Harvest Bridge 2023 Impact Report

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Praying for Breakthrough

By Pastor Ram*, Regional Director

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

Like me, every pastor is involved in tracts ministry, hospital ministry, school ministry, village ministry, personal evangelism, youth meetings, and children’s ministry. Pastor Yash* shares an example of what this looks like through the year:

“In the tracts ministry and personal evangelism, we have distributed 400 tracts of different languages to Tamil, Telegu, Ranchi, Bengali, and local (Hindi) speaking people. In the month of April, we conducted a special fasting prayer at [a remote island] and it was a blessed one. 10 new people along with the existing 10, came for prayer and received healing. This area is undeveloped, with no electricity, no water connection, and is two hours away by small boat journey. There are a total of around 200 people living on that Island. In the month of May, we have conducted a children’s program of 5 days VBS in the church. 30 children attended. Bible stories, along with skits, song with dance, games, competitions, etc., were in the program. In a youth meeting, we taught the youths to pray. They were so blessed and testified that ‘we learned how to pray and meditate on the Word.’ 17 youths gathered in that meeting and it was very motivational. We also provided counselling to married couples in the month of August.”

HIGHS AND LOWS

The most difficult part of the year was that during June to November, it was as usual rainy, but this year was a little high. Especially during the month of September, it was very heavy rain. Because of incessant rain, movement was curtailed and we could not do any outdoor meetings and it was the difficult time. Pastor Venu* and Jaipal* we helped with special funds because their houses flooded. In our area four churches, including mine, and hundreds of houses were flooded.

As per the words of almost all the pastors, inflation was a very big issue; it affects the personal life and ministry very much. The cost of essential items has gone so high. Most of the missionaries used the monthly support for their family food needs. Ministry tools received in 2022 were also used in 2023 - chairs, raincoat, emergency light, travelling bag, umbrella and Bibles and also the tracts provided were so much useful in ministry.

“In a youth meeting, we taught the youths to pray. They were so blessed and testified that ‘we learned how to pray and meditate on the Word.’”

I would like to say to supporters that we are praying for their good heart to support ministry, we are praying for more grace and peace in their life. We don’t know who is supporting, but God knows and He will surely bless each and every one who supports us.

According to most of the pastors’ view, our missionary fellowship and support was so much encouraging for the ministry. Every other month we will assemble and pray. And normally myself and another pastor or minister will teach from the Word of God. So, all the pastors are so much encouraged. We also pray for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and for India, and for Harvest Bridge. We all grew in the Lord through the Word and prayer. God strengthened and encouraged us through the Word of God from Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble.” God strengthened us throughout the year in the midst of many troubles from inflation, political situations, illness, persecution, rain, etc.

STANDING IN THE GAP

By seeing the conditions prevailing in 2023, I felt more prayers are needed to drive out the demonic forces which brings many obstacles in the lives of believers as well as pastors. See, darkness is everywhere. In Andaman, it is a separated place. Most people are addicted to tobacco and alcohol. All the islands are far. So, since they are separated from the mainstream, whatever they want to do, they are doing. So, they are indulging in many evil practices.

So, to break the evil practices, prayer is our weapon, isn’t it? Without the prayer, how can we break it? So God has given the verses, like I Tim. 2:1-3: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 shows that the people of God have to come out from the evil practices. It means, still we need to have unity, still we need to have purity, still we need to have longing with God. Ezekiel 22:30 says, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” So, based on these Bible verses, we are praying for the breakthrough. It is our prayer and God is doing slowly.

“We want to make the believers as disciples. A disciple is one who disciples others also. That’s the main focus.”

PATIENCE IN MINISTRY

See, 99% of converts are Hindu. How they are coming [to Jesus] is similar in many ways. We can say that many of them are coming by healing. Recently, one lady is coming for the past three weeks to my church. What she says is, “I am only coming for the healing. Don’t, don’t change me. Don’t convert me.” Like this, people are coming. When they come and see the miracle, then after that conversion and other things take place. After receiving the blessings we lead them into Christ and they become God’s child. That’s what I see in my personal experience.

Pastor David* shares an example of this: “Mr. Manrayar*, age 34 years, by faith Hindu, was facing a lot of financial hardship and decided to commit suicide. At the place where we are doing our gospel preaching and praying for the deliverance for the sick people, for the heavily burdened, bonded, captives, those in debt - he heard our prayers. He thought, ‘Why are these people praying for these people who are not believing the Lord Jesus?’ He understood from the preaching that Jesus loves everyone and offers life to those who hear His words and believe that Jesus is Lord. This speech changed his mind from committing suicide and he got encouragement. Then he started reading the Bible and attending prayers.”

However, Pastor Kishor* explains, “Many people are accepting the Lord Jesus is God, but the problem for them is whether Jesus is the only God.” That’s why you can see, in 2023 only 39 people took baptism. Very less. See, Pastor Jacob* gave 10 people baptism. Those people were 20 years in the church! We can’t force them. We are teaching, we are teaching. When they completely surrender and are obedient to that truth, then we are giving baptism.

The most encouraging part of 2023 for me personally is that we were able to start weekly one hour prayer at night with the church believers and other non-believers. 50 small house church fellowships were started this year! We must make every church a Bethel. For this we started prayer on every Tuesday in the believers’ houses by appointing the area leaders to lead this prayer. We want to make the believers as disciples. A disciple is one who disciples others also. That’s the main focus. In 2024, I am excited to see the breakthrough in the church filling with souls. And that breakthrough will come through prayer only.