Truthalive february 2017 by Sathyam Publications

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 2017 RS. 100/-

FEBRUARY 2017

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 2017 RS. 100/-

CONTENT

PAGE

This We Believe: Dr. Alexander Kurian.................................................................................7 Chasing Dollars, or Dreams?: Bob Shank..........................................................................9 News........................................................................................................................................10 Things Above: Joni Eareckson Tada.......................................................................................16 Fasting: John Mathew..............................................................................................................17 Our Father God is Love: Deborah Samuel...........................................................................19 The Soul Winner: Jeffrey Pearson..........................................................................................21 Family Talk: Dr. Thomas Kulanjiyil.........................................................................................23

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Ever since the first issue in 2009, Truth Alive has been a leading monthly magazine for Christian families around the globe. It is published by Truth Ministries, a humanitarian charity into social ministry, education and evangelization.

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THIS WE BELIEVE A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE BRETHREN MOVEMENT

Dr. Alexander Kurian Nothing is more thrilling than to read stories of great revivals. Revival is a special season of spiritual refreshing and renewal when many believers simultaneously experience a deep moving of the Spirit of God in their hearts. One th such revival took place in Britain early in the 19 century (around the year 1825) that is commonly known as the “Brethren Movement.” The story of the Brethren Movement is not about the “sleeping” many, but of the “waking” few. Even in the world's deepest “midnight”, there have been always children of the “light” and of the “day.” In the midst of a slumbering world, they were “awake.” God's voice had reached them, His mighty power had raised them, and His holy Word had liberated them. John Nelson Darby, Edward Cronin, John Gifford Bellet, FrancisHutchinson, William Stokes, Edward Wilson, Anthony Norris Groves,George Müller and several others along with them, were wide “awake” among “sleepers”; the “living” among the “dead.” These gifted and well- educated men had deep spiritual convictions. They disregarded all denominational barriers and came together for Christian fellowship, Bible study and to “break bread.” Eventually they were separated from all ecclesiastical (denominational) systems and came together “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” The spiritual dynamism of these young “Brethren” significantly altered the image of 19th century Christendom and made a profound impact on Christian believers all over the world. It was a time in which many Christians in the British Isles had become dissatisfied by dead

orthodoxy and authoritarian clericalism in their denominations. Into this desperate situation came the “Brethren” with their simpler and Scriptural church principles. They believed that all true believers in Christ belonged to the church (unity of the Body of Christ) and that human ordination was not required by the Scripture to preach the Gospel. They taught that more than one man per church had been gifted by the Holy Spirit for ministry. The newfound Scriptural freedom to gather together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to “break bread” and remember Him (“Do this in remembrance of Me”) without a presiding clergy, was an exciting truth for them. They could not feel at home in the denominational churches to which they originally belonged (mainly Anglican). Many like-minded Christians found their fellowship and meetings infused by the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ. Beginnings The little flock of the first “Brethren” (brethren is the archaic plural form of brothers) gathered in homes and halls for Bible study, fellowship and breaking of bread. Most of these young men were in their mid or late twenties and were associated with Trinity College, Dublin. In1826, Edward Cronin and Edward Wilson began meeting together eachLord's Day morning for the breaking of bread, worship, and study of the Word in Edward Wilson's house in Dublin (Wilson was a church deacon and Bible Society secretary at that time). Shortly after this, they moved to Cronin's house and were joined by others (Cronin, who was a medical student and was actively involved in his church, was excommunicated for his views). was it only young men? (to be contd...) 7

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COLOURING PAGE:

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Chasing Dollars, or Dreams? Bob Shank

