Building for the Kingdom

It’s such an exciting time in missions! Many souls are being saved throughout India by national evangelists and missionaries. Bible studies are formed to disciple the new believers, and small house churches begin to gather. The next step is building a house of worship for the growing assembly, a church for the people to come and worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ!

Since 2007, over 190 pastors have graduated from Shalom Bible College and are serving throughout   

Andhra Pradesh. Over 80 churches have been built, but so many more are desperately needed. In Pithapuram, the church has been evicted from its rented hall by a hostile landlord—it is crowded into the upper floor of the pastor’s home.

In Gungawada, the church meets in a tiny thatched hut where thunderstorms pour in through the walls.  This scenario is repeated in villages and cities across the land. You can help us help them!

The cost of building a church varies according to the area, and whether it is a rural or urban location. But on average, it costs $15,000 (US) to build a solid, substantial church in Asia.

What an amazing investment in the Kingdom of God! Churches can be constructed overseas for a fraction of the cost of one in the US. These churches are a lighthouse in the community, a testimony to idol worshipers around them, and a place where curious seekers will come.  More souls will be saved, discipled, and learn to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

You can help us to build as many churches as possible throughout India. With your help, AIM can

provide our partner missionaries and pastors with a building that legitimizes Christianity in the neighborhood and the culture.

If you, or your church, would like to help sponsor a church building in India, we would love to hear from you! If you have any questions, our email address: is aimission@hotmail.com. When preparing your love gift, please make all checks payable to “AIM”, and on the memo line please designate it to the ” Church Construction Fund.” 

If you are mailing your donation to build a place of worship in India, please send to:

Asia International Mission

PO Box 1597

Stillwater, OK 74076

Donations can also be received using a credit card. You can securely donate by simply clicking the donate button now!  

Thank you so very much for partnering with us in one of the greatest causes humanity will ever know--spreading the Life saving Gospel message of Jesus in one of the most under-evangelized nations of the world. Be part of what God is doing in India!

—Russ Sharrock

 

   Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c) (3) non-profit ministry. 

All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated 

 

Martyrdom and the Mission of God

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' {20 John 13:16} If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me." (John 15:18-21)

Countries like India face increasing persecution. This wave will eventually reach every nation. Christian persecution started with Jesus himself. Christian Martyrs of the World lists thousands of brutal killings throughout the history of the Church. Christian persecution didn’t slow the growth of the Christian faith during the first few centuries after Christ. Even as its early leaders died horrible deaths, Christianity flourished throughout the Roman Empire.

Persecution is the result of the non-compromising stand of the believer of the Truth toward the world.

Gunpalli Village

Wherever persecution becomes severe it displays that the Truth is actively penetrating that region.

Our fellowship with Christ cannot be frustrated by any persecution (Rom. 8:35–39). Persecution is a light that dawn on His people to prove to the world that Christians are the conquerors of pain.

Increasing persecution is the last important item we need to face on this earth before we enter into the Eternal Kingdom. Persecution is an indicator of the “last days” (II Tim. 3:1–5). A sea of people will be found in heaven through our church planting efforts (Rev. 7:9–17).

Since persecution is painful, often Christians react in defensive ways. It leads them sometimes even to politicize the issue. A church planter should view persecution through an eschatological lens. Our task is to prepare the Church for persecution; not to prevent it.

Martyrdom and the Mission of God are inseparable, linked together within the Church by unbreakable chains. Jesus forewarns us of this (John 16:1–4) so that His people will not stumble when persecution breaks out. The Church must keep witnessing for the Truth even during severe persecution (Rev. 2:8–10; 3:8–10). 

—Russ Sharrock

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Pastor Accused of Forced Conversion

In Pakshirajapura, Karnataka, Hindu nationalists protested, and accused Pastor Steven Suresh of forcefully converting members of the nomadic Hikki Pikki Adivasi tribe to Christianity, and insulting the Hindu gods. Police arrest Suresh and 11 other Christians. 

The new converts were forbidden to draw water from the town well, and denied government-subsidized staples such as rice and sugar. Please pray for the safety of Pastor Steven and the other believers, and that they will remain steadfast in their faith in the face of persecution.

Please Pray!

To all our blog readers, this news item just came in:

"Madhya Pradesh state in central India awaits the outcome of proposed amendments to its ‘anti-conversion law’, which would lengthen prison time and fines for anyone convicted of forcing someone to change their religion. 

With state elections looming before this government ends its term in October, some observers claim the move is an attempt by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to appease Hindu hardliners.

The Christian minority now awaits the verdict of the state Governor, Ramnaresh Yadav, who must sign the bill before it can become law.

The proposed amendment recommends maximum punishment of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 rupees ($830), or four years and 100,000 rupees ($1660) in the case of a child, woman or member of a scheduled caste or tribe.

The amendment also introduces the requirement for both the converter and would-be convert to obtain state permission at least 30 days prior to conversion."

A scheduled caste would include all lower castes like the Dalits. These are where most of the conversions are coming from at this time.

Please be praying for the safety of believers in Madhya Pradesh, and that they would hold steadfast in their faith. The window is closing in many places in India. Please help us spread the gospel as quickly as possible before it is too late! Go HERE and donate Now.


