Quite a day I must say ... a LOT to take in. Pretty exhausted tonight.
Summarizing the day's events...
After another top-notch breakfast in the International Dining Room... yes!
In the morning we met with Bobby and Malini for an extended session learning more about HBI history, vision, purpose, mission and general ministry philosophy. Bobby is definitely a visionary leader. His goal? To cultivate a church planting movement that will plant a million churches to reach a billion Indian people for Jesus! So far over 4,000 churches have been planted in villages around the country (hope I got this figure right). Walking through the ministry facilities and meeting the different department heads and other staff members, we could see that HBI is structured to actually accomplish this very lofty Great Commission goal. "Nothing is too hard for God."
Partnership is a huge value for Bobby and this ministry. They understand that the vision given to them by God will not be accomplished by one single ministry. They have developed numerous partnerships with other like-minded ministries, and also recognize that other churches in India are working towards the same goal. We in the West could learn quite a bit from this partnership mindset.
Later in the afternoon we visited a historic Catholic mission facility that now houses elderly folks who have no family around. We talked and prayed with several aged and infirmed men and women, one of whom was an elderly lady recently turned 100! Another lady told us how she walked to Calcutta from Burma back in '42 when the Japanese were threatening her native land. I hope God lifted some spirits through us, but I must say it was mostly heartbreaking to see the abandonment these folks are experiencing.
Upon returning to HBI we briefly visited their on-site gift shop, then hooked up with Bob Swaggerty and some friends at his favorite American-food hang-out, a diner called Sparky's. The thrill of the day was riding in a couple of three-wheeled audos (sp?) through heart-stopping India traffic to get there. Never have I ever experienced anything like that before! We somehow made it intact and only lost two team members in the process (you'll have to ask Joe and Steve T about that). Good food and shop talk with Bob and a pastor friend about reaching the next generation of 400 million Indian young adults who are between 20 and 30 years of age--surely a cultural force to be reckoned with in the next few decades.
All in all, a good day with a lot to absorb. Tomorrow we visit some area landmarks before attending small groups in the evening and then launching into a full ministry weekend.
Thanks for tracking with us!
SB
Pastor Steve, The folks that I have met and prayed with at the senior home there have never ceased to move my heart and change my life. I understand the heartbreak you feel there but know too that God will use that to His advantage in your prayer life and in ways that he won't make known until well after you return to the States. I wish more everyday that I was there to experience it all with you.
ReplyDeleteI want to say the vehicle is an "auto-rickshaw" - like an automated rickshaw?? But anyway, brave choice - lol - probably better than a scooter. I loved hearing all that you are seeing and experiencing- and I DO understand that breakfast being a highlight of your day - ha ha! Has the rain stopped/slowed- I hope it is not a problem for you. I have to say, I am sooooo jealous. I am coming next time :) Tell everyone howdy from NLG - all is well here. You missed the sump-pump drainage- I am sure you are not dad about that!
ReplyDelete