“I have a dream…” He wasn't the first to say those words, but they are forever attached to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 15 January 2017, was his 89th Birthday. His dream outlived him; that's not unusual, for leaders. A bullet ended his earthly life at 39, but the bullet-points of his dream are still a work in progress. They include some of the richest aspirations of America, from the time the colonists declared their dream of a new kind of nation and demonstrated their dedication in the Revolution into the still distant future. The dreams of America are still a work-in-progress. Dr. King was only 34 when he addressed the live audience of 250,000 people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, but millions of people over the last half century have reheard – or, read – the message that he delivered in just 17 minutes; Jesus' Sermon on the Mount can be recited – in English – in less than 13 minutes. Powerful concepts can often be communicated – memorably – with brevity that makes them even more memorable and moving. Jesus was 31 when he pronounced his dreams, for his Kingdom: the revolutionaries who responded are still working to see his dream fully realized… Relations between racial groups in 1963 were a work-in-progress, but – in retrospect – there was far too little work, and far too little progress when he called America into advancing. Profound shifts in perspectives and positions have taken place, from then to now;

the ultimate vision envisioned by Dr. King is still before us, though not beyond us. Great leaders – whose dreams remain, beyond their departure – leave great legacies. They are often claimed as inspiration, but sometimes they breed conflicts that are counterfeits of the original. Much has been done “in the name of the Kingdom” and “in the name of the Civil Rights Movement” that would have been opposed by the Lord Jesus or Dr. King. Martin Luther King Day is a holiday; you might be working, but you should take some time to reflect on some of the thoughts initiated in the past for which we still press into the future. The shortest sitcom takes a 30 minute bite out of your life (with commercials), and the archive of that half-hour span of time will be wiped off your hard drive by tomorrow. Let me give you the gift of 30 minutes that will revisit vision that still inspires the deep commitment of millions of people, dedicated to the memory of a dead hero – Dr. King – and a living Savior – Jesus the Christ. If you had to capture your life message in 15 minutes (the average of those two monologues), what would you say? What is your vision of the future that would be worth asking people to hear today, and for others to read, decades after your death? Great leaders have great visions, and their vision is likely to live beyond them. Do you have what it takes to be a great leader? 9

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from 4:00 PM at the UIM Family Mission Centre, Kothanur, Bangalore-77. For Passes or further Infor mation Contact: 9845969460/ 9449825386 or Email: maco.s@urbanindia.org

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BANGALORE NEWS Forgiven:Gospel Musical Show “Toccata” is a group of professional and semiprofessional UK based musicians, united in the mission to use their collective talents to help support both existing and new charities in their philanthropic endeavors. “Toccata” also seeks to facilitate the development of musicians and musical talent in challenged societies all over the world and actively promotes the involvement and participation of both adults and children from these societies in its productions. Toccata Musical Productions, UK is organizing a th Gospel Musical Show “Forgiven”from 13 th February 2017 to 14 February 2017 in Ambedkar Bhavan, Miller s Road, Bangalore. Timings of the event are from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Encounter With God –Freedom Over a Weekend: The 'Encounter with God' is a weekend meeting that helps people experience wholeness and freedom as they encounter the power of God in their lives. It establishes a Godly foundation for a fruitful and victorious life. These meetings cater to people from all denominations across different geographic locations. Topics covered are Foundations, Understanding God's Heart, Root Causes of Rejection, Why Forgiveness, Relationships and Soul Ties, Emotional Healing, and Blessings and Curses. Participants are requested to attend all the sessions to avail TH personal ministry. This event is from 10 TH February 2017 to 12 February 2017, at Adonai Annex, 201 #15, Elegant Poise, Heerachand Road,Cox Town, Bangalore. Encounter with God isorganized by Adonai Church. For more details, please contact– 99008500358/ 080 2548335 or visit: adonaichurch.in/encounter-with-god/

I Still Do-Workshop for Couples:

Christian Counselling in Troubled Times -Conference:

Urban India Ministries is organizing a special workshop for couples – I Still Do. UIM is dedicated to building a value based urban society. The Family Ministry division is dedicated to bringing biblical principles to families and propagating family values. The evening will include of a unique candlelight dinner, fun couple games, special takeaways, song dedications and much more. The workshop will be held on 14th February 2017,

'Association of Christian Counsellors' presents a 3 day conference on “Christian Counselling in Troubled Tim es”. ACC (South Asia) serves to provide a benchmark for reliable and trustworthy Christian counselling services in this region.Its main aim is to set up standards for counsellors and to enable people to look for credible counsellors in South East Asia. ACC

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offers accreditation at different levels to counsellors and Counsellor training courses. The 3 day conference will be held at SAIACS CEO Centre, Kothanur, Bangalore, from 09TH February 2017 to 11TH February 2017. For more information and registration please contact :telephone: 040-27716941/40045821 or email at: accsouthasia@gmail.com

