Southern Asia: Seeing Jesus' Face, God's Power Daily
|
In a simple, yet elegant, report, the Southern Asia region of the Seventh-day Adventist Church noted not only 600,000 baptisms in the past five years, but also how God's power is working daily in their part of the world. |
|
A little girl from the Southern Asia group peeks out at the audience during their report to the delegates of the 58th Adventist Church World Session in St. Louis, Missouri, Wednesday, July 6. [photo by Melita Pujic]
In a simple, yet elegant, report, the Southern Asia region of the Seventh-day Adventist Church noted not only 600,000 baptisms in the past five years, but also how God's power is working daily in their part of the world.
"If you want to see Jesus, come to India, for we see His face every day," declared Pastor D. Ronald Watts, regional president of the Adventist Church. "If you want to know the power of God's Spirit, come to India."
The report, delivered on the evening of July 6 at the 58th General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, highlighted the deep spiritual needs of a region where the one million Adventist Christians make up only one-tenth of the population. Each of the 100 Southern Asia delegates on the stage represented 5,000 villages where the Gospel has yet to be preached and 50 people groups yet to be reached, Watts said.
Church official Dr. M.C. John reported on the importance of having church buildings in newly entered areas.
Noting that many in India don't feel worthy to enter traditional temples, the presence of a church building offers an instant sense of community, he said: "In cases where a church is built before public meetings are held, congregations are growing more quickly. Churches become a village center."
"A church building is more than just a church building, it is a symbol of God's presence," Dr. John added.
As important as church buildings are in India - during the report, Maranatha Volunteers International president Don Noble said the group had completed its 1,000th new church building - so, too, are the stories of lives in cities and villages touched by the power of Jesus' love.
In Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, a woman's breaking of family idols led her husband to question their worth: "Is there a God that wouldn't break," he asked? Working with an Adventist, they became believers and were baptized.
In a rural area, a husband and wife, Moses and India, were robbed of their money and Bible while en route to a meeting. They continued unharmed, and when they returned the following week, they found the robber had been converted and was apologetic, returning what he had taken.
These and other stories, presented with slides and animations, were but a sample of what God is doing, Watts said. He credited volunteers and donors for helping, and praised his team of regional leaders, workers and pastors as "truly the hands and heart of Jesus in our midst."
There remains a challenge to reach the Southern Asia population, he added, saying "we want to know if you in the world church will stand with us in finishing God's work."
Digg
del.icio.us
reddit
newsvine
Y! MyWeb
ANN World News Bulletin is a review of news and information issued by the Communication department from the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters and released as part of the service of Adventist News Network. It is made available primarily to religious news editors. Our news includes dispatches from the church's international offices and the world headquarters.
Reproduction Requirements:
Reproduction of information in this article is encouraged. When reproducing
this material, in full or in part, the words "Source: Adventist News Network" must
appear under the headline or immediately following the article. The words "Source:
Adventist News Network" must
be given equal prominence to any other source that is also acknowledged.
Ground 7 News Podcast:
Ground 7 News is a review of news and information issued by the Communication Department from the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters and released as part of the service of Adventist News Network. Reproduction of the ANN podcast is encouraged. When rebroadcasting this material, in full or in part, the words "Source: Adventist News Network" must be mentioned before and after the podcast.
ANN
Staff:
Rajmund Dabrowski, director; Ansel Oliver, assistant director; Elizabeth Lechleitner, editorial coordinator; Megan Brauner, editorial assistant. Portuguese translation by Azenilto Brito, Spanish translation by Marcos Paseggi, Italian translation by Vincenzo Annunziata and Lina Ferrara and French translations by Stephanie Elofer.
Top Stories