—Russ Sharrock 

Seeing God

I thought I would share this poem with you today. I don't even know its title, but I would like you to think about the message it has for us.

 

Walking through repeated days the sights become routine.
I no longer look around in awe,
Seeing the sin and darkness, beauty and wonder
In the souls that wander across my path.
My mind filters out those around me as I think about my day
And I miss the glory next to me,
Which might penetrate my soul if I would only lift my eyes…

Stop. Look. Ponder what is nearest.
A brilliant red sari drying in the wind declares the glory of God.
A kite, struggling to free itself from the captivity of its string
Breaks away in flight, only to become prisoner in the arms of a tree
And reminds me of the futility of human effort in redemption.

A young man bathing in the cold winter air,
Frantically scrubbing away yesterday’s sin.
Warm chai steaming in an old man’s face
As he huddles with his cronies to speak of things mundane and sublime.
Having lived life they’ve lost hope in their own righteousness
And come together for reassurance more than warmth and chai.

People living on the streets—
Not much different from those living in temples of materialism and comfort.
They are in the end, people
Living without hope and an emptiness of soul that remains
Even if the gnawing hunger of their bellies is satisfied.

A beggar reaches out and calls my name.
Do I see the face of Christ?
But time is money. I’m late. What’s next today?
One more interruption and I am impatient.
Stop. Look. Listen to the Spirit.
I rush off to the tasks that help me feel important.
He bids me stay and engage this moment—
The least of these who is Christ to me.

In my city, Jesus wanders around in unlikely clothes,
And peers at me through unlikely eyes.
He speaks in unlikely places if I would only listen.
Where is He to be found?

I long to see Him and hear His voice.
Stop. Look. Ponder what is nearest.
He is all around me at every turn and has been all the time…

—Anonymous   

"Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:35)

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Blankets for Lepers

Lepers live in colonies, or on the streets and have to beg money for food. Fifty percent of all new cases of leprosy in the world are found in India. The lives of these people are

Leper Colony--Bangalore

so miserable, and this terrible disease separates them from the love and support of their family and the community. But God’s love is more wonderful than any other in the World. We thank God for His great love at Calvary.

Please donate NOW and partner with us to help the Lepers of India by providing food, clothing, and fresh water. Be the hands and feet of Jesus.

 

 

Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry.

All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated

“SERVING THE SERVERS”

Shalom Bible College

Many young men and women in India have felt the call to ministry, but lack theological education.  The reality of this leaves them ill-equipped to raise up biblically mature disciples for the kingdom of God.  This also impacts church planting, stunting the growth of new churches because of a lack of qualified leaders.

Pastor Ravi (on left) & Student

Lead by President Ravi Sundar, the Shalom Bible College seeks to "Serve the Servers.” We accomplish this by providing free tuition to those who have a desire to serve God as ministers of the gospel, and developing church leadership. In turn, they can better minister to their congregations and reach out to the lost.

We achieve this by intensive training in the core Theological subjects, providing hands on practical experience conducting gospel meetings and witnessing in area villages, and providing Bibles, tracts and other printed materials. When they graduate they are inserted into an unreached village where they are required to plant a church; they will be supported for their first year of service, and trained to develop some type of cottage industry to become self-supporting. All of this is without charge as provided by the generosity of our funding partners.

To accomplish this purpose Asia International Mission raises funds to hold pastors conferences throughout India, and to give those who feel the call of God to the ministry an opportunity to attend Bible College. 

With dozens of new churches being planted each year, there is a great need for pastor and leadership

Shalom Bible College Students

training. AIM provides training conferences free of charge to church leaders in India where pastors and leaders have little access or resources to study the Bible. We offer teaching conferences, taught by qualified and experienced pastors and leaders. We offer periodic 2-3 day conferences on relevant topics for Christian leaders. We provide study materials, including Bibles and tracts.

Many times, Christians are called to serve the Lord, and yet they have no financial means to study and prepare themselves for service. Through our Timothy Fund, we help students through edification, encouragement, and financial support.

Criteria evaluated include financial need, educational achievement, personal character, and spiritual maturity. We help native students attend Bible College in preparation for pastoral service.

If you would like to sponsor a Training Conference or send young people to Bible College click HERE now. Or you can send a check to:

                                                            AIM

                                                            PO Box 1597

                                                            Stillwater, OK 74076

Training Conference                   - $500

Timothy Fund (Bible College)       - $450 per year                                                    

                                                - $150 per semester

                                                - $50   per month

Be sure to designate “Training Conference” or “Bible College” on the memo line. Thank you for your generosity, and may God bless you greatly. 

 

 

The Parable of the Sower

The parable of the Sower is one of the more familiar parables Christ taught (Matt 13:3-8). Like all parables, the story is relatively simple, comes from real life experiences, and teaches a valuable lesson, which is that the condition of a man’s heart (the soil) determines the fruitfulness of the seed (the word of God).