Recovering the Biblical Vision of Manhood and Womanhood-Seminar:

Truth and Life Academy is organizing a Seminar on 'Recovering the Biblical Vision of Manhood and Womanhood'.Truth and Life Academy is a Christian theological institute that offers non-formal theological training with an intent to build the church for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The emphasis is on assimilation of biblical principles, concepts, truths and personal spiritual growth. The seminar will be held on 18th February 2017, from 9:30 AM TO 1:00 PM at Clarence High School, Richards Town, Bangalore-05. To register, please visit, www.truthand lifeacademy.org, For further i nformation, please contact :Revanth -9108725939. rd

The 3 partnership Institute: Workshop

The 3rd partnership Instituteis an initiative to train Churches and Mission leaders in the Biblical and practical values of working together. This institute is held once a year with maximum participants of about 15 people. This training will give you skills in the understanding of how partnership and a network functions, what is the role of a facilitator, how to form and operate a partnership/network. The workshop will be from 3rd April to 7th April, 2017, at Interdev-India, #10 & 11, Esther Garden,

Jayanthi Nagar, Horamavu, Bangalore560016. For more information, please contact:William Paul K.P.-93421 54504 Prem James-98441 16281.

Matrimonial Meet for Christians(For all denominations): Believerswedd ing.com is the result of a divine vision received by Pastor V. M. Samuel, Founder Chairman and Senior Pastor of the New Life Fellowship Churches (South India and Middle East) to provide a platform for Christians (especially people coming from different faiths) to be united in Holy Matrimony. Our aim is to build Christ-centered families. It is the fastest growing matrimonial portal with a high rate of successful marriages across many countries. Our enormous database of profiles and highly sophisticated software ensures that we provide you the fastest personalized service. The Matrimonial Meet is planned to take place on Saturday, 10th June 2017, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at United Theological College, #46, Millers Road, behind Cantonment Railway Station, Bangalore-46.

Financial Management Workshop: Christian Institute of Management is organizing a Financial Management Workshop at Bangalore. Christian Institute of Management is an indigenous national level organization imparting information, management training, organization development services, mediation and reference service. It is non-profit Christian management training society run by Indian Christian management professionals who are in the corporate sector, in educational fields and in Christian missions. All the programmes, services and publications of CIM are offered exclusively to the management of Christian services only. The workshop will TH TH be held from 07 March to 10 March 2017. For further Information, please contact: 984507888. 11

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INDIA NEWS Compassion Has 'Very Little Hope' for India, Sets Deadline to Shut Down Sponsorships “We want to be honest with you, there is very little hope.” So wrote Compassion International to its 130,000 sponsors of Indian children this past Friday. One week after sharing the good news of four nations no longer needing child sponsors due to the passion of millennials, the ministry shared the bad news of another nation that will probably not need child sponsors due to government interference. A little more than a year after the Indian government told Compassion that it could no longer receive funding from outside the subcontinent, the humanitarian organization will likely be closing its last operations there.“Since we can no longer distribute funds to our field offices, we have just had to notify our India country staff that we must formally close our field offices in India by March 15,” Compassion told sponsors by email. “Should nothing change, that means an end to our sponsorship program in India in the next 60 days.” Compassion, which has been working in India for more than 48 years, said it has tried everything in the last 10 months to stay afloat.

More Christians being attacked in poll-bound states, claims NGO report The five states going to the polls this February and March recorded a spurt in attacks against Christians last year, said a non-government organisation in a report that could reignite a debate on the alleged rise in persecution of minorities. According to the 2011 census, Christians constitute about 2.3 % 12

of India's population. Manipur has 34%, Goa 26.7%, Punjab 1.26% and Uttarakhand less than 1%.The Mumbai-based Catholic Secular Forum in its report, titled Indian Christian Persecution, said Uttar Pradesh registered an almost three-fold increase in cases of violence against people from the religious minority.Less than 1% of India's most populous and politically crucial state follows Christianity. In Punjab, another state that will vote on February 4 for a new government, violence against Christians increased from just one case in 2014 to 11 in 2016. The report said similar spikes were witnessed in Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, a former Portuguese colony with a sizeable Christian population.The crimes include murder and rape, and attacks on churches. But the incidents are not restricted to the poll-bound states.

