Dear Readers!
Thank you for your prayers over the last 10 days! I will be home tomorrow after about 17 hours of flying.
Thursday
I dont have alot of time on the internet, as I have paid for it and have only 30 minutes (I only have 10 minutes left). I did a half of a day of evangelism, was able to go to 3 different houses and I saw both Rongmei and Meeteis coming to faith into Christ for eternal life!
After a thunderous ride on the horrible streets I finally made it to the conference I was giving at a large baptist church. There were about 100 pastors and evangelists in attendance. I taught them Free Grace Theology for about 4 hours (I did give them a break!) They were well encouraged! After the conference, 2 of my Free Grace brothers who are also knowledgable in the Bible and I stayed around for another 3 hours answering all the multitudes of questions coming from these hungry for the word of God ministers in India. What an awesome time!
Thank you all for your prayers! I was able to prepare for them about 27 pages of outline and notes for them to take home and study. Many of them were feverishly taking notes. I had all of these translated into their language by my host. Many also asked for the notes in English.
I ate incredible curry with the pastors after that. Later I went to a commissioning service for the disciplers who are going to do the follow up work.
The final numbers were in!
over well over 3000 people heard the saving message of Christ and over 1300 people came to faith in Jesus Christ for eternal life!
The next day I had the tearful good-byes :(
I want to tell more, but my time is soon expiring.
Please pray for our safe trip home.
I will update you all with other details when I get home.
I love you all!
Especially you, Gina, Jacob, Anna, and Joey!
I miss you very much!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Update for the Last Couple of Days
Hello all!
Thank you so very much for your prayers! I have so much to write to you!
I could not write on Sunday because the internet shop was closed.
Sunday:
I was able to preach at two churches, each one having around 150 members or more. It was awesome! I preached a message that I entitled : "God's Most Valuable Player". The first church that I preached at was right next to one of the largest stadium complexes in India. They love soccer and cricket over here. My main texts were 1 Cor 9:27ff and Hebrews 12:1-3. My main points were 1) Starting the Race 2) Running the Race 3) Finishing the Race 4) Winning the Prize.
Between the times that I preached at the churches, I was able to go to several households of Christians to encourage them.
House #1) Was the house of one of the members of the church I preached at. The lady's name is Christie. She has 4 children, and her youngest has heart valve problems. She said that he is too young to go into operation so we prayed diligently for him.
Next we toured the stadium complex.
House #2) This was a house in one of the 80 Rongmei villages here in Imphal. It was a Christian family that is the only Christians in this village. They are suffering much persecution. They have been basically excommunicated from buying and selling in their village. Their son was beaten almost to death. The police have had to come out, but they don't do a thing, really. They have only stopped a major attack on this house. The son that was beaten is now in the south of India going to a bible college in order to be an evangelist/pastor. The villagers have been severely harrassing this family. They have had to fix their roof several times and are praying for a stronger roof, because the villagers have been throwing bricks and other heavy objects into it. One nearly killed one of their children. It was such a blessed time. They had three children in the home, all who spoke good English. They gave their testimonies and I began to cry. They are standing stedfast in their commitment and confession of Christ. They put us all severely to shame.
House #3) A 70 year old woman who is dying of breast cancer. She has been a Christian evangelist for 30 years in India. Her husband is a pastor in a small village. They kept on wanting me to touch her breast in order to experience her condition. I finally relented when the woman herself wanted me to in order to be a testimony. It was hard as a rock. My translators and nationals wanted me to encourage her and pray for her. I straight up said, "I have been asked to come over here and encourage and pray for you, but I need you to do that to me!" She was like a spiritual giant! She was very happy that I asked her that request. She had me sit in front of her while she switched between holding her hands out over me and laying her hands on my head. She prayed for like 10 minutes over me, weeping and wailing as she called down blessings and petitions over me. I have never EVER had anyone pray like that over me! I broke down and wept as this spiritual woman lifted me up to the Father. I did have a chance to encourage her though. She said that before she died that she wanted to have a church building constructed in that village. I told her that she has already been used to construct a church, by her tireless efforts to evangelize the Indian people. I did pray for her and encourage her in the word, also.
Monday:
Monday was called "black Monday" because the 15th of October is the day that the state of Manipur was introduced into India, and all the Manipuri people hate that day. Everyone in the whole city striked. It was crazy. This place is a huge hustle and bustle that makes New York city seem like Hickville USA (sorry to those of you who live there...). But on Monday, it was crazy! No one was driving or in the shops, they were all closed! Since we couldn't get a bus we went to the surrounding villages around our hotel. I even was able to preach at a Brahmin household and the 25 year old and 28 year old sons believed into Jesus for eternal life! It was an awesome day of door to door evangelism, although it rained for a portion of the day. I saw many people come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ from Hinduism. The internet cafe was closed.