While this parable is referring primarily to the Gospel and the process of salvation, I think it’s acceptable to view the seed as representing any spiritual truth…God’s truth as it relates to any aspect of life, not just salvation. The whole of Christian life is one continuous and progressive response to fresh spiritual revelation.  

With that thought in mind, let’s see what the parable teaches those of us desiring to walk in God’s

truth. The first soil is the path…ground so hard the seed is eaten by birds before it has a chance to sprout. This represents the hard heart from which Satan removes truth. Hopefully, none of us are in this category.

The fact that you are reading this indicates that your heart has an interest in the things of God. Next is the rocky soil which represents the shallow heart. This heart has an immediate and joyful, but short lived response to truth. The shallow heart responds with an emotional burst, but dies out quickly when problems arise. No fruit is brought to maturity, The third soil is the thorny soil. The cluttered heart is one that is so full of competing things the truth is choked out and is unproductive. Finally we hear about the good soil. This soil is deep enough for germination to take place and for adequate roots to develop. And because this soil lacks thorns, a fruit bearing plant is the result. This is the productive heart. This is the heart God wants each of us to possess.

To keep this devotional from becoming a sermon, I’m going to focus on only one soil…the thorny. I have chosen this soil because it all too often is a picture of my own heart and I know that I’m not alone. Jesus is very specific as to what is represented by the thorns in the soil……worries of the world, deceitfulness of wealth, and pleasures of this life.

The worries of the world represent the poverty stricken person who is literally worried about getting enough food to maintain his physical life. For us who are fortunate enough to not be in that situation, the worries of this life represent the everyday problems encountered by humans living in this fallen world. These may be small, irritating things like flat tires, demanding clients, or they may be major issues with our health or family life. These are thorns with the potential of destroying our response to God if we allow them to do so. Christ also said the thorns represent the deceitfulness of wealth. Who us?

Just because we live in perhaps the most materialistic and money worshiping society in history doesn’t mean we’ll be deceived by the allure of wealth. Or does it? Wealth is deceiving because it promises us happiness. In our society, we are constantly bombarded by the message that money will bring us joy and fulfillment. Riches are deceitful because they promise what they can’t deliver. Only God can give us true and lasting joy. Only He can bring fulfillment to our lives. Buying into the world’s mentality by pursuing wealth as the means to contentment is certain to result in spiritual unfruitfulness.

What about the pleasures of this life? I can’t say it any better than the following sermon excerpt: “Amusement should be used to do us good like a medicine; it must never be used as food for the individual. From early morning until late at night some spend their time in a round of frivolities, or else their very work is simply carried on to furnish them with funds for pleasure. This is an age of excessive amusement. Everybody craves for it like a babe for its rattle. In the more sober years of our fathers, men and women had better things to live for than silly sports. The thorns are choking the age.”

That hits pretty close to home for most of us in today’s fun seeking society. What’s really interesting about this statement is that it’s found in a sermon delivered by Charles Spurgeon in 1888! If only Charles could see us now!! God wants us all to be fruitful. He wants to see His truth grow and mature in our hearts until a visible result is produced in our lives. His truth, like Him, is constant. It never changes. What changes is our heart and we alone are responsible for the condition of our heart.

We all know that a field, a garden, or a yard needs attention to be maintained in a weed-free state. The same is true of our hearts. We all need to be in a constant state of watchfulness to see that the thorns of worry, money, and pleasure do not prevent God’s truth from having a bountiful effect in our lives. 

—Russ Sharrock

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One Hundred Percent 100% 

Of all Contributions Designated for Use On

the Mission Field Are Sent To The Mission

Field.   

You can Donate Now to help us: 

"Change The World, One Child at a Time!"

Connecting With the Suffering

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42)

There is so much need around us that it is easy to get hardened to it. As the misfortunes of others pile up in our minds, we are forced to tune them out in order to make it through the day. And the result is that we don’t help anyone. In our efforts to manage the floodgates of suffering we tend to close them off completely.

Imagine the suffering that Jesus saw on a daily basis. Once He was known as the healer, He was surrounded with sickness, suffering and death. Each day He had to get up knowing that He would experience great suffering. He did not always heal. But many times He had compassion on people even when there were other things that needed His attention.

Think about the last time you closed your mind to manage the suffering around you. If we are to take the words of Jesus seriously in the passage above, we know that we cannot afford to avoid the suffering in this world. We have to connect with those who are hurting. 

The key is to be walking with Jesus so that you will know when He wants to use your voice and hands to be involved.

 –Russ Sharrock

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You are Invited to AIM's

"Jewels of India"

Annual Fundraising Banquet

If you are going to be in the Stillwater, OK area we invite you join us for our annual Fundraising Banquet to raise money for our children's ministry in India. The banquet will be held on: 

                                                          Thursday, August 3rd, 2013. 
                                                  The doors will open at 6 PM 
                                         Dinner will begin at 6:30 PM

There will food, music, testimony, and our special speaker will be Pastor Albert May. We will also have items from India, and donations from area stores for sale to help raise funds to provide children with food, clothing, medical care, and the love of Christ. So please join us for a great time of fellowship, and an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the children of India.

You can go to our website to RSVP.

Help Us Change the World, One Child at a Time!