Christian leaders resolve to share resources, foster unity in India Catholic and Protes tant leaders from India and abroad have resolved to share resources and cooperate in evangelization work in a bid to foster ecumenism and counter anti-Christian harassment in the country. Some 3,600 leaders from India and another 260 from abroad on Sunday, 23rd January concluded a 4-day meeting in Damoh, a town in central India's Madhya Pradesh state, ahead of the worldwide Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25. The annual gathering, 19th in a series, was jointly organized by a collection of groups called the International Conference on Missions and Global Gathering.

Myanmar's Military Accused of Abducting Baptist Pastors Myanmar's religious climate isn't getting any warmer. As violence mounts in the Buddhist-

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majority nation, formerly known as Burma, the country's military is increasingly under fire for human rights abuses, most recently the forced disappearance of two Baptist church leaders. In November, two men connected to the Kachin Baptist Convention, youth pastor Langjaw Gam Seng and associate pastor DumdawNawngLat, reportedly agreed to take journalists to see and photograph the rubble of a Catholic church. The building was hit by airstrikes in a clash between Myanmar's military and the Brotherhood of the Northern Alliance, an ethnic insurgent group. A few weeks later, the Burmese army summoned the men to a military base in northern Shan state, a rural region pocked with guerrilla fighting.The two pastors disappeared after the meeting, and according to Amnesty International, they â&#x20AC;&#x153;may have been detained by Myanmar authorities for their role in organizing a visit by journalists [to the church].â&#x20AC;? The pastors were last seen on Christmas Eve, and the timing is not lost on local church leaders, who call the incident an example of unabashed religious oppression.

Obser vatoire de la Christi anoph obie which tracks attacks against Christians in France. According to this report, Christian persecution is up in the country by 38 percent. In 2015, there were 273 attacks against Christians, but in 2016, that number rose to 376.Islamic violence is reportedly increasing in France and is contributing to the persecution of Christians. In addition to its Christian population, France's Jewish community has also been suffering increased violence. Many Jews are choosing to leave the country. In 2015 alone, nearly 8,000 Jews left France.

Pakistan's Strict Blasphemy Laws to be Debated by Senate Committee

Six Christian wo m e n we r e arrested by government authorities in China for holding a Bible study. China Aid reports that the women were taken into custody on Jan. 10 after authorities broke into the church where they were holding a Bible study around 10:30 a.m. The women were charged with holding an illegal religious meeting.Each woman has been sentenced to 10 to 15 days in prison for organizing and participating in unauthorized religious activities.

A Senate committee in Pakistan will look into the country's strict blasphemy laws after a 24-yearold report recommended an investigation into their validity. Pakistan's blasphemy laws are often used by extremist Muslims to persecute the Christian minority. Perhaps the most notable example of this persecution is of Christian woman and mother Asia Bibi, who was imprisoned and given the death penalty on trumped-up charges that she blasphemed against Islam. Christian Today reports that 95 percent of Pakistan's population is Muslim, which makes it difficult for Christians and other minorities to find support when accused of blasphemy.

Christian Persecution Up 38 Percent in France

Christian Persecution Increasing in Russia

Christian persecution has reportedly increased significantly in France over the past year. Breitbart cites a report by the French

Russia has dominated much of the news lately, but according to RelevantMagazine.com, there are even more pressing reasons to be concerned

6 Christian Women Face Charges for Holding Bible Study in China

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about Russia than what most news sources are reporting. Persecution of Christians is increasing in Russia at an alarming rate. Last summer, Russia passed controversial laws that prohibited Christians from evangelizing freely and restricted religious discussions. Shortly following these laws, which are part of the Yarovaya package, Christians began to be prosecuted for engaging in their normal religious activities. Some Christians were even labelled as “cultists” or “foreign agents.”

The Top 10 Countries Where Christian Persecution is Most Severe Here are the top 10 countries around the world where Christians face the worst persecution. This list is drawn from Open Doors World Watch List for 2017. 1. North Korea 2. Somalia 3. Afghanistan 4. Pakistan 5. Sudan 6. Syria 7. Iraq 8. Iran 9. Yemen 10. Eritrea Please use this list as a reminder that Christians around the world, but particularly in these countries, are in desperate need of prayer.