Tuesday:
Yesterday saw us go to a Rhongmei village. I was able to go to the chief of the village's house and give my evangelistic presentation. He believed into Jesus Christ! Wow! This was a small village of Rhongmei, only about 29 houses, but with the chief being a Christian, the outlook for that village is good. Please pray for him that he will openly confess his faith to the village and stand firm in his conversion. There are many pressures and conflicts for conversion in India.
In the evening, I was able to go to a Rongmei church to each curry! It was awesome curry! After that they put on a small show for us, with singing from a teenager gospel group. I got back to the hotel too late to go to the internet cafe. They actually have roll down steel doors in at the entrances to the hotel that they roll down at 9pm. I guess they don't want armed robbers coming in at night to cause trouble with the guests.
The prize of today was seeing an 84 year old man and his sons and his son's friend coming to faith in Jesus! Someone else in my group saw a 112 year old man come to faith!
Wednesday
Today was a great day! (Although it is just starting for you!) I saw many people come to a saving knowledge of Christ. God has given me a few different techniques of sharing, based upon the audience. I have spoken to teenagers, children, women, working men, and older folks. I have tailored my message to them. The evangecube is also a great tool that I have not failed to use in my evangelism. Today was very fruitful. Already many thousands of people have heard the life giving message of Jesus Christ! And hundreds have come to faith!
Tomorrow
Please pray for me as I go out for a half day of evangelism. After that I will be having that conference withover 100 pastors/evangelists. I need your prayers as I teach them Free Grace Theology.
I will try to update tomorrow to tell of the conference.
Please continue to pray. My stomach is feeling much better, as evidenced by the fact I had two large plates of curry last night.
Thanks so much. Please stand stedfast with me in prayer.
Antonio
Thank you so very much for your prayers! I have so much to write to you!
I could not write on Sunday because the internet shop was closed.
Sunday:
I was able to preach at two churches, each one having around 150 members or more. It was awesome! I preached a message that I entitled : "God's Most Valuable Player". The first church that I preached at was right next to one of the largest stadium complexes in India. They love soccer and cricket over here. My main texts were 1 Cor 9:27ff and Hebrews 12:1-3. My main points were 1) Starting the Race 2) Running the Race 3) Finishing the Race 4) Winning the Prize.
Between the times that I preached at the churches, I was able to go to several households of Christians to encourage them.
House #1) Was the house of one of the members of the church I preached at. The lady's name is Christie. She has 4 children, and her youngest has heart valve problems. She said that he is too young to go into operation so we prayed diligently for him.
Next we toured the stadium complex.
House #2) This was a house in one of the 80 Rongmei villages here in Imphal. It was a Christian family that is the only Christians in this village. They are suffering much persecution. They have been basically excommunicated from buying and selling in their village. Their son was beaten almost to death. The police have had to come out, but they don't do a thing, really. They have only stopped a major attack on this house. The son that was beaten is now in the south of India going to a bible college in order to be an evangelist/pastor. The villagers have been severely harrassing this family. They have had to fix their roof several times and are praying for a stronger roof, because the villagers have been throwing bricks and other heavy objects into it. One nearly killed one of their children. It was such a blessed time. They had three children in the home, all who spoke good English. They gave their testimonies and I began to cry. They are standing stedfast in their commitment and confession of Christ. They put us all severely to shame.
House #3) A 70 year old woman who is dying of breast cancer. She has been a Christian evangelist for 30 years in India. Her husband is a pastor in a small village. They kept on wanting me to touch her breast in order to experience her condition. I finally relented when the woman herself wanted me to in order to be a testimony. It was hard as a rock. My translators and nationals wanted me to encourage her and pray for her. I straight up said, "I have been asked to come over here and encourage and pray for you, but I need you to do that to me!" She was like a spiritual giant! She was very happy that I asked her that request. She had me sit in front of her while she switched between holding her hands out over me and laying her hands on my head. She prayed for like 10 minutes over me, weeping and wailing as she called down blessings and petitions over me. I have never EVER had anyone pray like that over me! I broke down and wept as this spiritual woman lifted me up to the Father. I did have a chance to encourage her though. She said that before she died that she wanted to have a church building constructed in that village. I told her that she has already been used to construct a church, by her tireless efforts to evangelize the Indian people. I did pray for her and encourage her in the word, also.
Monday:
Monday was called "black Monday" because the 15th of October is the day that the state of Manipur was introduced into India, and all the Manipuri people hate that day. Everyone in the whole city striked. It was crazy. This place is a huge hustle and bustle that makes New York city seem like Hickville USA (sorry to those of you who live there...). But on Monday, it was crazy! No one was driving or in the shops, they were all closed! Since we couldn't get a bus we went to the surrounding villages around our hotel. I even was able to preach at a Brahmin household and the 25 year old and 28 year old sons believed into Jesus for eternal life! It was an awesome day of door to door evangelism, although it rained for a portion of the day. I saw many people come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ from Hinduism. The internet cafe was closed.
