Zion's Messenger

Volume 12 Issue 1
January 2007




A New Year Look at an India Mission Trip


    Ezekiel 3:14 - So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

     Keeping the Good Things.    Ezekiel was happy in the Spirit in Chapter 3 of Ezekiel. He did not need any others to experience the joy of the Spirit and he was content. Then look what happens in Ezekiel 3:14! God’s Spirit takes him out of that contentment. What was so good is now in the past because God has a new experience lined up for Ezekiel. Isn’t that just like the Lord?! We get content with the status quo and then God brings a new experience into our lives. Ezekiel was to return to his people and share God’s Word with them. The prophet was not very excited about that job, but God made it evident to him what God desired in his life.

    John 4:9 - Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

     Good Things Not Just for Us.    Jesus was taking a short cut through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem and He speaks to this woman of Samaria in John 4:9. What we learn is this event is not ordinary! Yet, out of this brief conversation her whole village hears Jesus and responds to Him. The Samaritan people ordinarily did not see Jewish people. They were different. “Different?” Yes, but they were just like the Jewish people--they needed Jesus.

    Acts 10:28 - Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

     The World Needs Jesus.    Remember the Apostle Peter? He was visiting Caesarea and had a vision at the place he was staying. Shortly after, Gentiles come to that place and ask him to come to Gentile Cornelius’ house. God’s Good News of Jesus had come to the Jewish people, then to those Samaritans, and now to the Gentiles. God had to give Peter a vision about what God wanted shared. The Gentiles ended up receiving Christ!

     Any Application in a New Year?    Just like Ezekiel, we want to keep the good things, the good experiences, that we have. Just like the disciples in that Samaritan village, we wonder what Jesus is doing in the lives of Samaritans, the people we don’t usually associate with. After all, Jesus is ours, isn’t He? And just like Peter, we have those preconceptions that we can keep on in our complacencies. The revelation Peter got relates to all people and God’s view that the Gospel is for all. The implication is that we should be sharing Jesus with all kinds of people.

     How Does India Fit In?    Perhaps we don’t usually think about India these days, and we surely don’t think often about our fellow Christians in that distant land. I shared with you a couple months back that the Lord seems to want me on the AFLC Team to India. Perhaps I have been too comfortable and the Lord wanted to shake things up a bit. The Team will leave from Minneapolis and I will be going up there right after our Annual Meeting January 21. I expect to be back in Silverhill on February 12. I really don’t know what to expect in this India project, but I do know that I will be involved in teaching and training pastors, doing some preaching, and doing some hearing aid work.

     A Little Church and Big Dollars.    Dollars have come in for this project since I first advised people what is happening with India. At this point, donations have pretty much covered the hearing aid costs. My transportation costs are partially covered, but there is certainly room for additional support for this India mission trip if the Lord lays this on your heart. The Zion Church Council has decided to support this trip and the blessing it will bring to the Association Free Lutheran Church--India. If we at Zion can cover this mission trip through dollars donated for it before the actual event, our church budget for 2007 will be much healthier.

     Costs.    Here’s an approximate budget in round dollars:

Hearing aids, hearing aid equipment, etc.--$2500 to $2700
Visa applications expense--$100 to $150
Immunizations--$300
Travel to and from Minneapolis--$350
Travel to and from India--$1700
Day to day expenses in India--$300

~ Pastor Dave

Ed. Note: As of Dec. 31, 2006, the India Project has been FULLY FUNDED, thanks to the generous contributions of Zion members and friends.




New Year's Resolutions

  • pray more
  • love more
  • serve more
  • read more
  • contemplate more
  • enjoy "God's art" (nature) more
  • live healthy more

     These may seem a little vague; but, I am also developing subtopics of each of the above. Since to me they are all worthy activities, another way of looking at my resolutions is: invest increased time in each area by decreasing wasted time or time spent in less worthy pursuits.

     posted by Ivars Krafts, Jan 1, 2007 on his web log called Ivars' Voice.

     God’s Art - Short-eared Owls continue to put on shows at or after sunset at the Carlos Avery Refuge. Photo by Ivars Krafts.

    I have become like an owl in desolate places.
~ Psalm 102:6              




St. Paul's Lutheran Public School
in India
and the work of its director,
Rev. Luther Dasari.

     The PURPOSE of the School is to provide a high standard of education under Christian leadership of the AFLC (Association of Free Lutheran Congregations) for the poor children of all communities irrespective of caste and religion.  

     Character and discipline of the school shall be based on Christian teaching.


St. Paul's Lutheran Public School
Website

     “To lift up the democratic values and economic status of the downtrodden in Indian society we should educate the children of the downtrodden under Christian leadership.”             

    ~ Executive Council  A.F.L.C. of India Chirala.


View more Photos of mission work in India.





“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

~Psalm 19:1




Dear Friends of Missions,

       You may recall the November’s flood in the area of India where we work.  A cyclone devastated a large part of the state were we have churches.  One of the churches had its roof blown completely off.

       The World Missions Committee has made the roof of this church a special project.  It is estimated that it will cost about $5,000. to replace the roof on this building.

     Would you be willing to help?  Could your congregation take up an offering?  If so please send your gifts to AFLC World Missions.  Write in the memo Etheru Church Project.  Thank you so much for your help.  Any funds over what is needed will go to support the AFLC work in India.

    In His Service,
    Rev. Del Palmer
    AFLC World Missions Director

    Ed. Note: Pastor Dave will be a member of the India missions project January - February 2007.