WORLD NEWS Donald Trump Sworn in as 45th President President Donald T r u m p used his inaugural address to m a k e sweeping promises about America's future, pledging to unify the country with a rising swell 14

of patriotism. “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it's going to be only, 'America First,'” Trump said in a speech that clocked in at just 16 minutes. Trump took the oath of office with his hand placed on two Bibles, one belonging to his family and one used during President Abraham Lincoln's inauguration.

Washington State: School District Reverses Decision, Allows Evangelism A Washington state school district has reversed its decision to ban evangelism clubs from its schools. According to OneNewsNow.com, Cascade School District initially banned the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) and the Good News Clubs from interacting with students due to a complaint from a parent. The school district feared a costly lawsuit; however, they decided to reverse the decision after Liberty Counsel stepped in and explained to school officials that it is perfectly legal for the Christian groups to distribute flyers on school grounds. The Cascade school district has reportedly been pressured into enacting policies against Christian groups in the past. The atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to the district, complai-ning about Gideon Bibles being distributed on school grounds in 2013. Liberty Counsel also stepped in in that situation to prove to the district that distributing the Bibles was legal.

Israel Prepares to Build Hundreds of New Settlements Despite Opposition Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will be

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going for-ward with plans to build hundreds more settle-ments in East Jerusalem. According to Christian Today, the area where the proposed settlements will be built is an area also claimed by the Palestinians. Although many Israelis were discouraged by the U.S.-Israeli relations under the Obama administration, and particularly the recent U.S. decision to refrain from voting on an important U.N. resolution regarding Israeli settlements, many are looking forward to greater U.S. support for Israel under the new administration of President Donald Trump.

GloBible App CEO Eden Chen Reacts to Landing on Forbes '30 Under 30' List Eden Chen is a "serial" entrepreneur who is the co-founder of the product d e ve l o p m e n t a g e n c y Fisherman Lab, the design agency Knife & Fox, CEO of the new gloBible Bible app, and a major player in two other ventures. The accomplished businessman is reacting to his recent naming to the Forbes 30 under 30 list."I'm profoundly grateful to be honored by Forbes in the 30 Under 30 list," said Chen in a statement shared with The Christian Post. "This is the culmination of much hard work, passion, and, yes, some hustle, and it would not have been possible without the help of my incredible team, my family and my faith." Chen, 29, said that the focus of his work has never been about making money, being an entrepreneur, or an innovator. "It has been about serving people through my business and talents. I thank Jesus for giving purpose to my life. He is at the center of everything I do.”

Top Saudi cleric calls for ban on music, movies fearing they lead to 'mixing of sexes’ The highest-ranking cleric in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said music concerts and movies shouldn't be allowed in the country as they

could lead to immorality and mixing between the sexes."We know that singing concerts and cinemas are a depravity," Agence France Presse quoted Grand Mufti Abdulaziz al-Sheikh as saying in a television interview, after he was asked whether the kingdom's General Authority for Entertainment should license concerts and study opening cinemas. Cinemas, he said, "might show movies that are libertine, lewd, immoral and atheist, because they rely on films imported to change our culture." And there is "no good" in concerts, he added, claiming that music entertainment and opening cinemas represent a "call for mixing between sexes.”

Holy Spirit Drawing Thousands of Muslims to Pray With Christian Missionaries in Syria An aid group supporting local minis tries overseas says the Holy Spirit is "stirri ng" in wartorn Syria and drawing "thousands" of Muslims to Christian missionaries who are working in the region.

