The Team In Action... In Another Way!

On Sunday, the team split up to visit TBL church planters in their villages and areas of influence. Our two groups went in opposite directions and had fantastic experiences engaging the Indian worship experience. In addition, each team member had the opportunity to either “preach”, share their testimony, or pray for the church and ministry of the church planter, and each member of the team was profoundly impacted by the experience. Most TBL church planters organize house churches that range in size between 12 and 200, and many (if not most) meet in people’s homes, small rooms with dirt or concrete floors, or are small one-room church buildings with simple furnishings. One of the church planters leaned over to me at dinner the other day and with a measure of excitement in his voice said, “So, tell me… is your church air conditioned?” I smiled and affirmed that it was. He thought for a moment, and then leaned in again, “Yes, but the whole church?” “Yes, I replied… the entire church is air conditioned.” “Ah…” he smiled, “someday… yes… my vision is to have a church that is air conditioned as well… I think that will help people to want to come!” I smiled to myself and felt a tinge of conscience as well. If only my Indian friend had any clue about what we enjoy at GCC, he would probably have a seizure. We are truly blessed… and often, our Asian and African brothers and sisters far exceed us in how much they are able to accomplish with so little to use as tools.

Featured here are Elaine delivering a sermon at an Indian church, Skip and Les delivering their testimonies, and Shannon, Velma and Shelly praying for the church planters, as well as Shelly holding a small India baby who came to her quite willingly.

Fun Note: The day that Skip delivered her testimony was her 10th “anniversary” of deciding to follow Christ! How cool that she was back in India (her country of origin) on the day that she commemorated one decade of her journey with our Lord!