Tuesday:
Yesterday saw us go to a Rhongmei village. I was able to go to the chief of the village's house and give my evangelistic presentation. He believed into Jesus Christ! Wow! This was a small village of Rhongmei, only about 29 houses, but with the chief being a Christian, the outlook for that village is good. Please pray for him that he will openly confess his faith to the village and stand firm in his conversion. There are many pressures and conflicts for conversion in India.
In the evening, I was able to go to a Rongmei church to each curry! It was awesome curry! After that they put on a small show for us, with singing from a teenager gospel group. I got back to the hotel too late to go to the internet cafe. They actually have roll down steel doors in at the entrances to the hotel that they roll down at 9pm. I guess they don't want armed robbers coming in at night to cause trouble with the guests.
The prize of today was seeing an 84 year old man and his sons and his son's friend coming to faith in Jesus! Someone else in my group saw a 112 year old man come to faith!
Wednesday
Today was a great day! (Although it is just starting for you!) I saw many people come to a saving knowledge of Christ. God has given me a few different techniques of sharing, based upon the audience. I have spoken to teenagers, children, women, working men, and older folks. I have tailored my message to them. The evangecube is also a great tool that I have not failed to use in my evangelism. Today was very fruitful. Already many thousands of people have heard the life giving message of Jesus Christ! And hundreds have come to faith!
Tomorrow
Please pray for me as I go out for a half day of evangelism. After that I will be having that conference withover 100 pastors/evangelists. I need your prayers as I teach them Free Grace Theology.
I will try to update tomorrow to tell of the conference.
Please continue to pray. My stomach is feeling much better, as evidenced by the fact I had two large plates of curry last night.
Thanks so much. Please stand stedfast with me in prayer.
Antonio
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Imphal, India
UPDATE:
I am here in India, finally. It took many, many grueling hours of flight. I want to ask for a prayer request, but I do not want it to detract from your praying for many conversions. I have had some stomach problems, so please pray that I make it through the week.
But, that should not be the main prayer! Please pray that many people come to believe in Jesus Christ for the free gift of eternal life. That is why we are here.
Tomorrow I have the opportunity to preach at two churches. Please pray that I can encourage the churches to get motivated for service to Christ.
I thank you all for your prayers. We will be doing evangelism all week and I will be having that conference with the pastors and evangelists on thurday evening.
You all are so awesome!
Your forever brother,
Antonio
I am here in India, finally. It took many, many grueling hours of flight. I want to ask for a prayer request, but I do not want it to detract from your praying for many conversions. I have had some stomach problems, so please pray that I make it through the week.
But, that should not be the main prayer! Please pray that many people come to believe in Jesus Christ for the free gift of eternal life. That is why we are here.
Tomorrow I have the opportunity to preach at two churches. Please pray that I can encourage the churches to get motivated for service to Christ.
I thank you all for your prayers. We will be doing evangelism all week and I will be having that conference with the pastors and evangelists on thurday evening.
You all are so awesome!
Your forever brother,
Antonio
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Singapore
Hello All!
I am now in Singapore at a gaming internet shop where there are a million teenagers playing online games.
I spent Tuesday night (the 9th) packing and finishing up my notes for the conference that I am giving in India. I was up until 2:40 am. I had to get up at 6:30 to see my kids off and prepare to leave.
A friend of mine was able to take me and a few other of my team members to LAX, a 2.5 hour drive.
Next we checked in and had lunch and waited.
The first leg of the flight was 11 hours to tokyo, with a 1 hour layover. The next leg was 8 hours to Singapore, where I now am. Last night in the hotel, I had to break up a fist fight between 2 girls who had been out clubbing all night and smelled of booze. One had the other on the ground and was wailing on her. I broke it up.
This morning I woke up to a beautful day, and we took a huge boat ride through their bays and saw the Singaporean MerLion. (hehe)
It started rainging pretty bad later though. And here I am sending in another post.
Please be in prayer for me as I prepare to give a series of lessons to 100 Indian pastors on these topics:
assurance of salvation
eternal security
temporal and eternal accountability
discipleship distinguished from invitation to eternal life.
inheriting the kingdom distinguished from entering
and the doctrine of rewards
along with other topics like:
simple principles of bible interpretation
and inspiration and innerrancy of the Sciptures
Please be in prayer for these pastors!
Also, my team will be doing saturation evangelism in villages that have not heard the name of Jesus. Please pray that our God draws these people to Himself. Pray for boldness, safety, and opportunity!
