The Call_GEMS Eng Mag_March 2020

THE CALL March 2020

‌God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;God will help it when the morning dawns.

Psalm 46:5

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Area Convention Meetings, Rohtas

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THE CALL Transforming Peoples to Transform Nations

Contents

From Bihar With Love Bro. D. Augustine Jebakumar

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Training Existing & Emerging Leaders –

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Retired Missionary Brother Ashok Das – Entered God’s Glory

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Area Convention in Jharkhand

GEMS Medical Team During COVID19

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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 Dear Prayer Partners in Christ Jesus,

Greetings to you in the sweet name of the Lord Jesus Christ who yearns for our love asking: “Do you love me?”

(John 21: 17). “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matt 24: 12) – these words from our Saviour ring very true these days.

It truly causes distress to see this happen in our families, churches and in the society as a whole. In this letter I want to narrate the history of a powerful church as to how it began with love and fell away from that first love within a span of about 30 years that we may learn our lessons for today.

A Powerful beginning Doctor Luke has explained in detail the way the Ephesus church was established (Acts 19 – 20). The church that started with just twelve people (Acts 19: 7) faced many crises right from the beginning (v 9). A church started by even such a powerful Apostle had to go through such misery.

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Yet, Paul, for two years continued to preach the Word to people that were unaware of the Way. When he later spoke about his time there to the elders, he said: “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents” (Acts 20: 19).

“Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you” (Acts 20: 26). He couldn’t stay still knowing that he was responsible for their blood.

There was no dearth of miracles in that church (Acts 19: 11). Anyone that misused God’s power went away ashamed (Acts 19: 13 – 17). It affected many popular seers. A number who had practised sorcery brought their books together and burned them publicly (Acts 19: 19). This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia Minor heard the word of the Lord (Acts 19: 10).

When this church became a threat to those that made good business out of their religion (Acts 19: 24, 25), it lead to disgust, then frenzy leading into a riot. It’s similar to what’s happening now, just that the scale was bigger then. Most of the people did not even know why they were there (Acts 19: 32).

The church of Ephesus did maintain its testimony. The Lord said to the Ephesian church: “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary” (Rev 2: 2, 3).

Forsaking the first love However to the same church we hear a sigh from the Lord stating: “You have forsaken the love you had at first” (Rev 2: 4). It becomes crystal clear that all that the Lord expects from us is our love. It is shocking to know as a consequence the lampstand would be removed from us (Rev 2: 5). Though The Call

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it is comforting to know that the church also hates what the Lord hates (Rev 2: 6), the lack of love is frightening.

What happened to the church that ran without weariness for so many years? Just like how Paul had cautioned: “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock” (Acts 20: 29). Did the church not realise the ones that came from within and outside? “Even from your own number, men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them”(Acts 20: 30; 2 Peter 2: 1 – 3). As the fabricated stories crept in unnoticed, deception grew little by little eventually destroying the first love.

Since the church was “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (Eph 4: 14), instead of walking with truth and love (Eph 4: 15), instead of being rooted in His love (Eph 3: 17), instead of grasping how wide and long and high and deep is His love (Eph 3: 18), instead of making the effort to keep the unity of the Spirit (Eph 4: 2, 3), and instead of living with Christ Jesus’ undying love (Eph 6: 24), the church had slipped!

The Apostle John wrote all this in his letters to remind the church, yet over the years has the church neglected these teachings? The church does not realise that when love decreases, so does the Lord’s favour on us. It is reckless not to understand the enemy’s evil ways and therefore not wear the Armour of God (Eph 6: 10 – 17).

Was the church discouraged looking at Paul’s sufferings (Eph 3: 13)? It is in human nature to look at God’s servant’s sufferings and cower with fear and self-pity. Yet, this is why we have been given the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Otherwise, was the church lying among the dead, sleeping that there is now a dearth of Love? (Eph 5: 14). Has the enemy drowned the church in thinking and speaking and The Call

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debating its dead deeds alone? Has it forgotten the “Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 6: 23)? It is of no use to have love without faith and faith without love!

Even in the Old Testament, the Lord talks through Jeremiah on how he yearns for Israel’s love: “This is what the Lord says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the first fruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’ declares the Lord. Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel. This is what the Lord says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable. The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols” (Jer 2: 2 – 8).

We can see here that prosperity has the power to change a person’s direction and God’s blessings themselves can make one forget God. Likewise, God himself explains what happens when spiritual leaders do not know God, and do not lead the people in the right direction.

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure The Call

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for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Tim 6: 17 – 19).

If we while away our time chasing an illusion, godly love in us will run dry.

Returning back to the first love The verse that correctly identifies God as “God is Love” (1 John 4: 8) also teaches us that “Whoever does not love does not know God.” While we shout out saying, God is love, don’t we also need to preach that God expects our love in return?

“Jeshurun (Israel) grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Saviour” (Deut 32: 15). May we always be careful that this is never said of us.

