the tone for the meeting and
the desire in the participants to seek to grow from glory to glory. Pr. Selvakumar David (Chennai), the guest speaker The Call
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shared in all the main sessions on this theme of the fasting
prayer.
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Dr. Rajesh Duthie (Executive Director) and Dr. Ashok (Associate General Secretary) shared in the morning devotions. Associate Directors and Regional Directors led in prayer sessions. To facilitate introspection of the sessions, Group Discussions were led by leaders which was a fruitful time. During the fasting prayer the passed-out students of Timothy Bible College and Deborah Bible Training Centre were felicitated. The fasting prayer enabled all the workers to introspect and set right all the areas of their life before God. A deep work of the Holy Spirit was evident in the sessions. Glory be to God! Pray for all the GEMS workers that they may constantly remember the words the Lord spoke into their lives during the fasting prayer. Pray that they may continue to live and walk according to their resolutions. Pray for the call of God to be fulfilled in and through the lives of all the GEMS workers, so that His plans & purposes may fulfil for His glory. The Call
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Freshers Initiated and Graduates Felicitated in Nursing School Ceremony
The 14th batch Graduation and 16th batch Lamp Lighting ceremony of GEMS School of Nursing was conducted in which 30 students graduated and 30 were initiated.
The 14th Graduation and 16th Lamp Lighting ceremony of GEMS School of Nursing (GSON) for ANM The Call
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was held on 29th January 2020, at G E M S Auditorium in Sikaria, Bihar. The ceremony was graced by the Guest of Honour, the General Secretary of GEMS Bro. Augustine Jebakumar, Managing Trustee Sis. RupalekhaJebakumar, Chief Guest Pator Jonathan Anthony,
Special Guest Pastor. Sue Ford, Executive Director Dr. Rajesh Duthie, Associate General Secretary and Medical Director Dr. Ashok Kumar, Leaders of GEMS, the Nursing Superintendent Mrs. Roja Nirmala and by the parents and relatives of the students. The ceremony began with the procession into the auditorium while the 15th batch students held a flower The Call
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chain on either sides and the program began with opening prayer by the Special Guest Pastor Sue Ford, Baptist
Church (Australia). Sis. Packiyarani Stephen, the Principal of GSON welcomed the gathering. Pastor Jonathan Anthony, Senior Pastor, Baptist Church (Australia) was invited as the Chief Guest and in his address, he explained the students about the transition The Call
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from ordinary state to an extraordinary state when God encounters in our life. Our General Secretary exhorted the students by reminding them the importance of Care and Saltiness in everyone’s life. He encouraged the students by
adding a real-life example of a nurse who celebrated her 91st birthday recently and still was very passionate about her Nursing career.
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30 students received their provisional certificates and those who excelled in studies were rewarded. Ms. Premlata Soren received medal & certificate for obtaining 1st rank in the 2nd year Board examination conducted by MIBE board in September 2019. The 15th and 16th batch students were also rewarded medals and certificates for the 1st three rank holders in both theory and practical examinations. Ms. Aasha Kumari of 15th batch received special reward for obtaining 5th rank in the 1st year Board examination conducted by MIBE board in September 2019. The lamp lighting began with the lighting of the Centre lamp by the General Secretary of GEMS and the either sides were lit by the Chief guest Pator Jonathan Anthony and Associate General Secretary and Medical Director Dr. Ashok Kumar. The students’ lamp was lit by Mrs. Packiyarani Stephen and Dr. Ashok Kumar as the choir sang ‘Carry Your Candle’. The Nursing Superintendent Mrs. Roja Nirmala led the 16th batch students to take lamp lighting oath and The Call
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Ms. Roselin, Tutor of GEMS School of Nursing offered the vote of thanks. The ceremony came to an end with their dedication, prayer and benediction by the General Secretary. Pray for the all the graduated nurses of GEMS Nursing School to serve with selfless attitude and service-mind to be effective witnesses. Pray for the freshers to commit themselves to focused training and learning without any distractions. Pray for the institute, the staff and management to continue to train and develop the students as effective & caring nurses.
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GEMS Missionary Brother Raja Ram Entered God’s Glory
Bro. Raja Ram (DCC Karmahi, Bhojpuri 2 Zone) went to be with the Lord on 27th January 2020 and the funeral service was conducted at Karaghar, Bihar on 28th January. GEMS family bereaves the demise of Bro. Raja Ram.
Bro. Raja Ram (56 years) was suffering with Paralysis for almost a year and was under treatment and passed away on 27th January. The Call
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Funeral service was conducted at Dibhiya village in Karaghar, Bihar; the village of his birth. Initially there was a problem for lack of burial ground. The family and fellow servants met with the village Mukhiya and could get a place to bury. Bro. Rakesh (Associate Director) conducted the funeral service along with Dr. Rajesh Duthie (Executive Director) and Bro. Cornelius (HiChal). The Call
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Raja Ram was serving as Headmaster and Inspector of schools of GEMS DCC. He had been serving in GEMS for 22 years. He joined GEMS at the DCC in Belaon, Bihar on 13th January 1998 and had served at Nawanagar, Bihiya and Karmahi. Bro. Raja Ram is survived by his wife Sis. Atwaro Devi and three children; Amarjit Kumar (39), Jyotish Kumar (35) and Santoshi Kumari (29). All the children are married and his elder son Amarjit serves as a GEMS missionary at Nawanagar. Pray for Bro. Raja Ram’s wife, children, family members and fellow workers, that they may receive God’s comfort. Pray for the ministry that he has left behind to continue through right leadership. Pray for the lack of burial grounds in the fields and churches to be rectified.
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GEMS House of Prayer Inaugurated in Mamthamar of Nepal
GEMS House of Prayer at Mamthamar, Nepal was inaugurated for the Glory of God.
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The inauguration ceremony of the GEMS Nepal church built at Mamthamar was held on 9th Feb 2020. Mamthamar is a field in the Makwanpur District of Nepal. The Inauguration ceremony began with opening prayer and Praise & Worship by Bro. Rajulama (GEMS Nepal). Pastor Mohan (IPC, Bahrain) with prayer, cut the ribbon and inaugurated the Church building.
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The Associate General Secretary of GEMS Dr. Ashok Kumar introduced the guests & welcomed the gathering.
All were welcomed with Nepali tradition. Pastor Mohan preached the Word of God in Tamil and Bro. Gunasekaran (Director, Hi-Chal) translated into Hindi and Bro. Purusotham translated into Nepali. Children of the Our People Project (OPP) of Mamthamar The Call
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presented cultural programs. Dr. Ashok ministered in the closing session and the inauguration ceremony ended with prayer and bendicition by Bro. Gunasekaran. Pray for the missionary Bro. Silas Thokar and his family who serve in this place. Praise God for the House of Prayer which has been built in Mamthamar. Pray for this House of Prayer and the missionary family. Pray for this church to be used by the Lord as a powerful witness of the gospel to bring about transformation in this place.  
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