February 2006

Dear Intercessors and Friends:

Warm greetings!

With joy the ICL India Team of 7 members safely arrived in the tropical West Coast of Mumbai, India (formerly named Bombay) on Thursday, February 2nd. Upon arrival, we suddenly had to adjust to the 12 hour time difference. India is 12 hours ahead of CST of the USA. After three flights and eighteen long hours in flight, we entered a whole new world, the third world, and immediately everything we once knew was more than 7,000 miles away. We entered a different climate and culture. The language is different. The people are different. The customs are different. The spiritual atmosphere is different. The roads are different. Slums are everywhere. There are more than 1 million “street children” in Mumbai. Mumbai is the most industrial city in all of India and with that a tremendous amount of pollution. After a few sleepless nights, resulting from jetlag and the time change, most of the team adjusted fairly quickly.

Week 1 – At a glance:

After a couple of days of rest, the team went to the “marketplace” to purchase Sarees (Indian Clothing) to become one with the natives. Oh, what fun!
Sunday we preached in a slum church in the morning and in a large church with Merina Netto, Aglow President of India, in the evening. We shared what the Prophets were saying for 2006 and encouraged the church to invest in their children, the next generation, by teaching them how to move in all the gifts of the Spirit. After ministry, we were invited to fellowship in Merina’s home over dinner. This was an honor for our team.

Week 2 – At a glance:

The team flew to South India (Hyderabad) and drove 7 hours south to Tenali, a city of more than 300,000 people. The team was warmly welcomed at 4am by 180 Pastors and 80 Orphans (35 girls, and 45 boys who live on site). The Pastors had already arrived for the 2-Day Pastors Conference. As we stepped off the bus, the children placed a garland of fresh flowers around each of our necks and threw fresh flower petals on us as we walked into the home of our host. It was a welcome we will never forget!
Pastor Carol Koch of Christ Triumphant Church (CTC) was the main speaker for the 2-Day Pastors Conference. The primary theme: Training, Equipping, and mentoring the children, the next generation, in all the gifts of the Spirit and how to hear the voice of God for themselves, for others, and for this nation. The secondary theme: Intimacy, Worship, and the Love of God. It was a deep work and well received by all.
The Lord used the entire team during this conference and it was a joy to see the gifting’s, and various anointing’s in each team member. Several preached, some sang and led worship, others testified and brought forth prophetic words of encouragement and edification, and all laid hands on the people to bless them and pray for impartation.
Last Sunday, three team members preached at local village churches here in Tenali and many were blessed by the messages on the Love of God (Song of Solomon), Taking the gates of the enemy, and The Cross of Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, we visited local church member’s homes of the ministry we are serving here in Tenali. We laid hands on the sick. We prayed, blessed, prophesied, and encouraged the saints in their faith. And, enjoyed some delicious Indian food along the way and fellowship with the saints.
Wednesday, Jodie preached two messages at a Women’s Meeting where nearly 200 women gathered together from 8 churches. It was a powerful time of affirming the value of a woman in her gifting and calling through the book of Hosea. The team prayed and anointed each of the women and sealed them for Kingdom purposes.
We have had several opportunities to minister to the 80 orphans who live on site at the home where we are staying. We have had the opportunity to teach them about how much God loves them, values them, delights in them, and enjoys them. We taught them how to hear the voice of God through dreams and how to take time to listen when they pray. Touching them, lavishing love and affection, and spending quality time with the children before they go to bed seems to be profoundly effective for the children. This is the highlight of some of our days.

Coming Up:

Leper Colony - Saturday (your Friday night) we will be going to a leper colony of 350 families, with nearly 2000 people living in this leper colony. CTC, in their love, purchased 350 blankets to give one to each family. ICL had a donor who gave specifically towards the purchase of rice to give to all 350 families for which we are so thankful. CTC has paid the cost to transport these goods to the leper colony. In addition, we are grateful to the ministry we are serving here in Tenali for adding their rice to our rice so that we can bring more rice to feed these families. They have also graciously coordinated the trucks to transport the goods and will give us the manpower to ensure our safety and the safe delivery and distribution of these goods.
We are rejoicing for an opportunity to bring the Gospel to this leper colony. Jodie will be preaching on Saturday to the lepers, and bring the good news to those considered unlovely, untouchable, and outcasts from society.

Prayer Requests:

Saturday – safe transport and distribution of the goods for the leper colony.
Saturday- for the preaching of the Gospel in this leper colony.
Please pray for this team as we go into the leper colony. Most of the lepers have been treated with medicine and are not contagious. But, some have not been treated because they have no money for the medicines needed. We want the Lord to get us ready for this mission.
Sunday, Jodie will be preaching at the Bishop’s church (our host). Please pray for the anointing with power and signs following.
Pray for the continued health and safety of each team member.
Pray for continued unity among the team and among those with whom we labor.

Specific Orphan Need: While the needs of the orphans are numerous, we would like to focus on one specific need which we believe to be critically important, namely, the need for Bibles. We have learned that for as little as $210.00/USD we can purchase 80 Bibles for each of the orphans here on-site. This would be the entire Bible and not New Testaments only. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. All monies will go directly towards the purchase of these Bibles. If it is your desire to contribute towards this purchase, be sure to specify the use of your gift.

We want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, prayers and continued support. We could not do what we are doing without every one of you. We are truly blessed and grateful for the important and valued part you contribute to this team.

Many blessings,

Inner City Light Team