I will update this probably tomorrow. I lost a whole day crossing the international dateline.
I love you all and appreciate your prayers and partnership.
Your grace brother,
Antonio
I am now in Singapore at a gaming internet shop where there are a million teenagers playing online games.
I spent Tuesday night (the 9th) packing and finishing up my notes for the conference that I am giving in India. I was up until 2:40 am. I had to get up at 6:30 to see my kids off and prepare to leave.
A friend of mine was able to take me and a few other of my team members to LAX, a 2.5 hour drive.
Next we checked in and had lunch and waited.
The first leg of the flight was 11 hours to tokyo, with a 1 hour layover. The next leg was 8 hours to Singapore, where I now am. Last night in the hotel, I had to break up a fist fight between 2 girls who had been out clubbing all night and smelled of booze. One had the other on the ground and was wailing on her. I broke it up.
This morning I woke up to a beautful day, and we took a huge boat ride through their bays and saw the Singaporean MerLion. (hehe)
It started rainging pretty bad later though. And here I am sending in another post.
Please be in prayer for me as I prepare to give a series of lessons to 100 Indian pastors on these topics:
assurance of salvation
eternal security
temporal and eternal accountability
discipleship distinguished from invitation to eternal life.
inheriting the kingdom distinguished from entering
and the doctrine of rewards
along with other topics like:
simple principles of bible interpretation
and inspiration and innerrancy of the Sciptures
Please be in prayer for these pastors!
Also, my team will be doing saturation evangelism in villages that have not heard the name of Jesus. Please pray that our God draws these people to Himself. Pray for boldness, safety, and opportunity!
I will update this probably tomorrow. I lost a whole day crossing the international dateline.
I love you all and appreciate your prayers and partnership.
Your grace brother,
Antonio
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Welcome to the India Mission Journal 2007!
Dear friends,
I appreciate your visit to this blog that is dedicated to chronicling the Lord's activity through those whom He has dedicated for evangelism and church planting in Manipur, India, October 2007!
The Lord willing, over 20 sanctified campaigners will embark on an eleven day short-term outreach to Manipur, India, to do saturation evangelism with a view to planting at least four new churches. We will be targeting a tribal group called the Rhongmei, who are Hindu idol worshippers, who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I beseech you, brethren, to make supplications and requests for this strategic missions endeavor to God our Father. Please pray that the Holy Spirit prepare the hearts of those whom He is directing our ministry to, through dreams, visions, and other circumstances. Ask the Father that our team be protected from physical and spiritual warfare. Pray the Lord of the harvest to use this team to gather much fruit to eternal life.
The trip will be October 10-21. Please check back periodically up until that time for additional prayer requests and information. During the trip I will be live blogging from India to update you on the glory that God will be displaying to the nations and we declare freedom to the captives and good news and consolation to the broken hearted. Pray that there be a great harvest in the Rhongmei tribe, even so that they will have to change the name of their tribe to the RightWay!
During this time I am in the process of seeking ministry partners that will participate in this evangelistic campaign by praying and financial partnership. Please pray the Lord to sufficiently stir people's hearts in order that I can raise all the funds necessary to go.
Please let me know of your visit by posting a comment by clicking the comments link below!
Your excited brother in the Lord,
Antonio da Rosa
August 9, 2007
I appreciate your visit to this blog that is dedicated to chronicling the Lord's activity through those whom He has dedicated for evangelism and church planting in Manipur, India, October 2007!
The Lord willing, over 20 sanctified campaigners will embark on an eleven day short-term outreach to Manipur, India, to do saturation evangelism with a view to planting at least four new churches. We will be targeting a tribal group called the Rhongmei, who are Hindu idol worshippers, who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I beseech you, brethren, to make supplications and requests for this strategic missions endeavor to God our Father. Please pray that the Holy Spirit prepare the hearts of those whom He is directing our ministry to, through dreams, visions, and other circumstances. Ask the Father that our team be protected from physical and spiritual warfare. Pray the Lord of the harvest to use this team to gather much fruit to eternal life.
The trip will be October 10-21. Please check back periodically up until that time for additional prayer requests and information. During the trip I will be live blogging from India to update you on the glory that God will be displaying to the nations and we declare freedom to the captives and good news and consolation to the broken hearted. Pray that there be a great harvest in the Rhongmei tribe, even so that they will have to change the name of their tribe to the RightWay!
During this time I am in the process of seeking ministry partners that will participate in this evangelistic campaign by praying and financial partnership. Please pray the Lord to sufficiently stir people's hearts in order that I can raise all the funds necessary to go.
Please let me know of your visit by posting a comment by clicking the comments link below!
Your excited brother in the Lord,
Antonio da Rosa
August 9, 2007
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