As comforts increased, the woman delayed in opening the door for her beloved when he knocked and waited, this resulted in him leaving and her getting beaten by people on the street. This experience eventually led her to completely giving herself to her beloved (Song 5 1 - 7).

With love having decreased, Comfort having increased, Dying flame extinguished, Oh my heart cries out to you…

May these verses be heard in our churches again.

Lack of love will decrease vision, will make waiting on the Lord a tedious chore, will be the death knell to a prayerful life, will make it meaningless to be a lover of the Word.

Maybe because the truth was distorted or maybe because of The Call

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the disrespect shown towards God, you will not notice these changes anymore.

The thing that changed David from being the food carrier at the battle field, to the killer of a giant was his unwavering zeal for the Lord (1 Sam 17: 26, 45). It can be clearly seen that he knew that “His God was different, His ways were different” When our love for God wanes, may the painful image of the cross wake us up. May the phrase “I am thirsty” by the One who was broken for us be powerful enough to wake us up. May it be proof that the undeserving was loved. May it lead us to the love that we first had. May we be gripped by His dedication and His yearning for us. This deed is needed within all our hearts these days. May the Holy Spirit guide us.

In His Vineyard, D. Augustine Jebakumar

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Church Dedication Service Mamthamar – Nepal

Workers Fasting Prayer

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Baptism Service

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Area Convention – Gaya

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Lead Next Program Equips Existing and Emerging Leaders

The final session of the Lead Next training program was conducted and convocation was held for all the candidates who successfully completed the training.

The Lead Next training program was conducted for two years by GEMS in partnership with GIFT. Bro. Emerson (Associate Director, GEMS) took the initiative and the program was coordinated and conducted by Dr. Vijay Kant (Fonder & Director, GIFT).

The objective of the training was not only to train the existing and the emerging leaders of GEMS but also to envision, equip and enable them to train others as Paul urges Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2. The program was designed for two year— three sessions in each year and totally six The Call

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sessions. It was conducted in Hindi and English languages separately.

The final session for both Hindi and English were conducted in February 2020 in Dehri on Sone. At the end of the final session convocation ceremony was conducted.

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The General Secretary of GEMS Bro. D. Augustine Jebakumar gave out the certificates to the participants and delivered the convocation address.

Pray for all the participants to effectively apply the lessons learnt in this training program to their lives and ministries.

Pray for them to train and equip others so that the next

generation leaders may be raised.

Pray for all the faculties and for the upcoming exposure program.

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Believers of Jharkhand Commit to Be Witnesses of Christ

Area Convention of Vananchal Zone was conducted in Torpa in which 113 believers participated.

The Area Convention of Vananchal Zone was conducted in GEMS House of Prayer, Torpa from 6-8 March 2020 in the theme ‘Thy Kingdom Come’.

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Bro. NeeralBengra (Asst. Zonal Leader, PEACE 3 Zone) preached the word of God. The believers were Tribals who speak the Mundari language and Bro. Neeral preached

in Mundari, which was effective.

Separate sessions were conducted for children.

Bro. V. Paul (Zonal Leader, Vananchal Zone) and Bro. SanjitPani (Asst. Zonal Leader, Vananchal Zone) also shared the word of God. The believers were greatly encouraged and inspired to witness the gospel.

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Pray for all the believers who participated in the Area Convention in Torpa.

Pray for the believers to apply the learned truths in their lives and to reflect God’s kingdom through their words and deeds.

Pray for the believers to be effective witnesses of the gospel in their families and areas. continue to train and develop the students as effective & caring nurses.

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Retired GEMS Missionary Brother Ashok Das Entered God’s Glory

Bro. Ashok Das who served as a missionary in Sonebhadra Zone in U.P. passed away on 30th March 2020 due to prolonged illness.

Bro. Ashok Das (74) joined GEMS as a missionary in 1996 and served at Chopan. After retirement in 2003, he continued to serve in GEMS in Churk until April 2019. He was a hardworking

man of God and continued to minister amidst much family crisis.

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Funeral service was led

by Bro. Praveen Das (Zonal Superintendent, Sonebhadra) and Bro. Peter Jayaraj (Regional D i r e c t o r , Southern Region) along with few people.

GEMS school bus at Dehri.

He is survived by his wife Sis. Martha and son Isaac Das (20). His wife has been in a state of mental illness ever since the delivery of her son. Isaac works as conductor in

Pray for the family of Bro. Ashok Das that they may receive God’s comfort.

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GEMS Medical Team in the Forefront Helping People During COVID19

GEMS Hospital Medical Team is involved in

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screening, counselling & referring COVID 19 symptomatic patients in Dehri, Bihar.

The team is also doing check-up for the migrant workers who have returned to Bihar from other States.

Click to watch the news coverage https://youtu.be/V_SQQCzq6S0

Pray for the GEMS medical team and the health workers.

Pray for the symptomatic & suspected patients.

Pray for the people of Bihar and other Indian States that are medically disadvantageous.  

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