Donald Trump: Will not allow killing of Christians in the Middle East. In a recent statement on twitter, US President Donald Trump said that he will not allow the killing of Christians in the Middle East to continue. He said that Christians in the MiddleEast have been executed in large numbers. Last week, he signed an executive order imposing a ban on citizens from seven predominantly Muslin countries – Yemen, Lebanon, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Somalia. His action has sparked off a protest in the US. Trump's tweet reads “Christians in the Middle-East have been executed in large numbers. We cannot allow this horror to continue!” Minority Christians have been victims of attacks in Syria and Iraq by the Islamic State since its insurgency started. But Christians in Egypt and Pakistan have also been reportedly targeted by extremists. 15

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Things Above Joni Eareckson Tada “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2 In this verse we are twice commanded. First, we are to set our hearts; then second, set our minds on things above. In other words, things above are to capture our imaginations, emotions, thoughts, feelings, ideas, and on and on. Most of us consider this command to be not as necessary as other mandates in Scripture. But it is! When you consider that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart and mind, it follows naturally that we should set our hearts on things above “where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” C.H. Spurgeon once said, “Some of you, right now, could not be happy if you were allowed to enter heaven. Shall I tell you why? It is because

heaven is a land of the spirit and you have neglected your spirit.” It is the spiritual person who can most readily set his heart and mind on heaven. So live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, abide by the Spirit, pray in the Spirit, and you can't help but glean a real and deep longing for heavenly glories above. What enriches your spirit? Filling your heart and mind with whatever istrue, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, or anything excellent or praiseworthy. What enriches your spirit? Accessing the means of grace through prayer, worship, the reading of God's Word, and fellowship. What enriches your spirit? Trusting and obeying your Lord. I want to be a truly spiritual person, Lord, so help me to keep in step with Your Spirit today. May my flesh diminish and my spirit increase as I set my heart and mind on things above.

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The Soul Winner Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Summarized for Leadership Training By Jeffrey

Pearson Lead Pastor, The Bridge

HOW CAN WE INDUCE OUR PEOPLE TO BECOME SOUL-WINNERS? “Let me warn you, it is the work of time. Young men cannot speak with the authority of one who has been as a father among his people, having been with them for twenty or thirty years.” “Perhaps you will try to get the principal deacon to imitate your earnestness. Perhaps next, you will resolve to try some of the young people. Very likely you will have almost everything to do in connection with the work; at all events, expect that it may be so, and then you will not be disappointed if it so turns out. Be wise if you to go into the ministry expecting not to find any very great assistance from the people in the work of soul-winning. Begin doing it alone. Yet all that is the work of time.” “Revivals, if they are genuine, do not always come the moment we whistle for them. We must pray again, and again, and again, and at last the cloud will appear. Wait a while, work on, plod on, plead on, and in due time the blessing will be given, and you shall find that you have the church after your own ideal, but it will not come to you all at once.” “I should recommend you not to go to work according to any set rule, for what would be right at one time might not be wise at another. Sometimes, the very best plan would be to call all the members of the church together, tell them what you would like to see and plead earnestly with them that each one should become for God a soul-winner. Say to them, ' I do not want to be your pastor simply that I may preach to you; but I long to see souls saved, and to see those who are saved seeking to win others for the Lord Jesus Christ.' ”

“Then, if that should not succeed, God may lead you, to begin with, one or two. Let us try and be ourselves, to have gatherings for prayer in our own houses, and seek to get our brethren and sisters to them. When a bush is nothing but a bush, it is soon consumed when it is set on fire; but when it is a bush that burns on and is not consumed, we may know that God is there. So is it with a church that is flaming with holy zeal. Your work, brethren, is to set your church on fire somehow. You may do it by speaking to the whole or by speaking to the few choice spirits, but you must do it somehow. Take time, brethren, and do not look for everything you desire to be secured all at once.” “If you want your people as well as yourself to be soul-winners, try and keep up the prayermeetings all you can.” “I would make that prayer-meeting a special feature of my ministry, do your best to make the meeting interesting to all who are there. So, if a man will pray long, he may pray long somewhere else, but not at the meeting over which I am presiding. If the people seem dull and heavy, get them to sing.” “Keep up the prayer-meeting, whatever else flags; it is the best service between the Sabbaths; be you sure to make it so. If you find that your people cannot come in the evening, then try and have a prayer-meeting when they can come. Try one o'clock , or two o'clock, or three o'clock, or any hour of the day or night, so as somehow or other to get the people out to pray; and if they cannot be induced to come to the meetings, go to their house and say, ‘I am going to have a prayer-meeting in your parlour.’ If they will not come to the prayer-meeting, we must go to them; suppose that fifty of us go trudging down the street, and hold a meeting in the open-air. (to be contd...) 21

