Thanks everyone for your patience as I have not updated this for several days. The last two days in Bhubaneswar were a whirlwind of activity, followed by the long trip home, a very enjoyable weekend with my family, and then flying right back out to be with my mom and dad here at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
The last day of training in Bhubaneswar was indescribable. To be honest we wondered how the spirit in Bhubaneswar would be compared to the other two cities. We were humbled by God and reminded not to judge, because the final day was the sweetest day of fellowship during the whole trip. Right before lunch we did the worship session which includes observing the Lord's Supper together. This was the third time we did this and so we thought we knew what to expect. We were very wrong. After the Lord's Supper was finished, there was a spontaneous moment of moving among these brothers and exchanging handshakes and hugs. God moved in the room in that moment in a way that was physical and powerful. Many of these men hugged us tightly and wept. We shed many tears as well. When the room cleared out and everyone headed downstairs for lunch I just sat down and wept uncontrollably at the love and bond of brotherhood we shared with these dear pastors. It is a moment I will never forget.
The day of our departure we met with the core planning committee and shared our thoughts on the seminars just completed. It would have been easy to share our stories for hours! But we kept as on target as we could and wrapped up by talking about the ideas for the next conference. I shared with them the changes that are on the horizon in my own journey and how that might affect the timing of the next seminar, but that it would never change my passion and my committment for seeing this process through in Orissa.
Before we went to the airport we shared a meal with our dear friend Pranab and his family in their home. What gracious hosts and wonderful friends! Honey prepared the meal did a wonderful job! Leaving them was extremely difficult. It was like leaving family.
We went to the mall to do some quick shopping for our families and have lunch. Amazingly enough there was a Pizza Hut at the corner of this mall. We went in and sat down, and our waiter approached me and asked "Are you Mr. Steve?" Apparently this was the Pizza Hut that would fulfill our many orders for dinner delivered to the hotel over the last two weeks! I guess that made us something of celebrities because it seemed like the entire staff took turns coming out to greet us!
The trip home was long but gratefully uneventful. I recalled the last time on my trip home how sick I was, and was very happy not to be dealing with that this time!
The weekend when I got home was a wonderful time. We had all of our family home, including KK who made an unscheduled visit from college. We had a great time as a family and with friends, a much needed refreshing after being gone for so long.
Unfortunately it was short lived, since on Tuesday I flew back out to Houston to be with my parents as we begin the battle against Dad's Lymphoma he was diagnosed with while I was in India. I am blogging daily on his Caring Bridge site, so you can read up on all the happenings since I've been here at that address. It is www.caringbridge.org/visit/joemayner. If you read it leave him a note in the guest book... he loves to get notes and asks me to read them daily!
Thanks to all who supported us and prayed for us while we were in India again. Hopefully from these latest entries you can see how God has given the increase over the investments you have made in these wonderful people. May God pour out his blessings on them and you in the days to come.
In Christ,
Steve
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
