Our journey to India in 2007 was filled with incredible experiences and memories.  Our work with the most persecuted Christians challenges me and my faith far more than anything that I can give to them.  I witnessed first hand their commitment to live for Jesus every day and willingness to preach the gospel at any cost.  The majority of our pastors have suffered physical beatings for preaching the gospel, but they refuge to quit.  Most of the villages accept Jesus as Lord after persecuting the pastor for a couple of years.  What they face during that time exceeds our ability to fathom; beatings, burning of their homes and churches, and even forcing one pastor to eat human dung.  Still they feed the orphans, preach the gospel of acceptance to the lepers and finally to the rest of the village people including the village chiefs.  I learned the value of perseverance for the gospel by spending time with Bishop Jacob and Pastor Jaya Kumar.   Out of all that we did one memory stands out beyond all the rest.  It was time for us to leave the GTSSS compound where we had stayed during our Pastor’s Conference.  It is a beautiful simple complex where the chickens, oxen, pastors and orphans live together.  We had brought our bags to the jeep and everyone started gathering around us to say goodbye.  I was greeted with hugs and handshakes from our younger pastors who were about to leave on their own three day journey on foot back to their villages.  The orphans crowded around us and Bishop Jacob brought his family out as well.  In a brief moment on this sunny and humid morning the eyes of everyone were fixed on our team.  Their eyes told the story of their love and respect for us coming to be with them.  It was hard to say goodbye after spending a week together.  Bishop Jacob then pulled a small orphan girl to his side and told everyone that she would speak the final prayer to send us off.  Before she prayed we learned her story.  She was one of four children who were orphaned when their mother died from disease.  Jacob happened to be in their village when her funeral was being conducted.  The girl who is now four was still very young when her mother died.  She did not understand death and even tried to wake her mommy to nurse during the funeral.  As the people of the village put the body in the grave and covered her with dirt, the young child began to weep uncontrollably. Her siblings tried to comfort her with no success.  Jacob watched as everyone in the village walked to their huts and the four children returned to theirs with no showing any concern for their future.  Jacob spoke words that truly reflect the mission of the GTSSS.  “My Jesus would not leave these children alone in this village.”   He took the necessary steps to legally bring the children to the orphanage.  By the time the story was complete her brother and sister had gathered around her next to Jacob.  He then spoke in Telegu to let everyone know that this four year old would speak the final prayer.  When she started everyone was hushed and reverently held their hands together.  She prayed for a couple of minutes.  I did not understand the words but I know that her Father in Heaven heard every word.  We were safe to leave after this dear sister in Jesus covered our team in prayer.  I will never forget this final memory of India.  On behalf of our ministries in India I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support.  Every dollar is truly saving lives on earth and bringing souls into heaven.  I was privileged to go on behalf of all of you.  Thank you for this honor. 

Pastor Greg