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10 BEAUTIFUL LINES Someone has written these 10 beautiful lines, read and try to understand the deeper meaning of these lines. 1. Prayer is not a 'spare wheel' that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a 'steering wheel' that directs you in the right path throughout life. 2. Why is a car's windshield so large and the rear view mirror so small? Because our past is not as important as our future. So, look ahead and move on. 3. Friendship is like a book. It takes a few seconds to burn but it takes years to write. 4. All things in life are temporary, if they are going well, enjoy them, they will not last forever. If they are going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either. 5. Old friends are gold! New friends are diamonds! If you get a diamond, don't forget the gold. To hold a diamond, you always need a base of gold. 6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, God smiles from above and says “Relax sweetheart; it is just a bend, not the end!” 7. When God solves your problems, you have faith in His abilities; when God does not solve your problems, He has faith in your abilities. 8. A blind person asked God: “Can there be anything worse than losing my eyesight?” God replied: “Yes, Losing your vision.” 9. When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you. 10. Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace.

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BETHANY CHAPEL, TORONTO For students and other believers who are coming to Toronto (Canada) for higher studies, or on a PR (permanent residency) and are looking for a church to worship the Lord, Bethany Chapel is more than happy to welcome you all, Bethany Chapel is a purely Brethren based doctrinal Church. OUR ADDRESS IS 22 MCADAM AVENUE NORTH YORK, ONTARIO M6A1S5 CONTACT INFO IN CANADA. JOY THUDIAN - CELL PHONE: +1 647998914, Email - joybilcy@hotmail.com ABRAHAM VALSAN - CELL PHONE +1 4167078570, Email- jaimon abram@yahoo.com BABU JACOB - CELL PHONE +1 6475289694, Email - babu521962@gmail.com IN INDIA CONTACT TENNISON MATHEW +91 9497775561 THANK YOU AND LET GOD’S NAME BE GLORIFIED. (Advt)

A Beautiful Message A rich man looked through his window and saw a poor man picking something from his dustbin. He said, “Thank God, I am not poor.” The poor man looked around and saw a naked man misbehaving on the street. He said, “Thank God, I am not mad.” The mad man looked ahead and saw an ambulance carrying a patient. He said, “Thank God, I am not sick.” Then a sick person in the hospital saw a trolley taking a dead body to the mortuary. He said, “Thank God, I am not dead.” Only a dead person cannot thank God. Why don't you thank God today for all your blessings and for the gift of life and for another beautiful day? What is life? To understand life better, you have to go to three locations: Hospital, prison, and cemetery. At the Hospital, you will understand that nothing is more beautiful than HEALTH. In the Prison, you will see that FREEDOM is the most precious thing. At the Cemetery, you will realize that LIFE is worth nothing. The ground we walk on today will be our roof tomorrow. Truth: We all come with Nothing and we will go with Nothing. Let us, therefore, remain humble, and be thankful and grateful to God at all times for everything. 24

FEBRUARY 2017

PSALM 23 There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man show of reading and reciting from the classics. He would always end his performance with the dramatic reading of Psalm 23. Each night, without exception as the actor, began his recitation- “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…..” the crowd would listen attentively, and would rise in a thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor's incredible ability to bring the verses to life! But one night just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up, “Sir, do you mind if tonight, I recite Psalm 23?” The actor was quite taken back by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to recite the Psalm, knowing the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent. With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the Psalm. When he finished, there was no applause, no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping. The audience had been so moved by the young man's recitation that every eye was full of tears! Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, “I don't understand, though I have a lifetime experience and training, I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me your secret?” The young man humbly replied, “Well sir, you know the PSALM, but I know the SHEPHERD.” It is not enough, just to know the content of the Bible – its stories, its sayings, and its teachings. Unless you know the AUTHOR, the Bible is nothing more than just another book. The Bible truly becomes ALIVE and ACTIVE when you know the AUTHOR.

FEBRUARY 2017

February 2017

Reg. No - KERENG/2009/30950 Postal Reg. No - KL/TLA/228/2016-18 WPP Reg. No.- KL/TLA/WPP/161/2016-18

Published on 08/02/2017 Posted at RMS.TVLA Licenced to Post without Prepayment