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Yesterday we began our final seminar here in Bhubaneswar. As we did in the first two cities, we started by asking the participants to share with us how the first PDC seminar back in February had impacted their ministries. Here are the stories we heard from this group:

One church purchased CDs and tracts to equip its members to be more involved in evangelism. Each family was challenged to reach at least five other families.

Another church focused on the need for more vibrant worship and has been gradually changing their worship service phase by phase.

One church reported that they had become more intentional about networking with other churches to work together and share what they had learned through PDC.

Still another church has been able to acquire New Testaments and evangelistic literature and distribute them in the schools. They have even been able to send their pastor into the schools to speak to the students at assemblies.

One church reported growth from 60 to 120 in the time since February. They credit PDC with helping their members change from being lukewarm to greatly involved in ministry. They have also made improvements in worship, prayer, and starting cell groups.

One pastor started discipling believers for the first time, and started with their youth. The youth after one month go so excited about evangelism that they are now going out on their own sharing the gospel.

Another pastor used the concept of the "pastor's tea" to begin meeting with and teaching his key leadership. They have now asked him to keep the meetings going for one year so they can grow into becoming good leaders who can help him with the ministry.

One pastor focused on discovering the gifts of his members, then empowering them within their gifting to do the ministry.

Another pastor described his church as a "sleeping church" prior to PDC. He took the concepts back and they have caused a revival among the youth of the church.

Lastly, one pastor reported turning the responsibility for care of believers in rural villages to the lay leaders in his church... they now run that ministry.

When you spend time with these people... the hunger they have for what we so easily take for granted is overwhelming. It is humbling to think that God used us as part of His plan to bring these ideas to this group. I can almost understand the feeling that Paul must have felt after he planted the seeds of a church in one city, and then returned some time later to see how they had grown. What a blessing to be a part of this amazing adventure!

Tomorrow is our final teaching day of the trip. It's hard to believe it is almost over, and soon we will be leaving our friends behind to return home. I have great hope that the networking will grow stronger this time both between us and these pastors and between each of them as well. Their discussions at the end of the day have been outstanding... they really are getting it!

I look forward to coming home, although it will only be for a brief time. I will be flying back out next week to Houston to be with my parents as my dad begins his battle with cancer at M.D. Anderson cancer hospital. The journey ahead will be the most difficult our family has ever faced. But, our faith is strong and our God is stronger. We also have amazing friends at home and all over the world in our corner. How blessed we are!

See you all soon!

Pastor Steve